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Doctor Q

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Sep 19, 2002
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This is the 28th edition of my semi-annual analysis of the MacRumors Top 50 Posters.

Previous "Top 50 Posters Extrapolated" threads:
2003 (July); 2004 (January, July); 2005 (January, July); 2006 (January, July); 2007 (January, July); 2008 (January, July); 2009 (January, July); 2010 (January, July); 2011 (January, July); 2012 (January, July); 2013 (January, July); 2014 (January, July); 2015 (January, July), 2016 (January, July)​

The legend of column headings follows each chart. Measurements were taken yesterday (January 3, 2017).


Chart #1: Current Top 50 Posters

Computed by Doctor Q in January 2017

Code:
                      Cur     Cur   Prev  Delta
Rank  Current Top 50  Posts   Rate  Rank  Rank
----  --------------- ------  ----  ----  -----
 1    maflynn         51,577  23.2    1     0
 2    GGJstudios      43,859   0.1    2     0
 3    Applejuiced     37,721   9.8    3     0
 4    GoCubsGo        35,719   0.2    4     0
 5    C DM            34,497  36.4    9    +4
 6    Doctor Q        33,854   0.7    5    -1
 7    mad jew         32,194   0.0    6    -1
 8    mkrishnan       29,639   0.0    7    -1
 9    Eidorian        29,050   0.2    8    -1
10    rdowns          27,258   0.3   10     0
11    robbieduncan    24,480   0.0   11     0
12    Abstract        24,283   0.0   12     0
13    MRU             23,911   7.9   14    +1
14    SandboxGeneral  22,996   7.0   17    +3
15    jsw             22,810   0.1   13    -2
16    Weaselboy       22,708   8.0   19    +3
17    Mr. Anderson    22,409   0.0   15    -2
18    Hellhammer      22,076   0.7   16    -2
19    Blue Velvet     21,641   0.0   18    -1
20    Dagless         21,278   1.6   20     0
21    Scepticalscribe 21,107  23.1   38   +17
22    alphaod         21,046   0.5   21    -1
23    MacNut          19,839   1.2   24    +1
24    Jaffa Cake      19,801   0.0   22    -2
25    bartelby        19,790   0.0   23    -2
26    iGary           19,583   0.0   25    -1
27    miles01110      19,264   0.0   26    -1
28    PlaceofDis      19,232   0.0   27    -1
29    iBlue           19,174   0.0   28    -1
30    edesignuk       19,077   0.0   29    -1
31    balamw          18,892   1.3   30    -1
32    Peace           18,766   1.2   31    -1
33    Intell          18,449   0.6   33     0
34    ~Shard~         18,385   0.0   32    -2
35    MacDawg         18,263   0.7   34    -1
36    Nermal          17,806   1.2   36     0
37    dukebound85     17,693   0.4   35    -2
38    DoFoT9          17,462   0.0   37    -1
39    IJ Reilly       16,757   1.9   41    +2
40    -aggie-         16,711   0.0   39    -1
41    wdlove          16,570   0.0   40    -1
42    samcraig        16,404   2.0   43    +1
43    Rogifan         16,401   3.8   46    +3
44    WildCowboy      16,152   0.6   42    -2
45    ucfgrad93       16,019   2.4   48    +3
46    yellow          15,919   0.0   44    -2
47    dejo            15,727   0.0   45    -2
48    sushi           15,630   0.0   47    -1
49    devilot         15,532   0.0   49     0
50    AidenShaw       15,490   2.9  ---   ---

Columns:
Rank = Position in order by post count, 1 (highest) to 50.
Current Top 50 = members with the 50 currently highest post counts.
Cur Posts = # of posts by that member.
Cur Rate = average # posts per day by that member over the last 6 months.
Prev Rank = previous rank, as of 6 months ago (July 2016), or "---" for those who are new to the Top 50.
Delta Rank = change in rank, i.e., # of slots +higher or -lower in rank since 6 months ago.

Observations
  1. The minimum post count required to reach the Top 50 has increased by 231 posts since 6 months ago.

  2. With the highest post rate among the Top 50, an increase over previous rates, C DM has moved into the #5 position, passing Doctor Q, mad jew, mkrishnan, and Eidorian.

  3. The Top 10 is otherwise the same as 6 months ago.

  4. Among the Top 25, the new arrival is Scepticalscribe, posting at almost the same rate as top-ranked maflynn. Scepticalscribe was new to the Top 50 sixth months ago, but is now #21.

  5. AidenShaw has joined the Top 50, at #50, bumping out twoodcc, even though twoodcc still posts.

  6. Of the fifty members of the Top 50, 17 make at least 1 post per day, 12 post less frequently, and 21 are inactive in the forums.

