61% of you are younger than 35 years old (according to Google Analytics). Only 11% are 55 or older.
So... what's up with you young readers? You seem not to comment... I guess there's no point asking why.
December 6, 2014
Surprising fact about the Althouse blog readership.
You're young!
61% of you are younger than 35 years old (according to Google Analytics). Only 11% are 55 or older.
So... what's up with you young readers? You seem not to comment... I guess there's no point asking why.
61% of you are younger than 35 years old (according to Google Analytics). Only 11% are 55 or older.
So... what's up with you young readers? You seem not to comment... I guess there's no point asking why.
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117 comments:
Before long, I'll be a 1%er.
If there's no point in asking why, it can only be because you won't like the answers.
Unknown is not known for his powers of logical reasoning.
I know.
Do you figure your students check in daily? How does Google know my age?
Maybe they don't comment because it's exasperating to deal with the 55+ crowd down in here.
Why, then, do so many of us old foggies seem to dominate the conversations?
I have read your blog daily since I was a junior or senior in HS (26 years old today). I don't comment because I'm black and gay and wouldn't feel welcome among the rowdy conservatives.
Ok, Ann answered my question.
"Do you figure your students check in daily?"
Some do, I suppose, but I don't have enough students to account for even 1% of that number. I can't even remember one time a student has talked to me about a post on this blog, and I rarely hear anyone at work mention it. You'd think it brings up subjects that people like to talk about and it would be a very easy conversation opener to say "I saw that on your blog..." or "I liked what you said on your blog" or "I've got to disagree with that blog post..." but it does not happen.
"How does Google know my age?"
Google knows you better than you know yourself.
Welcome, Louis!
And Happy Birthday!
Maybe they don't comment because it's exasperating to deal with the 55+ crowd down in here.
@Professor, and those of us that comprise the far right bar aim to make it more so. You young punk kid.
Wow, I am blushing being addressed by Meade.
Have you studied Google Analytics's methods? I just now read a bit from their web site.
I can't even imagine how a web site could venture a good guess as to my age. A really dedicated, exhaustive investigation system could probably determine that I've been online for about 30 years, so that could lead to an estimation, but I don't believe Google Analytics is that good or exhaustive.
The interwebs are full of trashy analysts.
Yes. Welcome Louis!
Happy birthday, Louis. Thanks for reading.
It's not for 11% of the readers to dominate the comments and make other people feel unwelcome. It's your choice, of course, but I would recommend using the comments section to build up your resistance to whatever haters or seeming haters there may be. From my perspective, as you know, this is a very gay friendly blog. I've been pushing back the gay-phobic for 11 years.
That would be "Mr. Meade" to you, young man.
Louis, I am white and gay and post here and I love black gays!
I don't care for all the old white homophobes who post here though....their predicable and boring...and don't have a job-Work is so important-It gives someone value and reason to get up in the morning. I love working and actually hiring people!
I would be a mess if I didn't work because I am not much into "hobbies".
Welcome Louis -- and you're lucky he's not asking for "Lord Meade" or "excellency".
I like reading the comments from time to time to see how the other side thinks among themselves. It feels like conservatives need a place to blow off steam, so maybe the language of welcome or unwelcome was uncharitable on my part. I don't want to crash the party.
I am not surprised at a young readership, btw. I introduced this blog to my friends at college and it was popular. "What did Althouse think?" was a regular question when we discussed political events.
Wow: a lot of 18-24 years-old readers out there. I would reason that at least some of them are women, and some of those nubile young women.
Allow me to introduce myself: I am Laslo, and I would like to know you better.
Were any of you Cheerleaders?
I think their data is bad.
Unknown is a woman.
A conservative on campus saying she felt uncomfortable would be met with derision and howling, not sympathy or empathy.
Remember, tenderness leads to gas chambers other than components of the digestive system.
"So... what's up with you young readers? You seem not to comment ...."
The simplest explanation is Google is wrong.
