Closed accounts stats?

Tallon

Just wondering if you folks had stats on numbers of closed accounts and reasons since it was introduced?

Cheers

Tallon

Boards.ie: Neil

Tallon wrote: »

Just wondering if you folks had stats on numbers of closed accounts and reasons since it was introduced?

Cheers

Tallon

What for?

Tallon

Boards.ie: Neil wrote: »

What for?

This is feedback is it not? I was just interested in the stats

Boards.ie: Neil

Tallon wrote: »

This is feedback is it not? I was just interested in the stats

It is feedback yes. But I'm sure you would understand why I'd ask you why you'd want them giving the whole reason why we had to implement the close account feature (data protection).


We're required by law not to release any identifiable information.

For example if I told you x closed their account with the reason of "tallon's a dick" it would be pretty safe for you to deduce who that was.

Tallon

I didn't ask for that!

If possible I wanted the number of users who have closed their account since you initiated the feature

Also, by 'reasons' I just mean an over view I.E 'I don't use boards' 'someone made me leave' etc

Not looking for names or specifics. I thought that would have been obvious :rolleyes:

Tallon

So I guess that's a no then?

Boards.ie: Nicola

I'm afraid so, there's no real reason for us to release that info so it's not something we're going to do.

Tallon

You can't even just give a total of the number of closed accounts since introduction?

tbh

Boards.ie: Neil wrote: »

It is feedback yes. But I'm sure you would understand why I'd ask you why you'd want them giving the whole reason why we had to implement the close account feature (data protection).


We're required by law not to release any identifiable information.

For example if I told you x closed their account with the reason of "tallon's a dick" it would be pretty safe for you to deduce who that was.

this is meant as feedback - it would have been much better for you to write this as your original reply, instead of the reply you wrote, which came across as defensive and agressive at the same time. The dude was just asking a question.

Boards.ie: Neil

Totally didn't mean it to come across as defensive or agressive, apologies for that.

I was just asking a question as to why the stats were wanted, then in the interim I decided that it's probably not the best information (due to the reasons i gave in my second post) to be spreading around even just a number of closed accounts could look bad to certain eyes.

There seems to be such a great curiosity to our close account feature who's using it and what their reasoning is (which should be quite obvious), I'd love to know why being honest.

tbh

Boards.ie: Neil wrote: »

Totally didn't mean it to come across as defensive or agressive, apologies for that.

me too - probably just projecting the reasons I'd have for answering like that onto you my bad.

Tallon

Boards.ie: Neil wrote: »

Totally didn't mean it to come across as defensive or agressive, apologies for that.

I was just asking a question as to why the stats were wanted, then in the interim I decided that it's probably not the best information (due to the reasons i gave in my second post) to be spreading around even just a number of closed accounts could look bad to certain eyes.

There seems to be such a great curiosity to our close account feature who's using it and what their reasoning is (which should be quite obvious), I'd love to know why being honest.

Look bad for who and by who?

Are you worried that people will be shocked by the number of people who have followed the process and closed their accounts? genuinely interested

I don't understand why you are reluctant to give a figure tbh.

The reasons you mentioned in your reply are irrelevant as I'm not asking for specifics.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who wouldn't mind just seeing the stats out of curiosity!

I honestly don't understand how, or why, you'd be breaking data protection policies by mentioning a total number of people who closed their account.

Boards.ie: Nicola

The number of closed accounts (despite what people might think) isn't actually that shocking/high, it is information we are under no obligation to release and will not be doing so.

Tallon

Boards.ie: Nicola wrote: »

it is information we are under no obligation to release and will not be doing so.

That you are not, Thank you, although that could have been said to me in the first reply :rolleyes:

RoundyMooney

There seem to me to have been quite a few-some high profile (as in people who would use the site to an almost unhealthy extent-they often return wearing Groucho Marx moustache and glasses anyway), and many more who sign up, make a few posts and go away again.

