Thread: Land of the Lurkers

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Nearly everything in Oz ends with an "O" for some reason.

Al

I'm in the States at the moment and I noticed the Americans tend to add their "O"s to the start. A common expression is "Oh, Okay".

There are two types of "lurkers".

1. Members who are not logged in; and
2. Non members who are the real lurkers.

Once I have posted I usually log off. So when I pass across the forum board (possibly a couple of times each day) I come up as a guest.

If I want to post something, I have to log on. This means that I have to spend a bit more time and it gives me a chance to consider whether my post is that relevant. This also means that I don't just post some short, quick, innane, comment because I can.

I find it annoying when you see a new post in a thread that you are interested in. But, when you pull up the thread, you find somebody has just posted a smiley or an "I agree" and has not expanded upon the thread. Maybe if they had to log on for each new post, we might not have this sort of time wasting post.

Then you get the post in a reply to a new forum member's question. "Welcome, but I can't help you because I don't know anything about what you are posting about. But I am sure somebody else will be able to help you". Why post this type of dribble at all. Are post numbers that important. Log off and think about the time it takes others to curse through the dribble to get to the informative, on point, responses from those who can answer the question.

Originally Posted by baxter

...I find it annoying when you see a new post in a thread that you are interested in. But, when you pull up the thread, you find somebody has just posted a smiley or an "I agree" and has not expanded upon the thread. ......

Somehow I didn't want to, but I'm glad you did.

Originally Posted by baxter

.........Then you get the post in a reply to a new forum member's question. "Welcome, but I can't help you because I don't know anything about what you are posting about. But I am sure somebody else will be able to help you". Why post this type of dribble at all. Are post numbers that important. Log off and think about the time it takes others to curse through the dribble to get to the informative, on point, responses from those who can answer the question.

I do this.

I do this for quite a few pertinent reasons.
1. To say welcome to the New Member who has bothered to make the effort to front up and say Hi, I'm new here.
2. To be courteous
3. To bump the thread gently if I think the question is interesting
4. So I can learn something new as well as the person that asked the question.

Do you still object Mr Baxter?!

Wendy
Senior Moderator
Woodworking Australia's
WOODWORK FORUMS

Good one Wendy.
Two bob's worth.

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

I do this.

I do this for quite a few pertinent reasons.
1. To say welcome to the New Member who has bothered to make the effort to front up and say Hi, I'm new here.
2. To be courteous
3. To bump the thread gently if I think the question is interesting
4. So I can learn something new as well as the person that asked the question.

Do you still object Mr Baxter?!

Wendy
Senior Moderator
Woodworking Australia's
WOODWORK FORUMS

Courtesy and a welcome is fair enough Wendy, and a bump is appropriate if the post has slipped down the list without being responded to. However when the type of post that I referred to is made within minutes of the newcomers post, then it is a pain for the others that follow - who would like to know the answer - to find that no answer was given.

I am sure that, within a reasonable time, somebody who does know the answer will extend the welcome mat, to the newcomer, in their knowledgeble response. Otherwise we could have the ridiculous situation of 20 or 30 posts all saying "welcome.... but I don't know".

I know I left myself open to the smiley responses and would probably have been disappointed if they had not been forthcoming. To all those who took the time, thank you .

Originally Posted by baxter

.... I .... would probably have been disappointed if they had not been forthcoming. To all those who took the time, thank you .

and on a friday too

Don't worry Baxter you're entitled to your opinion it would be pretty boring if we all accepted things that irk us although I must say that making people welcome is a big part of the atmosphere on this BB.

Maybe use the iSpy rather than diving into the thread it will give you a heads up that it's the kind of post you don't like without having taken the trouble to open in up.

HH.

Originally Posted by HappyHammer

Maybe use the iSpy rather than diving into the thread it will give you a heads up that it's the kind of post you don't like without having taken the trouble to open in up.
HH.

But to use iSpy I have to be logged in and then I wouldn't be a lurker

It's lurking of a different kind.....with intent I think it's called.

HH.