Why Lurkers Don't Post!

[Bluestone]

Thought I'd see if those who don't post will at least vote in this poll, which doesn't require you to post at all, just login and place a confidential vote.

Just curious as to what might be the reason that only a handfull of our 3,400 members actually post... even to the non-public All-Topic forum.

Blue

[Bluestone]

The votes are starting to come in, and are helping to enlighten me as to your reasons to remain lurkers. Keep them coming in, because I'd like as accurate a poll as possible. Thanks for taking the time to vote

Blue

[tummyshooter]

I talk when I have something to say. I don't have an opinion on EVERYTHING.

[Bluestone]

It looks like 'none of the above' is getting a lot of votes. So, does anyone have any ideas what else may stop lurkers from posting, other than that they have nothing to say?

Blue

[Algenon5]

Blue, two questions that could have been included in your poll are "I'm too lazy" and "I don't know how." Of the two, the second might be the most important. I am constantly amazed by how many computer owners who are deathly afraid of the damn things; and as a result are unable to use them for anything other than emails and basic surfing. And I'm not just talking about folks over fifty.

Cases in point: Someone who was afraid to download anything from the net, because she thought somehow this might lead to her identity being stolen. A guy who didn't know how to make an email attachment. Another guy who has had a computer for TEN YEARS, who didn't know what a bookmark was. (He returned to his favorite sites by searching through his browser's history!) Folks who don't know how to cut and paste or drag and drop. These aren't stupid people. In some instances they've been terrorized by computer horror stories, but mostly it's a case of simply not being shown how.

FF members aren't immune from this. I've seen posts that asked questions like, "How do I send a PM?" I've privately answered similar questions from members. My guess is there a lot more members who don't post basic tech questions because they don't want to appear ignorant.

So, what to you think abut opening a plain-language How-To & Tech Questions forum?

Al

[Bluestone]

Hey Al,

Yes, it is possible that those might be a couple of reasons, but I doubt it, because every registered member had to have enough computer skills to actually apply for membership here, and even though many people do not understand pm's, how to create an avatar, etc., posting is as simple as getting registered in the first place. Also, every lurker, and I'm referring to registered members, not just surfers, had to care enough to get registered. So, I think there have to be other reasons beyond laziness and computer ignorance.

The All-Topic forum is available to all registered members, plus emails to me are answered promptly. So, if anyone needs any technical help with the board, all they have to do is post a question or email me.

I think there must be other reasons. Perhaps they don't realize that the All-Topic forum can only be seen by registered members, not the public. That would be a good place for those who don't want to open their posts up to public scrutiny to post. Also, if someone registered using their real name or a username that could identify them, they may not be aware that I can change their username to a more anonymous one. All they have to do is email me.

This thread is here to identify and solve problems that may be preventing many members from enjoying this community board more fully. We're here to help, but we have to know what problems people are encountering.

Blue

[Sandi]

To have such sexual turn-ons does not mean at all that a person wishes to share such things with Others publicly, even in an 'anonymous' Internet setting.

Most people, across all boundaries of age and ethnicity and sexual preferences and religion and such, are not comfortable being 'open' about discussing sex in general, and those in our 'community' may be even less so because of the general outward societal disapproval of such things.

They come for their own pleasures, simple as that. They want to view something that to them is 'erotic'. Those who in the 'old days' kept their Playboys under the mattress didn't share those either.

Sex and eroticism are very private things for the vast majority of people.

HAVING the fantasies in no way implies anything about desire to openly share them with a public of a few thousand Others.

Same reason that all want the 'freebies' but most never pony up money to Producers.

They want titillation,and they receive it here. And they want it 'free of charge', again a natural thing. They have no reason to post if personal titillation is their major desire. That does not make them 'right or wrong', of course.

Just normal people being normal people, reticent about sex talk or scared of it or whatever.

They treat these sites the same way many treat viewing pictures of 'hot' women in various attire or poses at any picture site on the Internet. The Viewers (or 'lurkers', as here at an interactive site they are called) want an image, a text, a movie clip, something....that turns them on. And that's where their interest stops. Again, nothing right or wrong about that.

Sex is an individual thing for the vast majority of people, regardless of their individual turn-ons.

Sandi

[Algenon5]

Hey Al,

The All-Topic forum is available to all registered members, plus emails to me are answered promptly. So, if anyone needs any technical help with the board, all they have to do is post a question or email me.

