January 17, 2003

• Perception Checking

  
  

  I learned a long time ago that one of my chief weaknesses is "filling in the blanks."  I'm far more likely to finish one of Tim's sentences than he is.  I draw conclusions like Billy the Kid drew his six shooter.  I'm good at guessing where the story is going before it gets there.  But, I'm not always right.  I dislike being wrong the way that cats dislike water.  Any approach of wrongness and I'm hissing and spitting with claws fully extended.  Like cats, I've sought every way to avoid being anywhere near this bain of my existence.

  
  

  So, I also learned long ago to engage in "perception checking."  In conversation, especially a conversation that's serious, I'll say, "I think that you just said, ______.  Is that what you meant?"  I've been told by people who try to actually speak to me that this is an annoying trait.  I'm sorry for that, but not sorry enough to stop doing it.  Time after time after time, I find out that what I thought I heard, wasn't what you meant to say.  By trotting out my little formula and checking my perceptions, I'm able to head off the unpleasantness that comes with ... being ...  wrong.

  
  

  Earlier this week, I mentioned that I had done a scientific survey to see how many of the people who regularly comment on my site have in the past stated that they disagreed with me on one or more fundamental principles or values of life.  It was surpising to me to learn that over 63% of the people who comment regularly (by that I mean at least 3 times per week) fall into this category.  I got such pleasure out of blogging about this statistic that I decided to generate another one.

  
  

  

  
  

  I have in past conversation with my sister, husband and multiple friends on Xanga noted the fact that it seems that a small percentage of the people who are subscribed to my site actually comment here.  Then my sister, my husband, and the multiple Xanga friends nod sagely and say, "tis true, the same thing happens at my site."

  
  

  So the question I want answered is - is it true that only a small percentage of the subscribed comment.  I got thinking about my own commenting habits.  I comment on people every day, but not the same people every day.  So I counted the number of people who commented here over the past week.  In order to be included on the list, you only had to comment once.  But, you did have to comment, within the past seven days.

  
  

  I learned something that was again surprising and pleasant.  When you get right down to raw numbers more than 50% of the people who are subscribed to me - commented.  Then if I factor out the fact that I'm subscribed to me (yes, I have another Xanga site, don't look shocked), my sister is subscribed more than once, my husband is subscribed more than once, and there are a number of people who have been subscibed to me for over a year who haven't posted anything on their site in that time, much less commented on mine.  (Have I lost you yet?  I love statistics.)  The percentage of active Xangans subscribed to my site who commented within the past seven days rose to ... 79%. 

  
  

  (music from Hallelujah Chorus rises in the background)

  
  

  Now numbers in and of themselves are nothing.  I have to attach significance to a number for it so have any meaning.  So here's the significance I give this one.  Xanga isn't just a place we come to leave our thoughts in a vacuum.  Xanga is a community.  We form relationships.  We get to know each other.  We support each other even if all the support we give is to leave a quick smiley or an eprop.  In a world where all the cultural indicators suggest that community is becoming an increasingly rare and difficult commodity to find, this proof of continuing community is precious and impressive. 

  
  

  My perception that a large number of people subscribe and then never comment, turns out to have been - less than 100% right. 

  
  

  (All persons wishing now to say that I have too much time on my hands are cordially invited to go directly to the comments section and do so.  )

  • 9:16 am
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