Active Users:1098 Time:31/01/2026 02:08:20 PM
He did say something like that, yes; wotmania counted people active for AGES after the logout. Joel Send a noteboard - 11/05/2011 10:01:56 PM
The biggest drawback to this style is that it's a big deterrent to new members, for a myriad of reasons. Maybe I'm the only one who's seen it this way, but it seems evident to me that this site has been on a long, steady decline for quite a few years now. Using the waybackmachine (<3), going back to 2006 it looks like wotmania averaged around 600 members (give or take) logged in on the site at any given time. That number seems to decrease to ~500 in 2007. I couldn't pull up the links to 2008 because my connection was being hinky, and wotmania closed in 2009 whereupon RAFO took up its mantle. RAFO isn't archived on the waybackmachine (the waybackmachine bases the sites it archives on how often the site is cross-linked on other sites, and whether it's listed in major directories. The absence of RAFO there tells a story of decline in itself), but to use anecdotal evidence, on an average day when I log in there are usually between 50 and 100 members active, depending on time of day; split the difference and call it an average of about 75 members logged into RAFO at a given time. This means that we've gone from an average of 600 members active at a given time in 2006, to 500 in 2007, to 75 in 2011. That's a pretty precipitous decline.


I seem to recall Ben changed the way that counter works so as to make it more accurate at any given time (i.e. shorten the time from their last page load that someone is considered an active user). There are certainly fewer active members, but the gap isn't as big as the counter would suggest; when a thread is really on fire and a large percentage of the active visitors is interested in that thread, it can grow nearly as fast as a thread on wotmania could.

The Active Users list explicitly stated people would be counted active for some time after they left (IIRC it said something like five minutes; in my experience, being counted "active" for an hour after logging out was not uncommon). I don't know precisely how Ben changed it, but can confirm your recollection that he made a post saying he changed that so people aren't counted as active for nearly as long as at wotmania. Still, I know how many months after the initial opening I waited expectantly for the Active Users list to hit triple digits, and it was more than a few. For all the sneers, it didn't start to happen regularly until about he time ToM was released, and now seems to have dropped back to about what it was prior to that (I'm currently showing 62 at 2300 our time). Also not a smoking gun, but every stat I've seen (and this is the fourth different one cited in this thread) strongly SUGGESTS a dwindling RAFOlk community.

That said, I don't consider alienating people who want nested threads any more a "solution" to that problem than alienating those who want paged threads. The ideal solution, one I think easily obtainable, would be prejudicial to neither, but inclusive of both. It shouldn't and needn't be a case of deciding which group RAFOlk will accept, and I don't think that would be in the sites interest.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.

Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!

LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
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Wishlist - 09/05/2011 08:26:23 AM 6243 Views
