<p>Searchingavalon, I have to agree with you. It also seems to be fairly inaccurate because I know that I've probably contributed to quite a few of the "lurker" stats by "just checking".</p>
<p>Usually, a "who's online" screen will reveal lurker info. But, I see that the Admin has disabled the "who's online" for the site, for now.</p>
<p>Sometimes though you think you are going to read something interesting but it turns out to be very boring. More example someone will type in "Interesting dillemma" or "Must read please!" and it turns out to be another spoiled rich kid with a 4.0 GPA and 1600 SAT worrying about whether or not he can get into Harvard or not. This is what runs up many counters.</p>
<p>another spoiled rich kid with a 4.0 GPA and 1600 SAT. That's not the usual deal on the parent's forum joev.</p>
<p>But you're right Momstheword, the parent's forum does have it's heated ie flammable :eek:, topics. I've been trying to tally them.</p>
<p>1) Wealth--by far the most 'flammable'. Don't go there, lol.</p>
<p>2) Special admission privileges for athletes</p>
<p>3) Race (though this was much worse earlier in the year. Is it on the wane ( hopefully?) or will it rise up again as deadlines loom?)</p>
<p>Right now, there are over 400 readers of this thread--but only 20 posts. Those are intimidating stats....is it the same on the kids board?</p>
<p>Here I've been thinking I was kinda having coffee and verklempt with Sooviet, jamimom, momsdream, marite, tsdad, demiguy...and all the other posters. In fact, it appears I've been broadcasting to a HUGE audience....:(</p>
<p>Cheers writes: "Here I've been thinking I was kinda having coffee and verklempt with Sooviet, jamimom, momsdream, marite, tsdad, demiguy...and all the other posters. In fact, it appears I've been broadcasting to a HUGE audience."</p>
<p>That made me laugh. Yeah, there is this regular "coffe klatch" of parents immersed in college stuff and here we find out there is a big audience...kinda like a TV show that they are all watching! Reality TV at its best...</p>
<p>And by the way, though this is gonna get lost in this post, but so often I see my posting name spelled as Sooviet and it sounds like Soviet and it does make me smile.....but it REALLY is SoozieVT. The problem is that on CC, the posting names do not utilize capital letters, so in lower case, it reads "soozievt" and then for some reason, lotsa people refer to that as "sooviet"! I sorta get a kick out of it but it sounds like I have this Soviet connection thing going on, when actually what my posting name stands for is Soozie (family, hubby, and people where I grew up call me Susie) and I now live in Vermont, hence the VT. No big deal but I notice this reference a lot and thought since we are talking forum stuff and not college stuff (for once), I would mention that. </p>
<p>Now back to our regularly scheduled program. :D
Susan</p>
<p>hi to all! I won't run up the lurkers count by not posting. :)</p>
<p>Very good warning from Over30 - this really does make me more careful about posting personal information. Eeek!</p>
<p>Momsdream; Simply leave the 'Reason' for the edit blank--it's optional.</p>
<p>Coffee and verklempt - made me smile.</p>
<p>I am among the "once burned, twice shy" posters; now I mostly lurk. I was tempted to revive the "Where are your kids w/ their apps?" thread when my son got his EA application in the mail. Woo hoo!</p>
<p>Longtime lurker here. I enjoy reading everyone's posts, much as I enjoy listening to intelligent - and sometimes heated - conversation at a party.</p>
<p>Although an occasional poster, Im more of a sporadic lurker. Reason #1 is that I have little to contribute since we have just started the process. Reason #2 is that I dont feel I can reciprocate and be as open as others in the community because my D has asked me to respect her privacy. I have come to understand her request, though. To my surprise, I have read various posts and immediately recognized the poster.</p>
<p>I have just realized that 50% of people on this message board end their screen name with "mom" northstarmom, worriedmom, jammimom, etc, I should change my name to joevmom just to fit in. Too many moms.</p>
<p>Joev:</p>
<p>This is a PARENTS forum. Not enough dads.</p>
<p>I am more of a lurker than poster, I have learned so much from this board. I do skim many threads looking for pertinent information. Guess you can say I am lurking with intent.</p>
<p>Hi, Aries -
good to hear from you. I hope school is going well for you!</p>
<p>Regarding Heated Debates -
My son refers to this as 'the parents thread getting their knickers in a knot again'. </p>
<p>To lurking parents just starting out -
sometimes, just asking a question is useful. Kids (and parents) with overly long lists of reach schools need to think through what's important. Asking about a major, or noting an recurring theme can be useful in clarifying issues.</p>
<p>Hi, just a quick note to establish that at least a few Dads on are on this thread, and also to provide a stat for the posters, rather than the lurkers. I have to admit that I read lots of threads without posting (and did not post at all for the first ten months I was reading). For the most part this is because I don't know enough to add to the conversation, and because I hesitate to put my opinion forth without supporting data.</p>
<p>When I have the data, I don't shy away from a spiritied discussion.</p>
<p>Finally another guy on one of these threads!! Beer drinkers unite!!</p>
<p>I remember being in Kindergarten and having a classroom with one of those one way mirrors on one wall. Adults could sit and observe us from the next room without us knowing. That's what the lurking here reminds me of. </p>
<p>I never doubted that the lurking existed to this degree. Matter of fact, I've often surmised that some of the postings (not the regulars) were "commercials" for potentially lurking adcoms.....ya know..the "my son is super smart and has one free hour left per week in his super busy schedule. I told him he should relax in that hour but he wants to fill it by collecting clothing for the homeless shelter where's he's volunteered 100,000 hours so far...what should I say? (wink)"..... gimme a break.</p>
<p>Justanothermom, I'm with Mini in that I'm one of the more revealing posters in term of my identity. Anyone from my area could have easily figured me or my S out by now, which doesn't bother me, nor him. I haven't said anything I wouldn't say in person......but that's just my style. There are things that I avoid saying because I don't want to make the potentially lurking adcoms mad....like the one who won't return emails or phone calls <em>cough</em>:) Others certainly have a right to their privacy. And, if you need to post about more sensitive issues, I can truly understand the need to mask.</p>
<p>It wasn't easy to register. I registered two days before the changeover & then had to redo. Should have lurked a little while longer!</p>
<p>Where are the rest of the dads? I thought there were many more.</p>