How would you esplain it?

I noticed something interesting, I think.
Google has a lot of freely available statistics about
usenet traffic and usage patterns, on a group by group basis,
going back a long ways.

Some groups, like rec.woodworking, are statistically stable.
The average number of posts per day for rec.woodworking now
is roughly what it was seven years ago.

But traffic to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly is roughly 80% less
than it used to be.

Do we have fewer fly fishermen?
Or are they.....well. What is it?
How what why.

salmobytes wrote:
I noticed something interesting, I think.
snip
But traffic to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly is roughly 80% less
than it used to be.

Do we have fewer fly fishermen?
Or are they.....well. What is it?
How what why.

I think it's all Wolfgang's fault. In fact, you could call it
the *Wolfgang Effect*.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Mar 22, 2:31 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
salmobytes wrote:
I noticed something interesting, I think.
snip
But traffic to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly is roughly 80% less
than it used to be.

Do we have fewer fly fishermen?
Or are they.....well. What is it?
How what why.

I think it's all Wolfgang's fault. In fact, you could call it
the *Wolfgang Effect*.

Not Fortenberry's Fault? :-)
Frank Reid

Flytyer37 wrote:
On Mar 22, 2:31 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
salmobytes wrote:
I noticed something interesting, I think.
snip
But traffic to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly is roughly 80% less
than it used to be.
Do we have fewer fly fishermen?
Or are they.....well. What is it?
How what why.
I think it's all Wolfgang's fault. In fact, you could call it
the *Wolfgang Effect*.

Not Fortenberry's Fault? :-)

Well, I've been here from the beginning but we didn't see Sandy's
mass exodus until soon after Wolfgang showed up. Coincidence ?

;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry

Speaking of; "How would you esplain it?"

Who are these kids from Southern Illinois???
Upset in the makings.
-tom

On 22 Mar 2007 12:14:10 -0700, "salmobytes"
wrote:

I noticed something interesting, I think.
Google has a lot of freely available statistics about
usenet traffic and usage patterns, on a group by group basis,
going back a long ways.

Some groups, like rec.woodworking, are statistically stable.
The average number of posts per day for rec.woodworking now
is roughly what it was seven years ago.

But traffic to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly is roughly 80% less
than it used to be.

Do we have fewer fly fishermen?
Or are they.....well. What is it?
How what why.

Troll.

I'd offer that there are lots of reasons. As to ROFF specifically,
boredom with ROFF, tired of what they see as the bull****, spending time
on what they see as more "civil" forums, etc. But simply comparing one
NG to another isn't really a complete view. In my eight or so years
around here (this is now the only NG or other "forum," fishing or
otherwise, in which I'd say I even semi-regularly participate), there
have been lots of comings and goings, and some seem to always be leaving
and never coming back, time after time after time.

IAC, are _all_ rec. hierarchy NGs stable except ROFF? If not, there is
likely all sorts of explanations for those changes, including ROFF's
changes. Heck, USENET isn't as big a portion of online, um,
communication as it once was - think of the changes over the last seven
years with regard to the 'net.

TC,
R
....and heck, there's not nearly as many AOLers and WebTVers
"discovering" that new, wonderful thing called newsgroup websites...

On Mar 22, 3:02 pm, wrote:
Troll.

Perhaps my original post was a troll of sorts.
But I didn't see it that way.

I do think what I noticed is an interesting trend.
Usenet is less popular in general, partly due to
the relatively recent proliferation of interactive blogs
and website forums. So maybe that's the explanation.

But I doubt it. Google statistics show various
newsgroups rise and fall in popularity, almost like
the weather. But the downward trend on roff is
at least 2 maybe 3 years old and steady, like
a blue run the ski hill, it's all downhill with very
few bumps.

On 22 Mar 2007 13:59:02 -0700, "salmobytes"
wrote:

On Mar 22, 3:02 pm, wrote:
Troll.

Perhaps my original post was a troll of sorts.
But I didn't see it that way.

I do think what I noticed is an interesting trend.
Usenet is less popular in general, partly due to
the relatively recent proliferation of interactive blogs
and website forums. So maybe that's the explanation.

I'd agree that it's a part of it, sure.

But I doubt it. Google statistics show various
newsgroups rise and fall in popularity, almost like
the weather. But the downward trend on roff is
at least 2 maybe 3 years old and steady, like
a blue run the ski hill, it's all downhill with very
few bumps.

And I'd offer it's what those who have "left" see as the bull****. But
here's the thing, IMO: picture, if you will, a fish camp. There are
30-40 folks sitting around shooting the breeze, and all of a sudden, two
folks decide to start boxing. Neither "jumped" the other, it's mutual
combat, entered into willingly by both parties. Why would anyone feel
"forced" to join in? Watch it if you wish, ignore it if that's more
your taste, and join in if you'd like, but no one is forcing anyone to
choose a option.

Same thing here. Heck, here, if one can't simply ignore the virtual
boxing match, they can literally keep their seat and with a few
keystrokes, put up an electronic wall so that the whole thing is all but
invisible to them.

And of course, there's really not all that much _strictly_ FFing related
that the same 50-100 folks can talk about for years on end, and really,
that'd be boring as hell. IMO, it's natural that everything under the
sun gets at least some coverage.

And I say this knowing full-well my own role in the overall nonsense of
this place - the downright humorless nastiness (and no, I don't mean
Mike) of, um, certain posters may well scare off those with too-thin
skins. Tough **** - wrong as he may or may not be, no one is or can
force anyone to read what they don't want to read, and if they can't
control themselves, that's on them, not ROFF or any poster(s) to it.

TC,
R

How what why.

People got sick of all the nonsense, and simply stopped posting.

TL
MC

On 22 Mar 2007 12:14:10 -0700, "salmobytes"
wrote:

I noticed something interesting, I think.
Google has a lot of freely available statistics about
usenet traffic and usage patterns, on a group by group basis,
going back a long ways.

Some groups, like rec.woodworking, are statistically stable.
The average number of posts per day for rec.woodworking now
is roughly what it was seven years ago.

But traffic to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly is roughly 80% less
than it used to be.

Do we have fewer fly fishermen?
Or are they.....well. What is it?
How what why.

Most of the good guys have left.... Peter, Willi, Tom Brown, Wally,
Zimbo, Paul G., the western boys (Bruiser/Bouncer/Dan'l/Snoop/John
H.), Flyfish, Handyman, Frank Sr., Choc, Mr. Epps, helllll.... even
the two lawyers don't post much any more, nor does RW. That leaves
you, JR, Frank Jr., Joe F., Tim, Riverman, Forty, and some new
folks, but you are outnumbered by the ****ers/moaners/political
posters.

I'm surprised there *is* a roff. Forty! Turn out the lights when you
leave. d;o)