Top 50 Posters Extrapolated, July 2014

[Doctor Q]

I'm not totally sure, but when Q comes along, I'm sure he can give the background history of why.

The question was why posts in certain forums don't count toward your total post count. The answer is that the total post count is meant to measure the level of participation in Apple-related discussions, in parallel with the purpose of the website. It's also a subtle encouragement not to forget the "on-topic" forums.

That's a fascinating look at things. Would you consider adding this to your list every six months now?

Sure. I've varied how I've analyzed the data from year to year based on what I'm curious about, and stuck with whatever has resulted in the most interest from everyone else.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Good suggestion, but it took some work to put the lists together. I used the data for the last 3 years (6 six-month intervals). Use the horizontal scrollbar to see the entire table.

Each of the 6 lists shows the Top 50 Posters during the preceding 6 months, and their post count during that period. No weighting is used.

It's interesting to see how the number of posts by the top poster fluctuates, and the number of posts by the 50th poster also fluctuates. It's also fun to notice how some users have a fairly consistent position (Applejuiced or gnasher729, for example) while others jump around in position (annk or balamw, for example). Some users have joined or left the lists, while overall 44% of the Top 50 6-month posters in the first and last lists are the same.


Top 50 Posts During Each 6-Month Period

Computed by Doctor Q in July 2014

Rank Jan-12          Posts  Jul-12          Posts  Jan-13          Posts  Jul-13          Posts  Jan-14          Posts  Jul-14          Posts
---- --------------- -----  --------------- -----  --------------- -----  --------------- -----  --------------- -----  --------------- -----
 1   GGJstudios       4770  GGJstudios       7124  GGJstudios       5717  simsaladimbamba  3147  maflynn          3708  maflynn          5267
 2   simsaladimbamba  3535  simsaladimbamba  5643  Applejuiced      4170  SandboxGeneral   2592  SandboxGeneral   2722  Weaselboy        2872
 3   KnightWRX        2984  maflynn          2797  maflynn          2685  maflynn          2427  Weaselboy        2469  SandboxGeneral   2149
 4   Applejuiced      2548  miles01110       2523  simsaladimbamba  2549  GGJstudios       2402  GGJstudios       1699  Rogifan          1824
 5   miles01110       2483  Applejuiced      2438  KnightWRX        2496  Applejuiced      2368  Bear             1681  Intell           1562
 6   maflynn          2381  KnightWRX        2376  samcraig         2129  Weaselboy        2118  Applejuiced      1630  Shrink           1411
 7   Hellhammer       1737  Peace            1707  GoCubsGo         2037  samcraig         2058  Macman45         1604  MacRumorUser     1393
 8   Surely           1625  GoCubsGo         1581  dhlizard         1412  MacRumorUser     1877  GoCubsGo         1425  Applejuiced      1140
 9   GoCubsGo         1490  balamw           1533  darngooddesign   1293  Macman45         1710  jav6454          1411  Renzatic         1092
10   samcraig         1318  r.j.s            1238  MacDawg          1236  Intell           1502  Intell           1364  IJ Reilly        1075
11   rdowns           1306  Surely           1161  annk             1147  Bear             1358  MacRumorUser     1345  samcraig         1050
12   Peace            1269  -aggie-          1150  stridemat        1118  Peace            1272  ucfgrad93        1298  Macman45         1019
13   r.j.s            1244  Bear              982  balamw           1070  gnasher729       1219  charlituna       1297  Huntn            1005
14   Doctor Q         1244  rdowns            920  ucfgrad93        1052  GoCubsGo         1202  gnasher729       1243  alphaod           998
15   MacDawg          1183  gnasher729        906  miles01110       1052  ucfgrad93        1103  Night Spring     1091  ucfgrad93         974
16   AidenShaw        1181  dejo              878  OllyW            1019  alphaod           992  darngooddesign   1004  simsaladimbamba   902
17   balamw           1028  kdarling          836  gnasher729        999  dhlizard          952  old-wiz           970  roadbloc          848
18   robbieduncan      997  Chupa Chupa       830  dejo              994  balamw            899  roadbloc          935  GGJstudios        793
19   kdarling          982  dhlizard          825  alphaod           875  KPOM              827  samcraig          923  kdarling          780
20   Jaffa Cake        976  AidenShaw         807  jav6454           864  jav6454           814  mcdj              863  gnasher729        777
21   stridemat         948  dukebound85       777  kdarling          864  darngooddesign    773  KPOM              840  BaldiMac          610
22   gnasher729        931  samcraig          757  dukebound85       855  daneoni           768  annk              836  charlituna        604
23   QuarterSwede      868  Small White Car   747  Peace             778  mrsir2009         752  BaldiMac          822  Chupa Chupa       589
