We just keep getting bigger. The debates around Auckland’s growth, planning, and transport are clearly very important to many, and, it seems, more and more people are turning to this site to keep track of them and have their say. Here are the site stats to the end of the most recent full month, April 2013, already since since then we have had two more record breaking days:
Site Stats to April 2013
Sitemeter rankings put us firmly as the fourth most viewed blog in the country, which frankly astounds me for such a serious and grown-up site. Well done New Zealand.
With this growth comes even more responsibility to keep our standards up and to think of ways to improve the site. So you will see above in the bar below the masthead a new page called User Guidelines, also reproduced below. In particular I would like to draw your attention to:
10. We are ambitious about improving Auckland [and all of NZ ] as well as the blog itself so all suggestions to improve it and the submission of relevant guest posts are welcome, please do this via email. Guest Posts cannot be anonymous and will be selected on a case by case basis.
So we would like the comment stream for this post to be open to you all to offer your ideas for ways to improve our work here. And we would also like to say thanks to you all for your interest and contributions.
-Sincerely, the ATB editorial team.
Ten Commandments for Commenters
The comment stream is an important feature of Transportblog and we are proud of the high standard of the information and intelligence usually displayed there by our readers. It is also a largely civil space and so far we have been able to allow it to operate with light moderation and very open access. In order to keep it this way we ask that commenters observe the following guidelines:
1. Commenters are guests and are asked to behave accordingly. Treat other members of the community with civility and respect. If you see disrespectful behavior, please report it to us ather than inflaming the situation. The editors decisions on these matters are final.
2. Members are encouraged to use their real names, especially for those wishing to comment frequently. We currently allow anonymity but if we feel it is being abused we reserve the right to withdraw this feature.
3. Ad hominem attacks are frowned upon. If you disagree with someone, refute their statements rather before insulting them. If you must insult someone, be cheeky.
4. General moaning about the blog and its editorial direction is extremely boring. If you there are things you like and/or don’t like about the blog then put it in an email to us, rather than a comment. Or find another space more to your liking.
5. When you are presenting an argument and/or stating an opinion, try to use clear and logical reasoning, e.g. Observation 1 + Observation 2 = Conclusion.
6. Opinions, while welcome, are not facts, so do not assert them as such. When citing facts, commenters should always aim to provide supporting references and links, especially when asked for them.
7. Do not copy and paste complete copyrighted articles without permission from the copyright holder. Acknowledge all sources.
8. The editors decide what is acceptable. We reserve the right to delete comments and suspend accounts as we see fit. Grounds for suspension include:
i. Obsessive arguing in a thread or threads
ii. Repeated statements without supporting evidence
iii. Blatant promotion of products and/or services
iv. Use of multiple anonymous identities
9. We have high standards but are run by volunteers in our spare time so we do make mistakes. If you disagree with something we have done get in touch via email.
10. We are ambitious about improving Auckland [and all of NZ ] as well as the blog itself so all suggestions to improve it and the submission of relevant guest posts are welcome, please do this via email. Guest Posts cannot be anonymous and will be selected on a case by case basis.
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When you say “contact via email” there is not general contact address just ones for individual authors. Which should we use?
We don’t have an admin, we are run as a sort of anarchic collective, so just choose the person you feel might be most appropriate from their writing….. Sorry but as thus far we have resisted running ads or pursued other forms of funding it’s dependant on the eds’ commitment on an individual basis.
So who pays the bills?
Is it time for another fundraiser movie or similar?
I believe Patrick arranged funding via the Exclusive Brethren. He’s a member.
Patrick does look like Moses (on a bike) as he floats around the Hood sometimes.
Good blog. The information density is extraordinary. I actually try to create time to read it when I barely manage to read our blog.
“anarchic collective” “..dependant on the eds’ commitment on an individual basis.”
Sounds awfully familiar. Each does what they have time for. People come and go over time. And you’ll find that even with ads or other funding that is what it remains as. The economics makes it unlikely to get to the point of having someone full or even part-time unless they have very low expectations about income.