Chat. - 09/05/2011 08:41:32 AM 1990 Views
seconded (the message content) *NM* - 09/05/2011 08:57:31 AM 1019 Views
Hmm. - 09/05/2011 10:22:27 AM 2062 Views
I wondered if you remembered that. - 10/05/2011 12:04:31 AM 5579 Views
I thought we already had one - 09/05/2011 11:45:34 AM 1833 Views
That is essentially Goodreads. *NM* - 09/05/2011 02:42:06 PM 987 Views
Organisation - 09/05/2011 12:52:25 PM 1752 Views
Sort of. - 09/05/2011 01:09:12 PM 1534 Views
Excellent - 09/05/2011 02:57:35 PM 1621 Views
Also - 09/05/2011 01:59:35 PM 1752 Views
Re: Also - 09/05/2011 04:29:33 PM 1771 Views
Wotmania content (FAQ, Theory post, personality test, etc.) and Chat *NM* - 09/05/2011 02:53:08 PM 1059 Views
Also agree here, at least where intellectual property isn't an issue. - 09/05/2011 06:41:27 PM 1754 Views
Nobody votes in those polls anyway. *NM* - 09/05/2011 07:09:23 PM 941 Views
149 people would disagree with you. - 09/05/2011 08:10:24 PM 1916 Views
Re: Wotmania content (FAQ, Theory post, personality test, etc.) and Chat - 22/07/2011 05:35:32 AM 1676 Views
Rules, Help, and Statistics? *NM* - 09/05/2011 05:50:25 PM 1027 Views
+∞ - 09/05/2011 06:14:23 PM 1764 Views
Indeed. *NM* - 09/05/2011 08:00:06 PM 940 Views
+1 to statistics. I miss those, oddly enough. - 10/05/2011 05:14:26 PM 1758 Views
writer's board!!! pleeeese *NM* - 09/05/2011 06:26:28 PM 978 Views
A new messageboard style - 09/05/2011 06:49:10 PM 2034 Views
I hate other bulletin board styles. Hate. - 09/05/2011 06:55:31 PM 1947 Views
- 09/05/2011 07:14:56 PM 1812 Views
Well. I half agree with that. - 09/05/2011 08:35:41 PM 1840 Views
Help thing? - 09/05/2011 09:55:18 PM 1770 Views
Yes. The Help link on every page which currently goes nowhere. *NM* - 09/05/2011 10:21:09 PM 1042 Views
Agreed. So very, very agreed. *NM* - 09/05/2011 07:59:18 PM 974 Views
phpBB has an "ignore" option - 09/05/2011 10:50:39 PM 2906 Views
The thing is its the fun awesome people who do the tangents - 09/05/2011 10:58:42 PM 1836 Views
1996 is over - 09/05/2011 11:52:48 PM 1682 Views
THe option to show posts with newest replies first allows for that - 09/05/2011 11:57:57 PM 1695 Views
a few things - 10/05/2011 12:05:50 AM 1679 Views
I'm surprised to have gotten this strong of a reaction - 10/05/2011 12:30:21 AM 1714 Views
For what it's worth - 10/05/2011 12:45:45 AM 1919 Views
Re: For what it's worth - 10/05/2011 08:29:08 AM 1725 Views
It's possible - 10/05/2011 11:45:26 AM 1794 Views
Re: It's possible - 10/05/2011 12:02:51 PM 1765 Views
No, I got it - 10/05/2011 01:03:59 PM 1708 Views
Re: No, I got it - 10/05/2011 01:14:01 PM 1821 Views
Re: No, I got it - 10/05/2011 04:42:57 PM 1752 Views
Re: No, I got it - 10/05/2011 04:52:06 PM 1667 Views
Yes - 10/05/2011 05:10:07 PM 1737 Views
This site has what, 10% or so percent of wotmania's activity in its heyday? - 10/05/2011 10:45:51 PM 1892 Views
Tell me, why are you still here? - 10/05/2011 10:48:44 PM 1696 Views
I don't know, sometimes - 10/05/2011 11:19:14 PM 1617 Views
I used to spend quite a lot of time on other sites. - 10/05/2011 12:14:09 PM 1692 Views
Which type of sites? - 10/05/2011 01:06:32 PM 1579 Views
Re: Which type of sites? - 12/05/2011 06:22:32 AM 1715 Views
My experience has been different - 12/05/2011 09:28:28 PM 1721 Views
The style is why this place is like it is - 10/05/2011 08:27:46 AM 1700 Views
Re: 1996 is over - 12/05/2011 06:15:57 AM 1720 Views
*NM* - 11/05/2011 06:36:55 AM 931 Views
I actually had no idea to whom this response was directed. - 11/05/2011 07:10:32 PM 1651 Views
