, but not today.Lies, damned lies, and statistics · 8:10pm Jun 1st, 2013
I'm probably the only one actually interested in this, but...
I have conducted a bit of low level research over the course of writing this fic (I can't help it, and I hope no one is offended).
1) How many readers use EqD's story update posts as a method to track Wasp?
I deliberately didn't send update emails to EqD for chapters 15-18, and tracked the read numbers.
The result: read numbers were flat at 450-500, vs. the previous months at 700-800.
Conclusion: almost half of those reading were using EqD.
2) Strength of the 'humans are bastards' meme.
A single question -- 'from the description, did you assume the bad actors in Wasp were human?'
The results: 597 reads and 42 responses, 23 of which were 'yes'.
Conclusions: people really don't like surveys (and I'm going to clarify Wasp's description)!
1. Good to know, was kinda wondering about that.
2. Eh, people like to assume things. Nothing new here.
Huh. Good to know.
Interesting, I use fimfictions favorites system to track stories (including Wasp), as that sends an email when one of the story updates.
For EQD I actually have to visit the site and check daily, which I tend to forget.
Great googlie mooglies, I'm going to have a lot to catch up on when the term is over
I can't believe so many people thought this was about humans.
Do people not look at tags? 
Uau. Statistics, yummi!
Yep, that's basically what I had to say.
hi hi
1) I first learned about Wasp and Spider through Equestria Daily, but I was legitimately pre-occupied during the late winter months. I suspect if I could get fimfiction to send me notifications, I might use that as a method.
2) When I hear "bad actors," the first thing that comes to mind is people flubbing their lines in a play. I honestly have no idea what you are talking about.
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Heh, yes I see how that might be an interesting image in this context! By 'bad actors' I meant 'the villains'. I'm really not sure where it comes from.
Interesting. EQD-only readers annoy me--I write all these stories for free, & the only thing I ask is for ratings and comments. People who link thru EQD or spacebattles without having a fimfiction account can't do either! It's callous ingratitude.
The sentiment against humans in bronydom is strong enough that chapter 7 of my latest story, Moments, backfired--when I implied Twilight had saved the human race through her sacrifice, it made more people feel bad or guilty than inspired.
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...so all it leaves you is the view counter, which is cold comfort at best (and hard to really know what it represents). It surprised me, too. I'll track fics that are in progress, waiting for them to complete -- I can't imagine having to do that by catching every single update post on EqD (I'm just not that dedicated!). I've one remaining test to run; it's been two months since I marked Wasp as complete, so I'll see how many were waiting on that when I mail in the final update to EqD.
Slightly depressing are the numbers who've jumped from Wasp to it's immediate sequel, either they are all waiting for me to finish the life sucking monster, or I've lost half of them along the way (always a possibility, considering how long it's taken me to get this far). They don't call, they don't write
-- I guess it's lucky I'm still enjoying writing it!
I blame the news; you rarely see humans being nice. It's also not just a brony thing; I remember it being common in anthropomorphic fics as well (although it's been a while since I was there).