There is something different happening in Hot Topics. It may be how the software works, but maybe not.
When I observed the Hot Topics page over the decade or so I have been here, the threads could be evaluated somewhat based upon their stats. The Replies ratio to Views was very frequently a 1:10 ratio. If a thread got contentious, and there was a lot of back and forth, the ratio of Replies to Views grew, perhaps indicating more activity by the few than interest by the many.
A review of the first page of Hot Topics today reflects that the ratio had dramatically changed, by a factor or 10 or more. Many of the threads have many times the views as posts.
If we follow the "JUB ain't what it used to be" line of thinking, then one would expect less viewing, period. Instead, we see a huge rise in lurking.
Theories?
When I observed the Hot Topics page over the decade or so I have been here, the threads could be evaluated somewhat based upon their stats. The Replies ratio to Views was very frequently a 1:10 ratio. If a thread got contentious, and there was a lot of back and forth, the ratio of Replies to Views grew, perhaps indicating more activity by the few than interest by the many.
A review of the first page of Hot Topics today reflects that the ratio had dramatically changed, by a factor or 10 or more. Many of the threads have many times the views as posts.
If we follow the "JUB ain't what it used to be" line of thinking, then one would expect less viewing, period. Instead, we see a huge rise in lurking.
Theories?