Registered: 02/22/06
Posts: 117
Loc: Central Arkansas
SERIOUSLY: LURKERS ONLY!
IF YOU POST MORE THAN 5 TIMES A WEEK, PLEASE ENJOY READING BUT DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS POST.
So Earthling mentioned in another thread regarding PBF that we likely have more lurkers on TLB than they do active members. I think he's probably right. But the point of this post is not a comparison between us and an obviously inferior pseudo-community resembling a forum where the only information exchange occurs surreptitiously.
The point of this post is threefold:
1) to go against my nature of passively reading information posted by others (read: lurking) and try to contribute to the body of knowledge that is TLB
2) to survey the number of lurkers in our community should they feel inclined to go against their nature as well
3) and to conduct an experiment entailing building something out of nothing.
By definition we lurk and post nothing (or very little), but in order to have a post for lurkers only, we must no longer lurk, but instead, post something.
Now this should be very interesting because I, for one, lurk because there are many members here which have much more knowledge than I do and are very free with it, so I feel that it is unnecessary for me to post in response to the vast majority of threads. But this post does not seek specific information. You can post about anything having to do with lurking.
Some suggestions include: why we lurk, what specifically keeps us from posting in a given thread, demographic information, statements of lurker solidarity, the function of lurkers, etc.
So there is the possibility for this thread to be very short (maybe this will be the only post) or very long, but either way, those that read will learn something about what I think might be a vital part of TLB forums.
Now this should be very interesting because I, for one, lurk because there are many members here which have much more knowledge than I do and are very free with it, so I feel that it is unnecessary for me to post in response to the vast majority of threads.
This is the main reason I, too, lurk. So many people here have much more experience and knowledge in this realm than I, so why not just learn from them when they are willing to share with others? I don't feel the need to post to a thread when the aforementioned 'experts' have already posted, or will likely post in the future, and answer the question with greater detail than I could. I started here as a complete beginner and thanks in part to this site, moved way past being a novice.
So I can intelligently post in some of the forums, but others forums (ie. Make Your Own Gear, Lite Food Talk, a few others) I have very little to no experience, so I just read those forums rather than post in them. I am not adverse to posting questions in any forum, but cannot intelligently respond in certain forums, thus I don't post in them.
A very miniscule (but present) reason I have few posts is because some of the 'hardcore' members will jump on you like white on rice. I actually find this to be quite funny and sometimes read threads just to laugh at the bickering going on. Now I don't think I would say something or make a claim like sabre11004 has in the Stove tests thread, but if I somehow did do something like that, I don't want to have to defend my position on a point that is probably not all that important. Further expounding on this issue, I'd like to be responded to seriously on future questions or posts and if you get a troll reputation, you won't get as good of responses.
I'm a regular poster here but with an average of about 3 posts/week (based on total number of posts divided by total weeks here) I fit your definition of a lurker so here's my $.02. Personally I don't think a bona fide lurker would post much more than once per month but that's just my opinion.
I have lots of interests and there are other boards where I consider myself to be a true lurker. On one, I used to post quite a bit but I just burned out and now I'm in lurker mode. I still go there every day but I post maybe once a year. I was also put off by the heavy handed moderation.
And speaking of heavy handed moderation, I'm definitely in lurker mode over at PBF for that very reason. I just don't feel like posting in a place where I have to wonder if my words will still be there the next day. IMO there may be more lurkers than we think over there.
On the other side of the coin, I quit posting in another forum that is under moderated and as result has become downright hostile.
I'm in a kayaking forum as well but I don't consider myself to be experienced enough to post anything profound there. Over there I'm the newbie asking the questions and not answering any.
In order to post on any board a person must develop a thick skin. No matter what you say others will sometimes disagree. Some will disagree in a civil manner and some will not. Sometimes I feel compelled to defend my position and sometimes I just let it go. Such is the nature of places like this. It's only the internet.
I guess I too am a lurker. I've been with this forum even before my listed registered date (I think that got messed up with the forum upgrade that occurred quite a few years ago), yet I have considerably fewer posts than many of the other members (even the newer ones) within this forum. Ultimately, I'm not really sure why I haven't posted more. Perhaps it's just laziness. Who knows?
I am a lurker mostly because other people just know more than I do. But I just can not spell well. So I have to type what I can spell not what I want. So I am somewhat lazy because I could use word and fix the mistakes. Others just cover most of what I have to say. I do chime in with some things. 72 post over several years. Kevin
I lurk for the most part largely because I'm lazy. I check out this board everyday, but only post when it's something that A: I'm iREALLY nterested in. and B: I can add something that no one else does.
