MacRumors' surging popularity

[mad jew]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but does it seem like there are many more threads being created each day? I don't know if total posts each day has grown but I'd be interested to hear if this place really has suddenly become more popular. Whaddya reckon? Have we suddenly kicked into third gear? Will we soon overtake Google's daily hits? Is there really a link between smoking and heart disease?

I've been casually monitoring the statistics at the bottom of the forums page but apparently these are reasonably inaccurate. :o


Whatever the official response is, I'm happy to see this place growing so quickly. It's a bit cool.

[xUKHCx]

Perhaps a percieved effect thanks to Forum spy?

I certainly wouldnt have found this thread without it, but now i am responding so who knows?

[mad jew]

...But I don't use Forum Spy. Maybe Forum Spy is encouraging more posting though...

[MacBoobsPro]

...But I don't use Forum Spy. Maybe Forum Spy is encouraging more posting though...

With ForumSpy i have posted much more. I think its a great addition to the site.

[dcv]

Maybe Forum Spy is encouraging more posting though...

Are you getting worried that we're all slowly catching up to your post count? ;)







(yeah, like *that's* ever going to happen...)

[Blue Velvet]

Here's a rock-solid scientific measure. ;)

Clicking New Posts when I first wake up and having my coffee used to bring up 11-12 pages or so, these days it's usually 14-16 and has been up to 20 on the busy days.

[Jaffa Cake]

Personally, I don't think using Forum Spy has increased my posting rates – not significantly, at least. What it has done is made me reply to threads a lot quicker than I used to.

My posting rate tends to reflect the number of interesting threads that catch my attention – if there are a lot floating around that I feel I can contribute something to, I'll post in them. If I've nothing to add, I won't post.

I think the overall increase in threads/posts is due to the interest surrounding Apple and its products lately – and as more people sign up to the boards the number of people posting their thoughts and starting new threads to express themselves is naturally going to increase.

Just my twopenneth worth.:)

[spicyapple]

Feeling overwhelmed, mad jew? ;)

[NeoMac]

One of the things I have noticed recently is that on web sites like CNN articles regarding apple products the authors will make reference to sites like macrumors. I would think that would raise people’s curiosity.

[kretzy]

Just my twopenneth worth.:)
I agree. There seems to be quite a buzz around all things Apple of late and this surge is a side effect.

As for Forum Spy, I think it has encouraged more posting. I remember when I first started reading the forums, there were so many that I sort of got lost in them (it didn't help that I hadn't discovered New Posts either). The Spy gives a complete summary of everything going on so I guess people are exposed to more.

[Lau]

I think people are also much more inclined to make a new thread about something these days. I see making a thread as quite a big thing (even if it is about something silly ;) ) and so consequently have 'only' made 67 threads in my 4000 :o or so posts.

Actually, that might be an interesting thread — what's your post count to new threads ratio? (Obviously I'm far too scared to actually start such a thread.) :p

[jessica.]

[QUOTE=dcv]Are you getting worried that we're all slowly catching up to your post count? ;)



LMAO!
Forum spy is the reason I seem to post more...but then again it was always "new posts" for me.

[mufflon]

the Spy was the thing that actually made me stop lurking! - just seemed so god damn efficient :)

[MacNut]

But will this inflation of posts dilute the quality of post and usefulness of information.

[emw]

But will this inflation of posts dilute the quality of post and usefulness of information.Hopefully we'll at least keep the same ratio of useful posts, even though the number of not so useful posts increases. Of course, we may also see the ratio increase as more people weigh in on topics that may have previously been staying quiet.

Besides, usefulness is relative. The more people are here, the more likely a post will be useful to someone.

Hopefully.

[MacNut]

Or the same points will be stated 50 times in a thread and everyone will be repeating themselves.

[2nyRiggz]

People are liking the community....so they will put threads that are personal or just to get at apple fans(like the 15+ I hate itunes 7 threads)

In the community thread I see people posting some personal stuff there so I'm guessing people are getting comfortable with this place and its like second nature to talk about taking a dump to your friends:confused:

Yes smoking do cause cancer and I like peanut butter sandwhich


Bless

[OutThere]

Or the same points will be stated 50 times in a thread and everyone will be repeating themselves.

That is a feature of internet forums that is hard to avoid. It's present in the majority of big forums I've visited, especially in places where big news stories get posted and there are many replies each minute.

[Bern]

Probably because MacRumors is one of the few forums that doesn't use militant rules and regulations and doesn't have over zealous moderators high on so-called authority publicly rebuking it's members.