24   Consultant        845  alphaod           727  daneoni           742  dejo              748  ChrisA            783  Bear              586
25   nanofrog          823  Jaffa Cake        718  Chupa Chupa       686  Night Spring      718  OllyW             773  Sky Blue          572
26   Eidorian          793  annk              709  Small White Car   645  Chupa Chupa       638  Chupa Chupa       735  Night Spring      563
27   Small White Car   791  stridemat         648  Doctor Q          642  SnowLeopard2008   625  cube              706  mattopotamus      537
28   OllyW             752  daneoni           634  flopticalcube     636  stridemat         595  kdarling          703  dejo              529
29   mkrishnan         665  MacDawg           630  MacRumorUser      633  Nermal            585  alphaod           686  rhett7660         529
30   alphaod           610  rhett7660         595  Jaffa Cake        594  SilentPanda       510  dhlizard          683  blueroom          518
31   darngooddesign    605  Doctor Q          586  MacNut            539  KnightWRX         506  simsaladimbamba   666  MacNut            505
32   dukebound85       598  OllyW             585  SilentPanda       531  dukebound85       505  balamw            659  cube              489
33   annk              593  Lord Blackadder   579  Surely            520  old-wiz           484  IJ Reilly         647  Peace             488
34   yg17              591  Consultant        579  AidenShaw         517  ChrisA            465  Peace             638  GoCubsGo          462
35   rhett7660         588  robbieduncan      577  rhett7660         517  AidenShaw         464  dejo              621  AidenShaw         457
36   MisterMe          549  yg17              570  NT1440            460  robbieduncan      447  robbieduncan      594  Lord Blackadder   451
37   Dagless           548  ucfgrad93         526  thejadedmonkey    448  rhett7660         412  SilentPanda       568  dhlizard          451
38   diamond.g         540  Hellhammer        491  r.j.s             435  thejadedmonkey    399  MacNut            537  OllyW             425
39   aristobrat        538  aristobrat        490  aristobrat        431  IJ Reilly         375  twoodcc           535  ChrisA            405
40   TwinCities Dan    529  Eidorian          480  jsw               429  Jaffa Cake        370  stridemat         532  NT1440            396
41   Kilamite          526  Kilamite          475  Nermal            410  Small White Car   369  rhett7660         530  Doctor Q          372
42   arn               511  thejadedmonkey    457  SnowLeopard2008   343  OllyW             359  Nermal            514  thejadedmonkey    351
43   dejo              509  MacNut            436  robbieduncan      333  notjustjay        348  Doctor Q          500  yg17              332
44   appleguy123       508  LethalWolfe       402  Dagless           324  cube              331  milo              495  balamw            331
45   MacRumorUser      501  IJ Reilly         395  840quadra         314  Digital Skunk     330  AidenShaw         488  Digital Skunk     327
46   jav6454           488  TwinCities Dan    395  Eidorian          300  Lord Blackadder   322  aristobrat        428  SilentPanda       304
47   Nermal            477  QuarterSwede      390  IJ Reilly         297  MacNut            318  Consultant        420  Nermal            299
48   Lord Blackadder   472  Digital Skunk     389  MisterMe          288  grapes911         290  Sky Blue          407  annk              299
49   dmr727            469  twoodcc           386  Lord Blackadder   276  aristobrat        282  840quadra         364  milo              294
50   Chupa Chupa       464  MisterMe          373  ChrisA            271  NT1440            256  thejadedmonkey    346  old-wiz           290

Interesting, presumably this is made up of only posters on your tracking list? Is it possible that someone posted at a high rate in a six month period, but didn't show up on this list because they have a low total post count?

 

[Doctor Q]

Interesting, presumably this is made up of only posters on your tracking list? Is it possible that someone posted at a high rate in a six month period, but didn't show up on this list because they have a low total post count?

You're correct and it's quite possible. Posters who had a high posting rate but not for long enough to accumulate, say, 5000 posts, probably never made it onto my radar scope. I don't have raw data to dig them up after the fact either.

 

[samiwas]

Good suggestion, but it took some work to put the lists together. I used the data for the last 3 years (6 six-month intervals). Use the horizontal scrollbar to see the entire table.

Each of the 6 lists shows the Top 50 Posters during the preceding 6 months, and their post count during that period. No weighting is used.

It's interesting to see how the number of posts by the top poster fluctuates, and the number of posts by the 50th poster also fluctuates. It's also fun to notice how some users have a fairly consistent position (Applejuiced or gnasher729, for example) while others jump around in position (annk or balamw, for example). Some users have joined or left the lists, while overall 44% of the Top 50 6-month posters in the first and last lists are the same.