  7. Largest rise in rank: Scepticalscribe, up 17 slots.

  8. Largest drop in rank: nobody dropped more than 1 or 2 slots. This is the first time this has occurred.

  9. Total posts by the Top 50: 1,120,901, which is 4.6% of all posts ever made at MacRumors. Over the last 6 months, the Top 50 made 2.4% of all forum posts.

Other stats and charts
 
Last edited:
This is the 28th edition of my semi-annual analysis of the MacRumors Top 50 Posters.

Previous "Top 50 Posters Extrapolated" threads:
2003 (July); 2004 (January, July); 2005 (January, July); 2006 (January, July); 2007 (January, July); 2008 (January, July); 2009 (January, July); 2010 (January, July); 2011 (January, July); 2012 (January, July); 2013 (January, July); 2014 (January, July); 2015 (January, July), 2016 (January, July)​

The legend of column headings follows each chart. Measurements were taken yesterday (January 3, 2017).


Chart #1: Current Top 50 Posters

Computed by Doctor Q in January 2017

Code:
                      Cur     Cur   Prev  Delta
Rank  Current Top 50  Posts   Rate  Rank  Rank
----  --------------- ------  ----  ----  -----
 1    maflynn         51,577  23.2    1     0
 2    GGJstudios      43,859   0.1    2     0
 3    Applejuiced     37,721   9.8    3     0
 4    GoCubsGo        35,719   0.2    4     0
 5    C DM            34,497  36.4    9    +4
 6    Doctor Q        33,854   0.7    5    -1
 7    mad jew         32,194   0.0    6    -1
 8    mkrishnan       29,639   0.0    7    -1
 9    Eidorian        29,050   0.2    8    -1
10    rdowns          27,258   0.3   10     0
11    robbieduncan    24,480   0.0   11     0
12    Abstract        24,283   0.0   12     0
13    MRU             23,911   7.9   14    +1
14    SandboxGeneral  22,996   7.0   17    +3
15    jsw             22,810   0.1   13    -2
16    Weaselboy       22,708   8.0   19    +3
17    Mr. Anderson    22,409   0.0   15    -2
18    Hellhammer      22,076   0.7   16    -2
19    Blue Velvet     21,641   0.0   18    -1
20    Dagless         21,278   1.6   20     0
21    Scepticalscribe 21,107  23.1   38   +17
22    alphaod         21,046   0.5   21    -1
23    MacNut          19,839   1.2   24    +1
24    Jaffa Cake      19,801   0.0   22    -2
25    bartelby        19,790   0.0   23    -2
26    iGary           19,583   0.0   25    -1
27    miles01110      19,264   0.0   26    -1
28    PlaceofDis      19,232   0.0   27    -1
29    iBlue           19,174   0.0   28    -1
30    edesignuk       19,077   0.0   29    -1
31    balamw          18,892   1.3   30    -1
32    Peace           18,766   1.2   31    -1
33    Intell          18,449   0.6   33     0
34    ~Shard~         18,385   0.0   32    -2
35    MacDawg         18,263   0.7   34    -1
36    Nermal          17,806   1.2   36     0
37    dukebound85     17,693   0.4   35    -2
38    DoFoT9          17,462   0.0   37    -1
39    IJ Reilly       16,757   1.9   41    +2
40    -aggie-         16,711   0.0   39    -1
41    wdlove          16,570   0.0   40    -1
42    samcraig        16,404   2.0   43    +1
43    Rogifan         16,401   3.8   46    +3
44    WildCowboy      16,152   0.6   42    -2
45    ucfgrad93       16,019   2.4   48    +3
46    yellow          15,919   0.0   44    -2
47    dejo            15,727   0.0   45    -2
48    sushi           15,630   0.0   47    -1
49    devilot         15,532   0.0   49     0
50    AidenShaw       15,490   2.9  ---   ---

Columns:
Rank = Position in order by post count, 1 (highest) to 50.
Current Top 50 = members with the 50 currently highest post counts.
Cur Posts = # of posts by that member.
Cur Rate = average # posts per day by that member over the last 6 months.
Prev Rank = previous rank, as of 6 months ago (July 2016), or "---" for those who are new to the Top 50.
Delta Rank = change in rank, i.e., # of slots +higher or -lower in rank since 6 months ago.

Observations
  1. The minimum post count required to reach the Top 50 has increased by 231 posts since 6 months ago.

  2. With the highest post rate among the Top 50, an increase over previous rates, C DM has moved into the #5 position, passing Doctor Q, mad jew, mkrishnan, and Eidorian.

