From cynnerth

[likethebeer]

The Six Apart website states that "LiveJournal has grown to be an amazing community of fiercely independent bloggers, primarily teenagers and twenty-somethings."

In reality, there are a LOT of people my age here (give or take 20 years) but they tend to be private about their birth dates. Because of this, we older folks aren't being represented accurately in the LJ stats. This kind of bugs me because I think we deserve to be counted and recognized as part of this diverse and interesting community.

There's a way we can be counted and you can still be private about your birth date. Please consider doing this:

Go to the profile page and specify your full date of birth, including your year of birth. If you don't want everyone to see how old you are, make sure the box that says "show your birthday to other users" is unchecked. The important thing is to get yourself into the database. Then tell your friends about it, and ask them to do it too.

Comments

Please consider doing this:

[erisreg.livejournal.com]

ummmm do you know why they really want the ages?,.. think,.. google uses intrest and age to target ads for those that get them,. lj only needs to know youre over 13,..o.0

Re: Please consider doing this:

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Ah, maybe. But I know those stats have been up longer. Oh, but why would this be a meme?.... Crikey, nothing is easy, is it. I'm so confused!

nothing is easy, is it.

[erisreg.livejournal.com]

nope,.. the clincher is they never cared untill google startd running ads,..

see i think Vox was meant to displace LJ (they started it at about the same time thy bought LJ) but i think they are learning how much work it will be so are trying to generate more funds from lj,.. google is the ticket for that,.. i'm paid and google is trying to set cookies on my friends page to track even my usage,..(how many people monotor cookies?) it's all a stat game,.. and we're just the mice in the maze,..o.0

Re: nothing is easy, is it.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Makes me still wonder whether I should get a paid account.

be a meme?.

[erisreg.livejournal.com]

it's not it's hype from here,..

http://news.livejournal.com/92448.html

Re: be a meme?.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I've just seen that.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The point, from where we stand, is that if LJ keeps catering to its largest demographic, we older users could be left out in the cold. And that's what everyone has been complaining about. So the official response to those complaints is to give us an opportunity to make the stats help reflect reality.

So I would lighten up on the cynicism. I mean, do you really think people are sitting there trying to scheme ways to gather better demographic data? "I've got it! Let's make it sound like our age stats are off, and then everyone will flock to fill in their birth years!"

Worst case scenario is that it's a lose-lose situation, and you should pick your poison. But I don't think it's that bad. So what if they get a better target on ages? They get more money from ad revenue? It's not going to change my LJ experience. Or maybe it will. Maybe I'll see fewer ads for zit cream.

lighten up on the cynicism.

[erisreg.livejournal.com]

it's not, nice try,.. it's reality,... pony up the 25 bucks a year and you won't have to see the adds,.. it's never been an issue with me mu birthdate has been in full sice day one,.. it the lying game that bothers me and the fact that even as a paid customer they cant get shit right,..
and yes you're a sheep being herded,..even if they give you a nice little slogan,,.. so suck it up,...

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

What lying game? Where am I being herded?

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

If you do random searches you'll find that almost everyone on LJ is 14.

Why don't people put their birthday on?

[lynedd.livejournal.com]

In my case? I have an abusive ex who uses LJ. I don't see a reason to make him finding me easier. So, no real name, no real address, no email and no birth date. ...and only the fluff posts are public.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

It was a thought in my mind to have information about me, but not make it too specific. Having my birthdate and my birth year seemed to me to be that.