Who reads FR? [FReepathon thread 9.6]

Conservapedia-An Illustrated Guide ^ | Jan 18, 2011

[bezelbub]

At www.freerepublic.com, we find the question Who reads FR? to be answered in the following way:

Over 300,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic since inception in 1996 and our forum is read daily by over one hundred thousand freedom loving citizens and patriots from all around the country, and all around the world. We're currently delivering over thirty million pageviews per month to over one million visitors.

This number of 300,000 users is sometimes quoted (i.e., "On one conservative Web site, Freerepublic.com, some of the site's 300,000 registered users have recently used discussion threads to encourage votes for Bristol." - www.people.com), and adorns the front page of freerepublic since Dec 2008 (waybackmachine.com).
But it was wrong then - and it is still wrong now.

So, why aren't there 300,000 freepers?

When registering for posting privileges, any user gets an identification number. The user normally doesn't see this ID, it is only used for internal purposes. Jim Robinson got the number 1, the number 100,000 is taken by The 100,000th FReeper! Unfortunately, these consecutive numbers seem to have been assigned at the beginning of the registration process, not after a successful creation of an account. So each failed try to register increased the used ids, but not the number of accounts. Both numbers diverged pretty fast, but the bug wasn't mended until Feb 2010, when the new mile-stone of 350,000 attempted registrations arrived. By then, the two numbers differed by roughly 100,000. In fact, when freerepublic announced to have 300,000 registered users for the first time ind Dec 2008, the number really was closer to 230,000 - and today, it is less than 270,000.

And what has been done about it?

The way the powers-to-be have chosen to get the numbers right is obvious: they wait for the reality to fit the stated fact. The number of created accounts wasn't updated for two years, and probably won't be changed for another two years, until the number of registered freepers meets the announcement on the front page.

Just for the record: I think that the number of pageviews and visitors are correct. And I doubt that the makers of the site willingly inflated the numbers of created accounts. It seems to be just an honest mistake, and an easy one to make. But when they found the bug, wouldn't it have been the right thing to change the number, as they knew that it was false?

[sodpoodle]

Some people register more than once - forget their passwords or think of a more better name;)

I still miss the ‘page views’ counter.

As for ‘number of registered users’ going up & down: people get bored, get zotted, get sick and..... believe it or not, some FReepers actually die.

[Osage Orange]

Beatle Juice...Beatle Juice...Beatle Juice!!

[mnehring]

That’s why we have blog overlords.

Hey Gunner, I didn't know you had a title.

[GreenAccord]

It's the failure to stick around and discuss their post that grates me (yeah, "grate" might be too strong of a word). In my 8 years (hey, yesterday was my FRB-day!), I've posted about 8-10 articles in total. I ALWAYS stick around the thread to chat about it.

For me, the blogger who doesn't carry on the conversation within the site they brought their own blatherings to is simply waiting on their site to look like they're they've been interesting.

[dayglored]

Ya know, Bezelbub, posting an ornery, bitchy blogpimp thread, with no starting comment, and no replies to any of the other comments, and you don't even have an "about" profile page...

... One might get the impression you're not all there. Or are you just chickensh*t and hiding now?

"FR is just alright with me, FR is just alright, oh yeah."

[DJ MacWoW]

And that’s good enough for me. Good enough for me... and Bobby McGee

Hee hee hee!

[Jim Robinson]

If all 369,822 currently registered accounts (active or not) sent in just $1 a year, we’d never have to run another FReepathon. I suspect you’re not pulling your weight, bub.

https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/

[mnehring]

Well? Cat got your tongue?

[Biggirl]

Winter dull-drums perhaps?

[dayglored]

> It's the failure to stick around and discuss their post that grates me... I ALWAYS stick around the thread to chat about it.

Agreed; that's most of the fun of posting a thread!

Posting a thread and running like hell is just a drive-by shooting and deserves only scorn.

Of course, if this particular guy (bezelbub) shows his face now, after all this time, he knows he's gonna get creamed... :)

[DJ MacWoW]

Figures don’t lie but liars figure.

[IamConservative]

If all 369,822 currently registered accounts (active or not) sent in just $1 a year, we’d never have to run another FReepathon.

With all respect, I think a Premium Member subscription would do the trick as well.

[Jim Robinson]

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose,
Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free.
Feeling good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues.
Feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee.

[dayglored]

> Well? Cat got your tongue?

If he was afraid to comment earlier, he's probably petrified now...

[new cruelty]

And what has been done about it?

52+ posts into your own thread without a response from you, did you get the answer you were looking for?

[mnehring]

Well Theresa, once again, how did you come up with this? Where is the data to back up your analysis. I can make up a chart too. Did you go through every single account sign up, contact each user, and ask how many times they attempted to sign up? Did you keep lists of all accounts that signed up to see activity? If so on both, do you have a life?

[libertarian27]

Please post the Democratic Underground critique when you get a moment too hon..../s

[DJ MacWoW]

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' fer a train
When I's feeling nearly faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained
And rode us all the way to New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
I's playing soft while Bobby sung the blues, n-yeah
Windshield wipers slapping time I's, holding Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew

[Jim Robinson]

Guess I wouldn’t complain.

I’ve always been crazy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ecE1UML1q8

[Ed Condon]

I signed up before I was born, does that count?