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POLL: Why do we have so many members, yet hardly any of them post?

Discussion in 'Sorcerous Sundries' started by Shell, Aug 21, 2003.

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  1. Shell

    Shell Awww, come and give me a big hug!

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    Remove all ads!
    Why do we have so many members, yet there are only a few who post? What do you think?

    Poll Information
    This poll contains 1 question(s). 49 user(s) have voted.
    You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

    Poll Results: Why do we have so many members, yet hardly any of them post? (49 votes.)

    Why do we have so many members, yet hardly any of them post? (Choose 1)
    * Most people only come on SP to look for advice, and since they find it already posted, they don't need to post - 49% (24)
    * People are lazy - 8% (4)
    * They are evil spies who just want to copy things for their own websites - 4% (2)
    * Alot of people would rather just look at the site rather than interacting with the other members - 29% (14)
    * I'm only voting to see what everyone else said - 10% (5)
     
    Shell, Aug 21, 2003
    #1
  2. chevalier

    chevalier Knight of Everfull Chalice ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    Most of them only need advice and thus they only make a few posts - or not at all. Some will just look, too. Perhaps they don't consciously realise that they in fact need not register. Relatively low post counts might result from dial up connection and having to pay phone bills.
     
    chevalier, Aug 21, 2003
    #2
  3. 8people

    8people 8 is just another way of looking at infinite ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    [​IMG] I suppose some people might be nervous/shy to post, I felt a bit stupid when I first posted, I thought that the other members would probably not be very friendly, even though I'd been on the site for around a week before I joined.

    Some people might sign up, go away then forget and sign up again.

    things like putting the wrong e-mail, or realising your question is already answered might also affect things.

    Suppose we'll never know...
     
    8people, Aug 21, 2003
    #3
  4. Deathmage

    Deathmage Arrr! Veteran

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    Because you people have way too many rules?
     
    Deathmage, Aug 22, 2003
    #4
  5. Death Rabbit

    Death Rabbit Straight, no chaser Adored Veteran Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I don't buy option 3; you don't have to register for SP to download or view anything here. It doesn't make sense.

    (Just FYI - I posted a nearly identical topic to this in SS about a month ago. This one will probably get moved there soon.)
     
    Death Rabbit, Aug 22, 2003
    #5

  6. Kralizek Gems: 7/31
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    I guess many people need advice on something, then maybe try some few posts and then leave. With so many boards laying around it is easy to just switch from one to the other.
    I feel that having so many registered users means that a lot of folks do come here to search for answers. Praise to the community sticking here and providing answers !
     
    Kralizek, Aug 22, 2003
    #6

  7. DarkGoddess Gems: 9/31
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    I saw an option there that wasn't on the poll. Like, some people aren't all that talkative. Look at me! I've been here since December of last year, and I don't even have 200 posts. Not that I don't like to talk, but, I dunno. Maybe we're shy.
     
    DarkGoddess, Aug 22, 2003
    #7
  8. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I ended up not voting because the choices, while perhaps true of many, don't capture everything to my mind.

    A couple of theories (which I can't prove of course)

    1) People are social animals. In a way, SP is a very social club. But people come in with established social lives away from the computer. Curiosity may lead them to check it out. But their lives elsewhere, and other ways that they spend their free time, pulls them away.

    2) Once in a while, somebody gets a response to a post that ends up scaring him or her away. I remember some time ago in the "If BG2 was a film" thread, somebody named Warlock made some silly suggestions like Steven Seagal as Minsc. One of the immediate responses, iirc, was something like "Ugh. That was the worst list yet on this thread." Never saw Warlock again, ever.

    3) Sometimes the interest in the Infinity Engines games, what has thus far brought most of us here, is passing for some people. Their short tenures on SP may reflect that.

    Just my thoughts.
     
    Beren, Aug 22, 2003
    #8

  9. Cross Gems: 6/31
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    I have to agree. I'm here nearly every day, and read most of the posts in Whatnots and AoDA, but don't always post. Mostly I only post if I feel I have something to contribute to the topic, or if a comment just springs to mind. If I don't have anything intelligent to say, I keep quiet. (Oh, I really served that one up on a plate, didn't I? :p )
     
    Cross, Aug 22, 2003
    #9
  10. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    [​IMG] There is no one reason why a relative minority of registered people post. There are dozens of different reasons, most of which have already been mentioned. Just to add some most obvious:

    - SP has very strict rules. It is is a pretty elitist club - most of the spamming rabble you see on other boards doesn't stand a chance here. People cannot reply to their own posts until someone else does (artificial topic/post inflation is therefore non-existent). SP would probably have five times as many posts/members if it was not for this initial check.

    - many people register as soon as they hit the boards, because many other boards require people to register before they can use some/all of the board functions. If someone just comes here to read something and not to post, that registration was pointless, and just adds to the list of members.

    - some people come here for help with just one specific game, and after they get it, they're gone.

    - some trigger-happy people register right away, without reading the rules, and think another playground's open for them. Once they learn the hard way that they'll play by our rules or not play at all, many leave for greener pastures. (I.e. boards where spam/flaming/idiocy is tolerated, if not desired.)

    - some people simply lose interest, either in the community, D&D games, or gaming. Real life issues might come up which disable/prevent them from visiting SP regularly.

    - some people read posts here for years without registering (or posting) once. Since the search engine is available, any late comers can find pretty much all answers just by searching or digging through the board archives.

