h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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Waz

I wonder how many people have lurked at this thread since 6th March and not posted anything.

*goes back to lurking somewere els*

Not me but I've been lurking elsewhere.


Incog.

Yawn, I've only really come back to h2g2 recently, so I'm afraid this is the first time I've been here since I last posted, however, I have been lurking elsewhere!



Mel

I lurk in just about every writting forum here, including peer review, but only post when I have something to add.

I don't mind lurking in others, but I can't stand it in myself, so most of the time I *just have* to write something, even if it's fairly banal (hmmm....). This explains for the frequent occurance of my name on the 'most postings' lists, and the fact that I work faster than the Popup Conversations refresh.

This does sound really rude, but if people are having a serious conversation about politics or relationships I tend to make myself scarce anyway, before I've got chance to lurk. In my experience, people in the 'other' type of conversations don't care much what I post, as long as there's something fairly witty in there.

B

What's wrong with just reading???

I dont have the time to read all the backlog, I made a comment to a conversation once,got the plot wrong,and was told in no uncertain terms to go and read the backlog ,so now I just lurk unless I am ACEing.

manda

I too work faster than the conversation list so have to change the refresh rate!

However I also believe that if you don't have anything to say, then you don't have to post.



It can be very annoying if you're having a conversation and someone posts something which is very obviosly unnecessary but just there to mean that they had the last post.



Mel (who doesn't really mind so long as everyone keeps posting!)

I'll keep posting just to keep Mel happy then.

Most people hate having the last post - it builds up in their conversation lists and makes it look like they've got no friends

Generally, the best 'thread-stoppers' are non-sequiters or devilishly witty comments (generally in the form of biting sarcasm), much in the same line of real conversations. It then takes someone brave enough to change the subject to continue, and h2g2 being the stunningly couteous place it is, there aren't many people who do that with frequency, as they get a reputation for being obtuse.

As one who flirts with the borderline between courtesy and self-importance...

B

Ahem!Surely the idea is that we researchers are what make H2G2 what it is.To do this we have to lurk when we have nothing to contribute because we may learn something and to speak up when we can make a contribution.However the nature of the site must make us understand and accept the occasional pointless interruption because to do otherwise would go against the ethos of the site especially as there are newbies joining us everyday of all ages and internet expertese.

Love Incog.

So we all end up with about 20 conversations including the same 10 people!

Mel

Whats wrong with that?

Incog.

Nothing, it just means you have several conversations to answer all at the same time, all from the same person and it seems a little crazy sometimes, it would be easier just to condense them all into one conversation, but that wouldn't be as much fun!

Mel

I agree with

Opps I was saying that I agree with the earlier posts that say that if you want to keep something private then the net is the last place you put it.

Anyway we must all be a "lurker" of some form because you might start to read a thread and then you decide not to contribute to it for one reason or another. What's the harm in that ?

That's the way to do it, otherwise you end up in hundreds of conversations that really don't interest you!

Mel

You all have no concept of what makes my life worthwhile

B

Nope, but I'm beggining to understand!

Mel