When Statistics Attack

[theodosia]

There has to be something wrong with this. I refuse to believe, for instance, that heuradys has only commented 13 times in my LJ.

Some of it, I'm convinced, is just that I'm just not good at creating the kind of posts that make people want to engage with me. I keep posting to share stuff that amuses me or interests me or say "how about that!" which is all that I can think to do, and end up feeling generally like I'm talking to dead air.

It's depressingly close to a metaphor for my whole life.

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Top Commenters on theodosia's LiveJournal

1	theodosia	178
2	dxmachina	69
3	kathlaw	65
4	kikala	60
5	lynnmonster	52
6	imkalena	39
7	makaidiver	34
8	daughtershade	28
9	stephl	28
10	janni	25
11	luscious_purple	25
12	cindyamb	24
13	sumik	24
14	shayheyred	23
15	akite	20
16	theamusedone	19
17	dsudis	18
18	estrella30	18
19	elenabtvs	17
20	mira_jane	17
21	serenada	17
22	shellmidwife	17
23	debg	16
24	the_star_fish	16
25	ardent_muses	15
26	bluster	15
27	brooklinegirl	14
28	klwilliams	14
29	reginagiraffe	14
30	serasempre	14
31	vwbug	14
32	bruinsfan	13
33	sfmarty	13
34	snacky	13
35	french_teacher	12
36	heuradys	12
37	seainni	12
38	sophiap	12
39	arliss	10
40	farwing	10
41	byob_kenobi	9
42	katie_m	9
43	lyrajane	9
44	riani1	9
45	bethbethbeth	8
46	jonquil	8
47	lenajill	8
48	mearagrrl	8
49	suelac	8
50	askye	7
51	malkingrey	7
52	msbelle	7
53	Anonymous	6
54	lysana	6
55	prudentia	6
56	seankozma	6
57	thermidor	6
58	tralf2001	6
59	vonnielake	6
60	bachdrych	5
61	helvirago	5
62	melymbrosia	5
63	sathinks	5
64	scrappylj	5
65	sister_wolf	5
66	smonsterbite	5
67	sowilo	5
68	suaine	5
69	yeungmaisu	5
70	casperflea	4
71	cesperanza	4
72	chickwriter	4
73	cmshaw	4
74	e_juliana	4
75	invader_jim	4
76	jenboo	4
77	jesseh	4
78	jodie_mouse	4
79	kiltslave	4
80	nestra	4
81	uselessplayback	4
82	amchau	3
83	brendalu	3
84	chicating	3
85	darthrami	3
86	djonn	3
87	dmk	3
88	fiorituranotte	3
89	gchick	3
90	la_perkins	3
91	minim_calibre	3
92	persephonemoon	3
93	pinwiz	3
94	pyrric	3
95	rliz	3
96	ro_astarte	3
97	vamplover84	3
98	wikiberry	3
99	amyth71	2
100	doll_revolution	2

Total Commenters: 146 (46 not shown)
Total Comments: 1415
Report generated 6/14/2004 8:11:33 AM by scrapdog's LJ Comment Stats Wizard 1.1

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Comments

Re: Statistics, damned statistics and lies...

[lynnmonster.livejournal.com]

...to misquote Mark Twain.

Please don't let silly numbers make you feel bad! (And they don't look like bad numbers to me...)

Re: Statistics, damned statistics and lies...

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Many other days I would have shrugged and said, "Oh just because someone doesn't post doesn't mean they don't care" and gone on, but today the idea that some people whom I quite like have replied like all of 3 or 4 times to =609= separate posts (granted not all during their tenure) seemed quite crushing.

Today all the insecurities seem to be winning. Too bad I'm not an ex-junkie because at least a relapse would be fun while it lasted.

[heuradys.livejournal.com]

T, you were #19 in mine, with a total of 21. You also have more repeat commentors than I have. ::lick::

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

There has to be somethign wrong with that tool, because I'd swear I'd have a much higher total from how often it =feels= I've answered., even if it's just oohing over your cool icons.

I'm so sorry if by singling you out above I caused you any embarrassment or distress. It was more of a disconnect, because I think of you as a good friend and that doesn't square with a low number of posts in my numbers-addled head. Which I know is S T U P I D.

[ajinamoto.livejournal.com]

Look! I comments lots in your journal, and here's one more for the count!

I'm constantly talking to dead air, which is pretty much what happens to me in real life too, so I hear ya.

Still, it doesn't stop me from making my either self-pitying or rambling entries. I am trying to cut back, though.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

That's another thing that I'm really sorry about, my rant above comes too close to discounting the people who do post quite often here, including you, and makes it sound like I don't appreciate it. Aaargh.

Sorry -- really I was about as down as I get (which is pretty down, actually) when I wrote the above, and that makes it quite a bit un-logical.

[fufaraw]

I'm a bad lj friend, I guess. I read, because you most often have something interesting or thought-provoking to say. But I don't comment, often, because of that whole engaging thing. I shall post more often, if only to say "Thanks for that," or "huh." or whatever.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Bev. If I wasn't so down, I'd remember that just because people lurk doesn't mean they don't care. I lurk a whole lot, in fact, which should be clue enough for my emotional logic.

[umbo.livejournal.com]

Remember that stuff like this doesn't look at friends' only posts, too--that's got to be part of it.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

That would make sense... geez!

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I am supposed to comment more often?

You know we love you. (shrug) I don't think I am going to find out the stats for my LJ. Bet they would be really depressing.

[mira-jane.livejournal.com]

wow. 17 [now 18] from me?
i hardly comment at all in anyone's journal. 17 is a pretty high number from me. if you're talking to dead air, then i'm breathing dead air.

[minim_calibre]

Hmph!

I refuse to believe I've only posted here thrice.

Unless I've just been supporting you in email...

[ineke.livejournal.com]

Heh, I must have been one of the people who commented one or two times. Must remedy that! Perhaps, somewhat like what I'm doing Right This Minute *looks thoughtful*.

Some of it, I'm convinced, is just that I'm just not good at creating the kind of posts that make people want to engage with me.

That's the story of my journal, hey. I tend to just post big chunks of, "hey! this happened to me!" -- and I guess people read it, shrug, and go on their merry way *g*. Any fannish content, and the comments multiply like little happy baby bunnies. And the thing is, comments are so delightful that it's hard not to succumb to their lure and simply post what you think people want to hear... you know?

[brendalu.livejournal.com]

Theo, I'm so sorry you're having a rough time of it right now.

FWIW, I'm not around all that much, and not much on the commenting. But I always look forward to seeing your posts. Partly 'cuz, yay Theo, but also because you reliably point me towards interesting stuff and ideas.