Comments on: Inside the mind of an online community lurker

By: Doug Taylor

Doug Taylor — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:43:33 +0000

I will admit I have lurked around several community forums before making posts. The main reason is education. I read forums to learn about the topic I am interested in, then try to apply what I have read. Once I have become somewhat familiar and more comfortable with what I am doing, then will start to contribute to these communities as being an active participant. The last thing I want to do is make comments about something and look like an idiot. It is best to provide value.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:58:14 +0000

Lots of times in some of the more technical forums I don’t want to sound like an idiot.

I am currently learning linux and it is blowing my mind. When you are used to Windows it’s really difficult to pick up at first. There are lots of newbie forums for it but when you get answers most of the time the person answering assumes you know the basics and I really don’t yet.

I guess I’ll just keep lurking and let someone else ask the dumb questions.

By: Dave B

Dave B — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:30:35 +0000

For many software forums I lurk because I’ve noticed some of the members have way more experience helping people out. I still learn things from posts that are made but I find that most of my questions have been answered earlier.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:21:01 +0000

I agree that lurkers still have value. Whilst they may not be contributing they can boost the figures of your online community, which can in turn encourage others to join or to boost the premiums that you can charge for advertising on your community pages

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:49:19 +0000

It seems like lurkers definitely have value. While some will never participate, many will come arond eventually.

If your niche is small, you can expect to have a smaller community.

By: Building A Purple Community - MindBy

Building A Purple Community - MindBy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:19:19 +0000

[...] of the easiest ways to NOT be “Purple” and to rid yourself of all those pesky Community Lurkers, is to let their questions go unanswered (BTW, I hope that came across as a joke:). Most [...]

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:03:22 +0000

I find that I am often a lurker and it is hard for me to make that next step. Aggressive threads are my biggest turn off. Makes one feel like commenting is pointless. Plus in my world everyone is flexing there mind muscles.

By: tgrimsley

tgrimsley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:21:40 +0000

I’m a lurker and proud of it. Just because I join I do not have to get involved. If the forum is of interest I will read it but I may not feel the need to get involved

By: Frank Lynch

Frank Lynch — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:41:18 +0000

absolutely, when i compare Friendster, Hi-fi with Facebook and Orkut, i can really find differences, people are using Facebook and Orkut more than Hi-fi and Friendster, but at the same time they login once to Hi-Fi and Friendster to make profile, but they don’t use them actively.

By: Jon McDowell

Jon McDowell — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:24:04 +0000

Well, if that’s the definition of a lurker, I must admit that I’m a lurker! I think, I need to defend myself about this matter. Most sites where I’m joining are usually not user friendly. In addition, the mere fact that it’s hard for you to talk with the site moderators. It’s actually very disappointing that can even result to lose of interest.