I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank you (all the editors) for this blog. I visit it almost daily to keep up to date with what’s going on around Auckland public transport. I am from Europe originally, so I am used to much better public transport and I hope that we will eventually have something here that’s a real alternative to driving regardless of where in Auckland you live. Also I hope Auckland Transport employees visit this blog, there are lots of good suggestions on here. Thanks for your hard work!
Great stuff. The blog just keeps getting better.
Been a regular reader and occasional commenter for 3 years now.
I believe this is a very important source of information and debate for the country and Auckland specifically. I’m looking forward to coming home soon with my European wife. (She’ll moan about the transport and other things) but at least I can now confidently say “it’s getting better!”
I visit the site nearly every day. The posts and most comments are thoughtful and mature. Well done on your efforts administrators !
There are some signs you’re making progress, with even the mainstream media calling for interviews. People now prefer to surf the net rather than follow the mainstream media, and there’s a wealth of information, links and well thought-through arguments, which I expect will be increasingly monitored by the mainstream media and politicians.
Have been here every day since AKT has sadly disappeared. Thanks for the good work!
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the authors of this blog. I’ve been reading this blog several times per week, for about 4 years. It is an excellent source of information, with the vast majority of posts being well researched and written. I appreciate the authors’ dedication of their time in the pursuit of trying to influence the powers that be to make Auckland a better place to live and work in.
Point 2: Members are encouraged to use their real names: snowflake is an unusual name!
sorry, not having a go! I’d hate anyone doing that to me.
My real name is banned, and I find snowflake hilarious for a user name.
Not sure what you mean by this, our records don’t show anyone with your name as having been banned.
Last time I tried it didn’t work. Same with my facebook profile.
My girlfriend’s name is Ice, so Snowflake could probably be a real name too…
Have you considered putting ads on the page, and earning a bit of money from the high viewership? I earn a few thousand from my sites, and they have less views than this.
We have considered it, but the consensus is we’d rather avoid advertising so long as we can cover costs. The hosting costs aren’t that major and it looks like we’ll have another go at the annual fundraiser instead.
For now that is… We do consider approaches and if we can find a way that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the blog this may change in the future.
You should implement time of use charging =P
Seriously though, congratulations on being the fourth most visited blog in the country. The quality of work is high and consistent, and frequently entertaining. The use of photos, images, and graphics is also a huge plus. You’ve created something which improves our understand and is relevant to our lives. It’s no wonder people visit. I think you’re also starting to have real affects on Auckland and NZ policy, which is something to be proud of.
I also very much like the guidelines you’ve put down. It’s because the comments here are civil and useful (mostly) that this is a nice place to visit. It doesn’t matter how good a post is, if there are comments your eyes are drawn down. Does an open rubbish bin improve a painting in a gallery? No. Keep it up, and use your powers as necessary – don’t be afraid to be firm 🙂
George D. (I’m pseudo-psuedonymous so that I don’t fill up Google, for no other reason. I don’t mind having a name!)
If you’re going to insist on guest posts not being anonymous – the right call – why don’t your regulars use their real names? Mr Anderson???
Cam the Guidelines are brand new, so this is new policy ‘going forward’ as they say. Without time travelling I’m not sure how we could have policy for ‘going backwards’. Although with the state of transport policy currently in NZ retrogression certainly is being attempted ;/
I too am delighted to see the new guidelines. I nearly gave up on this site a few weeks back when the ad homs started to become almost endemic. That was not a good look, although it did help identify the political persuasions of certain commenters (which in turn helped explain their worldview). The two worst comments ever both involved insulting recently deceased persons (and added nothing to the debate), and I was really surprised that the moderators allowed those comments to stand. Never again I hope.
So keep up the good work guys, this site is very informative, particularly the statistical stuff, whether or not I agree with every opinion expressed. As George D commented above, I also don’t use my real name as I don’t want it on Google for ever, but would be quite happy to disclose it to the moderators if that were required.
Hello Patrick Reynolds
Maybe the train top right corner could be shown with advertising on it in a simpler way that Trams or airlines sell advertising.