"Maybe they don't comment because it's exasperating to deal with the 55+ crowd down in here."
"It's not for 11% of the readers to dominate the comments and make other people feel unwelcome."
Interesting insight into Althouse's view of her commenters. It would be insightful to hear more.
I am Laslo.
They all voted for Obama and have nothing to say now..
The Post-Infant Pre-Adults (PIPAs) aka the 18-24 year olds are smart enough to know they ain't got shit to say.
Kudos to them.
All ages admire your mind. But perhaps the younger in your crowd identify with your ideology free playfulness?
I do.
I'm in the 61% and started reading 10 years ago. I commented quite a bit more back in the day, but there's very little clash now...just people shouting talking points past each other.
By the way, click here to see if Google's right about your age.
My wife, a nurse practitioner, says that in the medical community pretty much everyone assumes that you don't really reach adult-level maturity until age 26.
That's the age when Obamacare says your parents can't keep you on their family health-care plan.
Also roughly the age when you take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Also roughly the age at which Einstein developed his theories of relativity.
I am one of your "older " readers and have always enjoyed your pics and conversation. I may not have commented before but love your blog and read it every day!
"They all voted for Obama and have nothing to say now.."
Probably true.
As for adulthood, judging by Obama staffers, about 40 would be closer .
I am probably close to the oldest here but spend a great deal of my time with people under 30, including my students, military enlistees I interview and examine and several of my children who are under 35.
I think I have a fair, if somewhat skewed, picture of what they think.
"By the way, click here to see if Google's right about your age."
Gender: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Interests: Bicycles & Accessories (Wrong) and 11 more items (almost all wrong (urban & Hip Hop????))
Really impressive, Google :eye roll:
I don't believe that chart based on perusing this blog. What do you possibly post of interest to that demographic? I bet you don't even know what League of Legends is.
Are you selling more condoms or adult diapers through your Amazon Portal?
Look at the ads that pop up. They're doing their best to target you.
I searched Google for a light bulb recently. Suddenly every web site is trying to sell me light bulbs.
They don't do this well. They're clumsy.
You make a mistake when you think they know what they're doing.
Google must have picked up I am Indian. Some Bazaar Sari ads are showing up in the last couple of weeks on this and other pages. I have never worn a Sari or shopped for one while living here. They collect enough data and throw storage and computation out there that they can guestimate your demographics pretty easily (esp. if you have a google account). It is not rocket science.
Very glad to know young people are here. I spend most days managing freshly minted graduates. They’re great and I sympathize with their plight. Credentialism has become an expensive hurdle. Four year degrees replaced with masters degrees and specialized study. I try to remind old people that they are doing a disservice by pulling the ladder up behind them.
I don’t think old people are conservatives, just realists. Performance is always being judged, but today’s feedback is more subtle. New employees are often shocked to discover they’re being sacked for poor performance. Old school bosses used tell you in the second week that your work was shit, why it was shit and you’d better shape up. Those bosses are no longer allowed near the kids anymore.
Surely there's a reader who's bought condoms and an adult diaper through the Amazon portal?
Here's a hypothesis. Young people are more willing to let Google know their age, gender, etc.
Working at a University means most of your Peeps are under 30.
I'm over 60...What's a Peep.
My Google info was all "unknown." But who knows. My email here was an accident. When I set up a new Android phone I saw it was creating a new Gmail account and I did not complete the task nor did I link to any other google account. But sure enough, next time I came to blogger, using a different device, it had me under the new email. And because I stopped before I set up a password, I have no access to it. But I'm okay with that. Just annoyed.
Maybe it's time to retire and make way for the younger generation.
Speak for yourself, Bruce.
I am undeniably an old fogy, but I have not quite grown foggy yet.
(At least, I don't think so.)
Original Mike said...
Gender: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Interests: Bicycles & Accessories (Wrong) and 11 more items (almost all wrong (urban & Hip Hop????))