That's really cool! Thanks for doing this! I wish it included sub forum numbers (like PRSI) because I know there are people who would be in the top five for sure.

EDIT: Just saw your explanation above.

 

[Apple fanboy]

You're correct and it's quite possible. Posters who had a high posting rate but not for long enough to accumulate, say, 5000 posts, probably never made it onto my radar scope. I don't have raw data to dig them up after the fact either.

Defiantly possible. I must easily hit 800 posts in a 6 month period. That's nearly top 20 in the current form tables.
Very interesting.
Good news is I'll hit the 5000 barrier in the next 6 months!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I just thought about another statistic you might have access to.
What about the overall daily post count, could you make that into a top 50 list?

 

[maflynn]

I just thought about another statistic you might have access to.
What about the overall daily post count, could you make that into a top 50 list?

I wonder if that would take too much work, it would be interesting to see how that turns out, but it may require a lot more work on Q's part to number crunch. I guess it depends on what level of detail he has access too and how easily can crunch those numbers in Excel.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I just thought about another statistic you might have access to.
What about the overall daily post count, could you make that into a top 50 list?

Over what period? The last 6 months?

----------

I wonder if that would take too much work, it would be interesting to see how that turns out, but it may require a lot more work on Q's part to number crunch. I guess it depends on what level of detail he has access too and how easily can crunch those numbers in Excel.

As Q only stores data for the posters with over 5000 posts, I don't think he could manage a daily post count without a lot more work.

 

[Doctor Q]

I make periodic snapshots of the post counts for users with high enough post counts, so I don't have data for daily counts.

 

[S.B.G]

so many posts, do they login this forum all day long ? Or browsing this forum is all to their online surfing. Not sure but interesting to see such data!

Everyone's life situation and habits are different. I usually have MacRumors open in a tab all day long, even if I'm not actively browsing around or participating.

 

[maflynn]

so many posts, do they login this forum all day long ? Or browsing this forum is all to their online surfing. Not sure but interesting to see such data!

I'm on mostly in the early morning time frame (early morning for my time zone). I'll poke in as the day wears on, but my involvement decreases as my day fills up with work tasks.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Whilst watching TV or on my computer most evenings. Sometimes on my lunch break.

 

[S.B.G]

I see, perhaps that is where your interest lies in. Similarly I leave a forum on autos open most of the time when I am online, lol!

Yep. MacRumors is a big interest to me. Lot's of stuff going on in all sorts of topics and lot's of people to chat with here. I enjoy my time spent with folks from all over the world here.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yep. MacRumors is a big interest to me. Lot's of stuff going on in all sorts of topics and lot's of people to chat with here. I enjoy my time spent with folks from all over the world here. Image

Oh, yes. Completely agree.

That is one of the extraordinary things about this forum (and the sort of technological development which has allowed it to come to pass); twenty years ago, one had to write letters by hand, or make (rare, because often quite expensive) phone calls if one wanted to stay in touch with people in other countries.

Actually, it is one of the really fun things about this forum: I have daily (or nightly) conversations about topics of mutual interest with people I have never met, whose names I do not know, from across the globe, and it is an extremely enjoyable and interesting experience.

I have learned a lot. And - somewhat to my surprise, because this was not what I thought I had in mind when I joined MR - I joined merely to ask a question about my brand new MBP as I had recently switched to Apple - I have come to cherish and truly enjoy some of these relationships, a few of which seem to have become friends. Life is full of extraordinary experiences.

 

[jav6454]

The Internet... where would we be without it? Perhaps, Blockbuster would still be charging us those exorbitant return fees, we wouldn't think of Best Buy, et all as Amazon's show rooms.

 

[Apple fanboy]

For those of us who are old enough to remember life before the Internet, home computers, mobile phones or tablets, I do wonder what the current generation think of us dinosaurs.
I can recall my dad talking about when they first had a TV and as a child thinking he was ancient.
Now we think nothing of looking stuff up online or striking up a friendship with a group of people on a forum.
I came here looking for advice on when to buy an iPhone, and am still here talking with people everyday I'll never meet.
Long may it continue.

 

[S.B.G]

The Internet... where would we be without it? Perhaps, Blockbuster would still be charging us those exorbitant return fees, we wouldn't think of Best Buy, et all as Amazon's show rooms.

For those of us who are old enough to remember life before the Internet, home computers, mobile phones or tablets, I do wonder what the current generation think of us dinosaurs.
I can recall my dad talking about when they first had a TV and as a child thinking he was ancient.
Now we think nothing of looking stuff up online or striking up a friendship with a group of people on a forum.
I came here looking for advice on when to buy an iPhone, and am still here talking with people everyday I'll never meet.
Long may it continue.

