Lurkers

[Goodieluver]

Eh i understand the concept of shyness and such, hell i suffer from it but i find this damn funny

A lady posted an open invite in the personals section and soon i feel will prob be the most viewed thread in a week but also the only replies have been from people who have like post counts of 4 and such since 2002.

I just find this humerous, i know my sudden rash of postings have come from nowhere and officially delurked me but still, i mean, i wouldnt use a site for a hookup tool and thats it. Heh, theres more to TT than personals and buggin gals about where they are ticklish

Now if you excuse me, im off to throw skittles off the wall and try to bank one in me mouth

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Amen to that. But we have to, again, note that not everyone browses this site for the same reasons. I know there are many lurkers who look at my artwork and never say anything. I get anonymous replies (in private of course or in e-mails) from people saying they've been watching me and enjoying what I do for a very long time, years even.

And while I'm flattered it makes me wonder why they don't come out and say so publically. Its always nice to know a fan, for example. Its a potential friend.

But this is just me and this is just one situation out of many.

People looking at ads and profiles are probably going to post eventually but only for someone that meets their requirements. Its the same way for general posting on general topics. If theres a thread about Star Wars or about the state of the economy and they simply are not into that, they aren't going to post.

Rather, these people are looking for moments of opportunity where posting neither is a public embarassement (ie- posting to say a girl's feet look cute because other guys are saying it too and it doesn't make them seem weird for saying it by themselves) nor is it an obligation to continue (ie- someone responds to your post, but you've lost interest but don't want to seem rude by not following through on the chat).

This is just the way things are though. When you start posting regularly, whoever you are, people are going to notice you. And if you want to be the type who isn't involved with other people in a social setting and you'd rather make stray comments this is my guess as to why people remain lurkers.

They don't want to deal with lets call it the 'burden' of becoming a regular. Because lets face it, theres alot to lose and alot to gain. You gain respect by what you say and lose it just the same. What you gain you can lose and what you lose you can gain back.

Its very much a constant social event, and its not necessarily so that you only get one chance to make a good impression because every situation might provide a better reaction. Public posting is multi-faceted. Some people, alot of people, don't want to have to deal with that, so they just stay where they are because they're safe there.

I think alot of people are worried about their image and what people think of them and this is ultimately what keeps them from joining the rest of us. And for those that do post, it may very well control, in part or in full, what they say to others, because they worry too.

Alot of it is simply a matter of confidence around other people and willing to just be yourself and come what may.

 

[GEORGIATKLER]

"YOU RAAAANG??" NO THAT'S LURCHER, NOT LURKER...

*the Lurkectomy Was A Complete Sucess* I Think It Is Great To Have So Many Different Memebers Posting And Starting Threads. The More You Put Into Something, The More You Get Out. (wasn't That John Holmes Epitaph? Lol!)