Why am I a Lurker?

[kingjules]

I have found your site helpful but, do not understand all the in's and outs of it.  It seems I might have offended someone or posted something that has given me a label.  I am just a guy trying to understand this forum and may not have understood the implications of posting on this or any site. Its hard to not get cynical when you don't learn to use the system because you are paranoid about things in it.  So I have been slow to warm up to it.  I have lost out on a great number of opportunities in my field because of the way things were before this forum.  I do not understand what I did that was so wrong to be labelled and I feel libeled. A private email might have been and might still be the best way to understand a resolve this problem but a public one might help others to come forward. And so I ask why is it I have been labled lurker?  Please respond?

[Rennhack]

I have found your site helpful but, do not understand all the in's and outs of it.  It seems I might have offended someone or posted something that has given me a label.  I am just a guy trying to understand this forum and may not have understood the implications of posting on this or any site. Its hard to not get cynical when you don't learn to use the system because you are paranoid about things in it.  So I have been slow to warm up to it.  I have lost out on a great number of opportunities in my field because of the way things were before this forum.  I do not understand what I did that was so wrong to be labelled and I feel libeled. A private email might have been and might still be the best way to understand a resolve this problem but a public one might help others to come forward. And so I ask why is it I have been labled lurker?  Please respond?

It's an internet term:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lurker

A lurker is someone that follows the forum but doesn't post.

Our software has 'user groups' based on number of posts. This is computer automated, and only refers to the number of posts made, not a reference to your character.  It is a way for the system to give additional privileges to heavy users, like the ability to send more private messages, etc, to reduce spam. Less than 3 posts is the user group named "Lurker", after 3 posts you will be in the "Very Lite User" user group, etc.  Below is a full list of the user groups and the post count associated.  There are 4,292 member in the 'Lurker' user group.

Name   Required posts
Lurker   0
Very Lite User   3
Light User   10
Moderate User   50
Heavy User   250
Very Heavy User   500

Welcome to the website.

[GLW]

Read through this, it's light reading, fun, informative:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

[thenuttyneutron]

Lurker ≠ bad internet forum user.  I actually think it is better to ghost a site before posting anything.

Read through this, it's light reading, fun, informative:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

This is why I think it is better to be a lurker than a flame warrior.  I don't know how long the digital stain of these posts will last, but I am sure google will ensure that your posts live on longer than the person posting them.  This is why it is better to post nothing unless it is something you would not mind having your mother read. 

With all of the stories of old digital stuff being dredged up as part of a vetting process for a job, it simply is not worth posting a brawl on the internet.

[Rennhack]

Read through this, it's light reading, fun, informative:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

I think you meant: http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/lurker.htm

[GLW]

I think you meant: http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/lurker.htm

Nope, I meant "Read through this, it's light reading, fun, informative:".

As the poster was unaware of what being identified as a "Lurker" indicated to the poster, a more thorough indoctrination of the various "poster types" would be light reading, fun and informative.

I did not tutor the poster on how to use the search functions of the link as he has not indicated in his previous post(s) he is not familiar with searching a forum.

You can spoon feed 'em or take them to the lake and let them cast their own net.

[Rennhack]

I prefer this one:

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,4700.msg122119.html#msg122119

Which includes:

      Step 8: Lurk Before Posting

      Don't just jump in to the forums spouting off reams and reams your amazing knowledge of the intricacies of World of Warcraft. In Binary.


      Lurk around a bit first and read some threads to see whether or not that's even remotely the sort of thing people there would be interested in.

And

[atomicarcheologist]

I prefer this one:


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Excellent!  I could do without the accent, but a good primer for forums.

[Fluffy Bunny]

Excellent!  I could do without the accent, but a good primer for forums.

Just pretend you are watching Monty Python.

Of course my favorite skit is "The Argument Sketch": "I'd like to have an argument".

http://www.mindspring.com/~mfpatton/sketch.htm