Author Topic: How many active DC member are there? 150? (Dunbar number) (Read 44,901 times)

urlwolf · « **on:** February 20, 2008, 06:57 PM »

Dumbar number:

Quote

Dunbar's number, which is very approximately 150, represents a theorized cognitive limit to the number of individuals with whom any one person can maintain stable social relationships, the kind of relationships that go with knowing who each person is and how each person relates socially to every other person.[1] Group sizes larger than this generally require more restricted rules, laws, and enforced policies and regulations to maintain a stable cohesion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar's_number

This would make sense...

housetier · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2008, 08:50 PM »

Well now! That was absolutely FASCINATING! I really enjoyed reading/learning this. However, 150 seems quite a large number to me...

urlwolf · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2008, 08:55 PM »

if you enjoyed that, the original post where I got the lead for the Dunbar number is this one:
http://andrewchen.typepad.com/

A GREAT blog.

And the post:
http://andrewchen.typepad.com/andrew_chens_blog/2008/01/does-facebook-r.html

Darwin · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2008, 11:23 PM »

I thought that was a typo for "Dumber number"

...

Ah ha! It WAS a typo - Dunbar's number! Am I partially vindicated?

Anyway, reading your post, urlwolf, I am intrigued. I do WONDER how many of the appox. DC 110,000 members are active, say, one a week?

Josh · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2008, 11:33 PM »

Mouser, how many active users does DC have (Users with more than 50 posts)?

Cloq · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2008, 11:37 PM »

Quote from: Josh on February 20, 2008, 11:33 PM

Mouser, how many active users does DC have (Users with more than 50 posts)?

Ummm.. does wiggling a mouse while visiting DC count as active??

tomos · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2008, 11:53 PM »

Quote from: Cloq on February 20, 2008, 11:37 PM

Quote from: Josh on February 20, 2008, 11:33 PM
Mouser, how many active users does DC have (Users with more than 50 posts)?

Ummm.. does wiggling a mouse while visiting DC count as active??

absolutely

Lashiec · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:07 AM »

Quote from: Josh on February 20, 2008, 11:33 PM

Mouser, how many active users does DC have (Users with more than 50 posts)?

The Supporter Yearbook says... 160. Add to that those posters who clog the forum, but don't donate anything *cough*

Darwin · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:08 AM »

Just visited the supporter yearbook and sorted by post count. Each page has 15x4=60 members... Page three is the cutoff (user Smirf with 53 posts, while Clive and Dormouse have 47 each). By my *rough* calculation, there are 159 users with 50 or more posts!

Darwin · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:11 AM »

OK, Lashiec, either I've lost three users or you've produced them out of thin air - what gives?

Lashiec · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:14 AM »

Yeah, the first time I guided myself by the member count in the title bar... there are 60 in the first page, 61 in the second and 39 in the third with more than 50 posts. That makes... 160

urlwolf · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:22 AM »

the number is surprisingly close to Dunbar's.

I still cannot recite 150 usernames, sorry.

By the way... I think a facebook group is in order. be right back...

Lashiec · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:31 AM »

I wonder what's the meaning of "stable social relationships" in the modern world, with the Internet and everything. If we consider each person we know inside and outside the computer, I think I surpass the 150 number (well, even with only the ones outside

), that's why I wonder when do we consider a relationship as "stable"

In other news, urlwolf wants to challenge the theory by dragging DC in Facebook. Uh-oh. Don't forget to check up MySpace, I'm sure Barack Obama is in the thousands or something

Darwin · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:36 AM »

Quote from: Lashiec on February 21, 2008, 12:14 AM

Yeah, the first time I guided myself by the member count in the title bar... there are 60 in the first page, 61 in the second and 39 in the third with more than 50 posts. That makes... 160

Dang! I noticed that anamoly with the third page (actually, all I noted was that there was one avatar in the bottom row and three apparently missing) - didn't think to check the second page... Well done!

urlwolf · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:40 AM »

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8898487169

Here it is.

I don't really care about myspace, since there most are 'fake' friends.

I can see an use for a facebook group here.
It'd put a face to all those nicknames.
It'd make it easier to keep up to date with what others are doing.
It trumps the 'let's get to know each other' thread. (btw, I should post it there).
It helps getting to know people we may have in common, and others who have common interests.

last, it'd bring traffic to dc

Darwin · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2008, 05:28 AM »

OK, urlwolf, I've joined the Facebook group. I had to reactivate my Facebook account to do it!

app103 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2008, 05:38 PM »

Quote from: Lashiec on February 21, 2008, 12:07 AM

Quote from: Josh on February 20, 2008, 11:33 PM
Mouser, how many active users does DC have (Users with more than 50 posts)?
The Supporter Yearbook says... 160. Add to that those posters who clog the forum, but don't donate anything *cough*

Why are you checking the supporter yearbook when you should be checking the full forum member list sorted by post count?

188 members with 50+ posts (check page 4)

jgpaiva · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2008, 05:46 PM »

Quote from: app103 on February 22, 2008, 05:38 PM

Why are you checking the supporter yearbook when you should be checking the full forum member list sorted by post count?

I've learned something new today

Curt · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2008, 05:50 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on February 21, 2008, 05:28 AM

OK, urlwolf, I've joined the Facebook group.

- or have you? $:-\$

Lashiec · « **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2008, 06:12 PM »

Quote from: app103 on February 22, 2008, 05:38 PM

Why are you checking the supporter yearbook when you should be checking the full forum member list sorted by post count?

188 members with 50+ posts (check page 4)

Because I don't have permission to access that list

app103 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2008, 06:14 PM »

Quote from: Lashiec on February 22, 2008, 06:12 PM

Quote from: app103 on February 22, 2008, 05:38 PM
Why are you checking the supporter yearbook when you should be checking the full forum member list sorted by post count?

188 members with 50+ posts (check page 4)

Because I don't have permission to access that list

You mean I am special? I had no idea.

Lashiec · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2008, 06:32 PM »

Either it's because you're a programmer or a donor, I'm not sure what kind of connections you need to enter the VIP sections of the forum

Darwin · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2008, 06:35 PM »

Quote from: Curt on February 22, 2008, 05:50 PM

Quote from: Darwin on February 21, 2008, 05:28 AM
OK, urlwolf, I've joined the Facebook group.

- or have you? $:-\$

Ah yes, Curt! Indeed... I'm joined up to Facebook under my "real" name!

PS my avatar at the moment is a big question mark, if that helps...

Darwin · « **Reply #23 on:** February 22, 2008, 06:37 PM »

Quote from: jgpaiva on February 22, 2008, 05:46 PM

Quote from: app103 on February 22, 2008, 05:38 PM
Why are you checking the supporter yearbook when you should be checking the full forum member list sorted by post count?
I've learned something new today

Me too

188 is still close to Dunbar's number, though, isn't it? Interesting...

Curt · « **Reply #24 on:** February 22, 2008, 08:08 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on February 22, 2008, 06:35 PM

Quote from: Curt on February 22, 2008, 05:50 PM
Quote from: Darwin on February 21, 2008, 05:28 AM
OK, urlwolf, I've joined the Facebook group.
- or have you? $:-\$
I'm joined up to Facebook under my "real" name!

I guess we are talking about different groups, then, because your real name is neither April, Curt or Jose - who by now are the only 3 members of software conneseurs...