How to get more accurate 'Read' stats in Google Reader

Google Reader provides stats on the % Read for each feed. The problem is that most of these(for me at least) are at 100% so are not very useful.

I use the 'j' shortcut key to flick through the unread items but this automatically marks the item as read even if I didn't actually read it.

How do I mark an item as 'not new' so that the stats provide an accurate view of my feed reading habits?

From web app geoff

• Use the n (next) and p (previous) shortcuts instead of j/k to select the next item in list view without opening it.

  geoff : @fmark - the problem with n and p is that they don't remove the items from your Reader unread items. And in expanded view, they work the same as j and k.
  From fmark

• You're asking for an "ignore this post" feature. This does not exist so far.

  I personally use n/p instead of j/k and mark all posts that I am not going to read again as "read" - no matter if I actually read them or if I just want to ignore them.

  Things to read later are kept unread and/or starred. It's rather easy to organize Google Reader like this.

  However, I agree that it may be difficult to measure which feeds consist of mostly uninteresting (thus "ignored") posts. You may try to use the "Like" feature instead, but this is a rather crude workaround.

  geoff : Spot on. I use Google Reader in the same way you do and have asked the question because I want to know which feeds are just a waste of my time.
  From mafutrct