The only downside I have to our current, contemporary technology is the availability of instant communication, but, more so, the expectation of answering that instant communication. Most everyone has a cell phone now, and when you're called and choose not to answer it, people get upset that you didn't answer their call, because they know you have your phone with you.

Sometimes, I just want to get away and not be bothered and then later badgered for not answering right away. Gone are the days of having only a landline phone and not even an answering machine. When you left the house, no one could reach you and they'd have to try back again later.

That's not to say I think it's all bad, but there are times here and there that I wish I didn't have a cell phone at all.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The only downside I have to our current, contemporary technology is the availability of instant communication, but, more so, the expectation of answering that instant communication. Most everyone has a cell phone now, and when you're called and choose not to answer it, people get upset that you didn't answer their call, because they know you have your phone with you.

Sometimes, I just want to get away and not be bothered and then later badgered for not answering right away. Gone are the days of having only a landline phone and not even an answering machine. When you left the house, no one could reach you and they'd have to try back again later.

That's not to say I think it's all bad, but there are times here and there that I wish I didn't have a cell phone at all.

Yes, I can see what you mean. While there are may upsides to the wonders of communication, there are more than a few downsides, too, such as the idea that one ought to be permanently available (an idea I do my very best to discourage. Strongly).

My solution to that is 1) when I am out at night in our coffee shop or bar (both, here, in my current work environment), and, when I am at home, in say, a local pub, I leave my mobile/cell phone at home; that way, I devote my attention to those I am with.

My second solution is to stow my mobile (cell) phone in my briefcase during the day, especially if I am at meetings. It can chirrup chirrup away to its heart's content; after a decent interval, I will check to see who phoned; if it is important, I will return the call fairly promptly, if not, I will return it at my convenience. After all, some of this is about time management, and reclaiming, or simply claiming, time…...

 

[S.B.G]

Yes, I can see what you mean. While there are may upsides to the wonders of communication, there are more than a few downsides, too, such as the idea that one ought to be permanently available (an idea I do my very best to discourage. Strongly).

My solution to that is 1) when I am out at night in our coffee shop or bar (both, here, in my current work environment), and, when I am at home, in say, a local pub, I leave my mobile/cell phone at home; that way, I devote my attention to those I am with.

My second solution is to stow my mobile (cell) phone in my briefcase during the day, especially if I am at meetings. It can chirrup chirrup away to its heart's content; after a decent interval, I will check to see who phoned; if it is important, I will return the call fairly promptly, if not, I will return it at my convenience. After all, some of this is about time management, and reclaiming, or simply claiming, time…...

Thats a nice way to handle it. As for me, my current job requires me to be on call in a support capacity, so I can't effectively stow it away because I don't want to deal with it. Perhaps, someday, when I'm not on call anymore, I can leave the phone behind.

 

[iBlue]

Still in the top 25 without lifting a finger! As ever a mixture of shame and a little smugness.

As for the reasons many of the top posters have absconded, I think simply put: things change. Abstract, SkyBell (Cassie?) and Scepticalscribe wrote some pretty accurate details which I tend to agree with but the biggest reason for me - when I was posting prolifically it was before the likes of Twitter and Facebook. Eventually the site got bigger and less personal; rules evolved and started cramping my style; some of the interactions felt increasingly annoying; well that’s when I found more enjoyment in other/newer mediums of internet socialising. Separate or not to that I think I also became more interested in reading instead of doing the talking. I read A LOT. Novels, articles, and everything I ever wanted to learn about. It’s liberating. Lately there’s been a lot of catching up on TV and movies that I couldn’t bother with on slower internet. Now there is 100 meg and Netflix, etc. Nothing very dramatic drove me away, just a change in focus.

At the risk of cheesing it up, MR will always be special to me because of the people I’ve met and haven’t yet met but regularly talk to from here. Many people I don’t currently talk to still cross my mind from time to time. Some brilliant people have found their way here. I would know!

And thanks to Q for the stats! These threads always intrigue me back for a peek.

 

[stridemat]

Still in the top 25 without lifting a finger! As ever a mixture of shame and a little smugness.

