NYT article on online forums

[strmrdr]

Natalie L. Petouhoff, an analyst at Forrester Research, said that online user groups conform to what she calls the 1-9-90 rule. About 1 percent of those in the community, she explained, are super-users who supply most of the best answers and commentary. An additional 9 percent are “responders” who mainly reply and rate Web posts, she said, and the other 90 percent are “readers” who primarily peruse and search the Web site for useful information.

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http://www.ocala.com/article/20090426/ZNYT05/904263019?Title=Customer-Service-Ask-a-Volunteer

 

[Lorelei]

Interesting!

 

[jet2ks]

Interesting article. Thanks for the link.

I would have one question for researchers, though. If a person is a 1 percent super-user on one group, do they tend to be that way in others, as well. The article seems to indicate yes, because it is a certain mentality. I do wonder however, because of the online forums I frequent, I would say I am a 1 percent on one, a 9 percent on another and a 90 percent on yet another. Maybe I''m just weird.

 

[Lorelei]

I am a very frequent user here as PS is my online home, I lurk on other forums sometimes but don't participate much at all. I don't have time anyway as I am busy here!

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 4/27/2009 9:37:24 AM
Author: jet2ks
Interesting article. Thanks for the link.


I would have one question for researchers, though. If a person is a 1 percent super-user on one group, do they tend to be that way in others, as well. The article seems to indicate yes, because it is a certain mentality. I do wonder however, because of the online forums I frequent, I would say I am a 1 percent on one, a 9 percent on another and a 90 percent on yet another. Maybe I''m just weird.

hi jet2ks

i agree, and i think people swing between groups, too. i know i lurked on PS for a long time before joining, and there''s other groups where i''ve been a super-user, i guess, then changed to more of a lurker. i think life''s responsibilities dictate how much time one has for this sort of thing, also, and it''s never static (thinking job changes, new babies, moving house - that sort of thing)

 

[LaraOnline]

Date: 4/27/2009 9:43:16 AM
Author: Lorelei
I am a very frequent user here as PS is my online home, I lurk on other forums sometimes but don''t participate much at all. I don''t have time anyway as I am busy here!

You''re not a super user though Lorelei... you''re a super-STAR user!!

What would happen if the gremlins ate your user name? Would you be happy to start again with a new account? Would you still feel like ''you''?

 

[AmberGretchen]

That''s a really interesting article - thanks for posting it! It definitely seems like PS probably fits that model, although I agree that things definitely change over time, as people grow up, get married, finish/start school, have babies, etc...its not a static thing at all.

 

[Tuckins1]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 4/27/2009 9:37:24 AM
Author: jet2ks
Interesting article. Thanks for the link.


I would have one question for researchers, though. If a person is a 1 percent super-user on one group, do they tend to be that way in others, as well. The article seems to indicate yes, because it is a certain mentality. I do wonder however, because of the online forums I frequent, I would say I am a 1 percent on one, a 9 percent on another and a 90 percent on yet another. Maybe I''m just weird.

I''m in the 1% on 2 forums, I moderate one of them.
I''m in the 9% on 2
and in the 90% on 10 or 12?
Some forums I have read every day for 10 years and haven''t joined or posted.

 

[Steel]

I''m defo a responder and a crap sporadic one at that.

Interesting Karl.