To all lurkers and newbies ... you know who you are :)

[mcandrew at bigpond.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 17193

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "suzielynn.*" <misanthropicsocialite at h...> 
wrote:
> Aloha!
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., nera at r... wrote:
> > Just out of curiosity, and being the "always analytical" person 
> that I am, I was wondering why so many people lurk, rather than add 
> their questions or opinions to the list. 
> 

Bravo, Suzielynn. I second all your points.

I could be one of the most incorrigible lurkers on this list - not one
post since I joined last September or thereabouts.  I've often 
daydreamed about posting, but never taken it any further for a 
variety of reasons -

* Stage fright.  (I'm suffering from it now)  This list is so very, 
internationally, public - 1215 members and counting...

* Technical inexperience with discussion lists

* Lack of time.  There's only a few minutes a day I can devote to 
even reading the posts in peace & quiet, meaning I have to be much 
more selective than I'd like to and follow only the juiciest looking 
threads.  Actually participating is a pipedream, except during 
holidays.

* Two young boys (big fans themselves) looking over my shoulder and 
exclaiming 'Oh no Mum, not Harry Potter again!'  It's even more 
embarrassing since the banner on the site was changed to add the 
words '(Harry Potter)' to 'HP for Grownups'- my cover has been 
completely blown at home and at work.

* The sheer erudition, wit, and powers of argument of many members 
are a might intimidating. Haven't time to comb the archive for  
examples just now, but I remember some deep philisophical discussions 
where various members have aired their expertise in the fields of 
psychiatry, engineering, law, education, and more recently, 
literature appreciation - writing in the 'third person limited' etc.  
(This was really illuminating - thought I knew about points of view 
in literature, but learnt a bit)

* Nothing new for me to add - virtually every aspect of the books has 
been discussed in minute detail by now. Yet I still enjoy revisiting 
discussion topics when they resurface, expressed afresh by others.

* Some of the most active, persuasive and eloquent members of the 
group hold very steadfastly and vocally to views I can't agree 
with (mainly in regard to the 'shipping' discussions).  Not being a 
skilled debater or having time to muster evidence, I haven't so 
far been brave enough to pipe up and join in these debates - prefer 
to watch from the safety of the stands!

* the volume of messages is so high that I sometimes get the 
irrational feeling that by the time I have a message typed, someone 
else will have beaten me to it making the same point!

With all that said, sneaking onto this list has given me heaps of 
guilty enjoyment over the last few months. My thanks to all the 
founders, moderators and contributors for making it so good.

Cec


> I lurk because of many reasons.
> 
> a) The sheer volume of email on the list in combination with my 
> limited time prohibits me from posting as much as I'd like to.
> 
> b) Most of the time, my opinion on the issues being discussed has 
> already been stated by someone else in a far more articulate manner 
> than what I could express.
> 
> c) To be quite frank, I'm intimidated.  The majority of posters 
here 
> are, as the name of the group would indicate, "grownups", with 
> experience and definitive stances on the topics at hand, and I 
would 
> have a hard time, as a high school sophomore, offering my opinion 
> without a firm root in factual experiences and without sounding 
like 
> a bossy, know-it-all brat.  ^_^
> 
> > Also, why do so many newbies preface their questions or opinions 
> with 
> > lengthy apologies, which sound as if they are pleading someone's 
> > humble forgiveness? Do the rest of us scare you? 
> 
> *meek voice* Yes.  *smacks self*  Auugh!  I'm debate captain!  I'm 
> not supposed to be afraid of confrontation!  ^_^
>  
> *there's a flock of seagulls in my basement.* --alicia/sue spinnet 
or 
> suzielynn.*