Note: Volume of Post in Main Group.

[Kelley]

Steve, thanks so much for mentioning these things!  I'd like to add 
some general comments and observations.

Steve wrote:
> I know the main group has been a little nuts lately, but the volume 
of post has dropped substantially, and I anticipate that by the end of
> next month things will be back to normal.
> 
> Volume-
> June = 7267
> July = 8234
> Aug = 3568 (to date); extrapolated to end = 4500
> 
> Based on the rate of change I put next months total at around 2,000 
to 3,000 which is at the high end of the normal range. >>>

Probably, or quite soon thereafter.  There are several factors that 
come into play here:

We've had thousands of new members join since OoP was released.

New members are often pretty eager and excited to join in the 
discussions.  (I know for lots of us, myself included, it's so 
wonderful, dare I say a life-changing epiphany <g>, to find the 
group, to find there are *so* many other adults out there who love 
the books as much we do, adults who discuss the books in such depth, 
create such elaborate theories.  So interesting, so fun!  I'm not 
alone!) :-D

After an initial burst of excited posting, people often fall into a 
more 'restrained' level of participating.  Sometimes it's just that 
they've said what they wanted to say, discussed any given topic as 
much as they care to, and then just read along, watching for new 
ideas, new twists on old ideas, and chime in when they're inspired.  
This pretty much correlates with the big drop in posting after those 
first few weeks after OoP came out.

Another factor -- for most of our membership (I'm pretty sure), it's 
summertime.  Vacation time.  Meaning lots of folks just have more 
spare time to engage in the discussions.  I've been saying to some of 
the other list elves that in the next few weeks when people are going 
back to school, many list members are just not going to have the time 
to spend online, which will (*should*) cut the posting rate.  

> I think the best thing to do is for everyone to be selective in what
> they read, and for the MODS to wait until we see the trends for next
> month. 
> 
> I already see the quality of posts improving. So, I suggest we do 
NOT rush in and fix it until we are sure it's broken. >>>>

Extremely good point.  I'd like to add:

After GoF, much of the initial discussion was about on-the-surface 
stuff -- Moody, the Gleam, the tournament, the Yule Brawl, the Kiss, 
Cedric, the Wand Order, etc., etc., etc.  It takes some time to 
really mull the book and its connection to / place in the rest of 
canon to get to the more in-depth discussion.  Lots of the more 
elaborate and hardcore theorizing just needed time to brew and 
percolate.  It'll happen with OoP, too.

Also, it takes this time for new members to get acclimated to not 
only the rules of the group, but its style as well.  I know my own 
posting improved drastically over time as I 'got to know' HPfGU.  It 
takes a little while to get the hang of proper snipping, attributing, 
etc., as well as to get into the more in-depth theorizing, too.  Of 
course, it doesn't take this time for everyone, but for many (most, 
probably) it does. 

And, many, many "old" posters are still around, just waiting for 
things to slow down before they begin posting again.  From everything 
I've been seeing and hearing, this group (the old posters-in-waiting) 
is pretty darn big.  There are *lots* of us who are biding our time; 
guess since we've been waiting for three years to discuss OoP, a few 
more months is a drop in the bucket.

> I also think we all need to stand reverently the next few times we
> log-on and give a appreciative bow to the Mods and Elves for all the
> hard work they have done in the last few months.
> 
> I know offer my humble bow. [Bows deeply] >>>

Haha!  Oh, thanks, Steve!  I personally really appreciate that. :-)

--Kelley, the mostly-unknown List Elf ;-)