AARoads Forum

Meta => Suggestions and Questions => Topic started by: Plutonic Panda on May 17, 2017, 07:39:22 PM

Title: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Plutonic Panda on May 17, 2017, 07:39:22 PM
What would you say are the most and least talked about states on this board? It's even okay if you just stick to regional board sections too.

I haven't been a member for too long on here, but from what I've observed I'd definitely give the most talked about to California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

For it's size, I would have thought I would see more posts about Florida. I rarely see anything posted about Alaska, Nebraska, Hawaii, or the Dakotas.

I do suppose it makes sense as the most populated states are the most discussed but there do seem to be several exceptions to that.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Alps on May 17, 2017, 08:01:32 PM
Oregon (especially outside Portland) and Nevada are rarely discussed. Rural states tend to have little going on.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: 7/8 on May 17, 2017, 08:05:17 PM
The New Hampshire thread hasn't been posted in since 2015, while the smaller population Vermont has decent activity for a state its size.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: hotdogPi on May 17, 2017, 09:06:24 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on May 17, 2017, 08:05:17 PM
The New Hampshire thread hasn't been posted in since 2015, while the smaller population Vermont has decent activity for a state its size.

I don't think we have any members from New Hampshire here.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on May 17, 2017, 09:10:31 PM
North Dakota doesn't come up very much. 
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on May 18, 2017, 04:09:19 AM
I'd say one of the things that makes Illinois so visible is that a number of people who post about Illinois topics typically make a new thread for every Illinois topic (whether warranted or not) rather than just using the "Illinois Notes" catch-all thread.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: froggie on May 18, 2017, 07:06:54 AM
Quote from: 7/8The New Hampshire thread hasn't been posted in since 2015, while the smaller population Vermont has decent activity for a state its size.

As "1" alluded to, we have more regular members (besides myself) posting from Vermont.  I've posted a bit of New Hampshire material, but it's mainly been in the fictional forums.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: formulanone on May 18, 2017, 07:32:37 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on May 17, 2017, 07:39:22 PM

For it's size, I would have thought I would see more posts about Florida.

For a while, the Florida thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2017.0) was one of the largest in the forum.

There's at least a half-dozen active and well-established forum members who live there, including two forum administrators, a few more that used to live there which contribute, and many more that visit and have their say.

I suppose a lot of that benefits from year-round good weather, minus the thunderstorms and love-bug annoyances.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: jeffandnicole on May 18, 2017, 08:40:52 AM
States that are talked about often correlate pretty well with the number of members, and active members, of those states.

States like the Dakotas not only have few active members, but relatively speaking not much going on there either.  Even large projects can be overlooked by members within the state because the project can be hundreds of miles away.

Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Roadgeekteen on May 18, 2017, 10:11:56 AM
Quote from: 1 on May 17, 2017, 09:06:24 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on May 17, 2017, 08:05:17 PM
The New Hampshire thread hasn't been posted in since 2015, while the smaller population Vermont has decent activity for a state its size.

I don't think we have any members from New Hampshire here.
We might have to count you as our New Hampshire member.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: hotdogPi on May 18, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
For each member in the top 150 (847+ posts) and some that I could figure out easily from 151-300 (311+ posts), I summed up the square root of the post counts. For example, I have 3391 posts, so I count as 58.23 for Massachusetts. Inactive members are excluded.
















































New York635.63
California520.60
New Jersey436.99
Pennsylvania409.94
Illinois396.33
Florida380.97
Virginia341.24
Wisconsin331.24
Massachusetts290.37
Ohio211.21
Kentucky190.50
Indiana180.39
Texas179.64
Washington172.14
Georgia164.96
Maryland157.45
Kansas148.09
Alabama142.59
Oklahoma141.50
Louisiana139.72
Connecticut134.60
Vermont119.73
North Carolina115.68
Maine115.50
Oregon104.68
Ontario102.11
Arkansas95.05
United Kingdom88.21
Iowa82.12
Colorado75.89
British Columbia71.41
Idaho68.40
Nevada55.05
Michigan53.01
Netherlands44.63
Manitoba42.01
Australia40.67
Spain38.78
Quebec38.51
Mississippi38.25
West Virginia34.39
Minnesota33.60
Arizona31.76
South Dakota29.15
Montana29
Rhode Island24.27


AK, DE, DC, HI, MO, NE, NH, NM, ND, SC, TN, UT, and WY have zero.
90.60 could not be figured out based on profile and the most recent two pages of posts.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: jeffandnicole on May 18, 2017, 10:54:52 AM
Quote from: 1 on May 18, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
For each member in the top 150 (847+ posts) and some that I could figure out easily from 151-300 (311+ posts), I summed up the square root of the post counts. For example, I have 3391 posts, so I count as 58.23 for Massachusetts. Inactive members are excluded.
AK, DE, DC, HI, MO, NE, NH, NM, ND, SC, TN, UT, and WY have zero.
90.60 could not be figured out based on profile and the first two pages of posts.

