FR vs DU--very, very strange data from alexa.

[barbaraann]

Perhaps someone could explain this to me:

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/related_links?q=&url=freerepublic.com

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/related_links?q=&url=democraticunderground.com

Is it possible that there really aren't that many Freepers but that most people visiting the site are on the opposite end of the political spectrum just visiting to see what the rightwingers are up to? I know I visit there sometimes and I'm not a Freeper.

[rumguy]

1. Democrats are more spread out through the internet

And also are more prone to having actual real lives, thus keeping them from whiling away all their hours on the internet...

[Sir_Shrek]

2. Look at the "sItes also visited"....

Those who visited FR also visited places like International ANSWER.

[barbaraann]

5. That's what I don't understand.

They are visiting a lot of "far-left" anti-war and social justice sites.

:shrug:

[PunkinPi]

15. there's a BIG difference between

International ANSWER.ORG (http://www.internationalanswer.org)&

International Answer.com (http://www.internationalanswer.com) - is the right wingers having a go at trying to f*ck with the REAL International Answer.

Take a look.

[barbaraann]

23. But the one that the Freepers visit is the real one.

At least according to alexa. Some of the links on that list are defunct but some are real far-left sites.

It's weird.

[LTR]

37. The fake one is a ghost site

I mean, LOOK at the mesage board. No posts since September!

Just lots of anti-Michael Moore stuff. Geez!

[Monte Carlo]

3. I've heard the average Freeper spends 5 hours at a time...

... posting in and replying to single sentence comments. I may not have much of a life, buy Jesus H. Christ...

[PunkinPi]

18. just take a look at their leader...

it takes him hours of practice on a speech and he still screws the whole damn thing up.

[mistertrickster]

4. I'm usually pretty good with stats, but these tables are really confusing.

Why are the higher numbers lower on the Y axis? I'm not sure what the graph is saying . . .

[barbaraann]

7. Oh. Aren't you getting the "sites also visited" page?

Those are the pages I was trying to link to--the ones that show Freepers are going to a lot of social action and economic justice sites.

[frogfromthenorth2]

6. I know I am new but...

I find it easier to navigate on FreakRepubliK than on DU. Even if their message scares the crap out of me. But the design of FR makes it more attrative to occasionnal lurkers.... IMO.... Make DU more USER firendly and I am sure traffic would go up fast.

[tridim]

8. FR is the worst formatted message board I've ever seen

No idea what you're talking about. It isn't even threaded for gawd's sake.

DU couldn't be more user friendly IMO. Do you have any suggestions on how to improve DU?

[Monte Carlo]

10. I don't know, I think DU could adapt a few elements of FR's board.

It's much more Spartan than DU, and that's a plus and a minus.

I find that it is much easier to keep up on older threads and posts on FR. I can maintain a conversation with one of them weeks after the thread has passed through the main page, and I have. Just an example.

[Minstrel Boy]

17. lately it does seem DU's taken on some of FR characteristics,

but what I'm thinking of has nothing to do with formatting.

DU's fine as it is. (Or perhaps I mean, was.)

[rumguy]

13. Exactly DU makes it easy to communicate with eachother

FR is hellish and miserable, you never know to which comment someone is addressing...

[lyonn]

27. I agree

Went to Free Republic last night to see what it was about. It was very late but I found the format inferior and boring.

[the_boxer_]

39. It's horrible....you don't know what direction you are going...

:eyes:

[Nederland]

38. One suggestion

The only thing I like about FreeRepublic is the Self Search button. It quickly allows you to find all the threads you posted on recently. On DU you have to go to search, type in your name, days, etc. On FR, its a single click.

Other than that, the board sucks.

[thebigidea]

9. what the hell?

never heard that argument before. FR is a complete mess, hell to navigate through. Attractive?

[MarkTwain]

19. Precisely my thoughts....

... the first time I descended into that slime pit a few years ago. And ironically, just like their regressive attitudes and ideologies, the board has not changed, grown, or developed one iota.

Worst formatting, confusing structure, a real nightmare to navigate.

DU has nothing, absolutely nothing, to learn or gain from that board, at all.

