the older i get the less the term old and moldy offends me.

We might have an active users and an historical users list. We could also have the most recommended too. I don't think everyone knows how to follow. It's another step, but recommending is pretty straightforward.

Everyone has their own idea of who has something of value to add to the conversation, and 'most followed' is little more than a popularity contest, (a beauty contest in disguise?). I'm with Lis in that I follow some hoping they will return, (hat tip to Lux, hreb), and others I don't follow, (fly), hoping they haven't disappeared forever. Given continued inactivity on the board we would all disappear from the list in time. In the end the list serves little purpose IMO. Perhaps the aim is to stoke the egos of TPMs perception of their 'top producers' so they keep producing content free of charge. If that's the case then perhaps Josh should reconsider as there are a few names on the list who have been largely absent for some time, though Lux possibly suffered some physical disability which puts him in a different category regarding the ability to 'produce'. TheraP, one of the most followed users, has criticized the system on more than one occasion. One thing I can say, having come from obscurity to a position on the 'most followed' list is that it does nothing to bolster ones' arguments on the board, so if one is being intellectually honest, it serves no real purpose , at least in my own estimation. I like the concept of 'most recommended', but would caution that perhaps that measurement should only account for the most recent time period, (three months, six months?), as otherwise those who have been posting for long periods of time would be weighted very heavily in their position on such a chart. My final thought is that there are a whole lot of names not on that list that are my favorite voices here, and their lack of ranking does nothing to diminish my admiration for their unique voice in this ongoing dialogue known as TPM.

I haven't seen the list in quite awhile, don't care to. I read a lot and write a lot less, am interested in what folks have to say and how they say it. Who is "following" whom is of no importance to me whatsoever.

I wish there was a "Received!" option.
The list is musical. I like reading the names,
though many are missing, so I look at the titles
floating too quickly away.

And I really miss the "unread comments" feature. It was so easy to scan old posts and see if new comments had been added.

Personally, even when I was posting quite a lot, I found the list bothersome - except to go quickly to someone's blog - if they happened to be on the list. The list appeared last Fall. In my view it has led, in some cases, to attacks on people who rose up the list - simply for appearing to be "popular" - a category I have never sought and often fled from.

I have long advocated some other kind of list, as you suggest. A new list each week. Or some other feature. Or no list at all. The Cafe worked perfectly well without a list before.

I assure you I would not mourn the loss of the list. I'm glad I happened along to recommend your post and make this comment.

Peace to all.

A hit counter would interest me, too. I'm still finding my way around here and I am interested in what gets clicked on, read, or ignored.

I saw someone's e-mail address listed in their bio. To prevent spamming, you could list it as smart guy at hellokitty.com.

A hit counter would be good. As would be a separate dashboard for responses to one's comments so that drawn out discussions are easy to keep up with. The top reader list is utterly pointless (if I want to know something about a certain commenter, such as how popular he is, I'll see it on his home-page). It takes up room on the dashboard that could go to providing a longer list of recent posts. That would make navigating the café somewhat easier, and would also permit the keeping reader posts up for more than the current 24 hour limit...

I think the whole concept of "Most Followed Users" is hooey. I would even change the term "follow" to something more like "connect" or "share."

I don't know what that list is supposed to accomplish other than to keep eyeballing and posting in order to build more followers and redeem them for valuable prizes. Or something. Also.

I like the idea of separating out comments made to my posts versus comments made by people I happen to follow.

I remember about ten days ago someone saying they wished they could "unfollow" someone. Perhaps a prolific poster who died of CRT exposure, or something. Or someone who turned shrill since being followed; happens all the time.

For the digital natives in our midst...I mean Cathode Ray Tube.

There's a most followed user list?

=D

OK. I have a suggestion that gets to the heart of this:

Josh et al should pick a few TPM regulars who they see have the best interest of the site in mind; they should invite those 5 - 10 people to a (limited) open forum to discuss TPM. Improvements, successes, problems, and goals. Kind of like an unpaid Board of Non-Directors. Input only, and it would be rotating, so that no one would remain like a Supreme Court Justice.

How about that for free advice and counsel? We have people here who are cyber-geniuses, and others who just are good at practical suggestions. It could be just once a month so as not to be too much of a pain in the ass.

Anyhoo, just an idea!

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