Where are you all?

Shadow (Rich) · #1 24-03-2010, 01:34 PM

Just wondering where the rest of the members are from the U.S and Europe
after 3.00 Am? I thought we had 7000+ members and I wanted to pool on their talents yet at most, I only see one or two logged on in those early hours. Just wondering what gives??
Thanks Mods.

duncan · #2 24-03-2010, 01:58 PM

Might be off to work, Who knows,LOL.
Cheers,
Duncan

supernova1965 (Warren) · #3 24-03-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow

Just wondering where the rest of the members are from the U.S and Europe
after 3.00 Am? I thought we had 7000+ members and I wanted to pool on their talents yet at most, I only see one or two logged on in those early hours. Just wondering what gives??
Thanks Mods.

Is that 3.AM our time or theirs

atalas · #4 25-03-2010, 04:43 PM

Hey was thinking the same thing! I've checked the site out in the early hours many times and there's been no one around.

astrospotter (Mark) · #5 25-03-2010, 06:06 PM

Have been mostly snooping and only recently have done a few posts. I am a night guy so I'll most likely only post Australian noon till 8pm.

Just visited Arkaroola well north of Port Augusta and had the time of my life (astronomy wise) with 5 nights of 1st time northern-guy sees the great southern skies. My first post, a rather long OR, was a few days back to the observational and visual astronomy section.

Your views rock down there and the people I met were very friendly and 'real'. Loved it all and can't wait to return someday.

But I still do not understand a thing about how cricket works ...

that_guy (Tony) · #6 25-03-2010, 09:18 PM

nor do i...

Jen · #7 25-03-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrospotter

Have been mostly snooping and only recently have done a few posts. I am a night guy so I'll most likely only post Australian noon till 8pm.

Just visited Arkaroola well north of Port Augusta and had the time of my life (astronomy wise) with 5 nights of 1st time northern-guy sees the great southern skies. My first post, a rather long OR, was a few days back to the observational and visual astronomy section.

Your views rock down there and the people I met were very friendly and 'real'. Loved it all and can't wait to return someday.

But I still do not understand a thing about how cricket works ...

yeah i know what ya mean, its ok i dont understand cricket either

Shadow (Rich) · #8 26-03-2010, 11:42 AM

Thanks all for the replies but what I was asking about is if we have 7000+ members, why don't I see 'any' of them logged in at the early hours Oz time when at least some U.S or Europe should be up and about? In other words, are there really 7400 members here? Something isn't right as if you look for yourselves around those Oz times, 'members' don't exist in the numbers mentioned that are registered. Weird....

iceman (Mike) · #9 26-03-2010, 11:51 AM

What's weird about it? What are you suggesting?

A fairly odd statement from a new member.

7400+ people have registered, over the past 5.5 years. Of course not all of those are still active members. That's the same story you see on every online forum.

A large number of registered members also browse as 'guests' and only login when they have something to post.

Also the vast majority of our members are based in AU/NZ, so they will be sleeping during the early hours. The minority of US/Europe members are either guests, or not visiting at that time.

I really don't understand the question or the implication.

Shadow (Rich) · #10 26-03-2010, 02:03 PM

Hi Mike and thanks for the reply.

I dont think that this is an odd enquiry as I was attracted to the fact the the large number of registered members meant that there would have been a large pool of people to draw on if I needed assistance.

Although what you say regarding the member numbers may be true, what Im asking is where are the U.S and Europe members in the early hours Oz time? Surely 'someone' should be here online from overseas during their daylight hours as logged in members or otherwise.
What I see is maybe 1 or 2 logged in users at that early Oz time and a few 'Guests' on and thats it.

I have been on several other large astro forums with large memberships and they are always showing a relatively large number of users and guests logged in, but that dosnt seem to be the case here.

So I guess Im asking if only 1% or thereabouts of your 7400 members are actually active based on your reply?

Thanks for the clarification.