As for the reasons many of the top posters have absconded, I think simply put: things change. Abstract, SkyBell (Cassie?) and Scepticalscribe wrote some pretty accurate details which I tend to agree with but the biggest reason for me - when I was posting prolifically it was before the likes of Twitter and Facebook. Eventually the site got bigger and less personal; rules evolved and started cramping my style; some of the interactions felt increasingly annoying; well that’s when I found more enjoyment in other/newer mediums of internet socialising. Separate or not to that I think I also became more interested in reading instead of doing the talking. I read A LOT. Novels, articles, and everything I ever wanted to learn about. It’s liberating. Lately there’s been a lot of catching up on TV and movies that I couldn’t bother with on slower internet. Now there is 100 meg and Netflix, etc. Nothing very dramatic drove me away, just a change in focus.

At the risk of cheesing it up, MR will always be special to me because of the people I’ve met and haven’t yet met but regularly talk to from here. Many people I don’t currently talk to still cross my mind from time to time. Some brilliant people have found their way here. I would know!

And thanks to Q for the stats! These threads always intrigue me back for a peek.

Nice to see here from you Blue

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Still in the top 25 without lifting a finger! As ever a mixture of shame and a little smugness.

As for the reasons many of the top posters have absconded, I think simply put: things change. Abstract, SkyBell (Cassie?) and Scepticalscribe wrote some pretty accurate details which I tend to agree with but the biggest reason for me - when I was posting prolifically it was before the likes of Twitter and Facebook. Eventually the site got bigger and less personal; rules evolved and started cramping my style; some of the interactions felt increasingly annoying; well that’s when I found more enjoyment in other/newer mediums of internet socialising. Separate or not to that I think I also became more interested in reading instead of doing the talking. I read A LOT. Novels, articles, and everything I ever wanted to learn about. It’s liberating. Lately there’s been a lot of catching up on TV and movies that I couldn’t bother with on slower internet. Now there is 100 meg and Netflix, etc. Nothing very dramatic drove me away, just a change in focus.

At the risk of cheesing it up, MR will always be special to me because of the people I’ve met and haven’t yet met but regularly talk to from here. Many people I don’t currently talk to still cross my mind from time to time. Some brilliant people have found their way here. I would know!

And thanks to Q for the stats! These threads always intrigue me back for a peek.

Very nice to see you dropping in to say a quick hello and welcome back.

Basically, the factors which give rise to active participation, times of participation, and duration of same are all - in my experience - down to circumstances.

At the moment, I am working abroad, (and have been doing so for most of the last good few years) and am online quite often during the day, most - but not all - days. Depending on other activities, time constraints, deadlines for reports, I drop in here a few times a day, or several times a day, and check the areas I am interested in.

 

[Doctor Q]

What a treat to hear from iBlue! Please send me a PM or an email so we can catch up.

I agree that the rise of social media in all its forms has made it unnecessary to use a forum site as a place for the constant stream of chatter we now create and consume by other means.

I predict that Apple will soon announce iThink, a brainwave monitoring cap with an Apple logo that we'll all wear. Your thoughts will automatically be tweeted, messaged to your contact list, and posted to Facebook, as well as synced to all of your computers and devices. The first version of iThink will be huge and awkward, like Pharrell Williams's hat. Apple will then return to its fruity-iMac marketing strategy with beanie copter models, before finally settling on a small and more tasteful raspberry beret. With Prince as spokesperson of course.

 

[Abstract]

At the moment, I am working abroad, (and have been doing so for most of the last good few years) and am online quite often during the day, most - but not all - days. Depending on other activities, time constraints, deadlines for reports, I drop in here a few times a day, or several times a day, and check the areas I am interested in.

I understand.

When I moved away from Canada in 2001, MR made me feel like I was still at home in Canada. This place was a dependable companion, even if I was only lurking at the time.

I became even more reliant on MR when I joined and started posting, because I became familiar with the members here, and these relationships were far more transportable than my real-world friendships.

Now, there's Facebook, and I'll never be given an ounce of privacy ever again.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I understand.

When I moved away from Canada in 2001, MR made me feel like I was still at home in Canada. This place was a dependable companion, even if I was only lurking at the time.

I became even more reliant on MR when I joined and started posting, because I became familiar with the members here, and these relationships were far more transportable than my real-world friendships.

Now, there's Facebook, and I'll never be given an ounce of privacy ever again.

Very nice post.

Actually, MR is my only online foray into some version of social media. Unlike what may appear to be much of the world, I am not on FB, and don't really 'get' it.

To be candid, I like my privacy, and my personal space, and value both. However, I also like the fact that I can participate in a congenial online community (MR) - which is the sort of place where most people seem to find their own level or find likeminded friends in whatever threads and fora interest them. Above all, and this did surprise me, I find that enjoy the anonymity of the place; it is a strangely soothing place, where I drop in to say hello to a bunch of online friends whose real names I do not know, for the most part. Strange, but wonderful. It is not what I would have ever expected to find myself doing as recently as a decade ago…..