On the page listing the threads for a particular forum and after the text “Users browsing this forum:” are listed the user names of the members currently there. As I view this list my user name is always last, but I haven’t been able to figure out if there is a particular order that other user names appear or if it is generally random except that whoever views it sees their name last.
Does anyone know if this list is in some particular order?
Thanks,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Re: “Users browsing…”
I doubt that anyone could say for sure, except the folks at Jelsoft, who I suppose wrote the code (see the bottom of the page). But it may be first-come, first-served, which is the most obvious way to think of it, but not necessarily the easiest way to code it. I can’t think of any other scheme that would make sense from the user’s viewpoint, but there a multitude of data structures to use that would not present first-come first-served. Since there isn’t (to me) any obvious benefit to the user to choose a particular scheme, the easiest to code and test would seem to be the best choice.
Anyway, that’s the way I see it.
I think your own name is always last. I’m guessing it’s probably in the order of people who last requested pages; when you get the page you are the last person to do it; your name will gradually go down the list until it drops off after the five minutes or so is up.
Phil
What about the Who’s Online page? How often does that refresh?
Re: “Users browsing…”
Raphael-
We all voted to have your name always appear last. It was pretty much unanimous.
Re: Re: “Users browsing…”
Totally!
I agree!
Re: Re: “Users browsing…”
Thanks, I think. 
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
Matthew 20:16
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Now he wants to be first, too! I don’t know if you’ll get unanimous out of that one.
Strange…
I don’t think it’s alphabetic, unless there’s some new alphabet where “renard_argente” comes before ‘p’.
Well, it blows my theory out of the water, unless there’s a slight delay between adding your name to the list and retrieving the list of people (possible)…
Phil
I was looking at the “Current Active users” list. My mistake.
Re: Re: “Users browsing…”
it was not unanimous!
and now, as punishment i guess, my name appears last as well!
good to know who your friends are
(ps. is there a comparable quran quote to the first is last thingy?)
Re: “Users browsing…”
I noticed that on the main forums page, at the bottom where it says “Currently active users”, the entries are listed alphabetically. A strange discrepancy with the list you questioned about.
Klaas Bil
Eureka!
Wow, like this is on anyone’s top 10 list of things to think about.
An informal checking of the profiles for those listed indicates that the order is determined by registration date for Unicyclist.com. The list is presented in ascending order (from left to right) of registration date.
Unless Greg was telling the truth, your user name, however, will always appear last to you.
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Myreka!
Raphael, when have I done otherwise? The truth is, after all, rather elastic in most cases. I just like to test the elastic limit.