It is critical that if you are to be a member of Level 2 you must remain active here. This is because if we are to create a sharing environment it is only fair that you put in the same effort as others, and this is reflected by how frequently you post. Failure to post on a regular basis will result in your banishment from Level 2.
I've heard variations of the above from both members and admins of fora. I'm committing 'Admin Suicide' and calling poppycock..
The truth is that the owner of a Forum will spout lines like this as fear tactics to keep you posting. Members will say it for other reasons. You see, I myself am often a 'lurker' when it comes to MS and other things. Even here when we have threads on topics that I don't have time to explore, I won't read the thread to take the idea, instead, I will look at all threads from a perspective of 'is the conversation flowing the way I want' (IE is anyone bringing in too much FT-esque vitriol) and is there a general opportunity to warn of stewardship issues (EG how to generally complain, why it is OK to pay a small monthly fee, how to avoid general attention etc).
Ironically, that gets me involved with a lot of threads and products, but frequently I am not an expert at them, I still only vaguely 'get' Evolve. I'm toying with a HELOC now to explore using it, but I haven't fully researched it - despite posting a ton about it. Essentially I am lurking. Others do this too - they can offer advice that is seasoned, they can be nice, they can be active, but it might all be generic advice. In someways this is what a generic steward would do. They'd be offering value, but not on the bleeding edge of a new product.
For me, I have the 'life is too crazy' right now - I really think this is healthy and normal, and slowing down your activity is the right thing to do.
When my schedule opens up, I might see if a new product fits into my plans. However, that is different from chasing every opportunity - and I simply don't do that. I have my capacity. I am opportunistic, so if I encounter something in person, or anywhere online I might look at it briefly and decide whether I am interested or not. I often bring these ideas here to be explored.
Some people view this as leeching, because if they publish about Product X that allows $20K per month, and someone like me doesn't apply for one to test it out, but just waits for a wiki to appear, they are doing all the work. However, big picture, what comes around goes around, and if you put things up people will reciprocate at some point. And more importantly, I might not be waiting for the Wiki at all, I might not ever get this card.
The difference (to me) is that personally I wouldn't drive out to a CVS to read their rack of giftcards, but if I was in CVS I would look at the rack. I'll pick up a card and look to see what is available on the latest version of a Reloadit card, and I will always try to buy a Vanilla Reload with a credit card should I have a spare 3 minutes to be declined.
I feel the lurker argument is saying:
You can't come in to CVS because we are looking harder than you and come here every day.
I think that isn't fair, and also it doesn't meant that these folks are working harder, just that they perhaps are working more frequently, and when I do turn my full attention on finding/examining a gig, I can offer a lot of value. This is how I view the Lurkers. Sure, there are some that might just seek to take and not give back, but there are many more who just have too much crap going on in their lives to be posting every day.
Let's compare that with a person who posts here every single day - super active, but really is it just like a guy who hangs out by the giftcard rack asking silly questions every day?
For those of you who are here every day and building the community I thank you, but please realize that life is a fickle thing, and you may get pressures of work/health/family that pull you away from the forum. I will not think less of you, or call you a 'Lurker' for these reasons.
Remember, this forum is different. For one, people who come here tend to know of MS to a certain degree, and they aren't coming to repost this to sell credit cards on their blogs, as such, I think we need to remember that to be a positive community we should embrace the lurkers - they aren't doing harm, and I am one myself.
It doesn't matter if you lurk providing that you agree to:
I've heard variations of the above from both members and admins of fora. I'm committing 'Admin Suicide' and calling poppycock..
The truth is that the owner of a Forum will spout lines like this as fear tactics to keep you posting. Members will say it for other reasons. You see, I myself am often a 'lurker' when it comes to MS and other things. Even here when we have threads on topics that I don't have time to explore, I won't read the thread to take the idea, instead, I will look at all threads from a perspective of 'is the conversation flowing the way I want' (IE is anyone bringing in too much FT-esque vitriol) and is there a general opportunity to warn of stewardship issues (EG how to generally complain, why it is OK to pay a small monthly fee, how to avoid general attention etc).
Ironically, that gets me involved with a lot of threads and products, but frequently I am not an expert at them, I still only vaguely 'get' Evolve. I'm toying with a HELOC now to explore using it, but I haven't fully researched it - despite posting a ton about it. Essentially I am lurking. Others do this too - they can offer advice that is seasoned, they can be nice, they can be active, but it might all be generic advice. In someways this is what a generic steward would do. They'd be offering value, but not on the bleeding edge of a new product.
For me, I have the 'life is too crazy' right now - I really think this is healthy and normal, and slowing down your activity is the right thing to do.
When my schedule opens up, I might see if a new product fits into my plans. However, that is different from chasing every opportunity - and I simply don't do that. I have my capacity. I am opportunistic, so if I encounter something in person, or anywhere online I might look at it briefly and decide whether I am interested or not. I often bring these ideas here to be explored.
Some people view this as leeching, because if they publish about Product X that allows $20K per month, and someone like me doesn't apply for one to test it out, but just waits for a wiki to appear, they are doing all the work. However, big picture, what comes around goes around, and if you put things up people will reciprocate at some point. And more importantly, I might not be waiting for the Wiki at all, I might not ever get this card.
The difference (to me) is that personally I wouldn't drive out to a CVS to read their rack of giftcards, but if I was in CVS I would look at the rack. I'll pick up a card and look to see what is available on the latest version of a Reloadit card, and I will always try to buy a Vanilla Reload with a credit card should I have a spare 3 minutes to be declined.
I feel the lurker argument is saying:
You can't come in to CVS because we are looking harder than you and come here every day.
I think that isn't fair, and also it doesn't meant that these folks are working harder, just that they perhaps are working more frequently, and when I do turn my full attention on finding/examining a gig, I can offer a lot of value. This is how I view the Lurkers. Sure, there are some that might just seek to take and not give back, but there are many more who just have too much crap going on in their lives to be posting every day.
Let's compare that with a person who posts here every single day - super active, but really is it just like a guy who hangs out by the giftcard rack asking silly questions every day?
For those of you who are here every day and building the community I thank you, but please realize that life is a fickle thing, and you may get pressures of work/health/family that pull you away from the forum. I will not think less of you, or call you a 'Lurker' for these reasons.
Remember, this forum is different. For one, people who come here tend to know of MS to a certain degree, and they aren't coming to repost this to sell credit cards on their blogs, as such, I think we need to remember that to be a positive community we should embrace the lurkers - they aren't doing harm, and I am one myself.
It doesn't matter if you lurk providing that you agree to:
- Don't share outside of the Forum
- Be civil
