VIEWING VERSUS POSTING

VANDOO · 19th May 2006, 08:04 PM

A BIT OFF TOPIC BUT INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT. AS AN EXAMPLE THE RECENT POST ON "MY SMALL COLLECTION". THERE ARE 16 POSTS TWO OF WHICH ARE MINE AND 5 REPLYS FROM THE ORIGINATOR OF THE TOPIC THERE IS A TOTAL OF 9 MEMBERS WHO HAVE POSTED.
YET IT HAS BEEN VIEWED 382 TIMES ,EVEN IF WE 9 HAVE VIEWED IT 16 TIMES EACH THATS ONLY 144 TIMES, SO IT WOULD APPEAR WE HAVE A VERY LARGE AUDIENCE BUT FEW PARTICIPANTS. I ASK YOU LURKERS WHERE IS THE FUN IN THAT? YOU OUGHT TO GIVE IT A TRY YOU WILL PROBABLY LIKE IT.

Rick · 19th May 2006, 08:23 PM

Hi Barry ,
Currently there are 32 Yahoo search functions browsing various posts and areas of the forum (these searchers are always here). A lot of the apparent traffic is generated by these information harvesters; then there are the Google Spiders !!

Most online forums have an overwhelming ratio of lurking members compared to actual participants .

Making a wild guess I would estimate that at the absolute most 10% of our registered members post .

Many folks are shy ; my Wife had joined and lurked a couple of dog and garden forums for years before she got up the courage to post .

Tim Simmons · 19th May 2006, 08:45 PM

I also feel this is a great shame, the forum is a great leveller we all know something and nothing. To me no piece is without value as long as it is not fantasy or tourist. though good quallity old tourist work may well be in your collection already

Tim Simmons · 19th May 2006, 10:11 PM

Just another thought. The fact that it is such a leveller might put people off.

Rich · 19th May 2006, 10:24 PM

For me, mostly lurker, it's very simple. I post and/or reply when there is
something I know a little about; otherwise I just read and learn.

rich

Zan · 20th May 2006, 05:27 AM

I perfectly agree with you Rich.

My father used to say : "If you have nothing to say, then say nothing" !

Even if I do not post every day, I like this forum because for sure I will learn something new every day. It opens your mind with subjects you wouldn't consider otherwise.

But for sure, I agree that if a "lurker" like me knows something about the content of a thread, he or she MUST participate for the advantage of all the panel.

Sincerely,
Zan

drdavid · 20th May 2006, 05:46 AM

It is also important for lurkers and newbies like me to ask a few questions, sometimes (often) they have been asked before (so dont forget to check the archives) but each new question may spark an additional thought or bit of information from the folk with real expertise.
DrD

19th May 2006, 08:04 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	VIEWING VERSUS POSTING A BIT OFF TOPIC BUT INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT. AS AN EXAMPLE THE RECENT POST ON "MY SMALL COLLECTION". THERE ARE 16 POSTS TWO OF WHICH ARE MINE AND 5 REPLYS FROM THE ORIGINATOR OF THE TOPIC THERE IS A TOTAL OF 9 MEMBERS WHO HAVE POSTED. YET IT HAS BEEN VIEWED 382 TIMES ,EVEN IF WE 9 HAVE VIEWED IT 16 TIMES EACH THATS ONLY 144 TIMES, SO IT WOULD APPEAR WE HAVE A VERY LARGE AUDIENCE BUT FEW PARTICIPANTS. I ASK YOU LURKERS WHERE IS THE FUN IN THAT? YOU OUGHT TO GIVE IT A TRY YOU WILL PROBABLY LIKE IT.

19th May 2006, 08:23 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Hi Barry , Currently there are 32 Yahoo search functions browsing various posts and areas of the forum (these searchers are always here). A lot of the apparent traffic is generated by these information harvesters; then there are the Google Spiders !! Most online forums have an overwhelming ratio of lurking members compared to actual participants . Making a wild guess I would estimate that at the absolute most 10% of our registered members post . Many folks are shy ; my Wife had joined and lurked a couple of dog and garden forums for years before she got up the courage to post . Last edited by Rick; 19th May 2006 at 08:33 PM.

19th May 2006, 08:45 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I also feel this is a great shame, the forum is a great leveller we all know something and nothing. To me no piece is without value as long as it is not fantasy or tourist. though good quallity old tourist work may well be in your collection already

19th May 2006, 10:11 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Just another thought. The fact that it is such a leveller might put people off.

19th May 2006, 10:24 PM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	For me, mostly lurker, it's very simple. I post and/or reply when there is something I know a little about; otherwise I just read and learn. rich

20th May 2006, 05:27 AM	#6
Zan Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montréal, Province of Québec, Canada Posts: 46	I perfectly agree with you Rich. My father used to say : "If you have nothing to say, then say nothing" ! Even if I do not post every day, I like this forum because for sure I will learn something new every day. It opens your mind with subjects you wouldn't consider otherwise. But for sure, I agree that if a "lurker" like me knows something about the content of a thread, he or she MUST participate for the advantage of all the panel. Sincerely, Zan

20th May 2006, 05:46 AM	#7
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	It is also important for lurkers and newbies like me to ask a few questions, sometimes (often) they have been asked before (so dont forget to check the archives) but each new question may spark an additional thought or bit of information from the folk with real expertise. DrD