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I wonder how many of us went silent after the iPhone.

I worked as a channel operator on the MacRumors IRC channel before the iPhone, and then, as a moderator in the forums through the first generation iPhone. The attitudes got to me, along with my failing health.

I still remember some crazy person at the original Orlando, FL Apple store pushing an iPhone inches away from my face, telling me how beautiful it was and all that. Things have calmed a bit, and I even have an iPhone now.
Well done parts of the forum are still a bit insane for my tastes. But many of the people on here are good company.
Anyway hope you stick around for a bit and see how things have changed.
 
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Well done parts of the forum are still a bit insane for my tastes. But many of the people on here are good company.
Anyway hope you stick around for a bit and see how things have changed.

Thanks! I hope to weather the storm again.

I replied to the Olympus is dead or whatever thread, and I awakened to the raw enthusiasm of one member in particular. I would have been shocked but the early days of the iPhone were much more aggressive, and dealing with Covid-19 nut cases on a daily basis, rarely am I shocked. Ha! :oops:
 
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I wonder how many of us went silent after the iPhone.

I worked as a channel operator on the MacRumors IRC channel before the iPhone, and then, as a moderator in the forums through the first generation iPhone. The attitudes got to me, along with my failing health.

I still remember some crazy person at the original Orlando, FL Apple store pushing an iPhone inches away from my face, telling me how beautiful it was and all that. Things have calmed a bit, and I even have an iPhone now.

Yes, I have noticed that the tone of some posts on some of the iPhone threads can be rather intemperate, and do my best to give them a wide berth.

I only succumbed to the purchase of an iPhone (an SE) two years ago, and, at least once a week, still lament that my lovely little clam phone is no longer in use, and debate whether I should revert to pre-smart phone existence.

Well done parts of the forum are still a bit insane for my tastes. But many of the people on here are good company.
Anyway hope you stick around for a bit and see how things have changed.

Agreed.
Thanks! I hope to weather the storm again.

I replied to the Olympus is dead or whatever thread, and I awakened to the raw enthusiasm of one member in particular. I would have been shocked but the early days of the iPhone were much more aggressive, and dealing with Covid-19 nut cases on a daily basis, rarely am I shocked. Ha! :oops:

Well, I hope that you do stick around; it is fun - and interesting - to have the perspective of those who were here from the early days.
 
Yes, I have noticed that the tone of some posts on some of the iPhone threads can be rather intemperate, and do my best to give them a wide berth.

I only succumbed to the purchase of an iPhone (an SE) two years ago, and, at least once a week, still lament that my lovely little clam phone is no longer in use, and debate whether I should revert to pre-smart phone existence.



Agreed.


Well, I hope that you do stick around; it is fun - and interesting - to have the perspective of those who were here from the early days.

Thanks!

My Motorola StarTac was my most-desired phone and I used it for four years. Two years later, it still had battery power. I considered using it again, but getting accessories for it was difficult and I used my Samsung Blade as a 3G data modem connected to my PowerComputing Power Center and PowerBook G4. It wasn't much of a phone, but in 2005/2006 EVDO had good speed.

The one thing to remember is that people will always have unrealistic expectations, followed by harsh reality, followed by the gnashing of teeth, followed by a temporary ban.
 
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Who is the rookie of the year?
I don't know, since we've never used that title for anyone.

We usually mention debuts into the Top 50 (unless I miss someone, which has happened). This time the only one was @cmaier.

The statistics are done semi-annually, so we won't know which Top-50 debutant had the largest overall increase in rank until January 2021.
 
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In regards to post counts, are mod posts counted that are made in the back room, or does the stats for moderator members only count what a normal user would accrue?

I would assume that mod posts "made in the back room" (as opposed to on the threads in the forum) would not count any more than DM (or posts) between members would count towards one's post count total.

It is a different form of communication, and one that is private.

Actually, I would be astounded if "back room" private communications between mods and/or admins counted towards a total post count.
 
I would assume that mod posts "made in the back room" (as opposed to on the threads in the forum) would not count any more than DM (or posts) between members would count towards one's post count total.

It is a different form of communication, and one that is private.

Actually, I would be astounded if "back room" private communications between mods and/or admins counted towards a total post count.
I am inclined to think it wouldn’t. However, some of the mods have a very high scribe like post average per week, which is amazing. That is what got me wondering.
 
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I am inclined to think it wouldn’t. However, some of the mods have a very high scribe like post average per week, which is amazing. That is what got me wondering.

Not really.

There are very good reasons for high post counts.

No more than @Apple fanboy, who has explained this particular phenomenon earlier, "scribe" like post count averages can happen when you don't have a social life. Or, any sort of life outside of work.

My stratospheric post count happened because my mother was diagnosed with dementia, and, for a while, I was her main carer, the carer who had responsibility for her care needs.

So, for a period of around eight years, I either worked abroad in war zones, or conflict zones, or was at home with ultimate responsibility for the care of my mother, even when a wonderful Filipina carer came to live with us in 2013 (and remained with us for six years) providing for my mother's increasing care needs.

That put paid to any social life whenever I was home; there were years when I would have had perhaps two or three outings in six or eight months. So, the online world, reading, music, all offered welcome outlets.

The thing is, one becomes habituated, used to, acclimatised to, this way of communication, and this way of life.

As a former student of mine, now a friend of mine, the best student I ever taught, five first class honours degrees, and one autistic son, put it to me a few years ago, "it's like a lobster in boiling water, with the temperature gradually increased, you become used to anything, because you have to."

