Where are all the replies ?

[Harry Robinette]

I have been watching the post and was wondering why there are so many views and no replies. I know this was brought up before but now we're
getting 3,4,5 HUNDRED views and 10 or 12 replies. Is it just that all these viewers are just taking all the information we put on the forum and won't
give any info back. I was wondering if theres a way to stop these people from reading the forum after say 30 days of viewing with out any replies.
I know there is probable nothing that can be done but it really bothers me, it just doesn't seam right.
Well I guess I'm just venting so I'll stop now.

[Fred Belknap]

Harry I think that is a good thing in a way. After so much is said on a thread there isn't much to add sometime. I'm guilty of reading quite a few posts and not posting anything, but it isn't because I don't appreciate those that have something worth while to say. Just think if everyone replied to all the threads, don't even want to think about it. If I have anything to say I say it otherwise I just sit back and enjoy.

[Ed Morgano]

I agree with Fred. A lot of times, I read the threads and don't have anything new to say. A question has been asked and several have answered it far better than I could. I just don't have anything to add. Hope that's ok.

[Jeremy Leasure]

I've noticed this before. It's kind of neat, actually. I've averaged a few threads on various forums and it's usually a 25 to 1 reply/view ratio. Of course there are outliers. Views always outnumber replies, without exception. It's the same way across all forums, blogs, video sites etc on the internet. There are always more people needing to learn than there are people with information to impart. Human condition. If you block people from a forum unless they make a minimum amount of replies you'll end up with A) An empty forum or B) A very spammy forum.

Think about it this way: Would you rather have 10 or 12 replies with useful information and a few lighthearted jokes or have to wade through 400-500 posts that say "Yep, read this" to find those 10 or 12 useful or entertaining replies? I read all kinds of things just out of idle curiosity. If I have something I think will be helpful I'll chime in. If not, I usually don't.

[John Keeton]

One must consider that in a typical month, there are upward of 50 MILLION views on SMC - sometimes much more!!! That includes folks from all over the world, and includes both members, contributors, and simply visitors - in addition to the webcrawlers, spiders, etc. At any given point, just take a look at the bottom of the Turners Forum page and you will see a list of the members online (including contributors), but also a notation of the number of visitors - nearly always double the members viewing. Those visitors cannot post.

So, factor out the visitors, factor out the members that have a casual interest in the matter posted (look, like, do not get excited - may not even turn), and factor out the folks like those that have posted here that feel they cannot contribute beyond what has been stated, and you end up with a group of participants that numbers less than 100. Just give some thought to those names we all know that post frequently - pretty small number actually, especially considering the millions of views of the entire SMC forum.

Harry, I actually like to see the number of views of something I post more so than the number of comments. IMO it indicates that folks at least want to look. Whether they like what they see or not, at least they are interested.

Don't read too much into the number of replies.

[Wally Dickerman]

One must consider that in a typical month, there are upward of 50 MILLION views on SMC - sometimes much more!!! That includes folks from all over the world, and includes both members, contributors, and simply visitors - in addition to the webcrawlers, spiders, etc. At any given point, just take a look at the bottom of the Turners Forum page and you will see a list of the members online (including contributors), but also a notation of the number of visitors - nearly always double the members viewing. Those visitors cannot post.

So, factor out the visitors, factor out the members that have a casual interest in the matter posted (look, like, do not get excited - may not even turn), and factor out the folks like those that have posted here that feel they cannot contribute beyond what has been stated, and you end up with a group of participants that numbers less than 100. Just give some thought to those names we all know that post frequently - pretty small number actually, especially considering the millions of views of the entire SMC forum.

Harry, I actually like to see the number of views of something I post more so than the number of comments. IMO it indicates that folks at least want to look. Whether they like what they see or not, at least they are interested.

Don't read too much into the number of replies.

50 million hits per month? I don't doubt what you say John but that's hard to get a grip on. I do like the math you've put out here though. Explains a lot.

I'm not keen on seeing nothing but a bunch of attaboy replies but I'll admit that I do like to receive them. I sometimes hesitate to be the only negative in a bunch of attaboys. Having taught a lot of woodturning over a period of years I've had a lot of experience with critiques. Always contructive critiques of course. That's what a teacher does. The folks posting here aren't my students though, so I feel that sometimes my comments aren't always appreciated. I've been flamed more than once because someone's ego was bruised.

If a question is asked and I feel that I can give a helpful answer, I will reply, often with a lengthy answer. I do get discouraged when I see answers from well meaning people who really don't know what they're talking about and sometimes give poor advice. If I'm not sure about the subject I stay out of it and try to learn from those who do know.