I use to frequent an Australian Mac forum (Appletalk Australia) and it was a nightmare. The people who run it are inexperienced. That forum has a list of rules and regulations longer than a roll of toilet tissue including ones they make up as they go along. And if one of the moderators decides he doesn't like you (in my case it was homophobia) then you're a target for public humiliation and defamation until they ban you.

[mad jew]

Are you getting worried that we're all slowly catching up to your post count? ;)


Lady, it keeps me awake at night. :D


Here's a rock-solid scientific measure. ;)

Clicking New Posts when I first wake up and having my coffee used to bring up 11-12 pages or so, these days it's usually 14-16 and has been up to 20 on the busy days.


That's what first grabbed my attention. Of course, that's only a measure of the amount of different threads being posted in and not a measure of the actual number of posts made in a night. For me it has leapt from about 12 pages on a typical Aussie night to about 18-20 (of course it stops at 20). Craziness.


I think people are also much more inclined to make a new thread about something these days. I see making a thread as quite a big thing (even if it is about something silly ;) ) and so consequently have 'only' made 67 threads in my 4000 :o or so posts.

Actually, that might be an interesting thread — what's your post count to new threads ratio? (Obviously I'm far too scared to actually start such a thread.) :p


Agreed. It worries me how many threads some people have as a measure of their post count. I think the Search function is being used well by some, but not at all by others. :(

[PlaceofDis]

of course MacRumors is growing, its huge now compared to even when i joined, and i was rather late to the party as things were.

its an evolution that will always continue. but i do see more and more threads being created, and i wonder if that is totally neccissary as it seems the same questions are endlessly asked.

[dsnort]

of course MacRumors is growing, its huge now compared to even when i joined, and i was rather late to the party as things were.

its an evolution that will always continue. but i do see more and more threads being created, and i wonder if that is totally neccissary as it seems the same questions are endlessly asked.

Looking at ya'lls post counts, I'm a real babe in the woods, ( just switched to Macs 8 months ago).

Hopefully the forum will continue to grow as more people see the advantages of the Mac.

Now if Apple would just go ahead and release the Merom MBP's we could probably reduce the new thread count by 30%. :D

Oops, forgot about about the threads complaining that the MBP update didn't include the exact feature set someone wanted, at the exact price they wanted to pay. :(

[mad jew]

of course MacRumors is growing, its huge now compared to even when i joined, and i was rather late to the party as things were.


True, but this past month seems to have seen a ridiculously large growth. It's amazing. :cool:

[EricNau]

I haven't even been here that long and I can see the difference.

Hopefully it's a sign of Apple's growing market share. ;)

[dmw007]

Hopefully it's a sign of Apple's growing market share. ;)

I hope thats the case as well EricNau. :)



But either way, MacRumors is becoming more and more popular- YAY! :D :)

[AoWolf]

MacRumors has defiantly grown. I have been posting causally and in niche areas for three years and it really shows. The focus seems to have really evolved beyond rumors to total apple discussion. It was there before just not as much as there is now.

[WildCowboy]

MacRumors has defiantly grown.

Who told us we weren't allowed to? :p ;)

[monke]

Mac Rumors has grown extremely fast.

The One Millionth Post was posted on August 23, 2004, around 2 years from when MR was born.
The Second Millionth Post took only 1 year and two months more to get.
This Saturday will be the ninth month since the 2,000,000 mark, and we're currently at about 2.862 million post.

MR has gone from 24 months -> 14 months -> 9.5 months*.



*Just a guess as to when 3,000,000 posts will happen.

[frankblundt]

Where's Q with his VLC when you need him? based on the extrapolation above, when will MR cross the event horizon into a singularity?

[Knox]

You can see some stats for MacRumors on Big-Boards (http://www.big-boards.com/board/192/). Last two graphs are probably most interesting, although they still only show the last year.

[spicyapple]

Posts have increased 61% from a year ago.
Members have increased 67% from a year ago.

:D

[dmw007]

Posts have increased 61% from a year ago.
Members have increased 67% from a year ago.

:D

Very nice growth! :)

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Posts have increased 61% from a year ago.
Members have increased 67% from a year ago.So what you are saying is that the newbies don't pull their posting weights around here... hmm... those lazy newbies... :rolleyes:

:p

[M. Malone]

The mac community has significantly grown over the past year, and MacRumors has had a surge in member registration, not a bad thing, but I feel there are many who sign up an account to specifically post a question, then they disappear and never log back on. Or some can have very rude posts, not all.

I was thinking a solution to this could be that people are not allowed to post only after they've been registered for an x amount of time, this way, the new member can get a feel of what MacRumors is all about and will be able to post in a proper manner. Maybe if they're not allowed to make a post for the first 7 days of their registration will force some to start using the search function and the whole site would get less pointless posts that get replies criticizing the poster to search.