A trick - 11/05/2011 08:20:31 PM 1783 Views
That does work, yeah; just forgot about it. *NM* - 11/05/2011 08:54:32 PM 931 Views
I very much agree. *NM* - 13/05/2011 10:33:28 PM 951 Views
I disagree here - 09/05/2011 06:58:40 PM 1663 Views
No. Just no. *NM* - 09/05/2011 08:02:16 PM 1108 Views
I think forcing either style on anyone tends to discourage membership from those who want the other. - 09/05/2011 08:23:13 PM 1830 Views
This is a good alternative, - 09/05/2011 08:39:07 PM 1830 Views
Not really. It would have to be idiot proof. - 09/05/2011 08:53:50 PM 1632 Views
Thanks; you can't please everyone, but this seems like the closest we'll get. - 09/05/2011 10:25:00 PM 2174 Views
Nice assumption - 09/05/2011 10:32:35 PM 1709 Views
If it became a habit it would be annoying, yeah, but is there reason to think it would? - 10/05/2011 01:33:50 AM 1736 Views
Human nature - 10/05/2011 11:21:05 AM 1812 Views
If RAFO wants to attract new members.... - 09/05/2011 10:55:36 PM 1812 Views
You can guarantee a large amount of people will leave if that vile phpBB type board is introduced - 09/05/2011 11:01:43 PM 1820 Views
Yes - 09/05/2011 11:08:42 PM 1720 Views
I see it the opposite way - 10/05/2011 12:04:42 AM 1891 Views
Re: I see it the opposite way - 10/05/2011 12:31:19 AM 1631 Views
Valid points. - 10/05/2011 03:10:45 AM 1635 Views
I agree. - 27/05/2011 01:37:50 PM 1684 Views
While I agree with everyone who hates BB boards... - 16/05/2011 06:26:04 AM 1886 Views
I like the slider from nested to pages, yeah, thanks. - 16/05/2011 06:54:02 AM 1774 Views
Oh, my - 16/05/2011 07:10:17 AM 1889 Views
They're dumping the blue jerseys for home games. - 16/05/2011 07:49:04 AM 1776 Views
Re: They're dumping the blue jerseys for home games. - 16/05/2011 07:58:55 AM 1701 Views
Re: They're dumping the blue jerseys for home games. - 16/05/2011 09:22:44 PM 1833 Views
Re: They're dumping the blue jerseys for home games. - 18/05/2011 09:21:13 AM 1720 Views
I'd probably like it better if I weren't such an awful hitter. - 18/05/2011 11:20:06 PM 1722 Views
I can't throw, hit, or run - 21/05/2011 07:03:53 PM 1836 Views
I was sure I'd responded to this; sorry for the delay. - 22/07/2011 04:14:11 PM 1762 Views
I adore our set up. - 09/05/2011 11:05:34 PM 1763 Views
I feel a little less adoration =P - 10/05/2011 12:11:37 AM 1891 Views
see, and I think it enhances my appreciation of the posts. - 10/05/2011 12:15:21 AM 1632 Views
Explanation, please. - 10/05/2011 05:50:20 PM 1758 Views
This is my experience as well. *NM* - 10/05/2011 10:31:49 PM 855 Views
I love that there are many examples of why this board style is a good thing in this thread. - 10/05/2011 10:59:03 PM 1718 Views
it's a bug, not a feature - 11/05/2011 06:45:29 PM 1793 Views
I believe the way of counting active visitors has changed, though. - 11/05/2011 08:25:27 PM 1654 Views
He did say something like that, yes; wotmania counted people active for AGES after the logout. - 11/05/2011 10:01:56 PM 1612 Views
More than 3 reasons. - 12/05/2011 06:37:59 AM 1675 Views
I hate weighing in on these arguments. But fine. - 12/05/2011 07:08:46 AM 1865 Views
Well put - 12/05/2011 08:20:18 AM 1870 Views
My filter is broken then. - 11/05/2011 09:02:07 AM 1686 Views
One comment that hasn't been raised yet. - 11/05/2011 10:41:25 PM 1723 Views
I agree, I hate this old MBstyle. Its time to leave the dark ages. *NM* - 13/05/2011 03:01:50 PM 955 Views
Your brain is just addled by hormones. - 13/05/2011 03:14:27 PM 1716 Views
