The numbers that appear on discussions, what do these mean?

@milfea (519)
Philippines
November 26, 2009 7:55pm CST
I seriously and honestly do not know this. There's a group of numbers that appears right after the title of every discussion and even after every responses. It usually states something like *rank 6 out of 1217 in health* or something like that. Have you guys noticed this? What does it mean, and who determines it? I'm not really bothered about this, I have just been wondering for quite sometime already. Any answer my friends?
2 people like this
2 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Nov 09
milfea the rank 6 means that out of 1217 answers in health that person was sixth in line so that is pretty good. in other words that person has put a lotof health discussions in the health interest. I dont know as it gives any special benefits or its just a thing of interest.
1 person likes this
@milfea (519)
• Philippines
27 Nov 09
Thanks Hatley. :). It's clear now. :)
1 person likes this
• Canada
7 Dec 09
I think that they are a way of telling who has posted how many discussions under which interests. I am #1 in the "coffee" interest. I can't remember how many, but "how many" is how many people are interested in that particular interest, and the number you are, your ranking, is how active you are posting and responding in that interest category.