Dopers with an early join date but low post count

[kayaker]

There should be a term for this. Is there?

[JKellyMap]

Quasi-lurker? Sub-lurker?

[Big_Blue]

Underachiever.

[AnthonyElite]

@Blackberry

I’m just really curious when I see someone who has been here for over a decade and only has a few posts, and then they’ll post something really trivial. Why that? (Not saying it’s too trivial to post at all, just that if you hardly ever post why would that be the time you do?)

Long time lurker, infrequent poster checking in here.

I find my tepid participation is attributable to several things:

1. I post on other message boards too (rarely there too)
2. I stay away from “hot” issues because I don’t think anyone listens, only talks
3. I give up quickly in any argument as I don’t want to look for evidence of my opinion

At the best of times I feel as though I am just smart enough to look around and see how smart I am NOT. Honestly, it almost feels like a Lovecraftian thing; I am aware of you geniuses. I know I make spelling errors, I’m wrong about things, there are flaws in my train of logic. Sometimes I wonder how some of you can be so ROUND - is it upbringing?

[JKellyMap]

@AnthonyElite

Sometimes I wonder how some of you can be so ROUND - is it upbringing?

In my case, just pizza and beer.

[qubed]

@Qwisp

I prefer to read rather than post. A lot of times someone has already said something similar to what I would have posted, but occasionally I post just because the mood strikes. For the most part I figure I’ll be ignored either way.

Normally, I wouldn’t post in this thread because you said exactly what I would have said. So meta.

[ZipperJJ]

@PastTense

If someone is a Guest (which most posters are) you have to click on their name to find out their post count. I am surprised previous posters on this thread do this consistently–for me it is something I only do rarely. I am also one of those who seldom remember posters–there was a recent thread on Straight Dope Institutions–and my reaction for about 90% of the names was that I didn’t recognize them.

I don’t click to see post counts. The people I notice as long-time lurkers who come in and post are only noticeable to me because they are members with a visible post count. That makes them stand out even more - they pay to read!

[Missy2U]

Exactly for the reasons that Qwisp said.

[Wilson]

I’m actually shocked that I have over a thousand posts…

I’m here reading almost every day, but don’t feel the need to post all that often. Mostly in sports threads.

[Orville_mogul]

I echo the thing about people usually having said what I wanted to hours earlier.

One reason for this is that I am in Europe and the time difference means that I am often sleeping when a lot of the new threads from North America (from which I imagine the majority of all threads originates) are kicked off.

It’s rare when I am able to jump into a thread when it is still in its first page (so today is a bit of luck for me. Go me!)

[Strainger]

Is ~2500 posts a lot or a little for someone who joined in April of 1999?

There are some threads here, though not a lot, that catch my interest, so I’ll skim the board here and there. Of the ones that do catch my interest, a lot of times I just enjoy reading what someone with better knowledge of the topic at hand has to say. Or, someone has already said what I was thinking, and, unlike a lot of other posters here, I don’t feel the need to repeat it.

[RickG]

@Strainger

Is ~2500 posts a lot or a little for someone who joined in April of 1999?

Being 5 times my own post count, I’ll call it a lot.

I’ll add a “meta-meta-me-too” to qubed’s “meta-me-too”: By the time I formulate a coherent response, someone else has said essentially the same thing, and I hate “me too” posts. (My occasional self-loathing has just spiked for some reason ;).)

BTW, I continue to pay for membership because the ads make reading difficult. I am visually-impaired, and reducing the visual clutter is worth the price.

[Lanzy]

I tend to post more if I hit a thread early on. After a couple of pages its all been said and doesn’t need repeating just to “hear” myself. Not a chatter box.

[Grrr]

@Qwisp

I prefer to read rather than post. A lot of times someone has already said something similar to what I would have posted, but occasionally I post just because the mood strikes. For the most part I figure I’ll be ignored either way.

I sincerely hope you guys realize that just because somebody doesn’t quote you or respond to your post doesn’t mean it hasn’t added value to the thread.

I’m not going to respond to somebody if all I have to say is “interesting” or “Good point” or “LOL”.

[Pasta]

My stats might fit the OP (1999 join date, 1600 posts, 0.3 posts per day). It’s a mix of things for me. I’m generally pretty busy. Long periods can go by where I only glance at the forums here and there (e.g., on my phone while in line somewhere). In GQ, where I spend most of my time, questions are usually answered correctly within hours if not minutes, so I don’t usually engage. If I feel I can add something over what’s been said, or if I have a few minutes to kill and the thread hasn’t taken off yet, I try to reply. I occasionally get ‘paged’ to threads via PM, which usually works.

For random, one-off posts (like this one) – just depends how the winds are blowing.

[Grrr]

@ZipperJJ

Yeah I think they’re brilliant little jewels that pop up every so often and I’m rarely not delighted to see them.

I especially like when someone who has been a long-time lurker comes to the rescue of a thread as an actual authority on a subject. Like “Oh hey I build Boeing 777s” or “I programmed that feature for Samsung.”

Jewels!

So much this.

I started a thread asking for advice on a problem I was having with my kid in school. One of the lurkers came out of lurking because she just so happened to work in education. Her advice was sage, and I felt so complimented that she came out of lurking just to help me.

[AHarris]

@Pasta

My stats might fit the OP (1999 join date, 1600 posts, 0.3 posts per day). It’s a mix of things for me. I’m generally pretty busy. Long periods can go by where I only glance at the forums here and there (e.g., on my phone while in line somewhere). In GQ, where I spend most of my time, questions are usually answered correctly within hours if not minutes, so I don’t usually engage. If I feel I can add something over what’s been said, or if I have a few minutes to kill and the thread hasn’t taken off yet, I try to reply. I occasionally get ‘paged’ to threads via PM, which usually works.

For random, one-off posts (like this one) – just depends how the winds are blowing.

I tend to feel the same. Additionally I do most of my browsing from work, and I don’t feel as comfortable posting from there. In my mind, it’s one thing to read a thread and another to take the time and effort to compose a post.

[FallFast]

@qubed

Normally, I wouldn’t post in this thread because you said exactly what I would have said. So meta.

Ditto. Already said don’t need to repeat it over and over and over again.

I skim and read and only post if I have something original to add not just pile on the same stuff.

[ZipperJJ]

Here’s an example, hot off the presses!

11-year member with under 1500 posts, keeps Charter Member status, swoops in and posts a thorough and helpful post on the topic at hand because he/she is an expert on the topic. Wahoo!

[Alma]

Right now my post count is 771. I can’t believe I ever had 771 things to say.