[EtherShock]

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!"

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.

[Kie99]

I think webspiders are search engines whihc have found the site, lurkers are people who don't register and/or don't post.

[EtherShock]

Maybe this should be in the FAQ? The definition of a lurker?

[Taristin]

No... It's on the wiki

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.

[EtherShock]

Well I guess that answers my question.

I need a sig. My post seems tiny compared to others.

[Anaz]

It's more efficient that way

[KappaWing]

I just can't stand long siggies...

[vyper]

He likes them short.

What?

[Andreas]

Shame on you Vyper! (Who am I to say that?)

[achtung]

What a thread this has turned into:rolleyes:

[Taristin]

I blame the media!

[achtung]

I tell you it's those Commies again:nervous:

[KappaWing]

A thread in need is a thread indeed...

And this thread is in need for some serious lockage.

[TrashMan]

*throws a frag/plasma/ion/whatever granade*

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!"

*BOOOOOOOOM*

WTF? Still alive?
Dial A for Admin!