I admit I have joined non-MR forum to ask a question, or even to read a thread in one of my peripheral hobbies. I don’t go back to those forums on any kind of a regular basis.
Other forums I have dropped, like my BMW Airhead forum, because I don’t have a motorcycle anymore
Kevins’ Yearbook thread brought out 3 lurkers. They have been members for a cumulative 25 years and only 108 total posts. Kevin can do that many in a month.
So why not post more? Have you been met with unkind responses? Are there just too many guru’s here? Like my other forums, are you just not here very much? Are most of the threads of no interest to your?
My theory is if you don’t post, you don’t find out what you know is wrong. But there maybe other viewpoints on that.
Ditto. I update my personal layout thread here and contribute to WPF every now and again, and choose not to get involved in too much else. There are many, many discussions here where there’s much to be gained from “listening” to those who have been doing this for longer.
I see someone ask a question and quite a few times I see contradictory answers. I am not gonna jump into that mess. Besides that I get no enjoyment from typing on line, I would rather listen.
I am a member of a photography forum where I lurk. The people there are so much more knowledgeable than I am, and I don’t even know enough (compared to them) to know what to ask.
They are so much better than I am, and I am actually a bit intimidated by the group’s abilities.
My camera rig is a joke compared to the gear they use.
However, I do learn a lot there.
When I owned an RV I joined the Yahoo Fleetwood American Coach Owner’s group and lurked there for a couple of years as well, but that was more for professional concerns.
THIS is my time of the year to be here, that’s why I post as I do. So, the rest of the year, I check in from time to time, and lurk.
Same way with live RR like Railstream and VRF. I bet you lurk alot on the VRF. What I like is the local connection with the Waupace cam. It’s at MP 221. and I’m near MP 84., Trains take about 8 hrs. from me to cam.
I do this on a desk top computer, in my 2nd floor “office”, so it’s not a phone thing, like I’m on the streets, and when I am trackside, I have my camera, and scanner, and post later.
So, I do some lurking, as I did here for quite a while, off and on , since 2005? I think my avatar says I joined in 2010. that’s when I got serious about building my layout, and got it done in 3 years, ( well, not 110%, detailing to do) and have stayed since.
So, that’s my story, and I’m stickin" to it. [:-,]
With my post count, I’m hardly a lurker. But I do very much enjoy seeing members post who don’t normally. It amazes me when I look at their tombstone information and find they joined years before I did.
I think the answer really is as simple as that some folks don’t seek the limelight, or are secure in their knowledge, or know they’ll never have enough to contribute to some detailed discussions, or they are not currently active in the hobby, but they enjoy keeping up to an extent. This is what happens in real life, too. Many enjoy being onlookers and are content to let others do the talking. Sometimes it’s good for laugh. [swg]
This ^. Threads on this forum very often devolve into a dumpster fire. I think that’s just the nature of online forums in general. I don’t think this forum is any better or worse than most.
That said, I have been guilty of being lured off track in at least one thread myself recently (the hockey puck thing, and coincidentally, it was a thread started by Big Daddy). I still feel bad about that.
I’m a long time lurker. I do learn a lot, but have to weed through to find what I think are valid responses and knowledgable posters. While I don’t know anyone here personally, as far as I know, I have been able to identify those who generally give good, reliable info on various subjects.
I do try to give back where I can. I’ve certainly got more to learn than to teach.
They possibly think we know it all and are in a way frightened to contribute thinking they will show themselves up. When in actual fact they do have excellent ideas (and we need to know them because we do not know it all.).
The trains they run are ‘what children would run’ and not the latest model/kit etc.? so they think.
We have all been there (and some say they are still there). What we have learned and are still learning has been over a number of years.
They may say there layout (if they have one) isn’t good and not worth showing.
Why not show it anyway. Many a good layout is not seen (and should).
So if you are a lurker, lurk no more.
Contribute to discussions.
Show your layout . We need your ideas and suggestions.
It might be the same as in any group setting. As both a pastor and a college professor, I’ve had people chime in no matter what, some sharing great insights, some sharing whatever they believe (no matter if it is correct or not), some sharing sparingly and some who are more comfortable taking it in and not willing to speak up. In those cases it might be lack of knowledge, or even lack of percieved knowledge (like “they know far more than me so I’ll keep quiet”). And every so often they are the ones who bring in an outstanding point to ponder.
I don’t know sometimes I lurk more here than other forums. I think that is a little more when it comes to photo threads. I am a member in several forums and a group owner for one in FB. I am probably more active in FB ones because of ease of use and posting photos as well as more concentrated interests on specific railroads.
OK, not something I’m into. I see plenty of real trains in person by “acedent” where I live, and I’m far too busy to spend time watching real trains that I havd no interest in modeling.
I have spent a minute or two watching the live feed from the Strasburg Rail Road, but even that only holds my attention for short time considering I go there in person 2-3 times a year.
I think many people are just not comfortable writing in general. Having an automated spell check might help… Some are probably hesitant to contribute because they lack confidence, or are affraid to be “shut down”, as mentioned by others. I must say that forum members are very civil in general. Nasty comments are generally exchanged between the regulars [:)]. It can be very unpleasant and I sometimes find it hard not to reply to some of the really nasty comments I read. Moderation could be more proactive in my opinion.
In my professional life, “brainstorming” is not only acceptable but also encouraged. I am therefore used to speak up, suggest things, and yes, I will be wrong in some instances. I think most of us non-lurkers are in the same group: most of their contributions add content, with some mistakes caught by others. What I find a bit annoying is when some members insist on the one-way to do things, not realizing that others might not have the skills or financial resources to do so… In any case, if this forum was only populated by “experts”, a lot of questions would be left unanswered. I do appreciate the contributions of those who are highly knowledgeable. Sometimes I wonder what would happend if 4 or 5 of them left the forum…
I don’t post questions very often. Is there a term for those? When I have some kind of problem or challenge, I either find the solution through online searches (99% of the cases), or I ask someone at the club. Maybe I should post questions more often, I haven’t really thought about it…
