Did a quick search, and could not find any statistics on SOL readers stated in the forum. While any particular demographics are probably not available, has Mr. Laz ever published reader's general locations, e.g., from their IP address and/or their ISP?
Well, first of all, given the use of proxies, TOR and the like, that's pretty much a complete waste of time. Then there are the privacy considerations. Trying to do something like that (making it public) would work against the site as a whole.
Enough companies as it is, try to data mine their users. Let's not add another shall we.
has Mr. Laz ever published reader's general locations
I think the percentage of readers in America might have been mentioned. Or perhaps I'm imagining it.
AJ
We don't do user tracking.
So the info you seek is not available.
That's actually not good business because our data is valuable and I could make money off of selling it.
Back before user tracking was being misused as much as it is now, when it was initially more of a novelty, I tracked my own readers, just to get a feel for who my 'audience' truly was (part of the whole, 'writing for your audience, though I kept the data private, so no one had access to it. Though nowadays, that concern seems quaint, since company suck up whole quantitates of it, and every time you sign up for a 'discount' card, that grantees that they're actively selling that data to anyone and everyone willing to pay for it.
However, at the time, the vast majority of readers, for my stories at least—which are all set in America—were American, however there was a decent European following as well (mostly western and Northern), as well, because it's mostly in English, Canadian, Australian and even New Zealand, and a small scattering from Asia (a variety of different locations, including some highly repressive ones, so they were seeking access to the stories they couldn't get at home).
Despite my given up that short-term review, it's now apparent we also have a much larger Indian base, with more stories told from a India—those living in India, not Native-Americans—and now we also seem to have a much larger Asian readership, as now, most Asians are also eager to read more American stories, just to feel a part of things here (as many attended school here).
And of course, there was a small scattering of North Korea—plenty from South Korea—China and an extremely small amount from Russia, however the attitude of Russians, who seem to feel entitled to steal whatever they want when they come here—is often deeply disturbing. I've met some wonderful Russian ex-pats, yet those visiting officially from Russia just have an entirely different vibe.
It's the same as the older Italian vibe, only now the Russian image seems to be "American's have been stealing from everyone for hundreds of years, so NOW it's time we take everything we can from the Americans for ourselves, then take it all back with us. So that older idea of welcoming Russian ex-pats is long gone (I encountered LOT while living in NYC).
So, the readership continues expanding, yet there's still a deep hunger for American stories, though it's rarely for any one kind of story, as they mainly cover the gauntlet. Yet, there's always that small segment that's also deeply resentful of the 'Western World'—as that's also similar to the sentiment of many from South America too.
In short the attitudes seem to cover the gauntlet.
Yet, my biggest takeaway was to always realize that not everyone is used to the same cultural norms, and while I can't drill down to those areas I'm still unfamiliar with, I've very conscious of double-checking the etymology of my words between British English, Imperial English and American English, to ensure that what I write won't be misinterpreted. Yet, if you're unfamiliar with that, it's very hard to fully grasp (after all, how many ever bother with a words etymology).
You, sir, are a rare and good man.
I was interested in very general demographics due to some of the questions that I was fielding from readers. But, as I now receive very few such questions, never mind (Emily Litella voice).