MeFi contribution index

April 8, 2004 10:02 AM

After so many months of effort, repression and downright self-censorship in order to post less, occasioning not a little (deserved) abuse from fellow members for my prolixity, I note with a happy heart there are now no less than five friends with a higher contribution index than me. This after many months with an embarrassing index of over 11. "There's hope for all", I think is the lesson. For the benefit of these over-eager newbies, what would be the perfect contribution index for the perfect user?
posted by MiguelCardoso to MetaFilter-related at 10:02 AM (56 comments total)

Note that four out of those five are part of the recent new-user rush, thus giving them a much shorter lifetime and thus a much greater contribution index.

And it should be no fewer than.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:14 AM on April 8, 2004

This would be more impressive if four of the five weren't brand-new members, whose indices are skewed by the brevity of their tenure here. Still, troutfishing has legitimately knocked you out of the top spot. Congratulations!
posted by me3dia at 10:15 AM on April 8, 2004

Every time I look at that list, I realize that I am never gonna make it in the top 10.

/packs bags to head back to the farm or something
posted by namespan at 10:17 AM on April 8, 2004

So I suppose the phrase, "Less is more", doesn't apply?

FWIW, I think an index of 2.0 is ideal. It shows that you are current with the site, yet careful with your posts.
posted by BlueTrain at 10:29 AM on April 8, 2004

After so many months of effort, repression and downright self-censorship in order to post less

Ah, so that's why the tone of MetaFilter has seemed so vitriolic, angry, and unpleasant to me lately. Put me down for wishing you posted a bit more often, Miguel. You're both kinder and more interesting than most others, even at your most "chatty".
posted by gd779 at 10:40 AM on April 8, 2004

And it should be no fewer than.

Why, DrJohnEvans...you...you...damn conservative! (Thanks). :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:43 AM on April 8, 2004

0.88 Representin'!

I can't wait till AskMefi becomes its own category so we can have a "know it all" index.
posted by geoff. at 10:46 AM on April 8, 2004

Every time I look at that list, I realize that I am never gonna make it in the top 10.

You are in the top 75, though, namespan.

And FWIW, I think somewhere from 1.5 to 2.5 is probably a good range.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:55 AM on April 8, 2004

I am at the legal limit of .08.

I agree with gd779 and wish to be signed up for the MiguelCardoso Bar Notes Newsletter in order to receive those things that you considered but refrained from posting.

Miguel, you always post interesting and intelligent posts that often taste great even if a bit harsh on my liver.
posted by geekyguy at 10:55 AM on April 8, 2004

Um, I thought I wasn't a very frequent poster but... my user name is in two out of three 100 Most Frequent Lists. Maybe I should spend less time on MeFi.
posted by orange swan at 11:16 AM on April 8, 2004

I am still astounded at the amount of time I once spent here. Those were the days...
posted by ColdChef at 12:17 PM on April 8, 2004

I am greatly relieved that I post less than Mathowie.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:39 PM on April 8, 2004

Congratulations on shutting up, Miguel.
posted by crunchland at 12:41 PM on April 8, 2004

Put me down for wishing you posted a bit more often, Miguel.

posted by gd779 at 10:40 AM PST on April 8

me too.

One of the main things i was looking forward to doing when i finally got on Metafilter was participating in a 'booze chat' with Miguel.

Don't let the bastards grind you down, man.
posted by Miles Long at 1:21 PM on April 8, 2004

Put me down for wishing you posted a bit more often, Miguel.

posted by gd779 at 10:40 AM PST on April 8

definitely.
posted by tcp at 1:39 PM on April 8, 2004

My CI is a paltry 0.32; but that's mainly due to a protracted period of silence. I'm working on boosting it with near-useless comments.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 1:54 PM on April 8, 2004

Like that one.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 1:57 PM on April 8, 2004

"And it should be no fewer than."

And it should be "...with a higher contribution index than me I."

Right?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:06 PM on April 8, 2004

Sheesh, I'd forgotten about the Contribution Index. Mine is 2.46, but I'm gonna try to get it down to 2.33 by the end of the year. Baby steps, man.

And speaking of baby steps, I'd just like to say congratulations Miguel, on practicing the better part of valor. Or maybe just not reading Mefi as much, which is what did it for me.

Y'know what? Fuck discretion. Who wants to talk about bush? (either type?)
posted by Hildago at 3:20 PM on April 8, 2004

Damn. I've been watching that, but I expect that I'll drop down quite a bit as time goes on. I think I've only posted two comments today. Well, three now.

Poor Miguel. I mean that sincerely. Like many others here, I am very fond of you. But, also like many others here, I grew a little irritated with a certain kind of fluffy, almost-schematic post common from you. If I may be so bold, I'd argue that the "Shut up, Miguel!" brigade was primarily agitating against that variety of posts, not your contribution in general. Because although you're chatty (as clearly also am I), your posts and comments in general both raise the tone and the signal-to-noise ratio of the site. I think MetaFilter is lucky to have you.

Just don't be so writerly in the commodified, more-of-the-same sense.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 3:41 PM on April 8, 2004

For the benefit of these over-eager newbies, what would be the perfect contribution index for the perfect user?

