Active Posting vs Active Lurking

[rascalmom]

I post and reply to threads a lot less than I used to. When I first discovered the DIS, I was full of questions......later, I became a DVC member and a new set of questions and discussions appealed to me.

Now, I guess I am what you would call a "seasoned" WDW visitor....we've probably made at least a dozen trips over the past 10 years. I pop on now & then when I am planning a trip or when I catch wind of new news/rumors.

Other than that, I lurk.

But "HI" everyone!

 

[uncw89]

ditto...

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

LOL!!!

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.

Me too! I don't post a whole lot either!

 

[dd08]

I mainly lurk not post for the following 3 reasons

1) You can learn a lot of good info on here, I like reading the threads

2) I usually don't have anything informative (or entertaining) to contribute

and on a bit of a sour/bitter note

3) When the first reallocation came out for the 2010 year, I made a couple posts in that mega-thread. I took a bit of a "I understand why they did this" and "it won't be so bad" stance and got blasted 6 ways to Sunday. Got accused a being a disney "spy", and much worse. So of course I made a post talking back to a couple of those people that they needed to grow up (and it was a G-rated post) and I promptly got the hammer dropped on me by a mod for being "offensive" and "confrontational." Meanwhile the posters who blasted me kept posting along their merry (well, not-so-merry) ways........

If I seem bitter.......not too much just this question made me remember why I don't post much here.

 

[kmsimone]

I've not seen any argument that lurkers are not of value

I have.

 

[wcpamotm]

This is a great example of a thread that's interesting to read, but on which I have nothing of any value to add.

 

[kmsimone]

This is a great example of a thread that's interesting to read, but on which I have nothing of any value to add.

You just did. (I think)

 

[cropman]

For me there are many reasons to lurk instead of posting. I learn a lot here. A lot of times, I don't think I can add much to the discussion, or there are other people who are more knowledgeable than me. If you check my join date vs posts, if I'm not king of the lurkers, I'm one of the generals in their army. I am an active DVC member, and have had addonitis too many times. Maybe with the new 50 post rule I'll quit looking in the windows and actually enter the store a little more often. Have a great Thanksgiving!

 

[kmsimone]

I am guessing the the 80/20 rule applies.

 

[360Joules]

Your on your way to the big five oh kmsimone !! good job

 

[WolfpackFan]

I lurk multiple times a day but my posting goes in spurts. When I'm actively planning a trip or real close to going on a trip I post a lot more. But in between trips I post a lot less. So maybe it averages out.

 

[mic_KY_mouses]

dd08...I understand how you feel. Thankfully I don't see that type of flaming banter as much on DIS as on other forums elsewhere on the internet. I try to be respectfull of others opinions and it bothers me when I see someone getting blasted for theirs. The mods here do a good job shutting down that sort of stuff, but it does still happen. When I see this happen I usually stop lurking and move on to another thread.

 

[dgaston]

I post when I can answer a question, or contribute something meaningful (I hope) to the thread. Usually though, Deb & Bill or Dianeschlicht beats me to it Then I'm silent.

 

[photobob]

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.

I do the same thing particularly on a more active thread. I have had many friends who ask about Disney trips and I'll tell them everything I know but also refer them to look here for FAQ's as well as allears.net and most would be lurkers,

 

[photobob]

I post when I can answer a question, or contribute something meaningful (I hope) to the thread. Usually though, Deb & Bill or Dianeschlight beats me to it Then I'm silent.

Ditto.

 

[dizzneebabe]

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.

Ditto for me!

 

[wildernessDad]

A lot of times, I'll look at a thread and see that someone has already posted a perfectly good answer. There is no use in my adding to it.

I think it's natural to see many more views than posts.

 

[SorcererJim]

A lot of times, I'll look at a thread and see that someone has already posted a perfectly good answer. There is no use in my adding to it.

I think it's natural to see many more views than posts.

This is the main reason why my post count is so low... usually I am playing catchup at the end on the week on threads, and by that time things are answered and I don't feel it necessary to put in my comments just to get my post counts up like some people... I guess I dont put any stake in the number underneath my name and treat this site like the resource it is.

Back to the shadows

 

[csharpwv]

Here are some scenarios I often find myself in:

1. The thread title sounded interesting - but upon further reading, it's really not.
2. The thread question has already been answered.
3. The thread has become so long that I don't have time/interested to read the entire post to assure I'm not just repeating what someone else has already said.
4. I find the post to be going beyond absurdity - and refuse to participate.
5. Someone is being very rude - and without being to one who call them on it, I find it hard to post.
6. There is valuable information in the post that doesn't necessitate a response.

Those are just a few of the scenarios I find myself in when reading posts/thread.

Anyone agree - or have others to add?

 

[vacationbug]

While I do not know my number of posts (until this one posts -it's been some time ) I do absolutely agree with Csharpwv and those six points specifically.

Also to agree to the points that JKJones and some of the others (yes even WolfpakFan) that I recognize as "Regulars". I appreciate their knowledge base, and sometimes they make me smile.

I thank the boards for helping me to have a good understanding of the DVC before we made the plunge. I have been to WDW a lot, but don't necessarily think that I am an "expert".

Observing is interesting, but I have also seen the flaming and absurb threads, the whining and complaining/entitlement threads, the news and good things threads. I might post more often if I think it would be of value, I try, but one never knows the response you get, and maybe I am a bit shy.

We're all a community, we're some the same; some different, but we do all enjoy Disney.

BTW my count down is at 1! Haven't stayed at AKL since 2002, so staying at AKV will be sweet! Lucky birthday for me!

 

[Wedgeh]

I only like to reply when I've got something useful to contribute. Sadly with the new rule I may have to lower that bar a little ....