Hva addled hjernen min? - 13/05/2011 04:36:14 PM 1696 Views
Re: Hva addled hjernen min? - 13/05/2011 05:03:19 PM 1710 Views
Jeg tenkte så. - 13/05/2011 05:55:08 PM 1751 Views
Du er amerikaner - 13/05/2011 06:21:39 PM 1687 Views
Du er slem. - 13/05/2011 08:50:37 PM 1835 Views
You must be new here. - 29/05/2011 06:57:19 AM 1794 Views
Acknowledgement of me as your ruler *NM* - 09/05/2011 07:12:31 PM 928 Views
I'd be happy to carve equally spaced lines into you. - 09/05/2011 07:16:37 PM 1736 Views
I actually did laugh out loud at that one - 10/05/2011 04:00:24 PM 1834 Views
"JESUS is our only ruler!" - 10/05/2011 03:00:01 AM 1553 Views
Are you suggesting Ben is the second coming? *NM* - 10/05/2011 01:16:17 PM 969 Views
He's the harbinger. - 11/05/2011 05:32:19 PM 1732 Views
IRV is terrible, and is the worst option other than FPTP - 10/05/2011 06:07:27 PM 1630 Views
But Borda isn't Condorcet complete either. - 11/05/2011 08:45:05 AM 1781 Views
Hm. Coulda sworn it was. My mistake. - 11/05/2011 11:43:43 PM 1735 Views
NP, happens. - 12/05/2011 01:09:18 AM 1724 Views
Smiley Reduction/Alteration? - 09/05/2011 07:30:25 PM 1495 Views
Also with quotes and close brackets. <---- This is WEIRD. - 09/05/2011 07:34:13 PM 1663 Views
That is quite possibly my biggest annoyance with the whole site. - 09/05/2011 07:40:48 PM 1659 Views
complete agreement - 09/05/2011 10:58:32 PM 1555 Views
Re: Also with quotes and close brackets. <---- This is WEIRD. - 10/05/2011 02:53:50 AM 1683 Views
My name is Tom and I approve these suggestions. - 10/05/2011 02:14:33 PM 1651 Views
How about a music MB? - 09/05/2011 08:00:33 PM 1730 Views
I think it wouldn't be used much. - 09/05/2011 08:08:52 PM 1691 Views
Yeah a post on the Com MB every other week works just fine. *NM* - 09/05/2011 08:16:49 PM 986 Views
Or turn the TV & Movie board into a pop culture board we'd just need to get rid of the rubbish admin - 09/05/2011 09:13:41 PM 1774 Views
Stop being a brat! - 09/05/2011 09:57:35 PM 1802 Views
But it is Jens! - 09/05/2011 10:16:23 PM 1748 Views
aka Best admin ever. - 09/05/2011 10:28:40 PM 1674 Views
aka Best admin ever. - 09/05/2011 10:28:40 PM 1636 Views
No, just the most double posting one - 09/05/2011 10:29:54 PM 1799 Views
Yup, sorry other admins. - 10/05/2011 01:42:45 AM 1798 Views
"Oh. my. fucking. god." - 09/05/2011 10:29:17 PM 1794 Views
Re: I think it wouldn't be used much. - 09/05/2011 08:36:05 PM 1776 Views
i agree - 10/05/2011 02:58:52 PM 1676 Views
Re: i agree - 10/05/2011 03:56:36 PM 1433 Views
Also - 10/05/2011 03:58:56 PM 1737 Views
collapsing of extended thread nests - 09/05/2011 11:09:23 PM 1681 Views
^This. *NM* - 12/05/2011 07:45:46 PM 956 Views
Thirded *NM* - 27/05/2011 01:39:44 PM 904 Views
Quick question, how many users are registered here? *NM* - 10/05/2011 01:38:37 AM 1742 Views
I think the search page User List gives a good estimate (~725 total, counts/MB inside). - 10/05/2011 02:44:50 AM 1805 Views
It doesn't - 13/05/2011 10:29:32 AM 1800 Views
PINK!! - 10/05/2011 03:27:35 AM 1687 Views
Anyone else notice that everyone replying participates on the book, tv + movies and comm boards - 10/05/2011 02:18:08 PM 1740 Views
Indeed. *NM* - 10/05/2011 03:53:23 PM 890 Views
It doesn't help that we make them feel like a blemish on the RAFO scene. - 10/05/2011 04:45:33 PM 1723 Views
But they are - 10/05/2011 04:53:26 PM 1675 Views
I agree. - 10/05/2011 11:10:03 PM 1794 Views
I've seen most people who've replied post on the WoTMB at least occasionally. - 11/05/2011 11:26:44 PM 1721 Views
