Not trying to stir up anything here, but I get that funny obscure feeling that usership and numbers and new posts is down lately. Maybe its just a seasonal thing? Could one of the moderators comment, or provide any insight please?
Rod
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Rod, the spring-summer always has a significant drop-off in posts, I think people are doing outdoor stuff. 
OOPS! I'm not a moderator, ignore this post. 
Honestly, I have no idea. Not sure I'd even notice.
Agree with John that the "season" maybe be part of it (if in fact there's any drop off).
Don't forget...Easter, spring break, graduations, proms, Mother's Day, weddings, outside chores, and of course vacation season. Lots happening now and upcoming weeks.
It is hard to post while on my bike or in my kayak. A little easier while hiking
This forum is not the only venue in which to indulge interests in this hobby. There are many forums, and FaceBook has dozens of groups. People may occasionally stray elsewhere.
I've noticed a lack of posts by some forum "veterans" that typically get some folks stirred up.
I suspect they may have been reprimanded at some point.
Its apparent some have lost their accounts and others simply don't post anymore.
jay jay posted:There are many forums, and FaceBook has dozens of groups. People may occasionally stray elsewhere.
Theres another forum where many have migrated to.
I've tried to spend some time there as well but the constant barrage of popup ads just kills my old computer.
On top of it, there tends to be many of the same topics posted by the same folks over there as over here so things get redundant.
One of our members used to say "trains are a winter sport" and I have a feeling that may be a big part of the reason .
April is historically the slowest month of the year for activity here. However, April 2019 was busier than April 2018.
April 2018 generated 5,236,549 page views.
April 2019 generated 6,584,590 page views.
To put that in context, in the fall monthly page views will be double those numbers.
RickO posted:jay jay posted:There are many forums, and FaceBook has dozens of groups. People may occasionally stray elsewhere.
Theres another forum where many have migrated to.
I've tried to spend some time there as well but the constant barrage of popup ads just kills my old computer.
On top of it, there tends to be many of the same topics posted by the same folks over there as over here so things get redundant.
And, apparently, Christmas comes in July there. And keeps going until June.
Don't get me wrong, the combination of Christmas and model trains is magical but enough already.
Spent about 20 minutes there once a year or so ago. Pass.
Rich Melvin posted:April is historically the slowest month of the year for activity here. However, April 2019 was busier than April 2018.
April 2018 generated 5,236,549 page views.
April 2019 generated 6,584,590 page views.
To put that in context, in the fall monthly page views will be double those numbers.
Rich,
Can you give us a count on total members to the forum, and out of that how many are active?
Total forum members = 23,839.
I don't know how many are active posters.
Rich Melvin posted:April is historically the slowest month of the year for activity here. However, April 2019 was busier than April 2018.
April 2018 generated 5,236,549 page views.
April 2019 generated 6,584,590 page views.
To put that in context, in the fall monthly page views will be double those numbers.
Wait! Who are you?
Are you that guy who retired???
Regardless, more posts than I can possibly read or respond to. It also seems like a closer knit group than any of the others. Which leads me to a question where I may start a new thread. How did you find the O Gauge Forum? j
Rich Melvin posted:April is historically the slowest month of the year for activity here. However, April 2019 was busier than April 2018.
April 2018 generated 5,236,549 page views.
April 2019 generated 6,584,590 page views.
To put that in context, in the fall monthly page views will be double those numbers.
Thanks for this info, Rich. If I had to guess I'd have come up with something like these numbers. This is a hobby (well, actually several) so people fit it in to their leisure time and that is highly seasonal.
Lew
RickO posted:I've tried to spend some time there as well but the constant barrage of popup ads just kills my old computer.
RickO, your web browser (Firefox, Safari, Chrome, TOR, etc.) should have an option to block pop-up ads in the "Preferences" or "Options" menu item. (In Firefox on a Mac, click on the "Firefox" menu > "Preferences" > "Privacy & Security" (in the left-hand column) > scroll down to "Permissions" > check the box "Block pop-up windows.") Pop-ups can be used to for malware attacks, so I would strongly recommend blocking them.
Also, I would recommend adding a browser extension such as Adblock Plus (you can easily white-list sites such as OGR.) This should speed up your web browsing experience a little.
You can go further by using a Javascript blocker such as NoScript. It will change your browsing experience, and will be a pain at first, but in my experience you get used to it. A Javascript blocker prevents websites from running scripts without your permission, so websites will not work as they are intended. You have to individually allow each script that a website is trying to run, but you can whitelist them. The advantage is that it blocks malware, ads, and analytics.
I run AdBlock and have FF block pop-ups, no problem at all.
RickO posted:Theres another forum where many have migrated to.
I've tried to spend some time there as well but the constant barrage of popup ads just kills my old computer.
Just so everyone is aware, there are no pop-up ads here on this forum. If you get any pop up ads while you are here, your browser has been hacked.
"On top of it, there tends to be many of the same topics posted by the same folks over there as over here so things get redundant."
And on controversial topics, it's important to have diversity of opinion. That drives lots of posts . No diversity of opinion leads to relatively boring conversations amongst those who want their own opinions reinforced. Tribalism at its best. Anyhow, at this point we mostly know each other's opinions, so there may be less debate at present.
I run Adblock and surf with Safari. It blocks any and all ads, even in my cloud based email accounts. Plus pages load faster without all that.
Rich Melvin posted:April is historically the slowest month of the year for activity here. However, April 2019 was busier than April 2018.
April 2018 generated 5,236,549 page views.
April 2019 generated 6,584,590 page views.
To put that in context, in the fall monthly page views will be double those numbers.
Man, makes you wonder how much of the increase is because of the Big Boy tsimmis on here *lol*.
Rich Melvin posted:April is historically the slowest month of the year for activity here. However, April 2019 was busier than April 2018.
April 2018 generated 5,236,549 page views.
April 2019 generated 6,584,590 page views.
To put that in context, in the fall monthly page views will be double those numbers.
Thanks Rich for providing that insight. Makes sense for sure, I just did not realize that usership varies so widely with the seasons. Anyway its all good. 
Rod
Rich Melvin posted:Total forum members = 23,839.
I don't know how many are active posters.
How about how many have not posted in over a year?
I don't have any way to determine that.