Sometimes I'm a lurker, and sometimes I'm not... so only 50% of this post counts. The other 50% never happened. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
What I love about this site is the civility level here. Even the humorous retorts here are generally very good natured. Makes it very comfortable to post here, knowing that usually you won't get jumped on for some percieved slight that was never intended.
Registered: 01/15/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
I'm a lurker at this point for a bunch of reasons...many of which have already been mentioned by others. I thought about staying true to my lurking heritage and not posting a response here, but every once in a while one has to break with tradition, ya know? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
The main reason I lurk is because I'm a newb to backpacking in general. I do a lot of day hikes in my area, camping, fishing, etc., but backpacking hasn't been possible until recently. I post when I know I have valuable info to give (ie, responding to posts about PA, MD, or DE), or if I have pictures I'd like to share, but otherwise I just keep quiet and try to learn from others.
Once I gain more knowledge, I'll likely leave lurking long behind me. Until then, I'll keep my eyes on you. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
It's not that I don't feel that I have enough experience to post value contributions. I've been backpacking for over 30 years. My first trip was back in about 1973 when I hiked the Chilkoot Trail in AK. I've been solidly hooked since then. Backpacking gear has really undergone a renaissance with the UL philosophy and because of that, I generally have been lurking (reading) as a way to learn about the new gear and the way it has evolved. I've learned a lot and gained so much knowledge and updated all my gear within the last 3-4 years. I also really enjoy making my own gear and haved learned alot about that without having much of my own to contribute in the DIY arena. My DIY accomplishments to date include 2 tarps, a bivy, 4 hammocks, a down underquilt, a couple of alcohol stoves and numerous stuff sacks. But I still consider myself a novice DIY'er.
Also, I've never done a thru hike on any of the big 3 trails. And so I tend to lay low and let the more experienced thru hikers speak up.
I guess I too am a lurker. I've been with this forum even before my listed registered date (I think that got messed up with the forum upgrade that occurred quite a few years ago), yet I have considerably fewer posts than many of the other members (even the newer ones) within this forum. Ultimately, I'm not really sure why I haven't posted more. Perhaps it's just laziness. Who knows?
Eric
Excuse me, I had to interject <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Eric, I too got left behind when the forum upgraded due to my being very busy with work at the time. If I recall correctly you were on back in 2000 as were myself and a few others here <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
I haven't posted in a while because I found that some things can just "set" someone off. I make one post on how I don't like guns and at least 25 different people came and practically yelled at me about how they needed guns. So I just shut up and left. I still cringe when I see a new post on that particular thread. So maybe thats why I don't post anymore.
I had a similar instance when I posted about a tent pole company (dare I ever mention the name again). The company had made me absolutely furious, but it was a long time ago and ultimately, I think the whole topic was deleted. I was just giving my opinions in full honesty. I didn't make another post for quite some time after that. Regardless, there will always be differences in the way we view certain things. It was probably a good thing to rid the forum of those postings.
Registered: 02/22/06
Posts: 117
Loc: Central Arkansas
It sounds like some have had their toes stepped on before, causing them to reconsider posting anything in the future.
Online communication seems inherently more difficult due to the fact that most communication is done nonverbally and the read word is verbal, so things like tone of voice, body language, and other things indicating emotion and intent are not present unless it can be encapsulated in one of those goofy smilies. :-)
Let's keep the lurker discussion going, as I can see the thread is in danger of being hijacked, unintentional though it may be.
Registered: 03/27/04
Posts: 144
Loc: Washington, DC
I lurk for much the same reasons above, most of the time I don't have anything new to add. You can now file this post under the most ironic section.
Also, I seem to have an unique ability to kill a thread. It seems that over half my posts end up being the last post in a thread. Go ahead, check out my posts. It seems completely involuntary, so I can't force a thread to end, it just happens. Maybe its just an undeveloped super hero ability.
Registered: 02/22/06
Posts: 117
Loc: Central Arkansas
That's actually a pretty cool "superpower" lurk. I say it doesn't really matter what the mechanism of the phenomenon is, just see if you can make that happen at work as well.
I can see it now:
Lurk: Hiya there, boss! I just got back from my vacation. How can I help with the new [insert account/project name here].
Boss: Well, Lurk, we actually just wrapped up that account and are planning our next project. We'll let you now when we get started in a couple of weeks. For now, we're planning a meeting to discuss plans for the planning meeting at which we'll plan the project planning meeting just before the previously planned project is planned to to launch...tentatively.
Registered: 03/27/04
Posts: 144
Loc: Washington, DC
Unfortunately the real world is my bizzaro land, so at work all my superpowers are reversed. I walk in, and the boss says, "Oh great, we didn't have any clue how to do this, so we left it all for you. And its all due in a ridiculously short amount of time."
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