You are clearly wrong. - 12/05/2011 04:58:34 PM 1536 Views
Its prime ended before the split? Bah, you old geezers always hassle us kids for livin' our life! - 12/05/2011 07:32:02 PM 1723 Views
Nah. - 16/05/2011 08:32:39 PM 1693 Views
Hard to imagine what that must've been like. - 18/05/2011 11:04:57 PM 1756 Views
Report post, moderation powers to all boards, spoiler tags, NM bug, bug submitter's name displayed. - 10/05/2011 05:59:58 PM 1510 Views
I disagree - 10/05/2011 10:34:54 PM 1752 Views
Re: your suggestions - 10/05/2011 11:03:00 PM 1581 Views
Re: your suggestions - 11/05/2011 01:37:34 AM 1764 Views
Re: your suggestions - 11/05/2011 08:24:38 AM 1552 Views
It's just that... - 11/05/2011 06:04:46 PM 1679 Views
Agreed on all points *NM* - 11/05/2011 05:54:52 PM 932 Views
Whoa. You can change quote styles? News to me. *NM* - 11/05/2011 10:02:10 PM 912 Views
It's all there, in the help section at the top of the board. - 12/05/2011 04:50:44 PM 1637 Views
Shush, you. *NM* - 13/05/2011 08:56:05 AM 934 Views
The next time we meet up - 13/05/2011 09:19:01 AM 1677 Views
Anything would be better than nothing. - 13/05/2011 05:48:03 PM 1682 Views
Regarding the forum style - 10/05/2011 11:17:50 PM 2194 Views
+3 *NM* - 10/05/2011 11:35:10 PM 942 Views
Look here! - 11/05/2011 01:25:25 AM 1646 Views
+100 *NM* - 11/05/2011 01:59:30 AM 867 Views
I think that sounds like an excellent middle ground! *NM* - 11/05/2011 04:22:12 AM 925 Views
I agree with the agreement. - 11/05/2011 05:02:44 AM 5204 Views
That sounds an acceptable compromise to me - 11/05/2011 05:32:43 PM 1608 Views
Just an observation/question about post-clicking - 11/05/2011 05:42:30 PM 1745 Views
Re: Just an observation/question about post-clicking - 11/05/2011 06:06:24 PM 1764 Views
Yes. Though it's not just laziness. - 11/05/2011 06:20:50 PM 1576 Views
It's more than laziness, yes. - 11/05/2011 07:53:52 PM 1701 Views
Try laying off the refresh button if you can help it. *NM* - 11/05/2011 08:52:56 PM 973 Views
It's a high - 11/05/2011 10:28:02 PM 1538 Views
Sorry, internet keeps disconnecting when I hit "submit". - 11/05/2011 11:31:52 PM 1749 Views
I was mostly being a smart-ass about the laziness thing. - 12/05/2011 05:16:40 PM 1647 Views
Cool. - 12/05/2011 07:20:49 PM 1668 Views
I used to have to do that - 16/05/2011 08:26:47 AM 2319 Views
Yeah, that sounds familiar. - 16/05/2011 09:15:56 PM 1773 Views
Active Users: 51 - 11/05/2011 01:19:25 AM 1697 Views
Also - 11/05/2011 04:36:17 AM 1727 Views
OoOoo... I like this. *NM* - 11/05/2011 06:25:20 AM 951 Views
Re: Active Users: 51 - 14/06/2011 12:11:43 AM 1629 Views
I wonder if there is a way to make the Search function work... - 11/05/2011 09:56:54 AM 1590 Views
There is an easy fix for that. - 11/05/2011 06:09:10 PM 1731 Views
It's less about mistakes... - 12/05/2011 08:31:59 AM 1657 Views
- 12/05/2011 10:27:57 AM 1682 Views
Yusssss!!1! *NM* - 12/05/2011 09:58:53 PM 919 Views
An option to not have to see those damn smileys - 11/05/2011 02:24:47 PM 1745 Views
Another thing! - 11/05/2011 05:35:10 PM 1708 Views
For the Quickpolls - 11/05/2011 10:22:23 PM 1685 Views
Good idea. - 11/05/2011 11:30:41 PM 1710 Views
Writing page Writing page WRITING PAGE! *NM* - 12/05/2011 01:15:32 AM 1003 Views
Links in posts - can they not take us to a new page but to a new tab/window, please? - 12/05/2011 05:49:23 PM 1782 Views
Happens in Chrome and Firefox, too. *NM* - 12/05/2011 06:13:20 PM 928 Views