I'm not too clear on your method here, so my apologies.

But, I know I post in the Delaware forum, so I'm not sure how that would be 0.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: hbelkins on May 18, 2017, 11:01:38 AM
I post mostly about Kentucky, but also quite frequently on West Virginia, which is another state of interest for me. I don't think you can judge anything based solely on where a poster lives. Froggie, for example, lives in Vermont now but he's just as likely to post about DC or Hampton Roads or Minnesota (two places he's lived, plus his home state) as he is Vermont.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Rothman on May 18, 2017, 01:54:58 PM
Me:

NY dominates my posts.  Pretty obvious why.

That said, I have traveled all over the U.S. (except Alaska) and lived in IN, MA, CA, MD, VA and WI (with a lot of time spent in MN -- lived on the border).  Also have spent a lot of time in KY, WV, PA, NJ and UT due to family.



Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: freebrickproductions on May 18, 2017, 03:15:10 PM
Alabama and Tennessee tend to dominate my posts as well, mostly due to where I live.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Rothman on May 18, 2017, 11:03:33 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 18, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
For each member in the top 150 (847+ posts) and some that I could figure out easily from 151-300 (311+ posts), I summed up the square root of the post counts. For example, I have 3391 posts, so I count as 58.23 for Massachusetts. Inactive members are excluded.

Why sum up the square roots?
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Alps on May 19, 2017, 12:00:33 AM
Quote from: Rothman on May 18, 2017, 11:03:33 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 18, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
For each member in the top 150 (847+ posts) and some that I could figure out easily from 151-300 (311+ posts), I summed up the square root of the post counts. For example, I have 3391 posts, so I count as 58.23 for Massachusetts. Inactive members are excluded.

Why sum up the square roots?
Lessens the effect of outliers like myself.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Brandon on May 19, 2017, 02:04:32 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 18, 2017, 04:09:19 AM
I'd say one of the things that makes Illinois so visible is that a number of people who post about Illinois topics typically make a new thread for every Illinois topic (whether warranted or not) rather than just using the "Illinois Notes" catch-all thread.

Chicagoland topics and Downstate topics rarely mix well.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: oscar on May 19, 2017, 02:31:23 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 18, 2017, 11:01:38 AM
I post mostly about Kentucky, but also quite frequently on West Virginia, which is another state of interest for me. I don't think you can judge anything based solely on where a poster lives. Froggie, for example, lives in Vermont now but he's just as likely to post about DC or Hampton Roads or Minnesota (two places he's lived, plus his home state) as he is Vermont.

I'm like froggie, only with an even broader geographic spread. While I reside in the DC metro area, I mainly leave that to others. Ditto for my home state of California. I provide coverage for AK (only one member) and HI (no known Hawaiian members), as well as the Canadian territories, plus a broad but thin scatter of posts about most everywhere else in the U.S. and Canada.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: mrsman on May 21, 2017, 02:09:37 PM
Quote from: Alps on May 19, 2017, 12:00:33 AM
Quote from: Rothman on May 18, 2017, 11:03:33 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 18, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
For each member in the top 150 (847+ posts) and some that I could figure out easily from 151-300 (311+ posts), I summed up the square root of the post counts. For example, I have 3391 posts, so I count as 58.23 for Massachusetts. Inactive members are excluded.

Why sum up the square roots?
Lessens the effect of outliers like myself.

I suppose there is no easy way to get a post count for each state, particularly if the poster did not label that the topic is about a certain state.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on May 21, 2017, 11:36:55 PM
Quote from: oscar on May 19, 2017, 02:31:23 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 18, 2017, 11:01:38 AM
I post mostly about Kentucky, but also quite frequently on West Virginia, which is another state of interest for me. I don't think you can judge anything based solely on where a poster lives. Froggie, for example, lives in Vermont now but he's just as likely to post about DC or Hampton Roads or Minnesota (two places he's lived, plus his home state) as he is Vermont.

I'm like froggie, only with an even broader geographic spread. While I reside in the DC metro area, I mainly leave that to others. Ditto for my home state of California. I provide coverage for AK (only one member) and HI (no known Hawaiian members), as well as the Canadian territories, plus a broad but thin scatter of posts about most everywhere else in the U.S. and Canada.

Hell, I've lived all over the country and I've regularly commented on; California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Florida, Colorado, and Michigan.  I just had a new thread I opened in the Southeast board which included Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.  Really the only places I don't tend to hit on where I used to live very often is Illinois and Connecticut.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: texaskdog on May 21, 2017, 11:39:38 PM
Utah has a whole page about I-215
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: jp the roadgeek on May 22, 2017, 03:58:30 PM
Of course I post on my home state CT the most, with MA, RI, and NY just behind.  I also post quite a bit about the Mid-Atlantic, and I've posted once or twice in Louisiana and Mississippi after I went to New Orleans, Gulfport, and Biloxi.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Duke87 on May 22, 2017, 11:31:33 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 18, 2017, 10:21:57 AM
For each member in the top 150 (847+ posts) and some that I could figure out easily from 151-300 (311+ posts), I summed up the square root of the post counts. For example, I have 3391 posts, so I count as 58.23 for Massachusetts.

This is an interesting list. Naturally it tends to follow overall population, so states like NY and CA are unsurprisingly at the top.

Texas, meanwhile, is conspicuously lower on the list than you'd expect. What's keeping the Texans from geeking out?


Though I would also point out that this forum does not represent the entirety of the roadgeek community, even in the US. There are quite a few roadgeeks who are active in Facebook groups but do not post here much or ever. Indeed there's an entire Michigan contingent of people who regularly come to road meets (seemingly always in groups, if there's one Michigander at a road meet there are several) and are varying levels of active on Facebook, but most of them are not active here. Hence, Michigan appearing lower down on the list.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: signalman on May 23, 2017, 09:33:53 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on May 22, 2017, 11:31:33 PM
Indeed there's an entire Michigan contingent of people who regularly come to road meets (seemingly always in groups, if there's one Michigander at a road meet there are several)
Naturally they come in a group.  It's right in their name...gander.  :-D  (Sorry, I couldn't resist.  No offense to any member from Michigan or you, Anthony)
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: JJBers on May 26, 2017, 12:12:27 AM
Connecticut seems oddly more talked about than most other states it's size. Maybe it's history?
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: froggie on May 26, 2017, 07:44:16 AM
Probably has more to do with Connecticut being the current or former home of several forum regulars.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: MNHighwayMan on May 26, 2017, 07:53:09 AM
Seeing as how I fall into the top 300, I'm curious to know whether I was counted for Minnesota or Iowa. I currently live in Iowa, and post a lot of pictures of Iowa highways, but that's about it. I hardly know anything about Iowa compared to Minnesota, where I've lived most of my life and know a hell of a lot more about its highways.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Rothman on May 26, 2017, 07:58:28 AM
Connecticut also has some crazy history with its transportation system.  Interstate re-numbering, interstates being halted or re-routed, bridges to nowhere, bridges falling down, toll roads now not toll, etc., etc.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: paulthemapguy on July 18, 2017, 11:07:54 AM
I NEVER see any content from Idaho posted.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 18, 2017, 12:23:44 PM
Quote from: paulthemapguy on July 18, 2017, 11:07:54 AM
I NEVER see any content from Idaho posted.

I've posted a couple about I-90/Old US 10 in Idado, mostly stuff with Wallace.  I want to say I even linked over one of my photos to the Road Signs in Movies thread.  I wouldn't say it's common but it probably will be starting next year since I had family move to Boise.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 18, 2017, 12:26:03 PM
Quote from: JJBers on May 26, 2017, 12:12:27 AM
Connecticut seems oddly more talked about than most other states it's size. Maybe it's history?

Every east coast state (with the exception of Rhode Island) is overrepresented. Largest population on this coast and a lot of travel up and down the coast explain it.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: Alex on July 18, 2017, 01:00:44 PM
Quote from: paulthemapguy on July 18, 2017, 11:07:54 AM
I NEVER see any content from Idaho posted.

There were some posts related to where I-184 officially ends in Boise. Led us to update the page for Interstate 184 on iguide even.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: hbelkins on July 18, 2017, 01:24:24 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on July 18, 2017, 12:26:03 PM
Quote from: JJBers on May 26, 2017, 12:12:27 AM
Connecticut seems oddly more talked about than most other states it's size. Maybe it's history?

Every east coast state (with the exception of Rhode Island) is overrepresented. Largest population on this coast and a lot of travel up and down the coast explain it.

It's called the East Coast Hive Mind and Carl Rogers is the leading expert on this phenomenon.  :-D :bigass: :-D :bigass:
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: vdeane on July 18, 2017, 01:34:16 PM
Connecticut and New Jersey seem to be over-represented even among northeastern states.
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: jeffandnicole on July 18, 2017, 03:21:06 PM
Not only do a lot of people live in those states, but they're easy to drive thru from one state to another. 

Pennsylvania gets talked about a lot.  Although 40% of the posts are related to Breezewood in some fashion!  :-D
Title: Re: Most talked and least talked about states.
Post by: The Nature Boy on September 02, 2017, 10:39:43 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 18, 2017, 03:21:06 PM
Not only do a lot of people live in those states, but they're easy to drive thru from one state to another. 

Pennsylvania gets talked about a lot.  Although 40% of the posts are related to Breezewood in some fashion!  :-D

Hell, I've posted about New Jersey and Connecticut here and I've never lived in either state.