It is interesting, in that while there are many obviously differing reasons (people identifying their RL selves during their boards activities, deciding the place isn't for them, or literally painting themselves into a corner) formerly such users would have just stopped posting, or been obliged to by the Management.

Now we have a quantifiable figure for people who make a conscious decision to leave/reboot their online personas, and I for one can understand the OP's curiosity.

I can also understand the reluctance to cite specific, or even any, reasons for closed accounts, but I don't know what the big secret is about releasing a figure, or the almost hostile responses to the question, in the first place.

It's not really a big deal, but still.

4zn76tysfajdxp

RoundyMooney wrote: »

There seem to me to have been quite a few-some high profile (as in people who would use the site to an almost unhealthy extent-they often return wearing Groucho Marx moustache and glasses anyway)

Like that Mr Adarf guy from oh-so-many years ago.

PC CDROM

Those stats will never be released because it will have an adverse response in marketing terms.

In terms of active members being reduced.

RoundyMooney

Esmeralda Narrow Skin wrote: »

Like that Mr Adarf guy from oh-so-many years ago.

I liked the cut of ole Adarf's jib. Whatever happened to him anyway?

4zn76tysfajdxp

RoundyMooney wrote: »

I liked the cut of ole Adarf's jib. Whatever happened to him anyway?

Who knows? Obviously not happy with the place, wherever he could be. Such as Heaven.

AltAccount

Surely active users, page views, time spent on site etc . are more important than the number of open/closed accounts for marketing and advertising purposes.

You could have a million Closed accounts, but as long as they all returned and posted/viewed with the same frequency then it'd be number neutral.

Releasing the number of Closed accounts is no big deal, because the number is meaningless without the rest of the picture.

Boards has no issue with transparency or the light of curiosity and truth being shone on other entities, why the reticence to stand up to the same (pretty minimal and meaningless) scrutiny?

RoundyMooney

I can't see it being a big deal either.

The number of accounts registered was oft trumpeted, usually on here, as a benchmark as to how successful the site was-but as has often been stressed by the staff themselves, there are far more important vital statistics.

Closed accounts not being among them.

Insect Overlord

I think it's more to do with why the Close Account system was implemented in the first place. It's supposed to be a privacy option. Compiling and publicly displaying statistics about privacy would kind of defeat the purpose.

Tallon

Tbh, I'm more baffled by the strange replies from boards staff. Why could I just have been told 'it's against data protection, and / or we're not in a position to discuss it"

I understand it from marketing point of view, but why say you don't understand why people want the info, surely you can understand people's interest in statistical information?!

And I honestly believe that saying the number is not as high as people think is bs! I've seen loads and loads of them, especially from mods and long term members

Tallon

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I think it's more to do with why the Close Account system was implemented in the first place. It's supposed to be a privacy option. Compiling and publicly displaying statistics about privacy would kind of defeat the purpose.

How is it private? It puts text under every single one of the users post saying 'account closed'

If people wanted it private, They'd scramble their own password, or email HQ?!

I don't think it was introduces exclusively for privacy? Any links?

Insect Overlord

Tallon wrote: »

How is it private? It puts text under every single one of the users post saying 'account closed'

If people wanted it private, They'd scramble their own password, or email HQ?!

I don't think it was introduces exclusively for privacy? Any links?

Privacy/Data Commission mumbo jumbo. You had one of the first replies in the thread where the whole thing was first announced: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75102417

AltAccount

How can it be about data protection though?

If I had a previous account which I then closed, the information I'd given publicly that identified me, or the data that boards held, that had since been removed from the servers, would make absolutely no difference in the instance that that account was used as a single unit in an aggregated, anonymised statistic of Closed accounts.

Gongoozler

I have to agree, the data protection thingy doesn't seem to make sense. The census doesn't reveal any private data, or identifiable things, and yet gives figures. Figures don't give anything away.

4zn76tysfajdxp

I don't understand where all this pressure is coming from. Nobody really needs to know the figures and the boards people politely said after a gruff start that they don't want to release figures. What gives?

