I have a theory
 

take two forums of similar size

compress the thread info from each forum.

the forum that can compress to a smaller file is lamer.

the bigger file == better forum for discussion

:cool:

*ggg*

intrestin theory, but i think it depends on the compressionalgorithm :)

im confused here...and what is *ggg* ? :banana:

*ggg* is a big big big grin. *gg* is a big big grin. *g* is a big grin.

Xenon always grins ;)

o thankee mister

simply put
depending on the compression scheme gzip will compress based upon similarities in the file/files it is working with. So if you have a file that looks like this

then it will compress to a smaller gzipped file then say
so my theory is this...

if signal to noise is any gauge, most forums that suck always have the same damn things repeated over and over ad. infinum.

So gzip the forums threads and weigh them on a scale so to speak.

whatever gzip file is bigger is probalby better. because it is more original. IE less similiarties and gzip cant compress it that far.

LOL! The noise-to-signal ratio is may not be less in the bigger file - there may be lots more noise.

hmm with my little experience in compressing algorithm from university, i have to say it sounds right, but Erwin is right here, more noise would be harder to compress than just informative things :)

or as an example:
you have a spamm post:
would be greater when compressed as this helpful post:
politeness of good discussion forums is good to compress, never forget :)

:( I guess I shouldnt quit my day job then

Even if the theory would be correct, I don't see you making a living out of it :)

you know what they say.

buld a better mousetrap and the world will come beating a path to your door