Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dark RevenantX on April 25, 2005, 06:55:07 pm

Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Dark RevenantX on April 25, 2005, 06:55:07 pm
Ok, so I'm all bored and all.  I have been doing a lot today, so I go on the forums and post a huge thing.  Anyway, I look at the top ten posters, then go to the back.  Page 243.  Nobody on that page has posts.  Ok, so I skip ahead by 5.  Still, 0 posts.  I get all the way to page 183 where there finally are four people with 1 post.  There are 596 non-posters, or "lurkers".  That's right,

FIVE HUNDRED AND NINTEY-SIX F***ING LURKERS IN HLP!!!

I mean, come on!  There is no mysterious special benefit for being registered, except for being able to post things.  But, if you aren't posting, WTF IS THE POINT IN EVEN JOINING?!?  I can understand 20 lurkers or 80 for a forum this old and popular, but 596?  My god!  That's like 596 out of 2430 members.  A freaking quarter of the registered users don't post!

  Discuss!
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 25, 2005, 07:00:34 pm
No.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Night Hammer on April 25, 2005, 07:04:59 pm
you need somthing to do with your time
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 25, 2005, 07:13:22 pm
At the risk of sounding like an0n... learn to wank. It'll occupy all the spare time you seem to have. :p
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Night Hammer on April 25, 2005, 07:15:05 pm
:lol: hes 12 dude, dunno if it works yet
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: BlackDove on April 25, 2005, 07:16:13 pm
Oh it works.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 25, 2005, 07:21:14 pm
You know, my 5th grade teacher taught us Sex Ed... That was not only weird, but I blame it for all of the strange things I think. :p
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: BlackDove on April 25, 2005, 07:29:24 pm
Just please oh god don't tell us about the "strange things".
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Dark RevenantX on April 25, 2005, 07:29:28 pm
I'd perfer if my age was not part of this discussion, though you do have a point there.

I did ask a question:  Why are there so many lurkers?
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Liberator on April 25, 2005, 07:40:59 pm
They may not all be lurkers, they may be people who have registered and never post because they left.

I've done that in several different forums for one reason or another.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Primus on April 25, 2005, 07:52:22 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Raa
You know, my 5th grade teacher taught us Sex Ed... That was not only weird, but I blame it for all of the strange things I think. :p


Tell us about your strange things you think. :p

And on-topic: Some people join only to ask one question and then they disappear.

...And do what Raa suggested.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Stealth on April 25, 2005, 07:55:01 pm
i've got a good two accounts in there... I know an0n does too.  he's probably got a good three dozen, and probably two dozen of them are banned :-/
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 25, 2005, 07:58:48 pm
I have 2 accounts. But neither have 0 posts :p
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Ford Prefect on April 25, 2005, 08:33:25 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Raa
At the risk of sounding like an0n... learn to wank. It'll occupy all the spare time you seem to have. :p

"All the spare time"?! That's a lot of wanking. That'd be like a wank-a-thon.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: KappaWing on April 25, 2005, 08:43:54 pm
I was lurking for awhile back when I wasn't registered. I think what many people do is register, lurk, and leave. I, (along with many other cautious people) lurk around at least a month before posting. Especially in forums like these. I'm glad I did too, because otherwise I would come of sounding like a real n00b:

"OMG OMG OMG FS2 Iz teh r0x0r! Yo, any1 know where 1 can git FS3? OMGWTF L0lz0rz!"

Quote
Oh it works.


