[ATM] In a gadda da vida

[Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net>]

Here is a graph of list activity by month from Jan
1995 to June 2006.  

<http://www.atmlist.net/contrib/atmer-at-flash-dot-net/activity.jpg>

It shows the new thread count, the reply count, and
the ratio of replies to new posts.  The units for the
ratio curve (green) are on the right side of the
graph.

Not surprisingly the reply count trends with the new
thread count.  In contrast while the count trends have
risen and fallen, the ratio of replies to new threads
has trended linearly upwards. You can now expect three
to five replies per post, double that ten years ago.  
The reply ratio curve hints at a four year cycle, with
depressions just before the US presidential elections.
 The cycle is clearly evident in an autocorrelation.

Much, but not all of the February 2004 artifact is a
result of the switch over from the old list server.  

Currently there are around 350 messages a month.  This
is 20 odd percent less than when the list began, and
1/8th that of the list?s highest activity.

What to make of this.  I think the list needs to
advertise. 

Anthony


e pluribus unum
>From many, one.
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