Active Posting vs Active Lurking

[kmsimone]

Thought I would start a separate thread so I would not bring a different thread off topic.

In regards to who uses DIS, I found this interesting interesting.
If you click into a forum the list of threads appears and on the right hand side you can see how many replies there are and how many views there are.

Based on the ratios, sometimes in the hundreds to one it looks like there are significant numbers of people who come to this site to read what others have to say but do not reply for whatever reason.

For example,

Theme Parks Forum
Thread "Only Disney would have done this!"
112 Replies and 9746 Views

Theme Park Forum
Thread "Pick a Pearl in Japanese Pavillion"
64 Replies and 5369 views

DVC Plannning Forum
Thread "Just back from SSR"
6 Replies and 333 Views

And on and on............

The only reason I bring this up is that I would have thought based on comments recently on the value that lurkers bring to this site, that the reply/view ratio would be small, when in fact you can see that by a wide margin most people are using this sight more like a library than as a panel discussion as one poster put it.

This is not meant to start anther a debate on the 50 post rule for the rent/trade forum rule. It is only an observation that might shed some light the how the DIS is being used. I found is surprising and enlightening.

 

[Alexander]

I read a lot of threads that I don't post to.

Often a question is asked and answered and there is no need for additional replies, however, the information may be beneficial to others. They then read the information and move on without posting.

If I posted to every thread I have looked at I would have over 1,000,000 posts by now!

I also will view the same thread multiple times if I have written a post. I often check back in to see if others have responded or asked questions. I don't re-post everytime I open a thread though.

Lurkers and posters are different in that lurkers don't post (or don't post much of value) while posters contribute to the boards when necessary and just read information when they have nothing valuable to contribue. These are two different kinds of visitors to the dis.

 

[RobDoc]

...

And on and on............

The only reason I bring this up is that I would have thought based on comments recently on the value that lurkers bring to this site, that the reply/view ratio would be small, when in fact you can see that by a wide margin most people are using this sight more like a library than as a panel discussion as one poster put it.

....

Looks like is a very good thing that some do post - otherwise the lurkers wouldn't stay around very long or have anything to read.

I've not seen any argument that lurkers are not of value, but without those that actually post on the boards, there wouldn't be much for the lurkers to read. The real success of any discussion website is created by those that contribute to the discussion. Those that read the discussions are welcome and valuable (possibly even using the products and/or services of advertisers), but those that actually contribute to the discussions are priceless.

As far as the Rent/Trade Board goes, those that contribute by posting to threads elsewhere on the DIS are rewarded by being allowed to post new threads of their own on the R/T Board. Anyone registered is able to post on existing Rent/Trade threads ... or just lurk if they prefer. In addition, the Rent/Trade Board is the only board on the DIS where you cannot even lurk unless a registered user and logged-in on the site. The "Welcome to the DIS" forum is the only one where unregistered guests can post. Our PM function is available only to those with a required number of posts and the auto-generated user titles (such as "Earning my Ears" or "DIS Veteran") are updated when certain posting threshholds are acheived. There are some forums on the DIS accessible only by invitation and others available only by paid membership.

... and on and on ...

 

[jekjones1558]

I am not at all surprised by the reply/view ratio. I view many, many threads without posting. I would venture to say most of us post to only a fraction of the threads we read. I visit these boards multiple times every day and have been a registered DIS member for many years but my post count is not really that high. I do not have the expertise that some folks on these boards have but I do try to contribute when I can. It makes me feel better to be a contributor as well as a consumer of information because that is what makes forums work. In fact I think that the DIS is such a popular website because so many people choose to post as well as read. Sometimes I spend quite a bit of time researching an answer before I post to make sure I have my facts straight. Sometimes by the time I go to post, someone else has already replied with the same answer I intended to offer, so I don't post. I'll bet there are lots of DISers like me on these boards.

 

[arthur06]

Many times I do post to a thread, and I might be posting on the first page. I like to read back and see what others are saying on the same thread. When that thread goes onto a 2nd page, I go back and read, and same for the 3rd, 4th and so one. I have already said my thoughts and don't feel that another post is worthy at this time.

 

[pmcpmc]

 

[TisBit]

As already said, I will read threads that interest me, if I see that I have a different point of view or something of value to add I will, but if the question is already answered I don't need to keep bumping a thread just to post the same thing over again.

Hot topics will have people load the thread a lot, to see where the discussion is going before they post/repost to it.

Incidently, I do hover over a thread to read the first part of the posting without "viewing" it, but many posters have long beginnings and I don't see the meat and potatoes of the post first. With ongoing threads there is no way to see the latest posts so you have to load it.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think it's ironic, that lurkers are now posting to question their contributions by not contributing.

What came first, the active poster or the active lurker?

 

[Googelibear]

Many times I come to the disboards, read various threads and find that I have nothing more to contribute than has already been posted. what would be the point of, yet again, listing all the restaurants in DTD that except the dining plan, for instance.
So, I read and move on. where possible I will post

 

[Deb & Bill]

I, too, will post to a thread and then go back to see what others have posted in that same thread. So everything I look at what others have posted, the thread is viewed once again. So the number of views in thread just might be the posters looking back at what others have posted to that same thread. That number is not just lurkers.

 

[Googelibear]

I think it's ironic, that lurkers are now posting to question their contributions by not contributing.

What came first, the active poster or the active lurker?

I find it interesting that there is always someone who can't be happy

 

[johde]

I would consider myself a moderate poster and active lurker. But, that is subject to fluxuation during the year. Shortly before and shortly after, I post more frequently because I'm looking for current information or have current information to share with others. Right now, my only trip is is a hopeful September 2011 Disneyland trip for the Half Marathon, and my last trip was almost a year ago. I mostly lurk except in the WISH board where I've been posting actively.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Lurkers are always welcome, after all we are available to most everyone on the internet. You can lurk and never even sign up on the DIS - just read. Lurkers just can't conduct DVC rental business by posting on our Rent/Trade board.

 

[spiceycat]

sometimes some people don't feel they can contribute anything (when they can).

others feel that their opinion does not count (when it does)

some people are just shy or afraid to post. believe me meet them.

 

[peabody58]

ditto...

I like to post to add value, a little humor, or by default, become a 'thread killer'.

 

[khkymanager]

I don't post very often because i usually don't get to look at the dis until the evening by then someone else has given a reponse that would be similar to mine.

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

Some weeks I comment more then others. Depends on my mood and topic.

 

[Googelibear]

ditto...

I like to post to add value, a little humor, or by default, become a 'thread killer'.

You didn't succeed in thread kill this time

 

[Disneymanic]

I spend quite a bit of time reading various threads. I am always looking to learn more about our favorite place to go. I don't post too often because more often then not someone has already answered the question or I don't feel I have anything further to contribute.

 

[Miss SD]

I mostly lurk instead of post, especially on the DVC boards, because I was researching whether to buy VGC points. Watching the DVC informational video, and even some webcasts, DVC, IMO, pumps up the "seeing the world" (and I don't mean Disney) options. And while I know the other options are available, finding out from posters on this board that points are used more cost effectively on Disney stays, the cheapskate in me wouldn't let me buy in. So thanks frequent posters, you saved me a lot of money!