Lurkers over Members 'Always'!

[fathom]

It a bad habit 'I know' but each day when I enter SEW forums I scroll to the bottom to see who's online.

It has always amazed me that 'lurkers' always outnumber members 4:1 to 10:1 or more? :confused:

I bet that even spend more time here.

Why?

I know from personal experience [reading past lurkers subsequent comments] that 'we' don't like like to ask a stupid question - is usually one of the greatest reason for lurking... but a question 'unanswered' is worse.

"I don't have anything to contribute" is also a close second.

I would guess that some are 'I don't want my competitions to know where I get my secret'! :eek: "their likely saying the same thing! :cool:

Any other reasons?

Anyone lurking care to charm in... a thread all about you! :D

[strategicrankings]

Somehow i consider search engine algos like the truth that noone holds (except the SE's themself), so i'm sure the lurkers do have something they can share that may help but, as you mentioned, thinking that a question may be stupid is one of the main reason people avoid posting.

[mcanerin]

Ian: Hello, my name is Ian and I used to be a lurker....
Group: Hello, Ian, welcome!
Moderator: Tell us, Ian, what made you stop lurking?
Group: Yes, tell us!
Ian: Well, I lurked for years in various forums, trying to learn everything I could, treating the forum as a kind of a book or newpaper full of information - I never really thought of it as a community... <hangs head in shame>
Moderator: It's OK, Ian - we've all been there
Group: it's ok! Don't worry!
Ian:Thanks guys - you're the best <sniff> Anyway, one day I came across a thread that really interested me
Moderator: go on...
Ian:It was all about a subject I actually knew something about, and the comments being sent back and forth made me want to jump in and offer my opinion...
Moderator: what happened next?
Ian: well, I was pretty scared... you know, you type someting in here and sometimes a bunch of people gang up on you and say mean things
Moderator: flaming, yes - it happens
Ian: but I also noticed that most of the people were really nice, and I really wanted to contribute.
Group: That's the first step - good for you!
Ian: So I posted - it was short but to the point. After I hit the send button my stomach had butterflies in it. I kept hitting refresh to see what would happen next...
Moderator: Perfectly normal - even the old hands do that sometimes
Ian:A moderator actually responded right away, welcoming me to the group - it was so cool!
Moderator:We try to do that whenever we can - it's important that other members do it too
Group: right!
Ian: Well, after that, I got more confident - and soon I was posting all over the place
Moderator: And how was that?
Ian: It was great! I learned more by actively joining in the conversation, I made friends, and gained valuable networking connections!
Group: Yay! Way to go! <applause>
Ian: sure, once in a while I say something dumb without thinking, or occasionally get into a disagreement, but I've realized that this is a great resource, and it's even better once you begin to participate - people forgive you the occasional mistake - we all make them.
Moderator: That's a great story, Ian - I hope it inspires others
Ian: Thanks - it's really a great feeling to belong to a community of like-minded people.
Group: Thanks Ian!
Ian: <sits down>

Moderator: And now, lets welcome our next guest, Fred the Flamer...
Group: Boooooo......!



Ian ;)

[fathom]

:D :cool: :D

I notice the 'group' used alot of 'me too' posts! heehee :o

[Lex]

I too am a reforming lurker. By nature a taciturn person, I ususally won't say something that's been said before. Mods, however, cannot be lurkers. :) Being pushed out into the open has been good for me, for all the reason Ian (aka Sybil) mentioned.

Another reason people lurk: Time. I work a 50+ hour work week. Scanning takes way less time than posting.

[St0n3y]

I think lurking is a way of gaining information, knowledge AND the confidence to post something contributory. Like Ian, many wait until they feel they know enough about something in order to contribute.

[I, Brian]

It has always amazed me that 'lurkers' always outnumber members 4:1 to 10:1 or more? :confused:

A very large number of the online "guests" will be bots of some form, though. Traditionally on forums the figures will tend to rise when Google and Yahoo spiders converge at the same time. Also, I have experience with bots such as Jetbot just gumming up the online figures - dozens of them present, and all just sat looking at the index, doing nothing but chomp bandwidth.