Total Posts of 2,245.425 divided by Average Posts per Day of 1439.38 equals 1560.0 days. Total Members of 100,466 divided by Average Registrations per Day of 64.40 also equals 1560.0 days. 1560 days is more than 4 years so the averages are the averages over the last 4+ years.

 

Sorry you had to do all that work. Yes, they are averages over a period of time.

 

That showed 2621 new registrations. That's an average of 55.2 registrations per day over the 47.5 day period. This value is 86% of the long-term average.

Yes, that is a shorter period of time. And the point of your exercise?

 

Let me explain how the total number of people on the forums work. The number shown at the top left of the forum and most other pages, shows the total number of people that have visited the forum in the previous 15 minutes. It is not the instantaneous number visiting the forums when you refresh the screen. That number is the combined total of both registered and unregistered users (or guests as they are noted as). The window of 15 minutes is the default window assigned by the setup at time of our software installation. Some sites set that window to hours and even days.

 

EDIT: Here is a graph of the number of posts made since the 1st of March through to 10:45 a.m. on the 5th of March:

 

 

What does it show? The normal weekend doldrums where folks have things to do on the weekend and then the normal pickup on Monday.

Hello Tom

Where are the numbers of viewers that show up next to the forums taken from ?

The FSX forum is showing 10 users, this seems low when the site is saying 660 logged on

Hello Tom

Where are the numbers of viewers that show up next to the forums taken from ?

The FSX forum is showing 10 users, this seems low when the site is saying 660 logged on

 

The total number of users online that you see is the number of registered users and guests accessing the system in the preceeding 15 minutes, as explained in my earlier post. The number shown next to the forums is updated when you refresh the page and is an "instant" count of people actually in that forum at that time.

Thanks Tom,

10 seems low for the FSX forum.

Does the forum software count those that have entered via the forum rather than those that have dropped into a topic via the Avsim front page, that might explain it.

Yes, that is a shorter period of time. And the point of your exercise?

 

To show that there is a difference between the long-term and current short-term average number of daily registrations. This may reflect an overall decline of general interest in flight simulation - totally independent of AVSIM and over which AVSIM has no control..

Back to the topic at hand... what makes a good Forum?

 

- A friendly environment, where people are treated like people, and not judged by their Post Count, number of Awards or 'Title'.

 

- An outlet where information is exchanged freely, with the purpose of actually assisting someone with their particular issues.

 

- A venue with informative, interesting, relevant topics.

 

Pretty much what Avsim and the other FS Forums offer. We're all in this together, no matter where you like to hang your hat. Besides, I suspect a good many of us are Members of other FS Forums.

 

We just need to treat each other civilly, and with common courtesy.

 

:smile:

 

-

Don't go there. The question was, what makes a good forum, right Devon? I doubt whether it is sitting around a camp fire swaying to the music and singing kumbyall either.

 

I thought quite a bit before even posting. The topic itself has a lot of room for drift into sensitive areas, and I calculated 50/50 that it could navigate safe waters and not get locked. Nothing ventured, nothing gained....... If it went well, it seemed like a very worthwhile topic. If not....... :blush: (ouch)

 

And no, I don't believe Kumbaya is productive even to the vendor, really. Sometimes the Emperor needs to know he is naked, and its just as much in his interests to know that as anyone's.

That showed 2621 new registrations. That's an average of 55.2 registrations per day over the 47.5 day period. This value is 86% of the long-term average.

 

Admins see a graph daily of how many registrations within the last seven days, and it's usually between 50-100 day by day. Your 55.2 number sounds like a good average to me with what I see daily. I can recall a day a week or so ago that we had 40 registrations, then the next day we had 130. And keep in mind, none of those are spam accounts since those are counted on a separate system (see the bottom of the main forum page).

- An outlet where information is exchanged freely, with the purpose of actually assisting someone with their particular issues.

 

We just need to treat each other civilly, and with common courtesy.

 

That's a big one for me. Actually a HUGE one. I don't know how many times I have seen a newbie stumble into a forum and ask an innocent question, only to be immediately intercepted by some old hand growling "RTFM!!!" or "Just do a damn search before opening yer' useless yap!! I'm tired of people like you!"

 

Eeeekkkkkk!!! says the newcomer. :lol:

 

This always makes me lean away from my monitor as if caught in a sudden strong gust, and that wind points directly away from the forum.

 

"Good riddance!" some long term locals may grumble as the newcomer yelps and is sent scampering, but how many lurkers have also just seen this informative little vignette and have now placed that site on the lists of places to lurk only, or even to never purchase from or visit again?

 

I find it so strange when some forums allow the local keeper(s) of orthodoxy to send people who may be potential customers, friends and contributors packing like that. When I first came back to simming, I bumped into a few people like that in quick succession (I call them forum bulls) and my reaction was completely typical

 

EeeeeeeeeK! (Leans away from monitor, eyebrows high) "What the flying heck is all this about?!"