    - some people are simply intimidated by the rules, though this fear is totally unfounded. No one has ever been banned for anything else but intentional breaking of the rules.

    And many, many, more reasons.
     
    Taluntain, Aug 22, 2003
    #10
  11. Spellbound

    Spellbound Fleur de Mystique Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    I have been registered here since May of 2002, well over a year, yet I only post sporatically, with 351 posts. The reason for this is "time". I check the boards every morning and find some threads that are interesting, but most are very long (2 pagers)and I simply don't have the time to read through all of them, which I feel is necessary to make any kind of sensible comment. In the evenings, when I get home from work, I stop in to check the front page and a couple of my favorite forums, but again, I'm on my way to somewhere else.....to play my one of many unfinished games! :D
     
    Spellbound, Aug 22, 2003
    #11

  12. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    Going in with Tal's intimidation thing, strict mods and admins can send a newbie on their way because of imagined battles with the admin. In reality they couldn't give a flying **** about you, seeing you as just another newbie, and are extremly unlikely to hold grudges against such insignificant people.
    I know, I was once an egotistical newbie :D
     
    Aikanaro, Aug 22, 2003
    #12
  13. Mesmero

    Mesmero How'd an old elf get the blues?

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    Another reason might be, that plenty of members have registered twice, and they only use one of their registered names, or use neither. A few examples:

    A Seal Clubber http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00000352
    A_Seal_Clubber http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00003461

    Amber http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00002569
    Amber, the ranger http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00002568

    Amis http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00002190
    Amis:] http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00002192

    Ancalìmon The Wise http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00004951
    Ancalímon The Wise http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00004950

    AndyG http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00003372
    andyg3 http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00002025

    Archangel_954 http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00001250
    Archangle_954 http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00001243

    ArchMage Kenevil http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00000852
    ArchMage Udi http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00000853

    Armin http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00000523
    Armin W. http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00003973

    Arwen The Druid http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00002654
    Arwen_luvs_me http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00003691

    Axehead http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00001567
    Axhead http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile;u=00001568

    These are just a few of the obvious I found under the letter 'A'. There are probably more with less obvious names, or others under the letter 'A' that I’ve missed. A lot of these users have member numbers close together, so they probably registered, found out that they weren’t happy with their name, and registered again. Except for A Seal Clubber, there is obvious evidence (e-mail address, ICQ number, interests, location) that these people are the same. With A Seal Clubber I just presume it is the same person, for I think there aren’t two persons who can come up with such a strange name.
     
    Mesmero, Aug 22, 2003
    #13
  14. Shrikant

    Shrikant Swords! Not words! Veteran

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    The most obvious reason for double registration is of course the password.
    Its bloody impossible to remember that mess of alphanumerics and mails can get deleted/corrupted quite easily. Its a sad fact that people just are casual with such stuff. Instead of asking they will get another account becoz one will not admit to any sort of shortfall on their part.Yes I know that you can change your password but then they just might not.

    Also, if anyone registered just to ensure that they could roam the site unfettered with no intention of posting and they subsiquently realised that it was unnessesary, then its another dead account.

    Finally they might have left since they nolonger were interested in the games and did not wish to join any gaming community (if you were to restrict it at that).
     
    Shrikant, Aug 22, 2003
    #14

  15. LKD Gems: 31/31
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    I have to go with the life issue thing -- I love SP and BGI, BGII, and the socializing, but when life issues come up, they kind of kill the whole deal.
     
    LKD, Aug 22, 2003
    #15
  16. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    Of course, you CAN automatically have a lost password mailed to you at your registration mail... This can easily be done on the login page.

    And yes, double registrations are also a problem. One of these days I'll weed out all double accounts and those with 0 posts.
     
    Taluntain, Aug 22, 2003
    #16

  17. The Soul Forever Seeking Gems: 10/31
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    I'm too lazy to be funny right now.

    [Insert witty fantasy-related comment.]
     
    The Soul Forever Seeking, Aug 23, 2003
    #17
  18. Nakia

    Nakia The night is mine Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    I'm new to this forum. I needed help with IWDII and found it in a search. I was so taken with it that I joined and post. First time I have ever posted questions for help. I like the rules. (got moved twice) The posts make sense and its fun to interact with others that like the game. I like other games than RPG but if I got involved with another I'd still drop in to say Hi. Don't want Val to drop me.
     
    Nakia, Aug 23, 2003
    #18

  19. Dragon's Jewel Gems: 14/31
    Latest gem: Chrysoberyl

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    I will have to third (or fourth or fifth, as the case may be) the life reason... I love the boards, but I can only devote time to it when my life allows it. And then, when my life interfers, whcih happens a lot, and I have cut back on my internet time for a day or so, I come back and find myself completely lost in most of the posts, usually by the length. If you disappear, it's better to disappear for long stretches of time.
     
    Dragon's Jewel, Aug 23, 2003
    #19
  20. Gothmog

    Gothmog Man, a curious beast indeed! ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    This is a bit :yot: and quite late.

    @Beren

    Just so that you know I'm quite sure Warlock wasnt so intimidated by that response to never login again. I know him in RL (schoolmates for two years now) and he's not the person to stick around imo. Pretty busy with RL things all the time, rarely finds much time for computer much less internet (dial-up, cost=time spent here).
    But i'm sure that he remembered the site even if he's not up anymore. I might ask him, but i know the answer :)
     
    Gothmog, Aug 23, 2003
    #20
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