  3. The Top 10 is otherwise the same as 6 months ago.

  4. Among the Top 25, the new arrival is Scepticalscribe, posting at almost the same rate as top-ranked maflynn. Scepticalscribe was new to the Top 50 sixth months ago, but is now #21.

  5. AidenShaw has joined the Top 50, at #50, bumping out twoodcc, even though twoodcc still posts.

  6. Of the fifty members of the Top 50, 17 make at least 1 post per day, 12 post less frequently, and 21 are inactive in the forums.

  7. Largest rise in rank: Scepticalscribe, up 17 slots.

  8. Largest drop in rank: nobody dropped more than 1 or 2 slots. This is the first time this has occurred.

  9. Total posts by the Top 50: 1,120,901, which is 4.6% of all posts ever made at MacRumors. Over the last 6 months, the Top 50 made 2.4% of all forum posts.

Other stats and charts
  • Current Top 50 Posters (Chart #1, this post)

  • 6-Month Projected Top 50 Posters (Chart #2), coming soon

  • "End of Time" Top 50 Posters (Chart #3), coming soon

  • Currently Active Top 50 Posters (Chart #4), coming soon

How sad am I?

I love reading this stuff.

Indeed, I have loved reading it since I joined the forum.

Actually, I remember reading this stuff in my early days at MR, and idly wondering who all of these strange individuals were, with insanely high post counts and bizarre titles.

Never did it cross my mind that my nom de plume would one day feature on such a list.

But, thanks @Doctor Q once again for compiling such stats and taking the trouble to post about them: nerd heaven, and much appreciated.
 
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6-Month Projections

Chart #2: 6-Month Projected Top 50 Posters

Computed by Doctor Q in January 2017

Code:
Proj  Projection      Proj    Cur   Delta
Rank  Jul 4, 2017     Posts   Rank  Rank
----  --------------- ------  ----  -----
 1    maflynn         55,801    1     0
 2    GGJstudios      43,885    2     0
 3    C DM            41,120    5    +2
 4    Applejuiced     39,498    3    -1
 5    GoCubsGo        35,761    4    -1
 6    Doctor Q        33,981    6     0
 7    mad jew         32,194    7     0
 8    mkrishnan       29,640    8     0
 9    Eidorian        29,082    9     0
10    rdowns          27,315   10     0
11    MRU             25,355   13    +2
12    Scepticalscribe 25,308   21    +9
13    robbieduncan    24,480   11    -2
14    Abstract        24,285   12    -2
15    SandboxGeneral  24,267   14    -1
16    Weaselboy       24,171   16     0
17    jsw             22,810   15    -2
18    Mr. Anderson    22,409   17    -1
19    Hellhammer      22,201   18    -1
20    Blue Velvet     21,644   19    -1
21    Dagless         21,573   20    -1
22    alphaod         21,138   22     0
23    MacNut          20,049   23     0
24    Jaffa Cake      19,801   24     0
25    bartelby        19,790   25     0
26    iGary           19,583   26     0
27    miles01110      19,264   27     0
28    PlaceofDis      19,232   28     0
29    iBlue           19,174   29     0
30    balamw          19,120   31    +1
31    edesignuk       19,077   30    -1
32    Peace           18,983   32     0
33    Intell          18,552   33     0
34    MacDawg         18,389   35    +1
35    ~Shard~         18,385   34    -1
36    Nermal          18,022   36     0
37    dukebound85     17,768   37     0
38    DoFoT9          17,462   38     0
39    Apple fanboy    17,191  ---   ---
40    IJ Reilly       17,101   39    -1
41    Rogifan         17,084   43    +2
42    samcraig        16,776   42     0
43    -aggie-         16,712   40    -3
44    wdlove          16,570   41    -3
45    ucfgrad93       16,457   45     0
46    WildCowboy      16,261   44    -2
47    kdarling        16,159  ---   ---
48    AidenShaw       16,026   50    +2
49    yellow          15,919   46    -3
50    eyoungren       15,779  ---   ---

Columns:
  1. Proj Rank = Projected position in order by post count, 1 (highest) to 50.
  2. Projection Jul 4, 2017 = members with the 50 highest projected post counts based on current post count and rate for the last 6 months.
  3. Proj Posts = projected # of posts by that member.
  4. Cur Rank = current rank, as of January 2017 (see Chart #1 above), or "---" for those who are not in the current Top 50.
  5. Delta Rank = projected change in rank, i.e., # of slots +higher or -lower in rank over the next 6 months.

