The Lurker Thing

[strom5150]

Very heavy snippage.
Jen said:
> 
> 3) I've always wondered about the many members who never post. How 
> about offering a limited time to lurk (say 3-6 months) and if a 
> person doesn't post they are taken off the list? This might turn 
into
> an administrative nightmare, though.
> 
Danielle replies:

I've been a professional lurker here since June of this year, and 
read as many threads as possible nearly every day. I feel a twinge of 
guilt now, however, so I have to ask (and perhaps a List Elf should 
answer):

Do lurkers affect the list administration in any demonstrable way? I 
only get Admin messages in my mailbox, and these are rare. So I fail 
to see how my lurking affects the list, as far as adding to 
administrative duties. I don't know anything about administering a 
discussion list, especially not one of this size. So I hope I don't 
sound mad - I'm just asking to be educated.

Even though I haven't participated yet, kicking me off the list will 
take away one bright spot of each day for me, so I have to protest. 
(No, I'm not daily-bright-spot-challenged or anything, I would just 
miss it a lot!)

Now, why don't I post? I noticed that this has been discussed on 
other threads in this list already, but the simple truth is that I'm 
terrified to say anything, because I don't think that the list 
welcomes newbies very openly. And I don't think that people who lurk 
for a long time are even newbies anymore, but since the listies will 
not recognize our names in the posts... 

Well, that's my own hang-up, I realize. But, there are obviously 
others who feel the same way. As was also mentioned in another 
thread, the majority of the 11,000+ members must be lurkers, because 
there sure aren't that many people actively posting.

Danielle
(Thanking the audience for letting her have her say, and wondering if 
posting on this list will make her brave enough to try the main list. 
In the meantime, back to Lurker's Hill! (as I saw it called on OT 
Chatter))