Really impressive, Google :eye roll:
An enterprising youngster piggybacking on your WiFi?
I am in the Top 5.5%!!!
"An enterprising youngster piggybacking on your WiFi?"
Hmmm. That might explain "Shooter Games" as well.
KLDAVIS -- Great link, thanks. But boy are they wrong. Out of 16 "interests" they got two right. No idea about the rest. Shooter Games? Never played one. Hair Care? I shave my head. Rap? E. Asia Music? TV Reality Shows? No, no, and no. Hygiene? Well, maybe.
Their guess at my age, based on the web sites I visit, wasn't far off, though.
Lack of commenting could be that "young" groups are on phone apps and being old doesn't exactly equate with "homophobe... conservative...without a job" but it is funny. You'll see what I mean shortly.
@ Louis
Just think of yourself as the Doug McClure character in 'The Land That Time Forgot'
Sure, he got attacked by a dinosaur now and then, but overall it was grand adventure.
Yeah,
Welcome Louis. Just remember to toe the line, and don't be talking about reparations or white privilege.
Some people pretty quick to take you at face value and run over and shake your hand.
For all I know, you could be Crack pretending to be "Louis" and laughing at the gullible baby boomers.( not that there is anything wrong with that! )
I'd actually call that astonishing. Would've guessed hardly anyone under 30 would read Althouse. Wow. I mean I'm only 14 but I'm an anomaly.
Over 50 its a one window open desk top mode. Young folks don't play that way.
I am 71 and often exasperated by some of the superannuated commenters. Others delight me. I of course am never exasperating.
Age and treachery will defeat youth and skill 9 times out of time. These young 'uns have learned their lessons well. No sense in going up against the geezer first team.
I'm skeptical. May I suggest Althouse do a poll to verify the Google analytics?
Maybe it's been done already.
Did you see those "edit" links by "interests"? They just put any random shit up there so you'll feel the need to correct them. Then they really do have great ad targeting info. At least that's my paranoid theory.
(according to Google Analytics)
"Analytics now includes data on your users' demographics (Age, Gender) and interests (Affinity Categories, In-Market Segments, Other Categories)."
I always enter a different (but similar) age and if they ask for "gender" I put down the opposite one from my biological sex; since people who misuse the word gender claim that it's "socially constructed", I construct it for them.
There is another reason young people may not wish to comment.
The fact that your political beliefs can affect your job prospects now. Maybe your grades, too.
Thus, requiring Google to comment scares some young people off from commenting.
People who are retired or in very stable jobs have less reason to worry about wearing their politics on their sleeve.
Can young people pontificate? Old people do it a lot. It's what we do instead of fornicate.
I think they know more about me than what is listed in that link. My age is wrong, I am younger than what is shown, but I probably lied when I put down my age somewhere.
The fact that your political beliefs can affect your job prospects now. Maybe your grades, too.
This.
People have already been fired for signing a recall petition. Obviously the same thing could happen to anybody who dared to disagree with the echo chamber of this conservative blog.
I was under the impression that reading and commenting on blogs was for the older crowd and that young people in their twenties or younger did their thing on social media like Twitter.
I am 27, and like Louis, I've read every day since High School (and am gay, but whatever). Why don't I comment? I guess I'm not much of a blog commenter generally. It's not worth it most places, but perhaps I'll try to wade in here from time to time.
That data is like the data from exit polls- how can you be sure it is accurate?
Ferdinande, thanks for your point about misuse of the word "gender". Words have gender. People have sex.
And Althouse, must you continue to use that -phobic suffix? It is not only insulting, it is just plain inaccurate. When I was a teenager, I was somewhat homophobic, because a lot of homosexuals found me attractive (long blond hair, slender), and several of them made unwelcome advances, and would not take no for an answer. When people who are larger and stronger than you want to rape you, and try to do so, you are likely to be afraid of them.
