The results are in

All this month I've been running a survey in the forlorn hope of getting a better understanding of who reads this blog, why, and whether it warrants me carrying on. The results are in. Here they are.

• 75% of respondents are male, 25% female. If you think these nice neat figures mean that only four people responded, you'd be right.
• 100% are in the 40-49 age bracket. Just like me.
• 100% are from the UK. Just like me.
• 50% read every post, 25% read most posts and 25% read some posts.

Conclusion? People like me like the things that I like. I know, groundbreaking.

There were lots of nice comments too, but then given that the respondents were all friends, real or virtual, that's probably no surprise. The one comment I want to draw out in particular was from Mark, a friend, former colleague and excellent writer. Mindful that I was pondering the value of writing this blog at all, he offered the following observation when asked if there was anything about this blog that he disliked:

Sometimes dwells too much on how many people are reading and what they're thinking (as this survey proves). If you want to write, then write - and screw what anyone else thinks.

And he's right, of course. PipSpeak will continue, and with no more mournfully introspective surveys. Three cheers all round.

Mark was also the only person to recommend another blog worth reading - the Planetary Society blog - and what a good call that is. Definitely worth a look.

Cheers then Rol, Millie, Mark and The Man Of Cheese. The full survey results, if you find yourselves stricken with insomnia one night, are here. I'll be back soon with a proper post... maybe a clandestine classic.