Question: Does anyone know how many ACTIVE members we really have?

[chknltl]

Subtracting those signers who only posted a few times never to return and those members who were banned, approximately how many members can we realistically claim to have? Further stat questions: About how many are online here at any given time, which are the peak hours.
What about Daily Kos? Does anyone have any realistic stats on their membership? What about the other Progressive and Dem blogs? Is there anyone who keeps track of these things?

[brainshrub]

1. I think there are only about a dozen or so.

Me, you, Skinner, Elad, EarlG, Will Pitt, Jack Rabbit, EstimatedProphet and maybe a few others.

Everyone else gets tombstonned.

[chknltl]

2. Oh shit....I am WAYYYY over my head in such company.

Which explains why I have been fooled so easily.

[Extend a Hand]

3. well

I wondered about that too.
If you go into options and then add up the totals by each number/letter there are just under 62,000 usernames listed. I *think*, but don't really know, that this represents the total users that have not been tombstoned but does include those with accounts that never or rarely post.

I added them up the other night because I was curious.

[chknltl]

4. Thank you for that figure...

...I am wondering now if admin even has these figures available.

[flowomo]

5. check out how many people responded....

to Skinner's post a few days ago about possible changes to DU structures. I felt this may give an insight into the number of "actives" right now. Or you can use that as a base and say, double or triple or multiply it by 10. I think the number of actives might be closer to 1,000 than 10,000.... but that's just a guess.

[bluestateboomer]

6. I think you can count on more than just registered members.

You can see by my numbers I don't post that much, but I check in here for news almost daily. There have got to be a lot out there who rely on DU as a main news source.:grouphug:

[LVdem]

8. I'm like you, Boomer...

Check in all the time, post infrequently, always enjoy myself...

[Extend a Hand]

9. oh yes

I read daily for months before I ever set up an account. My husband reads daily and has an account but has never posted.

[Delphinus]

10. I read for years.

My first post was the day after the election in 2004.

[karlrschneider]

7. I think it's a few thousand. JMO judging from what I see.

...

[chknltl]

11. Well thanks all.

I am a bit deflated to know that it may be so small as a few thousand.
I had a noble notion but it hinged on being able to muster up 100,000 or there-abouts between all of the Prog. and Dem. blogs. My notion was to link these sites with words from a Dem. politician. I felt it would be nice for someone, perhaps a Howard Dean or a Wesley Clark to address a speech to ALL of us in the blogosphere. (Perhaps provide a little leadership). I am of the opinion that if we were to be honored by a nationally known figure like this on occasion, it would strengthen our numbers and strengthen that persons base. I foresee a future where this will happen and politicians and/or their reps will frequent our blogs with their words. I do not anticipate seeing them as members of course, due to all the silliness (I'm being nice...), but I do see them posting speeches here directed at us. I can see a future where there will be the "Digital" fireside chats. What if Bill, the 'Big Dog', Clinton posted a call to action here in the DU, Truthout, the Daily Kos and etc.? Any infighting aside, you know that he could count on us. Rep. Conyers has already demonstrated what a little leadership in the blogosphere can have, (I remind you of the DSMs in this instance). There are the mid-term elections coming up, I am trying to figure a different way for us to be a better resource for those elections. The overall lack of numbers looks to be a problem at this point. (...and yet I still can not get this image of General G. Washington walking among his troops at Valley Forge out of my mind...). Off to the "lounge" for a "drink" and a rethink I suppose, thank you to all who have responded to my question. :patriot: