How well does Physics Forums rate among its competitors?

[Loren Booda]

Against general, scientific or physics discussion groups, is there an objective measure of PF's success?

 

[Gear300]

The fact that I have not heard of these competitors means this site is successful.

 

[russ_watters]

Well...browsing over to sciforums.com, I find:

Currently Active Users: 376 (27 members and 349 guests)

Whereas PF has: 74 members and 961 guests

 

[Sorry!]

Yeah I'm with gear, never even heard of other sites that are like physicsforums.

 

[binzing]

What competitors? : P

 

[negitron]

http://www.big-boards.com/kw/physics/

 

[Pinu7]

The actual physics community?

http://www.big-boards.com/kw/physics/

Hmmm...sciforums has more posts, However, I think we have more in recent activity.

EDIT: There are interesting stuff on BigBoards.
http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/index.php"-Mathematics Forums.
http://www.bautforum.com/"-Astronomy Forums Wow! And I thought forums were mostly about heavy metal/Pokemon!

 

[drizzle]

I was searching google for such forums, and PF was the only one that caught my eye. and whoever chooses the colors of the PF logo is clever. IMO, the green is a welcoming color while the blue represents……brain power

 

[junglebeast]

I used to frequent advanced physics forums, they have some good people there

http://www.advancedphysics.org/forum/index.php?

There's also a2k which is extremely active, and has physics/math/philosophy/finance as well as many other sections that are mirrored here. The major difference is that a2k is less moderated than PF.

http://able2know.org/

 

[Janus]

The actual physics community?


Hmmm...sciforums has more posts, However, I think we have more in recent activity.

EDIT: There are interesting stuff on BigBoards.
http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/index.php"-Mathematics Forums.
http://www.bautforum.com/"-Astronomy Forums


Wow! And I thought forums were mostly about heavy metal/Pokemon!

Try sorting by the alexa rating

 

[symbolipoint]

The question is great. After occasional internet searches, I had found very few competitors to www.physicsforums.com[/url]. The [url]www.mathlinks.ro/[/URL] looks like an interesting one at first view (cited in post #7 in this thread) .

 

[Pinu7]

Try sorting by the alexa rating

Here's Alexa's discription of PF:

A place for advanced teen physicists to discuss any topic of physics other science/math issues.

 

[jobyts]

I think the GD section is a threat to the physics part of this forum. Look at each subforum within PF, and sort the threads based on "views" (excluding sticky threads), the GD section beats out any other PF section.

A GD thread titled "Blue Tits" have 287,628 views so far, probably within the top 10 highest viewed threads. PF seems to be more of a threat to porn industry

 

[LBloom]

A GD thread titled "Blue Tits" have 287,628 views so far, probably within the top 10 highest viewed threads. PF seems to be more of a threat to porn industry

Well d***it, where else can us teen physicists go to discuss such issues with our brethren! At any other forum we'd be laughed off talking about such issues like how quantum flux causes blue chest!

but it is only natural for the general discussion board in any discussion board given its nature and especially since the people that come here either are still learning or are very specialized in what they do and are very busy.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Here's Alexa's discription of PF:

A place for advanced teen physicists to discuss any topic of physics other science/math issues.

That is how PF started out. The description cited at our media partner site, Scientific American, is an updated description. The contrast shows just how far PF has come since it began.

Physics Forums hosts discussions ranging from mainstream science to cutting edge. Its main emphasis is on physics, yet it also includes forums on a wide array of other topics in science and mathematics. Physics Forums provides students with academic, career and homework help from peers and professional scientists. Inline LaTeX capabilities make it easy to discuss mathematical topics clearly. Its membership includes the entire spectrum of academia, as well as non-academics who are interested in science at all levels. Physics Forums is moderated by a volunteer staff of professional scientists and engineers who strive to maintain the highest standard of integrity and quality of scientific discussion.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/partners/partner.cfm?partner=10A07B7E-BD48-2D3F-442D45EE7BF74C41

Scientific American has a long and distinguised history going back something over 100 years as the premium science-news publication. It was once written at the Master's level for all subjects. In my opinion, the partnership with SA stands as evidence that the hard work and dedication of the many quality PF members has paid off. To me, this showed that PF is the gold standard.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I should add that the number one driving force behind PF has always been a dedication to excellence. The staff has had many heated discussions over the years, but always with the quality of the forum as the primary focus. While there is a constant effort to grow the forum, it has never been so at the expense of quality.

Running a place like PF - taming our little corner of the internet - is no small challenge. For one, we have had to make up the rules as we go - there was no existing blueprint from which to work. And the many issues that arise can be difficult to manage in a fair and balanced manner.

Look back six years or so. It was often the wild west around here. But even then it was the best forum I had ever seen. The behavior of people at other sites was often somewhere between absurd and shocking. Though the discussions here can certainly get heated, esp in politics [which is an emotional subject by its nature because it is very personal], what has always made PF stand out, beyond the drive for excellence, is the mandate for basic civility.

 

[amezcua]

How well does P F rate among it`s competitors.Should that read ow well does PF rate against it`s competitors?We would decide the second and all the others would decide the first.
Long time since I did Physics at school but I`m sure my teacher would have enjoyed that point.
Should we have a McCarthy trial to see who logged on with the other sites."Are you now or have you ever been-------?"(Smiling as I write)

 

[Borek]

Here's Alexa's discription of PF:

A place for advanced teen physicists to discuss any topic of physics other science/math issues.

Description comes from dmoz.org.

http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/Science/Physics/

 

[Borg]

I used to frequent advanced physics forums, they have some good people there

http://www.advancedphysics.org/forum/index.php?

Interesting site. I found the http://www.advancedphysics.org/forum/showthread.php?t=205" to be pretty funny.

 

[George Jones]

Interesting site. I found the http://www.advancedphysics.org/forum/showthread.php?t=205" to be pretty funny.

Note that they just lifted this from the website of John Baez.

 

[tchitt]

A couple of years ago I was a member at another forum that I was completely addicted to. I won't name it but it had hundreds of thousands of members... yet retained a tight knit community atmosphere and enforced overall quality much like this one does. I was permanently banned from that forum for a tasteless comment I made and needed another. It wasn't until a couple years later I found this place but it's the closest thing I've found to what I was used to. (Community atmosphere... clear, well-enforced rules)

I don't know about how it rates to other science forums (I didn't join for the science... this place actually does have more to offer than just that. In my case it was just the stimulating discussion sans the "u" and "ur"s) but as far as forums in general go it rates high, in my opinion. That's why it's the second forum I've ever registered at in my life.

 

[Borg]

Interesting site. I found the http://www.advancedphysics.org/forum/showthread.php?t=205" to be pretty funny.

Note that they just lifted this from the website of John Baez.

Didn't see that until after I posted - I was too busy laughing at the point system.