When I got older, and considerably less slender, I partied with gays all the time. They are witty and smart, love to party, have good drugs, and mostly don't chase the women, which improved my odds. I became very close with some of them, though not as close as they often wanted.
Nonetheless, I view the idea of gay marriage as an absurd travesty, quite literally. Two (or more) homosexuals claiming to be "married" while they both try to fuck anything that will stand still is a joke, and recognizing that marriage makes marriage a joke. Having people like that for parents is a misfortune. If holding those views makes me "homophobic", then supporting affirmative action makes you equaliphobic.
Google has my age right, but what is it with the East Asian music and hair care?
And how come all these surreally brilliant technocrats in Silicon Valley can't figure out that a person who just bought, say, a box of 20 100-watt light bulbs, is probably not in the market for 100-watt light bulbs?
I have read your blog daily since I was a junior or senior in HS (26 years old today). I don't comment because I'm black and gay and wouldn't feel welcome among the rowdy conservatives.
Why?
Assuming you don't troll people, we are interested in ideas here, regardless of who they come from.
I think you'll find that if you drop your preconceptions, very few of us will care that you are Black or gay. (That is kind of our point...neither matters)
I've been pushing back the gay-phobic for 11 years.
Pretty aggressively actually, like labeling anyone who opposes the gay agenda gay-phobic.
Hi, (just) under 35-er here.
I've been a regular reader for years. I've commented a couple of times, but not frequently.
I guess it seems like blog comment conversations are not terribly fruitful. I mean, this blog is better than most, there's not so much pure hateful vitriol. But usually people just toss around pre-canned talking points. It's rare to have a real philosophical discussion in such a place. It just doesn't seem worth my time, usually. Although Althouse does have an interesting perspective on things that I keep coming back for, the comments rarely seem to add much value, and so I've (largely) given up on them as not worth the time.
29 here, and Google has my information down pat. Those who are saying Google isn't close probably don't have an android, Google account, chrome, etc. They own me and I've come to terms with it.
I probably visit the site twice a day, but rarely comment. The main reason is that I always read the site through my phone and, as big as the Note 3 is, typing isn't a joy in it.
Also, I always feel that, by the time I get around to seeing an article that I could contribute to, the conversation moved on.
Lastly, it is a pain to comment without signing into my Google account. Anonymity is important to me, especially if I was to comment on a political / social commentary website.
Ha! I clicked on the "Click Here" link to google analytics and was pleased to discover that I am 25 to 34.
Also it said that laundry is one of my interests.
. Obviously the same thing could happen to anybody who dared to disagree with the echo chamber of this conservative blog
ROTFLMAO! THank you, I am still laughing... sigh... OK, lol , still laughing... ok.. hit enter.
I have learned to ignore the old white fat homophobes which dominate the comments. They are just bored.
One time Instapundit linked to a sexy Halloween costume on Amazon. That girl showed up in ads everywhere I went on the net for a week. And a few times after that. I would like to thank Glenn for that.
"People have already been fired for signing a recall petition."
Sure they were, madisonfella. Sure they were.
I'm 30, I started reading your blog 8-9 years ago. I've commented only a few times over the years. I read your blog mostly because your interesting links and you have interesting things to say about recent events.
However no matter how apolitical your post may be your commenters manage to use them to criticize the left, liberals, and democrats. Those are not discussions I want to join.
I'm also not interested in posts about your car trips, dining out, and your dogs. I skip over those posts and comment sections.
As a 55-year-old, I'm really surprised by your reader demographic. Would have thought it skewed much older.
I've commented maybe four times, mostly when I want to demonstrate my keen wit and voluminous knowledge.
And humility.
And welcome to Benjamin. You share my son's name. Do you also support TCU? If so, the White Priviledge is strong with you.
I feel like I need a reason to be here. If I am going to comment non-anonymously, why? Something to help me manage some level of quality control.
"However no matter how apolitical your post may be your commenters manage to use them to criticize the left, liberals, and democrats. Those are not discussions I want to join."
Give it time. You will.