I think this is an idea that should be considered by whoever makes such decisions :)

[asphalt-proof]

Mac Rumors has grown extremely fast.

The One Millionth Post was posted on August 23, 2004, around 2 years from when MR was born.
The Second Millionth Post took only 1 year and two months more to get.
This Saturday will be the ninth month since the 2,000,000 mark, and we're currently at about 2.862 million post.

MR has gone from 24 months -> 14 months -> 9.5 months*.



*Just a guess as to when 3,000,000 posts will happen.

hmmm, seems like a growth curve very similar to iTunes purchases. Coincidence? I think not! Feel free to doff your tin foil hat, sir.

[Doctor Q]

The mac community has significantly grown over the past year, and MacRumors has had a surge in member registration, not a bad thing, but I feel there are many who sign up an account to specifically post a question, then they disappear and never log back on. Or some can have very rude posts, not all.

I was thinking a solution to this could be that people are not allowed to post only after they've been registered for an x amount of time, this way, the new member can get a feel of what MacRumors is all about and will be able to post in a proper manner. Maybe if they're not allowed to make a post for the first 7 days of their registration will force some to start using the search function and the whole site would get less pointless posts that get replies criticizing the poster to search.

I think this is an idea that should be considered by whoever makes such decisions :)Your idea has been considered before, and it's good to bring it up for discussion now and then. The tradeoff with a "waiting period" is that it prevents new members from asking questions that are important to them now, and they will "take their business" elsewhere if they have an immediate problem to solve. Providing such member-to-member help is an important aspect of MacRumors.

Also, we get a surge of new members when there are Apple events or announcements, and people want to be able to discuss and react to news while the events are approaching, in progress, or just completed.

So, while a waiting period would weed out unwanted hit-and-run posts (trolling) and increase the average quality of posts by new members, we think that it would reduce the overall usefulness of MacRumors to institute such a delay.

However, in theory the rules could differ for particular forums, e.g., news story threads vs. question and answer threads vs. community discussion threads, and that's an idea that I don't think we've discussed in the forums.

Finally, some forum websites are set up so that posts are pre-reviewed (aka "moderated"). With that system, posts can be made by new members but they do not appear in the forums until they have had a human review. While this can solve the problem too, it takes much more time and effort, introduces a posting delay of its own, and can cause the forum content to reflect biases of the chosen moderators more than after-the-fact moderation is likely to do.

[emw]

So, while a waiting period would weed out unwanted hit-and-run posts (trolling) and increase the average quality of posts by new members, we think that it would reduce the overall usefulness of MacRumors to institute such a delay.Has there really been some dramatic increase in poor posts by new members? It seems to me that even regulars (myself included :o) have their fair share of inane, rude, useless, and/or redundant posts. Having a waiting period for new members just shifts the problem by 7 days, it doesn't eliminate it.

Trolls are dealt with quickly and, I think, fairly by the moderators, so even that isn't an issue. The major "problem areas" used to be Marketplace and Political forums, and after instituting the minimum post-count rules, those both improved.

However, we did see people who didn't meet the minimums posting political or market threads in other forums to bypass the rules, and I think we'd still get that if the waiting period was only for certain forums.

In the end, this is a great place to come and share stories, news, rumors, etc. Sure, we have the occasional "riff-raff" who cause some problems, but mostly the problems are caused by regulars responding to bad posts. Perhaps we just need to control ourselves better. ;)

[Doctor Q]

Has there really been some dramatic increase in poor posts by new members?I don't think so. The percentage of poor posts is fairly constant. As we get more members, and more posts during big events, the absolute number goes up accordingly.

Having a waiting period for new members just shifts the problem by 7 days, it doesn't eliminate it.I think that the moderators would have fewer posts to remove for trolling and, for example, fewer posts that say nothing but "sweet!" when a new product is announced, if new members couldn't as easily join and post on an impulse. But sometimes new members bring us new information and new opinions that deserve to be shared promptly.

Trolls are dealt with quickly and, I think, fairly by the moderators, so even that isn't an issue.It's still an issue for the moderators!

[Bern]

MR is running fine. The last thing it needs is to have posts moderated so they may be edited before going online (that's another mistake AppleTalk Australia makes). After a while the forum becomes a "club" and the only people who can be bothered to post anything are teenagers who's only concern is to get their post count up.

[MacNut]

I say allow new posters access to the how to or help section then after 30 posts they can use the community.

[emw]

It's still an issue for the moderators!
Sure, it's all about you... :rolleyes:


And we appreciate it. :D