Slashdot, a user-generated news, analysis, peer question and professional insight community. Tech professionals moderate the site which averages more than 5,300 comments daily and 3.7 million unique visitors each month.
As I said before, we don't have a really good idea on the number of unique IPIDs visiting the site, but we do have solid numbers for our daily comment counts. Here's the graph as generated by slashcode for a biweekly period:
(due to a quirk in slashcode, the graphs don't update until 48 hours later; our comment count for 04/01 was 712 comments total).
Taking in account averages, we're roughly getting a little less than 10% of Slashdot's comment counts, with a considerably smaller user base. As I said, the OkCupid story made me take notice. Here's the comment counts at various scores between the two sites
| SoylentNews | Slashdot.org | --------------------------------------- Score -1 | 130 | 1017 | Score 0 | 130 | 1005 | Score 1 | 109 | 696 | Score 2 | 74 | 586 | Score 3 | 12 | 96 | Score 4 | 4 | 64 | Score 5 | 1 | 46 | ---------------------------------------Furthermore, I took a look at UIDs on the other site, the vast majority of comments came from 6/7 digit UID posters. Looking at CmdrTaco's Retirement Post as well as posts detailing the history of the other site most of the low UIDs are still around, and are simply in perma-lurk mode.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 05 2014, @02:16AM
I've actually read all the comments. phew!!!
Most I agree with. To reinforce the AC thing, it is one of the main reasons I come here. If it were to become either subscription based or non AC posts. I'm outta here. I enjoy my privacy and vanity isn't my thing. Hence why I don't have an account. Also for the same reasons as another poster. I simply do not trust any site any longer to not try and monetize my personal "private" information.
So that being said. I don't see donations and/or subscriptions supporting this site if it were to take off in a big way. If comes down to advertisements. Host them locally and static. Have them approved by staff and/or membership. It's not like there isn't a general idea as to the type of people who frequent this kind of site. Heck maybe it might even show that advertisements and peoples privacy can actually work to benefit both. Though I suspect most aren't going to think through what I just said. So let the flames begin.
As far as content. Well I like to read a wide range of subjects. I also think having some of the "main stream" stuff to be debated by people who actually put some thought into things is a great thing. You just don't get that level on main stream news. So it works to counter balance the trolling/pr/fanboy.. ect...ect.. on other sites. Which I hope to see here as well as all the other things that don't normally get main stream attention.
Ehh... getting long winded
So.. yes been here since the wiki was up. No don't have an account and most likely won't. we'll see how that plays out in the future..
Good luck and keep it up the great work, and hopefully the future as well.