[the_boxer_]

40. Absolutely agreed!

[frogfromthenorth2]

20. Well...

For starters, there are to many discussions relating to the same subject started at the same time.

Example from today:

Tell me about Rush's arrest for gay cruising.....
Hey Rush, welcome to DU
Rushco Hates Free Speech on DU
How to get rid of Rush.

Wich all all Rush Rants Post with low volume and that are clogging the message baord for nothing.

Another thing, when I post and I want to know if somebody answered to me is there a way to know aside form going back to my post and see if anybody answered me?

Finally, I had to remove the "show picture" function because if I don't, the page blinks like a XMAS tree with all those images and smileys......lol

[5thGenDemocrat]

26. fftt2

Your point is taken but, in practice, what'll happen with those threads is we'll pick one and concentrate on it (watch). Two or three of them will drop off the screen quickly -- esp on GD and in the Lounge.
John
I hate how FR works. If I'm over there, I'm looking at a specific thread and then only briefly. Then I get out.
Welcome to DU, by the way.

[Minstrel Boy]

11. FR gives me a sick headache

each exceedingly rare occasion I visit. It's a cheap-looking, horrible mess. Before I figure out who's talking to who, I remember I don't care and leave.

DU has the cleanest formatting of any message board I've seen. I never get lost here. Though yesterday it did give me a headache or two. ;)

[barbaraann]

14. I find FR very cluttered.

Also, I hope you don't mind if I correct your spelling and grammar:

attractive
occasional
friendly

first two sentences should be one sentence

user friendly should be user-friendly

And actually, our traffic is already going up fast!

[frogfromthenorth2]

21. Sorry for the mistakes

I am a FROG so English is my second language....and Yes, I should use spell check..... :-)

[barbaraann]

28. We don't call the French "frogs" here.

Why do you call yourself a name?

[frogfromthenorth2]

29. French canadians do not

think it's offensive to be called a Frog...

[barbaraann]

31. You're kidding, aren't you?

My experience with French Canadians is that do not like to use the English language at all.

And I can understand that--French is just so much more beautiful. :-)

[frogfromthenorth2]

33. Hum...

Well, you are right, French is a beautiful language but I like the "preciseness" and "directness" of the English language. It's right to the point. Also, I am quite fascinated by the USA : the land of extremes. And lets face it, if you live in North America and you only speak French you are missing out big time.

[MaineDem]

16. Welcome to DU

I'm sorry but I can't agree with you about the formatting at FR. I've only been there a few times but I find it the most confusing thing I've ever seen. Maybe you need to spend more time around here. The threads have titles, you can mark the ones you've already seen, and there are categories.

I'm glad you've joined us. :hi:

[frogfromthenorth2]

24. Thank you for the warm welcome!

EOM

[camero]

12. The average DUer also gets more info

DU averages 10.7 page views per user vs. 7.6 for FR.

[La_Serpiente]

22. Check out the two year chart

http://traffic.alexa.com/graph?w=379&h=216&r=2y&u=democraticunderground.com/

We've moved a long ways from the beggining.

[AP]

25. I come to DU to get what I can't get from the rest of the media.

I wonder, with Rush, and Fox, and even, to some degree, NPR, NYT and WashPost why any right winger needs to waste time on FR or Drudge Report. I guess FR is like the crack to the rest of the media's cocaine.

[barbaraann]

30. I just looked up related sites for Rush Limbaugh's website.

Basically, rightwingers do not search out truth, they only listen to and look at sites that will provide them with their regular propaganda.

I'm having a hard time tearing myself away from alexa today--it's fascinating.

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. The data from alexa is wuite suspect

It only accounts for the web surfing habits of those who have installed the alexa spyware on thier computer.

[barbaraann]

36. That's a good point but

when I looked at the traffic to rushlimbaugh.com it looked appropriate.

I had another thought--a lot of Freepers might be government agents who are spying on leftwing sites. :tinfoilhat:

[wuushew]

34. To FR : We will bury you!

[barbaraann]

35. LOL!

And here's some info on traffic to the Dean, Clark, Kucinich, and Edwards websites.

http://pages.alexa.com/features/candidates.html

Kucinich is really moving up!