Dear lurkers: A Poll

[Deleted]

I lurk. The board moves to fast and seems to lean very liberal and I don't so I don't post. I do like getting different perspectives though .

[So_Fetch]

I don't post (or even like posts I agree with) because you all know way more about this stuff than I do. But I'm learning about hot topics and what to go research on my own. I honestly get my news from GBCN.

[Vespasia]

Dec 5, 2014 12:11:36 GMT -5 googly said:

Definitely a lurker here. I read a little bit from my phone during the day when I have a couple of down minutes. At night after the kids have gone to bed I tend to catch up on all the big posts and by that time I always feel like everything has been covered.

I am also shy both in life and online. You ladies have done an excellent job making me question my politics and beliefs though . I come from a hard core right wing Fox News loving family and I now find myself disagreeing with their views more and more.

You need to post more so I can enjoy your sig. TYIA 

[00janelane00]

Lurky lurker checking in. I've been lurking for years, even before the mass exodus from the knot. I'm pretty shy (even online!) so I guess that's why I don't post. And this board tends to move fast, when I have a moment to post you guys have moved onto something new.

[Vespasia]

Dec 5, 2014 14:20:09 GMT -5 toriwc said:

I am in the political minority here. And I like visiting the MUT too much to risk pissing people off (Being a bit TIC, but really want to be able to go there).

The MUT is like Switzerland, you'll be OK.

[wawa]

Dec 5, 2014 14:44:20 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

Dec 5, 2014 14:20:09 GMT -5 toriwc said:

I am in the political minority here. And I like visiting the MUT too much to risk pissing people off (Being a bit TIC, but really want to be able to go there).

The MUT is like Switzerland, you'll be OK.

toriwc yeah, unless when you say political minority you mean that you think black people are too stupid to vote, we should build an electrified fence across the Mexican border and women should be investigated for child abuse for eating feta while KTFU - then I think you could say pretty much anything you please in other threads and we'll still happily talk makeup with you. 

[shoeaholic]

Dec 5, 2014 14:35:45 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Dec 5, 2014 14:15:27 GMT -5 shoeaholic said:

I'm a long time lurker which I think makes it extra creepy which is why I don't post much. I have been following along since the mass Knot exodus and was over there for about 3 years before that. I actually have this site up all day and toggle between CEP, MM and ML. I rarely comment because 1) I feel redundant that my point was already made by someone 2) I have a really strong opinion about something but everyone would be all "who the heck are you and STFU" or 3) I just like to learn something new and have nothing to contribute.

:-)

I did get one person over on SO all worked up over a comment so I try to take the lurker position.

I got folks all revved up on SO too over something I said and I'm still there posting, though I'm not a regular on that board. I think you just have to take your lumps sometimes and keep at it. I'm also dead inside so there's that. 

I didn't mind the lumps but it was a pile up of all her groupies. The best part was I had a whole bunch of people PM me agreeing with me but wouldn't do it publicly in that board for the same reason. I don't really fear that happening in CEP, MM and ML. I just think SO is a little hyper sensitive to outsiders.

I'll keep trying to jump in though! :-)

[vanlatte]

I've been lurking here for a couple of years, but didn't register until the beginning of this year. I work days as an RN, and enjoy coming home at night to relax and read about events that took place while I was at work. Like others have stated, I have always felt that by the time I get home, get dinner, kids bathed and in bed, in addition living on the West Coast, I really don't have much to add that hasn't already been hashed out.

I'm turning 40 at the end of the month, and this scares the shit out of me. I read the MUT religiously, and have been spending an insane amount of money on makeup and skincare, in hopes that my transition into oldzville goes smoothly.


And for all of this, I thank you CE&P!

[mala]

I lurk because I feel like every time I say anything I sound like an idiot.

[origami]

Dec 5, 2014 10:50:26 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

Dec 5, 2014 10:44:35 GMT -5 lovesherheels said:

I lurk here because I like the discussion, but I don't usually participate because you ladies are much more well-informed, well-versed and well-spoken than I am on these things. Usually one of you beats me to what I'd want to say anyway. I appreciate the perspective that I've gained from lurking, though, because it's made me consider things on a deeper level than I sometimes would. 

FWIW i was like this when i first started on the E08 boards. (confession: origami intimidated the shit out of me.  in a good way)

post.  you learn more by posting than by reading, i promise.

That is so funny to me. I've been chronically sleep deprived for so long I don't think I could explain Blues Clues and still make sense. I so admire you for maintaining your sanity and wits even though you have a 3rd too!

[midge]

I lurk and would like to participate more. I often don't though because I have two kids 2 and under who make it impossible to carry on a conversation. Right now as I type this my son is eating the chair I am sitting in. For real.

[laurenpetro]

Dec 5, 2014 18:56:07 GMT -5 origami said:

Dec 5, 2014 10:50:26 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

FWIW i was like this when i first started on the E08 boards. (confession: origami intimidated the shit out of me.  in a good way)

post.  you learn more by posting than by reading, i promise.