If I click on a post and see a bunch of replies and my reply would be essentially the same, I usually don't give an answer. Perhaps I should.

[Bill Wyko]

Wally, to be an extraordinary wood worker we must be able to take some punches with grace. I think it's important that those of that do post our work understand, when someone comments in a way that's not flattering, it is still constructive. That's what will separate the men from the boys. To receive a comment from someone with your skill level should be taken as good advice and appreciated. In my audio business I've seen so many installers that felt they didn't need any body's advice. Almost all of them are mediocre at best. Constructive criticism can advance the knowledge of those who choose to listen to it. All in all we are the teachers of the internet world of woodworking. If used correctly, there is a PHD in woodworking to be learned here.

[Mike Cruz]

Harry, the views are merely a count of how many times the thread has been opened. If for example, like in this thread, I respond to the thread. I make my point. Then I hit send. Since I subscribe to the thread, I'll get a notification each time somone replies to the thread. So does each other person that responded to the thread. When we get our notification, we will or may open the link, and view the thread to see what has been written. Each time someone posts, assume that each person that posted returned to the thread. With each post, the number of views is exponential.

That aside, I've been searching the Creek for the past hour or so (waiting for the fire to get good and hot so I can hit the sac). In that hour, I've looked at a BUNCH of threads, but have replied to maybe only 5-10. So, it isn't necessarily "outsiders" that are viewing Creek threads, it is members, too that look and don't reply. Personally, sometimes I don't reply because I don't know what to say. Sometimes it's because what I have to say has already been said. Sometimes it is my choice to stay out of it. Sometimes it is because I hear a little voice saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". And sometimes, I just don't have the energy, time, or focus to compilate an organized thought. Like I just did right there...

Anyway, the bottom line is, chill. People will reply if they want to. I've posted threads that I thought would generate 5 responses with concise answers that ended up monsters with lives of their own. Other times, I think I have a question that will live forever...and squat. We don't all think alike. We don't all respond alike. You "assume" that people are reading the posts, taking info, and milking the Creek. Maybe those people open our threads, read our gibberish, think we're morons, and laugh for hours at our expense...

[Jeff Nicol]

I will reply right now........What am I replying too? I do the same thing, lately I have been falling asleep in my lazy boy with an ice pack on my back and heat pad on my shoulders and only check a few things before I go to bed. Like Mike says and the others if there is nothing new to add or one might be thinking about it or to shy to ever post anything, you never know what you will get.

Jeff

[Rick Markham]

It used to make me wonder a bit too in the beginning. In the last year I have seen some pretty impressive works come completely "out of the blue" from members who had lurked for a year or more before posting. So it should be somewhat comforting instead of worry some, it means the people who read our threads are "getting it" That's kinda cool in my book

[Scott Hackler]

Harry, I kinda understand what your seeing. I don't give the ratio of viewed to responded much thought, though. For myself, I don't respond to a thread IF plenty of people have already answered the question, posted a critique that is exactly what I would say or I might just not have anything to say (either positive or negative). It's nothing personal and at least here, I don't and wouldn't read anything into that. On WoW, however, little to no response to one of my post (pictures) tells me that what ever I made...wasn't all that popular to the masses. Here, the crowd is way more social and active and we tend to respond a lot more to everyone's posts.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

OK I'll reply!

Usually, there are more experienced guys, that reply with much more valuable information than I can give. So no sense in repeating. That's already been said. I usually reply when I do have something different to say. MOST times that is not the case though, since there are way way good turners here. Add I am not one of them.

Many times I read a post because I have the same question. Naturally, I won't have an answer for that.

[Ron Bontz]

Speaking for myself. I often do not reply to post in the various forums simply because my work is no where near the caliber of many. If some thing does not appeal to me, I do not reply. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Otherwise if there are a large amount of replies I do not reply as well.

[Prashun Patel]

Threads here are typically one of two types: those looking for answers to a question, and those posting completed projects.

For the question threads, it's usually 'better' if people don't repost the same answer - or get off on a tangent. (A lot of times I'll type a response and then think 'this offers no new info' to the OP, and I'll delete. I should probably do more of this...)

But for the completed works threads (and there are a lot in the turner's forum) I agree wholeheartedly with you. I think the new and intermediate turners would benefit from both encouragement on jobs well done and more so from constructive criticisms for improvement.

On forums (and there are plenty of them) where comments can be degrading and flaming, I think restraint is a better prescription. But SMC is (the Finishers' forum notwithstanding ) a generous and nurturing place, so criticisms (for me) are welcome.

[Thomas Hotchkin]

Hello Harry
What everyone else said, already. Tom