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I'm curious why the S/N ratio collapses like that. Is it because those who contribute to the noise level are slower to move to new platforms? Is it because th

I'm curious why the S/N ratio collapses like that. Is it because those who contribute to the noise level are slower to move to new platforms? Is it because those who contribute to the signal are faster to move to new platforms and/or adverse to popular platforms? Perhaps a combination of both? I suppose a part of me wonders if the answers to these questions could lead to a more stable platform. Yet that seems unlikely, since platforms don't seem to be holding traction longer than their predecessors. It seems like Reddit might be at least one possible evolution that could lead to increased longevity. Their trick is to have user moderated sub-communities as a first class feature, and keep the churn high on those communities (subreddits). That seems to be a way to allow the cyclic birth and death of platforms/communities to occur, but still keep people within the overarching Reddit umbrella. Though I think ultimately Reddit will suffer the same fate as Digg; it's only a matter of time before management makes enough mistakes or corruption reaches critical mass.

ctdonath 12y ago
When ongoing worthwhile conversation appears on a small board, the S/N ratio goes very high fast. Word spreads, and people are attracted to a high-interest low-noise signal. As more people join in, everyone can be heard ... but not everyone should be heard. The growing noise starts drowning out the signal, which gets frustrated and heads for less noisy grounds. The sheer mass & momentum of the noise sources keeps the place going for a while, but more "signals" leave over time, leaving a shrinking population. Various mechanisms are put in place to suppress noise, with varying degrees of success (HN's is pretty good). "Freshness" is also a factor. After a while, each forum just starts showing its age, not keeping up with spiffy new forms & forums. People get bored and move on. "Us vs them" is also a factor. A growing subgroup may decide they just don't want to be around the base. Prime example: Facebook and the alleged "kids don't use it because their parents are there". Embrace the lifecycle. It's real; instead of fighting it, manage it with the understanding that it will eventually fade and users head to newer quieter forums.

ctdonath 12y ago

When ongoing worthwhile conversation appears on a small board, the S/N ratio goes very high fast. Word spreads, and people are attracted to a high-interest low-noise signal. As more people join in, everyone can be heard ... but not everyone should be heard. The growing noise starts drowning out the signal, which gets frustrated and heads for less noisy grounds. The sheer mass & momentum of the noise sources keeps the place going for a while, but more "signals" leave over time, leaving a shrinking population. Various mechanisms are put in place to suppress noise, with varying degrees of success (HN's is pretty good). "Freshness" is also a factor. After a while, each forum just starts showing its age, not keeping up with spiffy new forms & forums. People get bored and move on. "Us vs them" is also a factor. A growing subgroup may decide they just don't want to be around the base. Prime example: Facebook and the alleged "kids don't use it because their parents are there". Embrace the lifecycle. It's real; instead of fighting it, manage it with the understanding that it will eventually fade and users head to newer quieter forums.