Observations
  1. maflynn, retaining the top spot, is projected to cross the 55,000 threshold.

  2. C DM is projected to pass Applejuiced and GoCubsGo to take over third place, behind second place GGJstudios.

  3. Within the Top 25, MRU and Scepticalscribe advance, pushing a few others down a slot of two.

  4. The only other increases in rank are balamw, MacDawg, Rogifan, and AidenShaw.

  5. Largest rise in rank: Scepticalscribe, up 9 slots.

  6. Largest drop in rank: -aggie-, wdlove, and yellow, each down 3 slots.

  7. Projected to join the Top 50: Apple fanboy, kdarling, and eyoungren.

  8. Projected to exit the Top 50: dejo, sushi, and devilot. Interestingly, all three are moderators or former moderators.

  9. In a Top 100 list, arn would rank #64 as of today and would be projected at #68 in six months.
 
Fascinating.

Of course, circumstances - personal, professional - and just the standard interventions of what is called real life - can have dramatic effects on how active one's presence is (and how dedicated one's participation is) when posting here.

But, nevertheless, still fascinating to read. Thank you, @Doctor Q.
 
Hmmm ... and I got 14 of those Top 50 on my IGNORE list ... wonder what the correlation is?

I have no idea, but I assume that the question as posed in this post is intended to be rhetorical.

And, anyway, why ever would that be? I shall not even hazard a guess as to names.

Nevertheless, for the record, I have nobody whatsoever on mine.
 
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If I don't ignore them I'll get suspended, again.

Oh, I see.

Fair enough.

Thanks for the courtesy of a reply.

On topic, I have long found the intelligent analysis of stats - such as demographics - absolutely fascinating, and this is equally so.

Moreover, as is the strange way of having been a part of a community for a while, I do recall reading a similar set of stats over eight years ago, - the first such list I had read posted by @Doctor Q - and not knowing or recognising any of the names, something which is - obviously - not at all the case now.

These days, I do know quite a number of those who post prolifically, and some who don't.
 
If I wasn't a MacRumors regular, I'd probably be counting and computing something else, like the number of newborns whose names start with each letter of the alphabet.

Count_von_Count.png
 
Ha!

Some of the folks on that list I have never seen post before!

Yes, @ucfgrad93 is right; some of the people on that list used to post regularly ages ago.

Indeed, there are some whom I remember but who are no longer active - and there are some - @mad jew is the obvious example - whom I have never even seen post, and who had ceased posting well before I had even joined the forum.
 
6-Month Projections

Chart #2: 6-Month Projected Top 50 Posters

Computed by Doctor Q in January 2017

Code:
Proj  Projection      Proj    Cur   Delta
Rank  Jul 4, 2017     Posts   Rank  Rank
----  --------------- ------  ----  -----
 1    maflynn         55,801    1     0
 2    GGJstudios      43,885    2     0
 3    C DM            41,120    5    +2
 4    Applejuiced     39,498    3    -1
 5    GoCubsGo        35,761    4    -1
 6    Doctor Q        33,981    6     0
 7    mad jew         32,194    7     0
 8    mkrishnan       29,640    8     0
 9    Eidorian        29,082    9     0
10    rdowns          27,315   10     0
11    MRU             25,355   13    +2
12    Scepticalscribe 25,308   21    +9
13    robbieduncan    24,480   11    -2
14    Abstract        24,285   12    -2
15    SandboxGeneral  24,267   14    -1
16    Weaselboy       24,171   16     0
17    jsw             22,810   15    -2
18    Mr. Anderson    22,409   17    -1
19    Hellhammer      22,201   18    -1
20    Blue Velvet     21,644   19    -1
21    Dagless         21,573   20    -1
22    alphaod         21,138   22     0
23    MacNut          20,049   23     0
24    Jaffa Cake      19,801   24     0
25    bartelby        19,790   25     0
26    iGary           19,583   26     0
27    miles01110      19,264   27     0
28    PlaceofDis      19,232   28     0
29    iBlue           19,174   29     0
30    balamw          19,120   31    +1
31    edesignuk       19,077   30    -1
32    Peace           18,983   32     0
33    Intell          18,552   33     0
34    MacDawg         18,389   35    +1
35    ~Shard~         18,385   34    -1
36    Nermal          18,022   36     0
37    dukebound85     17,768   37     0
38    DoFoT9          17,462   38     0
39    Apple fanboy    17,191  ---   ---
40    IJ Reilly       17,101   39    -1
41    Rogifan         17,084   43    +2
42    samcraig        16,776   42     0
43    -aggie-         16,712   40    -3
44    wdlove          16,570   41    -3
45    ucfgrad93       16,457   45     0
46    WildCowboy      16,261   44    -2
47    kdarling        16,159  ---   ---
48    AidenShaw       16,026   50    +2
49    yellow          15,919   46    -3
50    eyoungren       15,779  ---   ---

Columns:
  1. Proj Rank = Projected position in order by post count, 1 (highest) to 50.
  2. Projection Jul 4, 2017 = members with the 50 highest projected post counts based on current post count and rate for the last 6 months.
  3. Proj Posts = projected # of posts by that member.
  4. Cur Rank = current rank, as of January 2017 (see Chart #1 above), or "---" for those who are not in the current Top 50.
  5. Delta Rank = projected change in rank, i.e., # of slots +higher or -lower in rank over the next 6 months.

Observations
  1. maflynn, retaining the top spot, is projected to cross the 55,000 threshold.

  2. C DM is projected to pass Applejuiced and GoCubsGo to take over third place, behind second place GGJstudios.

  3. Within the Top 25, MRU and Scepticalscribe advance, pushing a few others down a slot of two.

  4. The only other increases in rank are balamw, MacDawg, Rogifan, and AidenShaw.

  5. Largest rise in rank: Scepticalscribe, up 9 slots.

  6. Largest drop in rank: -aggie-, wdlove, and yellow, each down 3 slots.

  7. Projected to join the Top 50: Apple fanboy, kdarling, and eyoungren.

  8. Projected to exit the Top 50: dejo, sushi, and devilot. Interestingly, all three are moderators or former moderators.

  9. In a Top 100 list, arn would rank #64 as of today and would be projected at #68 in six months.
Thanks for putting this together @Doctor Q. Your number crunching is looked forward to and much appreciated.
Predicted to make the top 50 hay? Who knew that someone with so little stuff (of worth) to say could join the MR heavyweights!

Of course I could get a social life and bow out, but not likely!
[doublepost=1483561174][/doublepost]
How sad am I?

I love reading this stuff.

Indeed, I have loved reading it since I joined the forum.

Actually, I remember reading this stuff in my early days at MR, and idly wondering who all of these strange individuals were, with insanely high post counts and bizarre titles.

Never did it cross my mind that my nom de plume would one day feature on such a list.

But, thanks @Doctor Q once again for compiling such stats and taking the trouble to post about them: nerd heaven, and much appreciated.
Not sad at all. Congrats on being this years big mover! Did you get a plaque?
 
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@Doctor Q will you be releasing the top 100? Just curious how the field plays out given you listed Arn at #64.
I picked 50 as a round number, once upon a time, and it could have been another number, but some of the prep work is proportional to the list size, so I don't plan to create longer official lists. However, to pick out the Top 50 I have to sort much larger lists, and I can see informally where other users land further down the sort order.
 
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Thanks for putting this together @Doctor Q. Your number crunching is looked forward to and much appreciated.
Predicted to make the top 50 hay? Who knew that someone with so little stuff (of worth) to say could join the MR heavyweights!

Of course I could get a social life and bow out, but not likely!
[doublepost=1483561174][/doublepost]
Not sad at all. Congrats on being this years big mover! Did you get a plaque?

No, no plaque, or one of those blue commemoration stones.

Six months ago, according to @Doctor Q, it appears that I was considered a 'big' mover as well.

To a certain extent, I have my mother to thank - in a bizarre, paradoxical way, as without my current life circumstances, I doubt that my posting would be quite as prolific as it is.

Nevertheless, MR is now a part of my life in a way that I never would have envisaged when I joined the forum in the summer of 2008.

However, - notwithstanding that - I never expected a set of circumstances to arise where I would play a large part in the forum itself.
 
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No, no plaque, or one of those blue commemoration stones.

Six months ago, I was a 'big' mover as well.

To a certain extent, I have my mother to thank - in a bizarre, paradoxical way, as without my current life circumstances, I doubt that my posting would be quite as prolific as it is.

Nevertheless, MR is now a part of my life in a way that I never would have envisaged when I joined the forum in the summer of 2008.

However, - notwithstanding that - I never expected a set of circumstances to arise where I would play a large part in the forum itself.
In many ways I can echo that sentiment.
 
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I picked 50 as a round number, once upon a time, and it could have been another number, but some of the prep work is proportional to the list size, so I don't plan to create longer official lists. However, to pick out the Top 50 I have to sort much larger lists, and I can see informally where other users land further down the sort order.

I can understand that. I remember being able to see where everyone was on the postings list. It was fun to go through and see all the different names and the number of posts they had.
 
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