Jig, so you don't like a fair fight? Can't compete? Stick with DU where you will be safe and warm. Good call.
It's notable that the oldsters are at less risk from the deficit spending of our government, yet we're the ones sounding alarm bells.
I rarely hear anyone at work mention it. You'd think it brings up subjects that people like to talk about and it would be a very easy conversation opener to say "I saw that on your blog..." or "I liked what you said on your blog" or "I've got to disagree with that blog post..." but it does not happen.
Of course, I believe you, but I'm very surprised. I have been certain that you have been regularly assaulted in the faculty lounge (if for no other reason) in reaction to your attention to the Walker madness and your political support of him.
You are formidable so it's possible that nobody dares to mess with you.
- Krumhorn
Chick (who is unemployed) is the loudest here of the moral minority. Don't say anything bad about Sarah Palin because chick has data on her going back years...and he wants to suckle her tit, while observing a gay ass get blowed and reading (his previous love interest, now hated) Andrew Sullivan. He has pics too!
Chick is a jilted lover-very sad...and unemployed.
Did I mention no one will hire Chick?
I'm 30 and I comment semi-regularly
How do you know the age of specific commenters?
And we black, hispanic, asian lesbian trans people are just not gonna let nobody, NO BODY,mes with us
Sometimes the young ones just scoff-as they mock the "stupid ones". No need to comment.
Sometimes the young ones are just intimidated.
Sometimes the young ones, after reading, conclude they don't know what they don't know, and would rather not play the fool, but would rather learn.
Sometimes, I'm in the wrong demographic.
Google got my age right, but thinks I'm a man. Ha! I never did enjoy the company of women.
My interests on Google were completely wrong (Banking?!) But the "across the web" category was correct- Arts and Entertainment.
@Lois, for one thing, you could maybe bring us some fresher insults.
I think the younger crowd lacks a healthy sense of humor. Generally speaking (don't want them to get all pissed off up in here).
Google analytics got my age and language right, didn't guess at my gender and wasn't even close on my interst (though i didn't check the 38 more).
Louis, you do the fogeys here a disservice. They're just fine with you so long as you don't try to marry the person you love.
When I was in my 20's I would listen intently when the "grey haired" talked. Mostly to mock them--as in, how they've been doing it wrong on these years.
I wondered how they've lived this long.
The more I listened, the more I came to understand I didn't know jack about life-
..and wondered if I'd ever live that long.
My husband is a bit jealous of how much I talk about Ann Althouse. I love this blog, but it takes a lot of time to read through articles and comments to develop an opinion or commentary that is worthy to be published.
I find Ann's insights on politics and life refreshing.
I've been reading this blog since age 23--I'm now 27.
33 year old woman here. I've commented a handful of times, but I find that if I read the comments and/or comment I spend way too much time going down the rabbit hole of the internet. Love your blog though - read it almost daily. Thanks!
And I've been reading since my mid-20s. Thanks!
They're just fine with you so long as you don't try to marry the person you love.
No, we're fine with that, as long as she's a woman.
Most of us are also fine with him entering into a lifelong committed civil union with a man if he loves him.
We're just not ok with overturning thousands of years of tradition on judicial whim
I'm 35, long-time reader, rarely comment.
I mean, I work all day. I'm always amazed at the sheer volume of daytime blog commenting, here and everywhere. Don't people work?
I read at night after the kids are in bed while watching sports. I usually don't comment as by that point the conversation has already passed me by.
Love the blog though, keep it up!
Cheers!
Althouse blog is thought provoking and inquisitive, for the most part.
It used to be more conversational than rigid lecturing pre-Meade, but that's neither here nor there.
You never know what's going to pop up on the Evil Blogger Lady's screen.
With limited time to read, Althouse is not a bad place to pop in and take a peak.
And no, that is not meant to be a compliment, but it probably is.
Life is too short for ad homonyms.