One lacking such a self-referential, self-congratulatory post as this.
posted by y2karl at 4:34 PM on April 8, 2004

Having a pissy day, y2karl?
posted by BlueTrain at 4:37 PM on April 8, 2004

CHOO CHOO !
posted by y2karl at 5:14 PM on April 8, 2004

Ah, I just can't get pissed off with Miggy for too long. He's so loveable ;-)

Look mate, just can 'I speak for the continent of Europe' stuff & post more. Especially cocktails. And food. And stuff.

BTW, despite the fact that MC gets blasted from some quarters for framing his posts for discussion I'd like to point out that mathowie's example post on the posting page does just that.

More power to your typing fingers Migs...
posted by i_cola at 5:54 PM on April 8, 2004

Aw, Migs is just jealous because he doesn't have a Cult.

Of course, having been around since the fourth day of Mathowie's six-day creation of the MetaVerse, and suffering through a total of 18 months of total non-access at various times inbetween, my contribution factor will never get much above 1.5... ::whimpers::

Although Miggy's latest FPP shows that he must have acquired a shiny new shovel with which to stir the MetaPot...
posted by wendell at 6:06 PM on April 8, 2004

For the benefit of these over-eager newbies, what would be the perfect contribution index for the perfect user?

There are perfect users here?
posted by page404 at 6:17 PM on April 8, 2004

I have yet to read the majority of responses because I'm very busy, but allow me to say that I wish you, Miguel, would post more, because you're intelligent, compassionate discourse is a credit to this great site ;)

(seriously!)
posted by The God Complex at 7:06 PM on April 8, 2004

sorry, you're intelligent, and your compassionate discourse.
posted by The God Complex at 7:07 PM on April 8, 2004

Miguel, darn it, post more and ignore the naysayers. I missed you.
posted by konolia at 7:10 PM on April 8, 2004

me too-- i don't like that you've been censoring yourself, Miguel...it's not healthy.
posted by amberglow at 7:36 PM on April 8, 2004

Me three. I like Miggy's posts in general. The navel-gazing, I can do without, but I suppose they come hand-in-hand.
posted by gen at 7:45 PM on April 8, 2004

;)
posted by gen at 7:47 PM on April 8, 2004

There are perfect users here?

Umm, hello!
posted by Quartermass at 7:47 PM on April 8, 2004

So obviously kidding.

For the amount of time I spend here, I am only a .24 !

How depressing.
posted by Quartermass at 7:49 PM on April 8, 2004

I need...
posted by Quartermass at 7:49 PM on April 8, 2004

...to post more.
posted by Quartermass at 7:50 PM on April 8, 2004

Contribution Index for t r a c y
t r a c y (1362) has been a Mefi user for 1362 days

neato

i'm at 0.51. and 5'1" heh.
posted by t r a c y at 8:05 PM on April 8, 2004

.08
I'm trying to find the correlation between this and my GPA.
posted by casarkos at 10:01 PM on April 8, 2004

1.91 here. And count me in the legions that miss Miguel and his cognac scented posts.

I'm trying to find the correlation between this and my GPA.

I thank gods that I graduated before this whole interweb thing...a 4.0 was a lot easier to pull off back when there wasn't the siren call of distraction. :)
posted by dejah420 at 10:18 PM on April 8, 2004

Head pops up from behind scenery.

Did someone mention cognac?

pours drink.
posted by mwhybark at 11:08 PM on April 8, 2004

quonsar (986) has been a Mefi user for 1426 days

huh? wuzzuh?
posted by quonsar at 12:52 AM on April 9, 2004

Then it's settled. Miguel should post more in order to fill my empty life. Miguel, take it away.
posted by The God Complex at 2:18 AM on April 9, 2004

0.98 - haha
posted by seanyboy at 4:43 AM on April 9, 2004

nope.. now it's 0.981
posted by seanyboy at 4:44 AM on April 9, 2004

0.982... WTF
posted by seanyboy at 4:44 AM on April 9, 2004

The numbers always change, as seanyboy has just pointed out. He makes a good, eloquent, albeit belaboured point. I'm going to check mine.
posted by The God Complex at 4:45 AM on April 9, 2004

2.25...

At that point they might as well call it the mefi wannabe contributor index. I'm going to have to work on it. More on this later.
posted by The God Complex at 4:49 AM on April 9, 2004

posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:32 AM on April 9, 2004

Yeah, we all need someone we can dream on
And if you want it, well you can dream on me
Yeah, we all need someone we can cream on
And if you want to, well you can cream on me
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:31 AM on April 9, 2004

2.22 for me. It's hovered around there forever.

And I agree. Miguel should post as often as he wants... as long as it isn't here.
posted by crunchland at 7:27 AM on April 9, 2004

What about a Metatalk contribution index? - self referential chatter isn't worthy of note?
posted by troutfishing at 7:52 AM on April 9, 2004

my vote is ramp up the posts miguel ... :)
posted by specialk420 at 11:58 AM on April 9, 2004

I thought the index did both, troutfishing. That's why I'm as high as I am.
posted by The God Complex at 12:15 PM on April 9, 2004

Are posts and comments weighted equally in the contribution index?
posted by jb at 3:37 PM on April 9, 2004

Wow, these damned noobs have knocked me out of the top 25. Now I just need to decide if that is good or bad. At 3.61 I need to shut up, I guess.
*wonders how t r a c y managed to find her height on the contribution index*
posted by dg at 5:23 PM on April 9, 2004

2.22 for me. It's hovered around there forever.

Oh come on, crunchie - that must take some pretty precise engineering, you compulsively obsessive charmer, you! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:57 PM on April 10, 2004