ANSWERS: 28
  • I think its not necessarily popularity but social skills. No one congradulates an A-Hole. Not calling you one, cause I never heard of you but just putting that out there.
  • Well, I think there some members that kind of "hang together" They are maybe the more social types.
  • I'm not sure, but I will give you some congratulations on your level of achievement.
  • quite a few
  • I think some people fly under the radar on purpose. Or they don't want their friends to say anything or notice what they're doing. But I've seen popular people not get congrats and it's usually on purpose. And I've seen some newer people just crave attention and they get it, even if they aren't very popular, just loud:-)
  • I notice you Jerv! I don't get involved in congratulations anymore because there are too many social butterflies getting noticed while the less flamboyant, or less social ABers get ignored. It doesn't seem fair and seems insincere - a cheap way to grab points. But I notice you. I like your questions, and most of your answers and comments. You aren't as invisible as you may be feeling!
  • If you have friends in your friends list that notice, then they will do it. I didn't get any notice for my birthday about a week ago, but didn't say anything (apparently, no one noticed). If you have the email address of someone on your friends list, and you know they're on fairly regularly, when you change levels or something comes up, email them that you have. Maybe they will ask the question congratulating you. (It's what I did... NOT for the points - though they're nice - but to for the recognition.... I wanted people to KNOW I was out there - AND, I've found many DO.) OR, you can do what I did at an earlier level (before I knew as much as I do now... I just said something like "I just made <level>... Anyone recognize my username?" (Surprisingly, some did.) Besides, most of us aren't really here for a LOT of recgonition (occasional, not a LOT), but to help people. Good luck. ;-)
  • You are definitely not a ghost, Jerv. I've always enjoyed your presence, even when it seems like you're going out of your way to make trouble -- you do it with a kind of humor and attitude that is a lot of fun. Here's to 4 more years, may all your opponents be dimwitted and easily skewered :)
  • I have not been here long, but I do see the "congrats" to whomever... I do not know anyone here so I am not sure who we are congratulating. When there are 100 answers and 5x's the amout of points I do not bother adding my small Congrats. So I guess I will join you in being a "ghost"
  • jerv, my friends gave me a "birthday party" and a congrats buzz because they are longtime friends. It isn't a popularity contest and I was not really expecting either. But they were nice. Some of us e-mail a lot and we also come together when one has had a misfortune.
  • Too many Jervinator. I remember that moment many months ago. I didn't forget.
  • I must admit that I never look at profiles so I never notice until somebody brings them to the boards attention Jerv. I am pretty much the invisible woman myself. I know one person on here made level 50+ in less than two weeks and never got any of the congrats etc . We did Sage for you I remember doing it.
  • I haven't been paying attention to that sort of thing, jerv, but if anyone deserves a congratulation on AB, I'd say it is you. I see your posts frequently. To help make up for it, here is a +6 pointer for you. Personally, I'm happy you're the one getting the points, not someone else who gets points for starting a congratulatory message.
  • That's not something I ordinarily pay attention to--only when somebody brings it up then I'll give them their props. I've seen your name around but I didn't know you've been around that long. Anyway, many congrats to you jerv. I hope you stick around longer.
  • I don't ask congratulatory questions. You are not a ghost to me, Jerv. If someone asked a congratulatory question about you, I am sure I would answer it. Congratulations on making Sage a few levels back, by the way. I think you are the best sarcastic member Answerbag has. :)
  • I actually posted this congrats question about you: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/505882 We're not friends, and we've had very little interactions here. But I posted that question because I believed in you: you're one of the very few who could answer the questions that many of us here couldn't answer. Don't worry about the popularity issue. I know you're not the paragon of being tactful but what counts is that you have something between your ears.
  • You've just won $500,000 dollars for being a valued contributer! To collect your price, you need to go to Beijing, take a train to Xulunvi and than take a bus to Zianging, get down at Yuan Lu station, on your left is Duog Hing Commecial Building, come to the 5th floor and claim your price!
  • Jerv, You are anything but a ghost and you are enjoyed by many and entertained by many! You are not alone but could be that you are a little straight forward and may intimidate a few and cause the hesitation on the congrats. I don't know this is all just my opinion from my little mind! ;) Congratulations and thanks for all the entertaiment! Way to go jerv!