And, when things do change (because this is the inevitable way of life), one realises that one has adapted to these circumstances so well, that, in way, one has become a little like a prisoner who is bewildered by the fact that life is no longer a case of having to answer to the chimes of a clock set by others.

And, while my mother is no longer with us (and I am profoundly grateful for the fact that we were able to care for her, superbly, at home until the end), the advent of Covid-19 has meant - again, living a sort of remote existence, one where you are not communicating with people face to face for very good reason - and also, that the sort of work I do has been put on hold, not least for the very good reason that much of it (and a surprising amount of my work falls under the heading of international election observation) takes place in some of the most dysfunctional countries on the planet.

So, that, too, means that I have become habituated to, acclimatised to, used to, this form of communication; and, with plays (theatres), art galleries, museums, pubs, restaurants, book shops, coffee shops, - the kind of places I do like - all shut, on account of Covid-19 restrictions, and my family countless miles away (I haven't seen my brothers since Christmas), phone, email, and the online world remain a necessary, welcome and vital means of communication.

And very happy we are (or, I am) that they do.
 
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Just stumbled upon this thread and saw that my user name pops up now and then -- wow! Yeah, I guess I am rather gabby, so being among the "prolific posters" makes perfect sense! :). Also, since I contribute images on a daily basis to the Photo-of-the-Day thread, that, too, kind of racks up the post count as well, come to think of it.....

Wow, so I'm Number 112 -- maybe next time I'll be able to nudge my way into the top 100 posters!!
 
Just stumbled upon this thread and saw that my user name pops up now and then -- wow! Yeah, I guess I am rather gabby, so being among the "prolific posters" makes perfect sense! :). Also, since I contribute images on a daily basis to the Photo-of-the-Day thread, that, too, kind of racks up the post count as well, come to think of it.....

Wow, so I'm Number 112 -- maybe next time I'll be able to nudge my way into the top 100 posters!!

Actually, I have absolutely no doubt that you will make a dramatic entrance to the ranks of the legendary "top 100" within a matter of mere months, @Clix Pix.
 
LOL! Even though I always say that I'm not all that concerned about post counts and such, it would be rather fun to be in the top 100 posters! Well, I shall continue to post in my customary way, not going to deliberately run up my post count just for the heck of it....... Huh, just had to look to see what my current post count is, and it's heading in the direction of 11,000. I guess I AM rather gabby!
 
Episode 2 of "In Pursuit of Doctor Q"

In our last episode, @applefanboy was in hot pursuit of arch-villain @Doctor Evil @Doctor Q.

The latest weekly stats show that our intrepid hero has maintained an increased post rate from roughly the end of June, and will likely overtake the dastardly Q even sooner than previously projected.

Extract of Table 1:
Code:
      Current Top 50    Cur    1-Mo   Cur    Delta   Prev  Delta  1-Mo   Likes  Avg of one
Rank  on 2020-08-09     Posts  Posts  Rate   Rate    Rank  Rank   Likes  /Post  post every 
----  ----------------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ----  -----  -----  -----  ----------
...
  6   Doctor Q          38099    111   3.00   -0.62    6      0     175   1.58   8h 0.0m 
  7   Apple fanboy      37864    956  25.84  +10.53    7      0    1246   1.30   0h 55.7m

The graph shows the increased rate (slope increase):
GRAPH-66--detail-2.gif

The new calculation of the crossover date is left as an exercise for the reader (vide supra).
 
Episode 2 of "In Pursuit of Doctor Q"

In our last episode, @applefanboy was in hot pursuit of arch-villain @Doctor Evil @Doctor Q.

The latest weekly stats show that our intrepid hero has maintained an increased post rate from roughly the end of June, and will likely overtake the dastardly Q even sooner than previously projected.

Extract of Table 1:
Code:
      Current Top 50    Cur    1-Mo   Cur    Delta   Prev  Delta  1-Mo   Likes  Avg of one
Rank  on 2020-08-09     Posts  Posts  Rate   Rate    Rank  Rank   Likes  /Post  post every
----  ----------------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ----  -----  -----  -----  ----------
...
  6   Doctor Q          38099    111   3.00   -0.62    6      0     175   1.58   8h 0.0m
  7   Apple fanboy      37864    956  25.84  +10.53    7      0    1246   1.30   0h 55.7m

The graph shows the increased rate (slope increase):
View attachment 942919
The new calculation of the crossover date is left as an exercise for the reader (vide supra).
I try my best. It will be interesting to see the effect of reducing the post merge from 5 minutes to 1 minute will do to your next batch of statistics. I suspect you will see a spike from most, and that may well have had an effect on my current increase in count. Either that or its too hot to sleep at night!
 
Monthly?

Perhaps quarterly, to start with.
If we are really going to have “fun with graphs,” we need a regular viewing. It also helps keep everyone on their proverbial forum toes. And seeing how Chown has highlighted an ongoing rivalry with the AFB Saga found in chapter 2 of “Mrs. AFB wonders why I can’t sleep at night”, every 6 months just won’t suffice for those that want the posting noir drama. :)

Every six months and I have completely forgotten about it, until the thread pops up.
 
Every times these posts come out I nervously search my name thinking "Do I have a problem? Do I have a problem? Do I have a problem??"

Nope, no problem. I can quit anytime I want...
 
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