Blue

Sorry, Blue. It's my fault for not making myself clear. As things stand now, when someone posts a board functionality or tech question, it quickly becomes lost in the back pages, where someone else looking for an answer to the same question will only run across it by accident. I propose that the following be permanent posts in the header of the How-To & Tech Questions forum:

How To Create Your Optional Avatar
How To Send a Private Message (pm)
How To Add Active Links To Your Posts
How To Attach Images To Your Posts
How Add A Quote From A Previous Post
How To Edit Or Delete A Post
How To Create Screen Caps
Smiley Faces And Other Fun Stuff
How To Use MediaFire And Rapidshare
How To Get And Use The Best Free Video Players
Free Image Editing Programs
etc.

This way members would get answers without having to publicly ask questions. I can't tell you how many times I've heard questions that begin like this: "I must sound like an idiot, but how do you…" I'm a big believer in making things as easy as possible. I also suggest the How-To forum be public as a small extra incentive for lurkers to become members.

Since I once was paid American money to write plain-language, step-by-step instructions for electronic equipment manuals, I shyly volunteer myself to write the above header posts - that is if anybody thinks a how-to forum is a good Idea.

Of course there are many other reasons why lurkers don't post. What I've proposed addresses only one issue.

Al

[stol]

i do post sometimes, but there are really not much interesting discussions around here

[Bluestone]

Al,

Great idea! If you write it, I will convert it into a global announcement post that will be up permanently.


Stol,

You can always start topics that interest you.

Blue

[smudger]

I remember when I first found DS I was a lurker for a very long time before I started posting. This wasn't really shyness as such, more that I wanted to have a very clear idea of how everything worked and who everyone was before starting to interact. Maybe some of the lurkers will spring into life when they're ready!


By the way, Blue, its a bit of an anomaly in the poll system that I had to register a vote, even though I am not a lurker, to find out how the voting was going. Perhaps another option- such as "Let me just see the result" would be appropriate here?

[Bluestone]

Well, Al, I just proved your point. I for one am indeed technically challenged. I thought I could add some more questions to the poll without wiping out the 20 votes that we already had. Well, I can't. By adding some extra questions, I wiped out all of the voting to date

Well, lurkers anonymous, please have mercy upon me and re-vote on this topic. Maybe it's a good thing (or maybe I'm just trying to not look so dumb), at least you may now have a better selection to choose from for those who initially selected 'None of the above'.

Anyway, please vote on the revised poll! We've added a choice along the lines of Sandi's perceptive comment as well as one related to Al's suggestions that there may be some technological challenges involved. Another option was added along the lines of Smudger's comments, because I also lurked for a long time at Fatal Females before finally posting. Maybe I should have added the option: "I don't post because Butterfingers Bluestone will probably hit the wrong button and delete my post anyway!"

Sorry. I won't tinker with the poll again

A red-faced Blue

[Algenon5]

Al,

Great idea! If you write it, I will convert it into a global announcement post that will be up permanently.

Blue

Oh great! Now I actually hafta write the damn things.
Who knew you would agree, and so quickly. Me and my
big, fat keyboard. It gets me in trouble every time!

Will PM you late tomorrow re details.

..hmmm…a red-faced Blue. Now there's an image that's
hard to conjure up!

Al

[Nightposter]

I think something that may be overlooked are those who join just to check the place out, find it's either not for them or not the 'home' they are looking for, so they are "one hit wonders".

I have done this several times with forums and "free" members websites.

Someone posted " hey, so and so posted these great Petra pics at abc forum", and naturally you go to abc, find out you have to register. After reading the site the pics posted you already have seen, and the rest of the forum does not interest you so you never go back.

Blue, do you have the ability to see how many time lurkers have visited the site ( I admit I have not looked to see if that is a feature)

[Bluestone]

NP,

The board keeps stats about how many posts a member makes, but not how often they visit the site. You may be right though. I'm sure a lot of lurkers are transient. I've done the same thing myself, and for the same reason. I'm sure that a lot of the numbers on many boards are inflated by this phenomenon, especially boards that have been around for a long time, such as DS.

Blue

P.S. Thanks for those who re-voted after I wiped out all of the votes in error. Keep voting, guys and dolls, we are very interested in what you have to contribute through your voting pattern.