The exile of popular posters and the new format have contributed to a recent sharp decline in the rate of posting to SI. From some quick calculations:
Post.........Date..........Days for 1,000,000 posts
1,000,000..3/16/97
2,000,000..8/19/97..........156
3,000,000.12/18/97..........121
4,000,000..4/8/98...........111
5,000,000..6/24/98...........77
6,000,000.10/13/98..........111
7,000,000.12/28/98...........76
8,000,000..2/24/99...........58
9,000,000..4/19/99...........54
10,000,000..6/6/99............48
11,000,000..8/18/99...........73
Posting reached 11,470,400 on 10/6/99. That's 49 days for 470,400 posts, a rate of 104 days for a million posts. Go2Net must be looking for ways to revive what is beginning to look like a disappointing investment, and this may be a publicity stunt toward that end.
Everyone in publishing knows people love polls. I voted yes. |
