Job Discussion Forums

[leeroy]

Yeah, you people...

The people who make the "messages viewed" thing in it's thousands, while only a few dozen posts have actually been made.

There is this entire community of people who read these posts but never make any - I am curious as hell.

Who are you? Speak up, people! And do it quick, because I'm drunk now, and will undoubtedly delete this post tomorrow in sober retrospect...

[Twisting in the Wind]

I have been wondering the same thing, myself. Why lurk when you can register and participate? I think these are the same people who answer "I don't know" in surveys.

[Jess_Laoshi]

I do post, just not very often, so I don't really suppose I'm a lurker here, although I do lurk on some forums sometimes. But anyhow, it's this way on any established online forums. Some people just like reading what others have to say and don't feel they have much they can personally contribute, while others are probably a little intimidated about jumping into discussions where many of the posters are already familiar with each other, and where "newbies" are viewd with mistrust (which isn't really unique to this forum, although the large number of trolls which come across these boards definitly make newbies here more open to suspicions).

[J-Pop]

[dyak]

Being called 'lurkers' must make them feel so much more welcome!

How about a less negative monicker?

Wise eyes?
Potential Buddhas?
Speculative pre-posters?

[J-Pop]

[Wolf]

There are also a number of registered users who have zero posts. As far as I can tell, it seems to be the nature of discussion forums.

Hoever, the more people that participate, the more vibrant and varied the forum will be.

I lurked as well for a while before I bothered to get an acount here. Conversations are more likely to interest you if you have a hand in their input.

And don't let us put you off.

[dduck]

[dyak]

Well...

lurk - verb [V]

1 [usually +adv./prep.] to wait somewhere secretly, especially because you are going to do sth bad or illegal:
Why are you lurking around outside my house? � A crocodile was lurking just below the surface.

2 when sth unpleasant or dangerous lurks, it is present but not in an obvious way: At night, danger lurks in these streets. � a lurking doubt / suspicion.

[dduck]

I looked it up in a standard dictionary too. I guess it depends on the context: lurking on the internet isn't quite the same as lurking under your bed.

Iain

[Mark-O]

I've never understood the attraction of posting on Dave's whilst drunk!!! It seems to be a common past-time for some of the regulars here. I think I'd puke trying to look at a computer screen whilst intoxicated! Especially with that damn TEFL/Distance Masters/TESOL gif toward the top of the page! Will someone enlighten me? Maybe we could start an 'under the influence' forum where we just all talk rubbish whilst half-cut? Or is that the Off-Topic China forum already?!!!!

[Mark-O]

... apologies all Off-topic China patrons! I've just found the 'Under the Influence' forum. I believe it is called the Korea forum. The 'battle of the sexes' theme on there sort of gave it away.

[ha'anala]

Hello from one of the lurkers! I've only made a few posts, but I check out the site daily.

I think a couple of you hit the nail on the head. Most people lurk because either

a) they feel they have little or nothing to contribute to the conversation, but still enjoy listening. (I am just looking to get into the field, but as of yet have no experience and hence little input on most of the discussions here)

or

b) they are afraid of being attacked like many of the "newbies" around here that ask "ridiculous" questions (they may not seem so ridiculous to someone new to the ESL/EFL scene who is just looking for a little info)

[J-Pop]

[J-Pop]