Tallon

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Privacy/Data Commission mumbo jumbo. You had one of the first replies in the thread where the whole thing was first announced: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75102417

You've provided a link to the announcement thread, and highlighted the fact that I commented in it.. That is all.. What relevance that has on what I asked, I have no idea

Show me where it was said that this was brought in as a privacy issue!

Insect Overlord

Tallon wrote: »

You've provided a link to the announcement thread, and highlighted the fact that I commented in it.. That is all.. What relevance that has on what I asked, I have no idea

Show me where it was said that this was brought in as a privacy issue!

Read the fucking thing yourself. I'm not your secretary. I'm not going through ~150 posts looking for the info for you.

Poor Uncle Tom

The number of re-regs on the site would be a more interesting figure.

Tallon

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Read the f[SIZE="2"]uc[/SIZE]king thing yourself. I'm not your secretary. I'm not going through ~150 posts looking for the info for you.

No, you brought up that it was for privacy reasons, and now that you know you're wrong, you're acting like a dick!

You read it, and back up your statement or else be an adult and admit it was bullsh!t...

And lose the attitude, if you can't be respectful, then don't post

Gordon

Can I just interject to wish everyone a Happy Ruumembrance day.

Gordon wrote: »

Sad day

12/11/11* shall now be known as Ruumembrance day. Farewell sweet prince.


*11pm

Armin_Tamzarian

Boards.ie: Neil wrote: »

I
For example if I told you x closed their account with the reason of "tallon's a dick" it would be pretty safe for you to deduce who that was.

I doubt if Sherlock Holmes could deduce who that was, based on that information.

dr.bollocko

When people ask for stats like this other people can use them as a basis for bashing boards. For bashing moderators, admins, the structure here etc. What is a good number? What is a bad number? Anyone can impose their own thoughts on that. And in the end it doesn't f*cking matter because the number is meaningless unless you wish it to mean something.

Many people have closed their accounts. The reasons they have given doubtless range from the tirades of the insane to the reasoned responses of those who have just had enough and every goddamned thing in between.

There is no way of giving an accurate figure because of the amount of people who close their account and then re-open a new account and continue on. People scramble passwords. People just stop posting. People get sitebanned and close their account and their siteban expires and their account is still forever closed.

Using a number to represent this is strange. If you look at in a douglas adams way then The answer is 42 and makes about no sense at all because we don't really know how much we have to explore what the question actually even means.

MugMugs

Gordon wrote: »

Can I just interject to wish everyone a Happy Ruumembrance day.

It's quite apt that this thread starts this topic close to this date!

Poor Ruu..... All it would've took was a bit of move over room as a prison warden Gordon!

RoundyMooney

Gordon wrote: »

Can I just interject to wish everyone a Happy Ruumembrance day.

o>

No pressure here, btw-mild curiosity at most.

4zn76tysfajdxp

RoundyMooney wrote: »

No pressure here, btw-mild curiosity at most.

Perhaps I should've phrased it differently earlier on. But, you know what I mean.

Yitzhak Rabin

Even if the staff were allowed to release that info, why would they do it for you?

Its extra work I'm sure they could do without.

Penn

I think the Boards staff should definitely release the numbers.

And while they're at it, I want to know how many posters on Boards were born in July 1986. It's not against the data protection thing because I wouldn't know who they are, I just want to know how many there are. Approximate figure to the nearest multiple of 2 would be fine.

Zaph

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If you look at in a douglas adams way then The answer is 42 and makes about no sense at all

Burn the heretic!

5starpool

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

Even if the staff were allowed to release that info, why would they do it for you?

Its extra work I'm sure they could do without.

Extra work? It'd take less than 2 mins, hardly much of an extra workload.

My curiosity bone (ohh err) would like to know, but it's no biggie (double ooh err). I can't see that data protection would be an issue though for a number, sounds like an excuse to hide behind. In theory someone could go through all 593,267 (correct at time of writing) accounts and count the closed ones (no, not me) so it's available already technically even if it would take months to count a rough number. A better answer would be to say that they've decided not to release the number, and leave it at that. I used a lot of parenthesis in this post, not sure why.