It's not, but a simple right-click and select "Open in new tab" does the job in FF, at least. - 12/05/2011 10:40:27 PM 1733 Views
Clicking links with your scroll wheel opens them in a new tab. *NM* - 12/05/2011 11:32:29 PM 966 Views
As does CTRL-click. *NM* - 13/05/2011 07:14:56 AM 1159 Views
I'd like to know when the last post in a thread was. - 13/05/2011 01:14:02 AM 1721 Views
Like back on wotmania? - 13/05/2011 09:02:33 AM 1666 Views
More references of MGB being the badass he is. *NM* - 13/05/2011 04:57:59 AM 972 Views
some kind of "reply all" feature? - 13/05/2011 06:35:15 AM 1721 Views
Two things: facebook and searching within a post - 13/05/2011 03:07:37 PM 1687 Views
I agree. Not the facebook nonsense, but... - 13/05/2011 03:15:24 PM 1747 Views
+1, especially the FB part. - 13/05/2011 04:46:05 PM 1547 Views
I can add a comment for Facebook liking. - 13/05/2011 06:48:16 PM 1952 Views
Maybe it's another IE vs. Firefox thing. - 13/05/2011 08:52:53 PM 1833 Views
I use chrome - 13/05/2011 09:47:06 PM 1648 Views
Also, re: quickpoll - 15/05/2011 04:18:04 PM 1650 Views
and I'd love to be able to "like" it to facebook *NM* - 15/05/2011 04:55:46 PM 876 Views
Ick... you said the f-word. *NM* - 15/05/2011 08:23:16 PM 920 Views
We have to. - 15/05/2011 08:37:01 PM 1724 Views
Make me an Admin! - 13/05/2011 04:17:59 PM 1742 Views
Of what, exactly? You have no discernible skills beside account corruption. *NM* - 13/05/2011 06:27:51 PM 998 Views
I demand silence from the peanut gallery! *NM* - 15/05/2011 02:25:52 AM 894 Views
~silence granted, throws peanuts~ *NM* - 15/05/2011 07:39:50 PM 873 Views
OFF with your HEAD! *NM* - 16/05/2011 08:06:27 PM 864 Views
Since I don't think anyone else has mentioned it here - HTML - 15/05/2011 09:00:39 PM 1823 Views
Mapthis made something like this. - 15/05/2011 09:25:59 PM 1591 Views
He did. I'd forgotten that - 15/05/2011 09:27:39 PM 1691 Views
WYSIWYG! *NM* - 27/05/2011 02:25:49 PM 977 Views
is inherently evil. *NM* - 27/05/2011 02:40:51 PM 851 Views
...and yet inherently accessible to the non-geek masses - 30/05/2011 02:34:58 AM 1706 Views
As I said... - 30/05/2011 08:55:32 AM 1676 Views
A redesigned home page! - 22/05/2011 04:26:27 AM 1691 Views
This isn't particularly helpful. - 30/05/2011 11:28:46 PM 1753 Views
I'm helpful - 04/07/2011 12:40:08 PM 1816 Views
Mobile version *NM* - 02/06/2011 12:42:25 AM 982 Views
Make quote options more prominent - 13/06/2011 02:21:36 PM 1541 Views
The ability to block someone on a certain board? - 17/06/2011 06:48:41 PM 1677 Views
I would like notification when a premium account downgrades - 18/06/2011 10:42:56 AM 1764 Views
We've already got the Facebook "Like" button, however - 26/06/2011 12:06:51 AM 1708 Views
Unhh... Privacy statement? - 19/07/2011 06:14:49 PM 1600 Views
"Rules" would be a better place, IMHO; we're told at least one of those links should soon work. - 22/07/2011 04:08:54 PM 1615 Views
Thanks for the response / comment, Josh - 23/07/2011 08:59:02 AM 1566 Views
I assume it just means people are too busy working on the site to answer immediately. - 23/07/2011 02:06:48 PM 1599 Views
or at all? - 02/08/2011 12:44:15 PM 1701 Views
Hey, you're preaching to the choir on that one. - 02/08/2011 01:40:43 PM 1852 Views
Admins should be able to move Posts into an already existing thread - 20/07/2011 02:52:05 PM 1645 Views
+1. *NM* - 20/07/2011 03:29:57 PM 882 Views
the ability to empty your outbox - 30/07/2011 04:19:17 PM 1677 Views

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