 

(Hastily crosses off offending forum as a place to visit and the forums products as probable non-purchases)

 

Eventually it got my back up and I fought back, but how easy would it have been to just turn away forever? How many do we lose to such silliness? Its not right. :(

 

Yup. Its a biggie for me.

Thanks Tom,

10 seems low for the FSX forum.

Does the forum software count those that have entered via the forum rather than those that have dropped into a topic via the Avsim front page, that might explain it.

 

Keep in mind the "10" you see are people viewing the FSX forum's main page with all the listings. Once you enter into a topic, you drop off that count and into the count viewing a topic. Here's the mac daddy of the stats... see what everyone is looking at here: http://forum.avsim.net/index.php?app=members&module=online&sort_order=desc

 

"Just do a damn search before opening yer' useless yap!! I'm tired of people like you!"

 

Sounds like Summer1

I don't know how many times I have seen a newbie stumble into a forum and ask an innocent question...

 

On another forum a newbie asked why he wasn't lined up with runway at his destination airport. His response to a request for more details of what he was doing was:

 

To be honest I'm not that good at explaining things. And to be honest I can't be ar*ed to go through all that typing.

... I don't know how many times I have seen a newbie stumble into a forum and ask an innocent question, only to be immediately intercepted by some old hand growling "RTFM!!!" or "Just do a damn search before opening yer' useless yap!! I'm tired of people like you!"

 

 

... "Good riddance!" some long term locals may grumble as the newcomer yelps and is sent scampering, but how many lurkers have also just seen this informative little vignette and have now placed that site on the lists of places to lurk only, or even to never purchase from, visit or even participate in, again?

 

Devon,

 

I absolutely agree with your post. There's a prime example of what you describe; It's located in every FS Forum around, and it's the epitome of 'the good old boy's club'...

 

Have an idea?

<br />It's located in every FS Forum around, and it's the epitome of 'the good old boy's club'...<br />

 

Actually, I think you can expand even further. It's on EVERY forum out there. Every forum I've ever seen or been part of, there's the bad boys and the predictable "how dare you ask a question newbie" posts. It's sickening but I guess it's human nature somehow.

I was tempted to nail one of our more senior members when a brand newbie asked about something rather complex that I didn't know either, and he responded as quick as a flash:

 

Google is your Friend!

Ask Here ----> www.google.com <----

 

All I did was delete the post, and sat on my hands so I wouln't click any more of his buttons.

 

Saw him on here the other day complaining how another member was acting rude.

Hi Devon,

 

I appreciate your efforts to moderate yourself, the potentially immoderate and even we moderators to some extent. If you can balance this well you would make the Great Nik Wallenda proud.

 

I like your specific questions, and will answer each with my own personal answer:

 

So. What about a forum makes you want to settle down for a while and make it a home away from home?

 

Familiarity, like coming home from work, because my key fits my door, and no one else's. There is a tipping point where the more you go to a place, the more it feels like home, which makes you go to the place even more. In AVSIM's case Tom did a great job of setting it up and working the politics of platform and addon providers. The library became a stabilizer, and the forums grew with the hobby.

 

What makes you stay; and if you don't stay, what about a particular forum makes you leave?

 

Flightsim was rude to me on my first post, whereas the Avsim members treated me well and an Avsim admin was particularly helpful to me with my double registration, lost password and email of record issues.

 

ORBX was the only other haunt for a long time but they kicked me out because they kicked me out. That left AVSIM which was already #1 with me anyway.

 

How does the attitude of a forum; the way you feel they deal with people, affect your buying decisions? (if the forum is also a vendor?)

 

My attitude depends on my altitude so it depends on whether flying with eagles or turkeys. If treated decent, I have no reason not to go back. Three vendors are in my no fly zone because of their attitude to me or to others on Avsim. I am happy and friendly around those that are also happy and friendly, and less so with those who aren't. All our attitudes are contagious

 

Has there ever been a product you wished to purchase, but didn't, because of their forums?

 

Yes, several, but won't name names.

 

Have you ever been comfortable at a forum, and then had that forum change in a way that made you leave?

 

No, I have crazy glue on the soles of my feet.

 

Do you think that Flight sim forums tend to behave differently than others?

 

People are people are people, so not really. We may be a bit more nerdy and some lack certain social skills because they hide away flying their computers instead of playing crib with friends.

 

What do you think in the end has made Avsim such a popular community?

 

We have the best Flight Simulation resource and community in the world because we built it the old fashioned way, we earned it. We will keep it as long as we do the same. Specifically we adapted to rapid change because Tom is forward leaning and not laid back. Because of that and his inside knowledge of this industry we will be on the leading edge of what is coming next if there is a next which is coming.