Yitzhak Rabin

5starpool wrote: »

Extra work? It'd take less than 2 mins, hardly much of an extra workload.

My curiosity bone (ohh err) would like to know, but it's no biggie (double ooh err). I can't see that data protection would be an issue though for a number, sounds like an excuse to hide behind. In theory someone could go through all 593,267 (correct at time of writing) accounts and count the closed ones (no, not me) so it's available already technically even if it would take months to count a rough number. A better answer would be to say that they've decided not to release the number, and leave it at that. I used a lot of parenthesis in this post, not sure why.

It's probably not much work granted, but why bother?

Penn's example illustrates it pretty well. Unless the OP has a good reason for wanting it I'd probably just tell him we're not the CSO or else every Tallon, Dick, and Harry will be hassling you for stats to satisfy their curiosity.

Tallon

5starpool wrote: »

Extra work? It'd take less than 2 mins, hardly much of an extra workload.

My curiosity bone (ohh err) would like to know, but it's no biggie (double ooh err). I can't see that data protection would be an issue though for a number, sounds like an excuse to hide behind. In theory someone could go through all 593,267 (correct at time of writing) accounts and count the closed ones (no, not me) so it's available already technically even if it would take months to count a rough number. A better answer would be to say that they've decided not to release the number, and leave it at that. I used a lot of parenthesis in this post, not sure why.

So if I go through them myself and count them and come back here with the results so people who are interested have a rough number, will my post be deleted because 'its against data protection'?

:rolleyes:

Gordon

How are you going to find out the reasons for the closures?

Tallon

Gordon wrote: »

How are you going to find out the reasons for the closures?

I'm not, obviously!

Just the number of closed accounts since it started

Yitzhak Rabin

Tallon wrote: »

I'm not, obviously!

Just the number of closed accounts since it started

I'd say if you told them why you wanted it, you'd have a better chance of getting the info you needed. If it's just mild curiosity then they're probably not going to bother their arse rooting around to produce statistics for you.

Tallon

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

I'd say if you told them why you wanted it, you'd have a better chance of getting the info you needed. If it's just mild curiosity then they're probably not going to bother their arse rooting around to produce statistics for you.

I seriously doubt that, after all...

Boards.ie: Neil wrote: »

We're required by law not to release any identifiable information.
.

Boards.ie: Nicola wrote: »

I'm afraid so, there's no real reason for us to release that info so it's not something we're going to do.

Penn

Tallon wrote: »

I seriously doubt that, after all...

Exactly, as Nicola said, there's no real reason to give out the information. The only reason you've given so far is just curiosity. If you had a genuine reason for wanting them, they probably could give out some (non-identifiable) information, but "I'm just interested" is not a good reason.

Tallon

Penn wrote: »

"I'm just interested" is not a good reason.

Why not?

Penn

Tallon wrote: »

Why not?

Same reason why my example of posters born in July 1986 won't be answered. It serves no purpose. Why should any of them take time, even just a few minutes, to simply satisfy someone's curiosity about a non-issue? If someone called me at work and asked me how many clients we've had in the last 3 years, and the only reason they wanted to know was "Ah, just wondering...", I'd tell him to keep wondering.

If the only reason you wanted to know is simply out of curiosity and the Boards staff answered it, what then? Nobody has really gained anything. The Boards staff have taken time out of their day to say "Okay Tallon, X people closed their accounts in the past 3 months", all so you can go "Oh. Okay then"

What's the point? Why does it matter how many people have closed their accounts? Yes, some have been quite prominent members. But from what I've seen, a hell of a lot of them are people who've made about 10 posts, trolled for a bit, got caught and closed their account. And some of the prominent members who've closed their accounts have come back with new accounts because they simply wanted a fresh start.

The number doesn't represent or reflect anything. It serves no purpose.