:nod:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Ford Prefect on April 25, 2005, 08:50:38 pm
You look a little too certain about that, dude.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Mongoose on April 25, 2005, 09:02:31 pm
I can understand about lurking before posting, but why would someone register and then lurk?  I lurked at the first forum I got involved with, PlanetDescent, for several months before posting, and I registered the day of my first post.  I did the same thing in a few other forums, including here.  I wanted to make sure that I understood the forum culture and got to know some of the regulars before I'd post, and registering without posting seemed pointless.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: WMCoolmon on April 25, 2005, 09:04:17 pm
You can't search if you aren't registered.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Carl on April 25, 2005, 09:04:36 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Night Hammer
:lol: hes 12 dude, dunno if it works yet


it works as soon as it is formed in the womb.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Dark RevenantX on April 25, 2005, 10:24:24 pm
Due to what this thread has become, I hope some moderator uses the magical
(http://www.cliser.net/images_cont/d_01.jpg)
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 25, 2005, 10:32:25 pm
(http://www.vipguestlist.org/bbs/images/avatars/penn.gif)

;) :lol:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Night Hammer on April 25, 2005, 11:11:27 pm
:lol:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Dark RevenantX on April 25, 2005, 11:29:14 pm
:lol:
Why didn't I think of that?
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Spicious on April 25, 2005, 11:35:08 pm
:lol:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Sandwich on April 26, 2005, 12:03:28 am
He has a point, guys... can't you act a bit more mature?

...oh, wait, scratch that. I forgot who I was talking to. :blah:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Setekh on April 26, 2005, 03:57:33 am
:p

As Coolmon points out, it may have been that those people wanted to do a search through the forums.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Andreas on April 26, 2005, 04:02:32 am
Quote
Originally posted by Night Hammer
:lol: hes 12 dude, dunno if it works yet

What are you talking about? I could already wank when I was 8 years old (I have to admit I couldn't shoot anything yet...).
...
What? :nervous:
Maybe we should allow guests to do searches (no harm in that...right?)?
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Col. Fishguts on April 26, 2005, 04:11:15 am
Too. Much. Detail.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Andreas on April 26, 2005, 04:23:02 am
Please, accept my humble apologies, dear sir. :o
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: WMCoolmon on April 26, 2005, 06:00:48 am
*Wonders if Bash accepts forum posts*
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Carl on April 26, 2005, 07:06:29 am
you could fake it. just copy and paste the posts into an IRC-like format.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Dark RevenantX on April 26, 2005, 09:52:48 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich
He has a point, guys... can't you act a bit more mature?

...oh, wait, scratch that. I forgot who I was talking to. :blah:


I'l ignore that.

Too much wanking there...  Please, not here...  You could start your own thread about it, though...

Anyway, why would searching be for registered people only?
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: KappaWing on April 26, 2005, 09:56:41 am
Quote
Originally posted by Dark RevenantX


I'l ignore that.

Too much wanking there...  Please, not here...  You could start your own thread about it, though...

Anyway, why would searching be for registered people only?


If people have to register first, then they may think that they might as well start posting since they gone through the trouble of registering. Due to the number of lurkers, however, this tactic seems to be ineffective.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: BlackDove on April 26, 2005, 10:06:01 am
I think this is an awesome discussion.

Not the lurker one.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Goober5000 on April 26, 2005, 11:41:12 am
Aren't those just web spiders?  Not human lurkers?

IIRC GameWarden had something similar happen a few weeks ago.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 26, 2005, 11:53:32 am
No... Webspiders don't register first.

He's saying there are 596 registerred users without a single post. Those are humans.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on April 26, 2005, 12:00:42 pm
This thread belongs in the SB.com Vs. Forums, if for nothing else than that the word "Wank" has been said more than 4 times.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Goober5000 on April 26, 2005, 12:26:14 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Raa
No... Webspiders don't register first.

He's saying there are 596 registerred users without a single post. Those are humans.
Oh.  Not browsing at the same time.  Gotcha.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: vyper on April 26, 2005, 01:07:54 pm
So what you're saying is most freespace fans are lazy arsed wankers...
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Flipside on April 26, 2005, 01:59:04 pm
But we can type fast with just one hand...
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: EtherShock on April 26, 2005, 02:24:35 pm
Quote
Originally posted by KappaWing
I was lurking for awhile back when I wasn't registered. I think what many people do is register, lurk, and leave. I, (along with many other cautious people) lurk around at least a month before posting. Especially in forums like these. I'm glad I did too, because otherwise I would come of sounding like a real n00b:

"OMG OMG OMG FS2 Iz teh r0x0r! Yo, any1 know where 1 can git FS3? OMGWTF L0lz0rz!"