Terry B · #11 26-03-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow

Hi Mike and thanks for the reply.

I dont think that this is an odd enquiry as I was attracted to the fact the the large number of registered members meant that there would have been a large pool of people to draw on if I needed assistance.

Although what you say regarding the member numbers may be true, what Im asking is where are the U.S and Europe members in the early hours Oz time? Surely 'someone' should be here online from overseas during their daylight hours as logged in members or otherwise.
What I see is maybe 1 or 2 logged in users at that early Oz time and a few 'Guests' on and thats it.

I have been on several other large astro forums with large memberships and they are always showing a relatively large number of users and guests logged in, but that dosnt seem to be the case here.

So I guess Im asking if only 1% or thereabouts of your 7400 members are actually active based on your reply?

Thanks for the clarification.

Maybe the Oz members that ara up at that time are actually observing and not at the computer?

Octane (Humayun) · #12 26-03-2010, 02:44 PM

Rich,

Perhaps the US and European enthusiasts are all over at CloudyNights.

Yes, 7,400 is a large number. Perhaps there is only 1%, or 100 really active members. The rest browse as guests and only log in when they have something to say or reply to. Some sign up, post a few times, and disappear off into the unknown.

Even if it is just 1% or 100 regular posters, that is still a lot of experience and knowledge that you can draw upon -- simply post a question, no matter how esoteric, and you're bound to get someone who'll assist, or try to, anyway.

Enjoy.

H

duncan · #13 26-03-2010, 02:50 PM

The other point to remember is that you might not get an answer straight away. Sometimes for various reasons it may take up to a few days, Not often but it does happen.
Of course if for some reason a post goes un-noticed you can always try to PM someone with a query.

Cheers,
Duncan

Shadow (Rich) · #14 26-03-2010, 02:58 PM

Thanks guys but your missing my point.
This site advertised as having the largest number of members for an Australian astro forum yet I can't see it..
Perhaps the Registered Members number isn't realistic after all?
Are they real..? That's what Im asking I guess.

duncan · #15 26-03-2010, 03:10 PM

I've been on here for about 3 years now and have watched the site grow in a remarkable way. Even today i've seen names that i really don't recognize. So in answer to your question an emphatic "YES".
But as Mike said earlier, "People come and go" for whatever reason.
And there are times when even i don't bother logging in as i'm just having a quick browse. Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Duncan.

PS Only reason i've been on this much lately is work has slowed to a standstill, and it keeps me out of the PUB!!,LOL

multiweb (Marc) · #16 26-03-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow

Thanks guys but your missing my point.
This site advertised as having the largest number of members for an Australian astro forum yet I can't see it..
Perhaps the Registered Members number isn't realistic after all?
Are they real..? That's what Im asking I guess.

That's not relevant to how quick your enquiry will be answered. I posted a question on the QHYCCD forums that holds over 22000 members. Took 3 days to get an answer. Same question posted on CN: 1 day to get an answer (39000 members) - Same question here: 9h. You'll always get an answer here and a good one regardless of how many registered members there are. And as Mike pointed out a lot of us browse without loging in. The traffic is there though. So in the flow of viewers your enquiry is bound to be caught pretty quickly.

iceman (Mike) · #17 26-03-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow

Thanks guys but your missing my point.
This site advertised as having the largest number of members for an Australian astro forum yet I can't see it..
Perhaps the Registered Members number isn't realistic after all?
Are they real..? That's what Im asking I guess.

Honestly I still fail to see your point.

You haven't even asked a real question yet and yet your questioning the number of members available to answer your potential future questions? And then questioning whether the advertised number of registered members is real?

Seems a bit like trolling to me.

Nice way to introduce yourself to the community. If you'd been around for the past 5.5 years you'll have seen most of those 7000 members register, come and go at points over those years.

I'm sure when you're ready to contribute something positive to the community, there'll be many members ready to answer your astronomy related questions.