Uh... Dude... What's happening to the stats?

[trythil]

No, Trythil, the hit count is NOT as accurate as those counters and yes, Zarxax, there is some importance to having those statistics publicly available. I never said they were perfect, but they do give me a fairly good idea of how many people out of the "hits" found a given AMV intriguing enough to download, and they're certainly a better and more precise indicator than the star scales.

More:

Insofar as a video's popularity is concerned, the hit count IS as accurate as those counters. Yes, the hit count is fragile; but so are download links. It is technically no more difficult for me to add 150 hits to a video as it is to increment the download counter 150 times. See wget.

This is why I think those statistics are of no use to others -- they don't tell much of anything; they're really only a curiosity. They do, on the other hand, manage to do a good job of adding clutter.

[Rorschach]

If you really wanted a quick answer, I don't understand why you bothered to keep responding to us, since we obviously can't serve you. Phade would probably be able to help you out better, considering he's rewriitng the thing. As he hasn't responded to this thread, and probably won't, you might as well just contact him directly.

Indeed, you guys have truly been the no-help desk: short memories and unsolicited opinions. Pardon me if I feel a little paranoid when three or four guys jump in and start denying everything! If you didn't care about the stats in the first place, why are YOU posting here? Yes, Phade apparently hasn't found any time in his rather busy schedule to check the forums. Looks like I'll have to go check with him.

Whatever you claim, I know from downloading my own videos (usually to check and make sure the links are working) that the download counter has never counted my downloads, no matter how many times I downloaded any of my videos, and the hit counter likewise never recorded any visits after the first. The only way to manipulate either one, I've found, is to work from multiple IP addresses; not impossible, but an awful lot of trouble to go to just to manipulate the counter. As such, I find that the download-to-hit ratio still serves me better for getting a handle on how popular the video is than any other measure.

As for the trend I mentioned, it seems the earlier part of the trend has vanished down the memory hole for you, but I did prove that the latest disappearance occurred. I also remember, even if you don't, the time when the download stats appeared in both the listing at the bottom of the personal profile page and the video description pages. Again, if you think the counters are nothing more than a curiosity, why do you bother going to all the trouble of disagreeing with me? It's enough to make a fellow start wondering about your motives.

In any case, no one here seems to have any helpful explanation for what's going on. I'd appreciate it if some moderator would kindly lock this thread.

[Zarxrax]

Whats going on is Phade is redesigning the site. He apparently felt the data was unneccessary and removed it to free up space so the rest wouldnt be so cramped.

[Zarxrax]

Oh, and I appologize if I came across as sounding rude or anything. On the internet its easy to misinterpret what exactly someone means, because you are simply reading text, and it's not always written in the most perfect manner. I was merely stating that I didn't feel the data was relevant, and that it can be highly inaccurate and therefore its not really something you should base your download decisions on.

[trythil]

You probably won't read this thread anymore, but I would like you to know that I have just been able to increase the direct download counter on my video "always" by 12. This is how:

(1) Log out.
(2) Go to the video information page for the video.
(3) Click one of the DIRECT links. Abort the download at the confirmation dialog that Firefox gives. Repeat 12 times.

The download count on direct link #1 was at 2470; it is now at 2482. I invite you to try this for yourself. It is not a difficult procedure, and can be implemented very easily via UNIX shell scripting and wget, as I mentioned above.

This is why I think the counters are useless. It's also why I bother to post here. This is your thread; therefore, you would be most likely to respond to it. I think the counters are little more than a curiosity, so I want to know the reasons -- solid reasons -- why you so fervently want them restored. You have responded with little in that respect.

I must say, however, that you are quite good at delivering personal attacks. Do you accept students?