Here is a suggestion:

I for one think its crucial to do it blind. I too agree that if one starts others might chime in. However, I see, Cathryn, where you are coming from in not being able to interact, check in and discuss if something is brewing. So I suggest this. What is there was a moderator monitoring all the blind activitity and if something is detected amongst multiple reports, the moderator can then post here to say that there is a spike in reports.

Not to play devil's advocate but in the past 10 years CA has been rocked by many large quakes. Some people take credit for hearing them, some don't, etc. etc. But there is no record online or anywhere else to substantiate any human detection before any of them. Making a public record now would only deteriorate like it has with Jim Berkland's board. I say start fresh and in the blind and see what happens. It truly would be very interesting to see.