Why don't lurkers post?

<p>Some of you may have thought that my choice of the word "apocryphal" was not the best, connotating as it does a substantial amount of doubt or disbelief in the subject matter. Au contraire. It was in fact an effort on my part to "weasel", (or "ferret" if you are O.N.A., Orthodox New Age ), my old compadre TheDad out into the open as I thought I had recognized some stylistic points earlier in the month.</p>

<p>We knew him in undergrad simply as "The Dad", as he had not yet fully meshed into one being . We had a Native American professor who spoke of him as "TheDad-The One Who Steals Your Thunder". But,I digress.</p>

<p>I knew he had written a short research piece entitled "Stubbacles- Human or Highboy?" as Stubbacles was reportedly quite tall for his time- even with his Queen Anne legs ( a result of a common dietary deficiency of the time).</p>

<p>I felt he couldn't resist the opportunity to "wax eloquent" about his old thesis topic. And I was correct.</p>

<p>Well, you could AT LEAST give a passing nod to Patient, who recognized like minds and openly invited this brilliant discourse. </p>

<p>LOL you guys. We need a new forum here, Called CCCC (College Confidential Comedy Central). So as not to disturb the serious posters, while keeping the rest of us off our rockers and in stitches. One of the highlights of my day and no comments about getting a life, please.</p>

<p>I'd have thought that dietary deficiency would have resulted in Punic legs rather than Queen Anne bow legs. As for rockers, if we're going to go off them, let's do it style, but what style, pray?</p>

<p>Curmudgeon and Thedad are unable to answer this query at this time. They were last seen in togas, walking through the famous Greek Isles Casino in Las Vegas (this being a convenient meeting point between their respective residences in northern Madagascar and Somewhere Else), to which they earlier elected to adjourn and continue their nascent historical argument-- without lurkers--whilst working on the outline of their latest book, tentatively titled, "College admissions advice gone wild: The Wit and Wisdom of Curmudgeon & Thedad". They nearly came to blows over whose name would come first, Thedad laying claim to college confidential seniority, Curmudgeon to alphabetic and poetic ("it just flows off the tongue that way") superiority, but fortunately were able to settle their dispute with a single game of high stakes Texas Holdem.</p>

<p>Better titles are being solicited from lurkers but nothing further will be forthcoming, alas. They both look very nice in togas, I am happy to report.</p>

<p>If they were wearing togas, they must have been heading toward Caesar's Palace. Greek tunics were much shorter, hence Curmudgeon's concern for the effect of dietary deficiency on legs. But whether togas or tunics, does it mean that Curmudgeon and TheDad qualify as sandal-wearing liberals? Or is it your version of a sword-and-sandal saga, in which it is shown that the pen is mightier than the sword?</p>

<p>CCCC might do it. I would say "let's take it down to the Cafe'" but we all know what happens to us down there!</p>

<p>Penalty for thread hijacking: an afternoon picnic at the Coliseum (lions free of charge)</p>

<p>Wait -- was I anywhere near the right century with that?</p>

<p>No but what the heck it doesn't matter, considering what Curmudgeon and Thedad have done to history today. Dizzymom, you and I are caught up with the Romans, hence our inability to figure out what the heck those guys were talking about. Marite, thanks for the correction, I wasn't thinking.</p>

<p>And p.s., I do apologize sincerely for my part of the hijacking, although I am not as culpable as some....at least this time I didn't solicit blond jokes.</p>

<p>Please stay on topic. The original topic title is, ** Why don't lurkers post?**</p>

<p>I just realized the main reason lurkers don't post is they are not confident about their spelling. I find myself proofing my posts on this forum much more carefully than when I am posting on the auto mechanics forum! :) Maybe they could include a spell checker?</p>

<p>NJres, I agree. I have 4 other websites I frequent, all four sports/hobby sites. It does feel different here. The really smart folks posting on this site combined with the relatively short edit time allowed create a distinct possibility of me looking like our cyber village's idiot-forever.</p>

<p>It can be a tough crowd, or at least that is the perception. That perception might cause someone to avoid posting altogether. </p>

<p>And as to staying on topic-my post was on topic. It was weird, I admit -but it spoke directly to my thoughts about lurking and lurkers. I do feel strongly that there are under-represented positions on the board. If by this thread we have goaded someone who holds those positions into posting, "that's a good thing" .(My Goodness, now I'm channeling Martha Stewart.Time to go to bed.)</p>

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<p>I mostly read CC and occationally post. The main reason was a saying a B-school classmate of mine taught me ... </p>

<p>"he who talks the most listens the least". </p>

<p>For me, there is a lot of truth to that ... if I am a main voice in the converstation I get caught up in making sure I am understood much more than trying to understand others. I come to CC to learn from others and I believe my mostly reading I learn more. I do pipe up if, after a bunch of replies, I have something unique to add.</p>

<p>I am a full-time lurker for a number of reasons.</p>

<h1>1 I hadn't gotten around to figuring out the new College Confidential.</h1>

<h1>2 I used to be active in the Musical Theater board, but now that my Dancer is in college, I don't have a lot to add. But I still read it regularly.</h1>

<h1>3 My next one doesn't start the "college thing" for another year or so. He's a sophomore who is much more concerned with next year's soccer team's starting line-up than where he's going to college. Besides, being 15-years-old, he is sure he's going to get into wherever he wants. :)</h1>

<p>But I do a lot of reading in the engineering threads, hoping to get ideas and suggestions for him for next year. Trying to figure where his test scores place him. He wants to go to Stanford. Does he really have a chance? </p>

<p>Mostly, though, CC is my "escape". When I am tired of dishes and cleaning and organizing and such, I sit down and read CC.</p>

<p>Peg</p>

<p>I post occassionally but I probably read 100 posts or more for each I contribute. Usually the reason why is simple. I am learning and feel thet I either have nothing meaningful to add, or that someoone else has already contributed the same thought I would have contributed, and not been refuted.</p>

<p>I also agree with TheDad; some of us need to remain quiet, rather than to remove all doubt...</p>

<p>ReasonableDad, please drop me a PM or e-mail via my Profile. I wanted to follow up on something off line from a while ago.</p>

<p>I lurk way more than I post. I am a bit shy and don't always feel that I have something meaningful to contribute. Plus I have seen too many posters flamed on here and <a href="http://www.review.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.review.com&lt;/a>. for various reasons -- Ivy League, racial issues, $$ issues, etc. etc. I started reading CC just before child #2 applied to schools. Child #3 is a junior now and I am burned out from going throught he college app process with 3 kids.
I have learned a lot from CC and my friends whose kids are older.</p>

<p>I'm here lurking and reading about why all of us lurk. I am one (hey, look at my number of posts) but mainly because I don't have a lot to add. I also do get leary of being identified, so to speak. Last year without realizing it I had written enough that a student recognized my son from a debate tournament, and that was enough to freak me out. The other reason is I'm scared that I really will get addicted to this, big time. Now, I go away for awhile and then come back. I have another group of internet friends that keep me busy enough. I really wouldn't get anything done around here if I'm on here even more!</p>

<p>I admit it...I'm a lurker...this is my first post. I have learned so much from these boards ...but have become more obsessed than I should be about this whole college process! I am anxiously awaiting my son's ED...</p>

<p>Ditto Texastaximom.</p>