This is an interesting discussion. I think it has brought in some formerly-silent young readers, which is good. I'm not one of them (born 1943; do the math), but by way of possible encouragement to non-commenters I say that this is the only blog on which I comment, or read the comments. (I did once comment on the Volokh Conspiracy, but other commenters immediately challenged me for citations and stuff like that, which was a drag.)
It is true that some commenters on Althouse.com are rude. Some simply repeat what they just read on Powerline or TPM or whatever. Others actually know what they are talking about. So if you choose to express an opinion here, you do run the risk of some feisty push-back.
That may be the reason that more youngsters don't comment here. Young people today seem to have grown up in the everyone-gets-a-trophy culture, and don't expect to have to defend their opinions against strenuous criticism. I fear that this is a reason why political correctness is such a handicap to the intellectual development of the young; if you always say the "correct" thing, you won't have to defend it. If you are young and think your opinions are worth stating and defending, this would be a good place to do it.
My Ads Settings page shows nothing. It's N/As and Unknowns all the way down, and yes I'm signed in. And I'm a heavy Google user--use an Android phone and tablet; only use Gmail; organize my whole life with Google Calendar and Tasks.
And I've been reading here since 32, and occasionally comment.
I'm 29 year old woman and I have been reading Althouse daily for at least the past 7 years -- probably longer. I read a number of blogs on a daily or near daily basis, and never comment. I've only read the comments on a handful of posts during my time as a reader. I think my rationale for that is two-fold: 1. I visit Althouse because I want to read what Ann thinks, not a bunch of other random people; and 2. I usually check Althouse first thing in the morning before work, and I don't have time to comment or engage in prolonged discussions in the comments session.
Just my two cents! And google had my age correctly... but has me listed as male, which is hilarious because I've spent the last several months exclusively searching for jewelry and handbags in expectation of Christmas, and visit multiple female-oriented fashion and design blogs daily. That said, I think the age stats are likely accurate.
Why are some commenters so committed to the idea that younger people don't read Althouse?
I'm in the upper 11%. And I'm a bit surprised to be in the minority demographic. But it is what it is.
@pander-modium said..
As an occasional commenter and among the older demographic its simply because the impression we get that younger people aren't that interested in blogs and commenting on them. Not saying that is a bad thing but rather that blogs aren't that interesting to younger people unlike social media. While anecdotal I go by my daughters who are in their early twenties and late teens.
Let's see...
You let a proven liar like garbage pail continue to lie daily on your blog but never ban him.
You promote child murder, so the youngsters ain't really confident you won't start declaring them "not alive" and Kermit Gosnell them.
You delete any comment that dares tell the truth about black dysfunction or gay dysfunction.
Let's see, why would that be unwelcoming to anyone besides your small cadre of worshiping fools?
I happened to look at this post this evening on an old computer that I rarely use. When I clicked on the Ad settings, Google knew nothing at all about me, all categories were "unknown."
So, I came back to my usual computer, where I do most of my browsing. This time Google had my sex and age correct. Interesting.
Turns out I also have a Google profile, which has zero info about me. But oddly I have 2 followers and 9,812 profile views!
"Turns out I also have a Google profile, which has zero info about me. But oddly I have 2 followers ..."
Religions have started with less.
Well you said we never comment so I guess I HAVE to now. I'm 27 and read nearly every day. I enjoy Ann's commentary. Frankly, I don't comment because who cares about my opinion? I rarely look at others' comments on this or any blog.
I agree with Jessica entirely and am becoming aware that I would be most embarrassed if my comments were seen by my age peer group. I could get a hard time for being... that guy. But I do like commenting, I find.
A formative experience for me was Althouse observing that Monica Lewinsky still loves 42. It made me think about the propriety of declaring that as fact in a formal-enough setting. One of those moments that one may or may not recall where one suddenly perceives an openness of choices.
I'm just under 35.
Google thinks I'm in the 24-35 age range.
I comment sporadically, when time/circumstance meets desire to comment on something.
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