:nod:


That's exactly why I didn't didn't post. However, it should be noted I was a webspider. ^_^ I registered the day I posted.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Kie99 on April 26, 2005, 02:44:27 pm
I think webspiders are search engines whihc have found the site, lurkers are people who don't register and/or don't post.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: EtherShock on April 26, 2005, 05:51:13 pm
Maybe this should be in the FAQ? The definition of a lurker?
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 26, 2005, 05:58:33 pm
No... It's on the wiki

Quote

A lurker is a user of an Internet forum who reads content but does not post to the forum. It however dates back to the mid-1980s when most people did not have access to the internet, but used BBS chat rooms instead.

It is usually considered wise for a newcomer to lurk for a period of time before posting to the forum. How much time one should spend lurking depends upon the forum.

There are also some who lurk on a forum habitually, and rarely if ever contribute.  It is generally difficult to guess how many such lurkers are present, since by definition they are silent.

Often lurkers act as self-appointed comment spies, and will "blow the whistle" on any post that threatens their belief system or is considered "offensive." They are the blogosphere's "tattletales," firing emails and instant messages to site owners about "troublesome" comments, hoping to gain a sense of importance thereby.

This type of lurker will tend to post only comments that compliment and praise the owner of the blog/bulletin board/forum site, and their comments are rare. They don't want to debate, they want to report those they don't approve of. They prowl around a comment area to pounce upon what they perceive as antagonists. These are the "malevolent lurkers".

To be fair, it should also be mentioned that some lurkers are simply shy, not educated on a given topic, or just not good at expressing their thoughts in written compositions. They enjoy reading other's posts and responses to them, but refrain from adding their own "two cents worth." These are the "benign lurkers".

A third type of lurker also exists, the "constructive lurker", being an individual who regularly reads online forums but rarely posts. These individuals may have a high degree of sophisitication within the topic of any given forum, but lack the time or willingness to post the detailed replies they feel that the topic at hand deserves. Lurkers of this sort are not shy about posting, but instead prefer not to start a discussion they do not have the time to finish. When these lurkers do post, they often provide well thought out and detailed contributions to the discussion at hand. A "constructive luker" is often veteran of several previous online discussion forums. Having been involved in many heated online discussions in the past these lurkers are willing to allow the more active forum members to hash out the obvious and will only contribute when the discussion takes a novel turn.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: EtherShock on April 26, 2005, 11:55:24 pm
Well I guess that answers my question.

I need a sig. My post seems tiny compared to others.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Anaz on April 27, 2005, 12:52:31 am
It's more efficient that way :p
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: KappaWing on April 27, 2005, 11:03:14 am
I just can't stand long siggies...
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: vyper on April 27, 2005, 03:33:01 pm
He likes them short.

What? :nervous:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Andreas on April 27, 2005, 03:41:12 pm
Shame on you Vyper! :p (Who am I to say that?) :nervous:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: achtung on April 27, 2005, 04:05:54 pm
What a thread this has turned into:rolleyes:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: Taristin on April 27, 2005, 04:06:38 pm
I blame the media!
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: achtung on April 27, 2005, 04:08:29 pm
I tell you it's those Commies again:nervous:
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: KappaWing on April 27, 2005, 04:09:51 pm
A thread in need is a thread indeed...

And this thread is in need for some serious lockage.
Title: 596 lurkers and counting!
Post by: TrashMan on April 27, 2005, 05:36:26 pm
*throws a frag/plasma/ion/whatever granade*

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!"

*BOOOOOOOOM*

WTF? Still alive?
Dial A for Admin!