  • Congrats jerv, and congrats to all my level 50's and all my level 60's friends! And the levels beyond!
  • I'd rather be a ghost than have people make congratulatory posts about me. It's somewhat contradictory to my firm "Points don't matter" platform.
  • Congratulations to you! I never saw anybody being congratulated for longevity here. If nobody knows your birthday date, or they forgot it, you won't be congratulated for this either. Except for titles, nobody gets congratulated if they don't ask for it or mention some reason. Many people congratulate Answerbaggers that they know personally, such as family members, where they know some details that could be the reason to congratulate. As far as titles are concerned, you only get congratulated if you do it yourself or if someone notices. And you won't usually get congratulated before you reach Sage. So you were forgotten? Not totally, please have a look at this question of mine: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/404954
  • There are plenty of ghosts. Quirkie, for one, is an awesome ABer, like you. Some people don't like the attention, though. Back when I was a CL, I flagged questions congradulating me.
  • Don't worry about it. If it comes, it comes, if it doesn't, it doesn't.
  • I would say there are very many who are over level 50 who don't get mentioned. I also know there are quite a few ABers who don't want to have anything to do with congratulatory questions. I don't know you too well, but you are not a 'ghost' and you are not the only ABer who hasn't been mentioned in a congratulatory question. I'm sure popularity and familiarity have much to do with these type of questions and tributes.
  • dear jer, i guess we will have to agree to disagree on the probability stuff. ive gotten conflicting answers from top math whizes from harvard etc. some say you are right some say i am. ha...im surprised anyone would ever say im even partially correct. it all stems from x> 0 (x goes to limit of 0, or any number).but mostly at zero, i guess. does it actually ever equal the limit , say zero, or just infinitely close. for 1/x it makes a huge difference... infinitely close to zero...the answer is infinity equal zero...the answer is zero. thats a huge difference..i `ll defer to you. ha ... thanks for putting up with my frustrations...im new at this online debating...your a standup guy...
  • I remember when you were Jervinator, not just Jerv :) I have seen quite a few users not get a well deserved pat on the back for longevity and/or earning their levels at 50+. I don't think the problem is all popularity, though I agree that plays some part in who is recognized and who isn't. I think the problem is also congratulations overload. It's reasonable to recognize AB anniversaries and levels Sage and on, but the congratulations category is being abused a bit these days. Congratulating people for being in the Top 5 for example. Why? They are already being recognized. Ughhh. Throw in some birthdays (really needs its own category at this point) and a few Professors and it's a bit chaotic. You are not alone as a ghost, I have seen quite a few good users overlooked when they made a new level. Wide Awake Phoenix is a great example. I didn't even catch that until he was almost at 54. Same happened when he made Maestro. I don't get that, he's a regular and a well respected and intelligent ABer *shakes head*. I don't come across you as much as I did in the days when AB was a small town, but I am delighted to see such a familiar face here still.
  • Yes, I would say congratulations are always based on popularity, usually amongst the more popular group of ABers, seeing as they do a fair bit of the congratulatory questions and such. It's kind of like being with the "in" group in a stereotypical high school setting or something. You associate with the popular group, your popularity goes up (generally speaking). You could be the top of the class, so to speak, and receive little attention for contributions; mostly based on the social setting you're in. I think that AB is a popularity contest of sorts now; albeit, unintentionally... but still... there should still be credit where credit is due. I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well here, as I likely sound like a bitter jackass who has no spot at the lunch table and can't seem to stop using that metaphor. But seriously, even points go to popularity, too. I suppose it depends on how people decide to view AB. I don't mind either way, though. This is just something I do when I'm bored, so popularity contest or not... I guess I'm here for the ride. (I'm sure this offended someone... Not intentional or directed toward anyone in particular, just a note...)
  • I think the "AB longevity" are the key words. I've been here since October 2007, and more or less active since the beginning of 2008. I recall having seen you before, but it's very likely that every time I've seen you write something I've forgotten about it again because of the large gaps between your writings. That, and the fact that most of the congratulations questions are written by a group of very active members, could be the reason. I can't say it for sure, though

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