It seems like there are only 8 posts in the last hour on IMHO, and 8 on MPSIMS.
I’m guessing that everyone is getting the same impossibly slow responses, but if no new posts are getting through then what’s consuming the resources?
I’m getting normal response times on other boards, so it’s not a “slow web day”.
Well, people may not be posting, but they may be viewing the threads. That causes a server load as well - apparently enough to slow things down this much.
Plus there’s several steps in getting to the server that could be the problem. But if other web pages are downloading quickly, it’s more likely to be the server here. If www.straightdope.com works fine, it’s even more likely to be the message board’s server. Also, some of us save our all-important searching for late at night. You know, so we can do research for our Pit threads where we tear apart a user’s entire history. With the faster downloads, people probably also are more apt to poke around more than just look at the top few threads, which could mean that what you’re looking for might not be cached at the moment, requiring getting it from the hard drive.
Nobody goes to the SDMB in the afternoon; it’s too damn busy.
Heh heh, thanks Yogi Matrix 
Actually I think it’s because when the board is slow it’s hard to post without the page timing out. In other words the posting is not the cause of the board being slow, but the result of it. What Coldfire said, pretty much.
Yes, voguevixen, that’s how I understand it too. We are a victim of our own success, everybody wants to be here and at the same time, too. Can’t slice this pie thin enough for everybody to have some and so most people don’t even get a taste, including, all too often, yours truly.
I’m thrilled for the attention but I hate it that everybody’s experience is not a fabulous one.
More as I find out about it.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
Im quite content with the board speed. I tell ya something Tuba, Im calling in at 56K. Yet, Im able to post a lot. Course, ya have to read a lot more than ya post. Seems to work for me, course, Im a clever guy I have my special way to do zee board.
Only zee drawback-a is that other people can’t post interesting things, so I’m kinda bored sometimes.
Well, we’re glad you’re here to keep things interesting, handy. And we’re sincerely sorry for not living up to your standards of enlightment.