On 6 Oct 2006 19:48:27 -0700, "aem" > wrote:

>Google is still playing with formats/styles in its Groups. In this
>latest iteration, it shows what it calls "Group Info," under which it
>indicates "Subscribers: 2858" and "Activity: Low activity." Do you
>suppose I am correct in assuming that "subscribers" means only those
>who use Google Groups to participate?

That has to be the implication. Why else would they give that number?
>
>For several years I have had the idea that there are many more
>readers/lurkers than that, even though there are only 50 or so of us
>who have so much time on our hands that we can't control our posting
>every day.

Well, there certainly are not almost 3,000 people who read rfc
daily.... especially from google. I find google a very boring way to
do usenet. If I was brand new with only google as a news reader, I
probably wouldn't even consider sustaining my presence on usenet.

> In other words, all the Usenet readers are not in that
>2858, right?

I don't understand that statement. You're trying to say there are
more than 3,000 daily lurkers? If so, I don't agree. How can so many
people keep their mouths shut with so many opportunities to make a
statement about something that interests them????