Active User Types

Have you reviewed the definitions specific to the items?  https://community.telligent.com/community/11/w/user-documentation/63029/reporting-definitions

Yes I have.

The definitions are similar but what actions are considered are different.  If you review the the link you originally provided, it shows what activities are pertinent to one of those definitions.  For example, suggesting an answer to a question is valid for an interactor, but not an activity associated with an engager

So, I understand there are a few differences between the two. My point is that I don't see enough to justify having them both. I'm wondering why we have them, rather than the literal differences between the two.

I am not sure what you mean by literal differences, could you please clarify?   Its also important to remember its not how many are different, its the type of activity.  The matrix is simply saying that only certain activities are pertinent.  Some activities carry more weight than others because of the type of activity itself

Why do we need both when they are very, very similar? What's the strategic reason?

The Participation Report categorizes users into 4 different categories: Viewers, Originators, Contributors and Engagers.  You will notice that there are no overlapping activities between these 4 categorizations.

Interaction activities drive the Interactions report which deals specifically with interacting with existing content.  If you review the activities that define Engagers, you will see that some activities of an Engager don't apply to specific content in the community so would not be considered interactions (ex: Friendship request, private conversations).  That is the reason for the difference between Engagers and Interactors and why they both exist.

Thanks Mathew.