Should/can we survey inactive users?

Question

I think it would be helpful to the site to know why some users stop using the Judaism.SE. Can/should we create a survey/poll specifically for users who meet a certain reputation level and have not used the site in an extended period of time (6 months?). This may be helpful in determining ways to improve the site.

Answer 1

Unless a user has posted their contact information publicly, only moderators and employees would be able to see this private information.

Per the moderator agreement:

• I acknowledge that I may have access to potentially personally-identifying information about Mi Yodeya - Stack Exchange users and that in connection with such access

  • I will use such information solely in accordance with the then-current Privacy Policy of Mi Yodeya - Stack Exchange,

  • I will not disclose this information to anyone,

  • I will not store or copy this information and

  • I will only use such information in connection with performance as a Mi Yodeya - Stack Exchange moderator for the benefit of Mi Yodeya - Stack Exchange.

(Sorry for the formatting!)

Per our privacy policy:

If you are a registered user of the network and have supplied your email address, we may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what’s going on with the network. We generally use the network to communicate this type of information, so we expect to keep this type of communication to a minimum. If we do send you information that you did not expressly request, we will provide you with a way to request that you don’t get any similar notices (opt-out).

So, technically, yes the moderators could do an "exit interview" with users who seem to have walked away from the site.

However, we do not condone nor encourage this action. Our users have repeatedly made clear that they prefer not to be contacted unless absolutely necessary. Newsletter emails, election notices, even messages letting users know they were suspended have been met with responses that boil down to, "Why are you contacting me?!"

I strongly believe that conducting an exit interview, even with as nice a community as we have here, wouldn't be productive and could open you all up to some unhappy people.

Ultimately, the best way to stem any attrition is to

• Always endeavor to have good content. Make sure you're using your site every day, asking questions, participating in chat, checking meta, etc.
• Always be friendly to new souls. Make sure new users on the site feel welcome, but are also made aware of the ways and means of this community.
• Always let top users know they're appreciated. Sometimes that means upvote, sometimes that means letting him/her know from time to time that s/he is doing an excellent job and that you really enjoy their latest posts.
• Always remember that this is your home too. You're part of this group! Treat this place as your home, and extend to others the same courtesies you'd want to be shown yourself if you were on the other side of the table.

Some of that seems obvious, but it's always worth reminding ourselves.

I'm marking this status-declined because this request contradicts some of our core philosopies about how/when to use user contact information.