Lying online numbers

[Maljonic]

Okay I've made this little dating site and it always says 410 people online, which looks pretty stupid; it there a little script I can use to make the number move up and down so it looks active?

 

[sibanac]

just put the real number and add a random offset to it
say real + (random(between 20 and 30)

recalculate every time the page is loaded

 

[Maljonic]

There is no real number, it's all lies lies lies; but just say I wanted it to be around 400 plus or minus whatever, how would I write that?

 

[sibanac]

There is no real number, it's all lies lies lies; but just say I wanted it to be around 400 plus or minus whatever, how would I write that?

depends on what lang you are using for the rest of the page

 

[Maljonic]

I was thinking a simple javascript type scenario.

 

[sibanac]

I was thinking a simple javascript type scenario.

I am not much of a JS coder but this should kinde do the trick

<script language="JavaScript">
random_num = (Math.round((Math.random()*9)+400))
document.write(random_num);
</script>
[code]



Math.random() generates a random number between 0 and 1
it then gets multiplyed by 9 and rounded to an integer value giving a result between 0 and 9
the + 400 adds the 0-9 to 400 resulting in a value between 400 and 409


the randomizer isnt seeded so the results might not be all that random (dunno if JS seeds automaticly or not )

 

[Maljonic]

Cheers that's perfect! Have a look at my little dating site so far, see the amazing counter move. I was thinking of maybe putting a * next to the online number with a disclaimer at the bottom, *could be lies.