Life cycle of a user on a socal networking/community site

Have a read of this.

I have been doing a lot of research into this lately as its something that fascinates me. Indeed, I have seen a life cycle of members on one of my own sites. The pattern I see on community sites is:

People sign up and are fresh members, they are then rewarded by getting some sort of status/participation/respect which they earn though participating (like the rep points on this site)

Some people keep interested until their needs are fully met, i.e they feel they have achieved all they can and have earned the status they desired initially (wikipedia refers to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs). At this point many long term members fade away, just popping back now and then to see if things have changed etc.

Then other members work their way to the top of the hierarchy and the pattern repeats.

I would be interested to know what other people think about this, have you seen this happen? Also how do you retain the interest of these "elders" that are at the top? I guess keeping things moving and changing helps.

I have seen it here, but staying power depends on many things.
1. Is the group satisfying a need? Yes, interesting people to talk to and learn from.
2. Why did you Come? To learn how to properly design a web site.
3. Has the group satisfied that need? Yes, From Critiques of site to script bits and explainations of how things work and why.
4. Why do you stay? First Reason: the interaction with those whom I would call friends. Second Reason: You never stop learning and here is the best place I have found to do it.
5. The real reason I am still here? I love driving Jacob out of his mind!!!!!!!!!!!

i dont know about anyone else, but ive been here for about 4 years and i still have no titles under my name and a pretty low post count. I don't care THAT much though because i come here as a resource/ critique place for the work I do and I am not really into the power/respect factor. But, if there were a title for "person who gets a lot done", id be interested.

To be quite honest, I've never been so active on any forum as I am here! I came here to get help, and it turned out to so much fun helping others that I stayed. The title under my name was offered to me and I was happy to accept it - I'd also still be here without it....

Webforumz has a way of changing you . . . . it makes you a better person!

1. Is the group satisfying a need? hell yeah, 99% of problems are solved! 2. Why did you Come? I bought a domain name for no reason what so ever, so i decided to do something with it. I was pretty crap at it so I seached "web design forum" on google. There were two results (at the time i think WF was second). I signed up for both, but webforumz is so friendly that i decided to choose it over the other. 3. Has the group satisfied that need? Yeah! I've learnt a heck of a lot 4. Why do you stay? So friendly, many clever people, I built up some rep in the community and it seemed like a waste to just leave.

I have seen it here, but staying power depends on many things.

1. Is the group satisfying a need?
Yes, my daily addiction to computers and the internet.

2. Why did you Come?
I originally came to Webforumz looking for an answer, I got it, then left for a year. Then came back and became a Flash Forum Moderator...thanks Rob, and its all a blur after that.

3. Has the group satisfied that need?
Sure, and 100 times over again!

4. Why do you stay?
Because, as Sara said..."I have people I would like to call friends here." I also enjoy the forum, and helping people. I love making Webforumz the best it can be, and hope to continue to do that in the future.