AFF'rs come and go

[Deleted member]

I'm not sure if this had ever been canvassed before. But I notice when I log in each time there is a steady stream of welcoming messages ( thank you Johnk) from AFF'rs to new members. But it strikes me that the same dedicated band of contributors hold center stage. Some burn bright in the firmament , and fade away as quickly as they appeared. While others disappear with barely a whimper. I wonder if there are "user" stats which show the over all "average activity" life span of an AFF'r and then which ones have been around the longest. Apologies if this is a thread already started somewhere else.

 

[serfty]

You may wish to peruse the information available from this link:

The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - Top Posters In 12-2015

 

[Major]

I have also pondered on this issue. With 38,789 registered members someone isn't pulling their weight

 

[BAM1748]

Wow, I came in about no. 30. (for Dec)

Didn't realise I was so high up the list.

Matt

 

[harvyk]

Interesting, I am number 131 for this year, but I was number 32 last year.
That work thing has gotten in the way of posting this year.

 

[blackcat20]

I think my posting frequency goes up and down depending on how busy I am at work... this month has been quiet.

 

[Buzzard]

I'm with blackcat20, always around but posting depends on my schedule.
Most days I log in for a quick peek at least.

Not having yet looked at post #2 by serfty, I'm guessing TomVexille would have to be one of the top posters for the number of posts since join date.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I too have made similar observations, with so many new members quickly disappearing soon after first appearing.
The reasons for this are probably numerous.

What I have noticed is that many formally very active members from a few years ago have disappeared completely.... My question is what makes people " switch off"?

Speaking for myself, my activity fluctuates on work timeframes ( I don't sit in front on a computer all day) & subsequently often I miss out on some of the hot goss when it's going off (ie mistake fares).

 

[Pushka]

Mmmm. I thought I'd not posted much this month.

 

[cove]

I do miss bossreggie , markis10 and nycguy who were on this forum a while ago.
It is lovely to have serfty on board as he works flying to the max.

 

[drron]

Well I never....realised I must have been one of the earliest members here joining just 16 days after Admin.Would not have believed Serfty and NM joined after me.
Still keeping up-4th for the month and 10th for the year.
I too thought I had slowed down.

 

[Deleted member]

I do miss bossreggie , markis10 and nycguy who were on this forum a while ago.
It is lovely to have serfty on board as he works flying to the max.

I had coffee with BR a few weeks ago in Shebangabang

 

[harvyk]

My question is what makes people " switch off"?

Work commitments, general life, as funny as it sounds even travel can make people "switch off".
I know last year that when I was traveling the number of posts I placed up decreased during my trips. Typing out long winded sentences is a pain on a mobile phone, so I tend not to do it.

 

[docjames]

I've obviously now gone for quality over quantity. And work and family demands reducing post rate - I'm also finding the app a bit clunky so i don't access AFF remotely like I was in 2013 (now only on PC/laptop).

Current 2015 rank #112! A drop from #74 in 2014, and #25 in 2013!

 

[wanderer_au]

1. Some earlier posters have probably died. I know this sounds macabre, but it's true. Time moves on.
2. A lot of "new" posters join because they have one issue and want it resolved. Once they have their answers, they probably fade out.
3. Some of you guys are seriously FREQUENT flyers. I have a (s)wanky corporate job, and I do a lot of flying, in my mind. But I'm not some hot-shot investment banker that spends half their life in grey (Black??) PJs in an A380, or some such. Not surprising that some of those posters predominate - and to be honest, I enjoy living vicariously through their posts.
4. I can't keep up with the people that post reams of stuff about the ins and outs of credit card deets. I'm a words person, I'm also a PAYG wage slave, and I'm certainly not a numbers person. So there are big areas of this website that are just beyond my remit/"pay grade". Those who are comfortable with it, run with it - hence the skewed results.
5. There's a bit of a "cool kids group" based in Melbourne that seems to be across it all which means the rest of us can read and enjoy - and find out what we need to know (or learn something we otherwise knew nothing about!). This isn't a criticism at all - on the contrary, the banter from those posters has gleamed me one or two extremely useful tips - but it is the reality that this group skews to Melbourne rather than the Emerald City, which is hard to accept when you are in Sydney, BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST AT EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME /sarcasm off.
6. There's a couple of posters that say "hello" to every single new joiner, which is nice - I appreciated it! - and that probably jacks up their total # of posts a bit.

They are my quick and dirty thoughts and comments as to why this happens. Flying is fun, but even on AFF, *very* few people have the time, ability, resources and patience to be an overflowing source of wisdom when it comes to air travel.

PS: Just quietly, which I'll post here because I don't know where else to put it, I loathe the world "deplane". I far prefer the word DISEMBARK. Deplane sounds awful, almost a bit rude.

 

[Buzzard]

I had coffee with BR a few weeks ago in Shebangabang

Do you have a stutter GPH?

 

[andye]

I thought it must be a BKK nightspot

 

[Archphoto]

It depends on my workload also.

More often than not, I'll be lurking without actually posting; whilst the topics are *always* interesting and entertaining, I don't necessarily have anything relevant to add to the discussion.

As mentioned above, some newbies probably do come here to have a specific question answered and then fade off once they have the info the needed. I think I joined for a similar reason, but found I actually enjoyed the banter, and decided to hang around.

It's a bit like being in a bar of expats: we regale each other with great stories, super tips and advice, whilst not having to leave the office. I'd love to be able to join a lounge crawl or meet up at some stage, but work doesn't always allow for that - in the meantime, I'm very happy to seat myself at the bar and listen to everyone chat about this and that and add my 2c when I feel I can contribute with something useful.

Cheers! Next round's on me.:mrgreen:

 

[kermatu]

Fascinating - never knew the stats were kept/visible like that.

I tend to be more active when I am travelling or stuck in a hotel or lounge. Kind of makes more sense to post observations and experiences then. I certainly was quiet early on. So much info to absorb and little confidence in giving back. Not that my input is all that useful but it feels better to give views and provide some help when possible as my AFF and more importantly my travel experience has grown.

 

[Hvr]

Wow, I came in about no. 30. (for Dec)

Didn't realise I was so high up the list.

Matt

Well you were using a carriage service both on and off the internet.