That is so funny to me. I've been chronically sleep deprived for so long I don't think I could explain Blues Clues and still make sense. I so admire you for maintaining your sanity and wits even though you have a 3rd too!

oh honey.  that is LOOOOONG gone.  why do you think i do the cookies?

PS: ben has only shit on the floor once this week and that was when i told him to go to his room and wait for me.  PROGRESS!  (and i've totally jinxed myself for tomorrow)

[callie]

Dec 5, 2014 12:28:38 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

Dec 5, 2014 12:07:22 GMT -5 callie said:

Not a lurker but infrequent poster. If I feel like I have nothing to add, I don't post.

ETA: Also, I have a hard time organizing my thoughts so I get lazy and just don't post.

I like when I see you post, because selfishly I like seeing my own name (though with a K).  Unless that isn't your name... then ignore me

It's not my name...but I know the feeling. I have a well recognized named but it isn't very popular. Anytime its mentioned, typically on baby names post, I get a little giddy lol

[paiav]

Under a different name, on the former site, I used to post regularly on my local board and less frequently on the national boards. Made the migration with everyone, but it was right around when I was trying to finish my PhD, so I decided not to register/post, in the hopes that it would prevent this site from becoming such a time sink. Ha. Not sure how much that has helped!

I've popped into a couple random threads here and there, either under this name or some earlier one that I've forgotten, but otherwise just lurk to read interesting insights on politics and current events. Also occasionally lurk on ML for entertainment value, TTTC for commiseration, and now Got Pregnant because yay!

[origami]

Dec 5, 2014 19:14:27 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

Dec 5, 2014 18:56:07 GMT -5 origami said:

That is so funny to me. I've been chronically sleep deprived for so long I don't think I could explain Blues Clues and still make sense. I so admire you for maintaining your sanity and wits even though you have a 3rd too!

oh honey.  that is LOOOOONG gone.  why do you think i do the cookies?

PS: ben has only shit on the floor once this week and that was when i told him to go to his room and wait for me.  PROGRESS!  (and i've totally jinxed myself for tomorrow)

Lol. You might be the only person who understands the sheer panic I feel when I find a crayon in their bedroom.

[woodiedog]

I don't post to CEP often because I don't agree with the posters about 90% of the time on political or religious issues. The posters here can be tough and not respectful. I SMH alot.
I've seen posts full of wonderful grace and beauty here too. Those posts keep me hopeful.

[lostrn]

I lurk here because you guys are smart:) and I like the different perspectives on issues, ideas I never would have considered on my own. I don't contribute much because I feel like 99% of the time any idea I could come up with has already been voiced much more throughly and eloquently than I could do.

[kme]

You probably don't classify a luker. I lurk a few times a week. I don't post often because:

1) I can't commit the time for follow ups
2) I won't contribute anything new / too late to the thread
3) Opinions aren't of the majority
4) What I say is often interrupted wrong or misconstrued.
4) Posters are disrespectful.. Once someone says something negative about me, I'm out. I'm not going to waste my time anymore.

[adcobe]

I lurk but usually what im thinking has been said and don't want to bog down the thread.

[pmwife]

Dec 5, 2014 10:35:57 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Even if I'm not around much at night, we need to keep this place lively at night for the benefit of people like origami, summer (maybe, depending on what time it is over there), sushi, stealthmom, West Coasters in general, etc.

Yeah, I get not wanting to repeat what others have said but bumping up conversations that may have run their course earlier that day is fine if you have anything new to add, to ask questions, etc.

That's good to know!  I often have something to say but it is late in the day or long after the conversation is dead - like this one.

[sunnysally]

I've made a few posts on various boards, but I'm too lazy to type long responses on my phone which is where I usually read GBCN. There is a cliquishness to the boards which is perfectly understandable given how long many have been posting together and that is hard for an occasional poster to break into.

[firedancer10288]

I'm a teacher and don't get a chance to keep up during the day. I usually read the boards at night once DD goes to bed. By that point I feel like most threads have been dead for a few hours and I don't have anything else worthwhile to contribute.

A lot of times I want to "like" something while I'm reading, but then I think no one knows who I am and I'll seem like a creepy lurker by liking a bunch of posts.

[Velvetshady]

Dec 5, 2014 22:11:23 GMT -5 adcobe said:

I lurk but usually what im thinking has been said and don't want to bog down the thread.

This board has 10 page long posts about bacon--there is no such thing as "bogging down the thread" on this board.

[flgirl]

I know I will piss someone off. I am not of the same political persuasion as most of the posters. I mostly lurk to see the "other side" of a particular subject or current event. I think that makes for a more well rounded political or world view, understanding what the other side is thinking. I don;t want to be attacked just for having a different view. I have been on MMM and I just shut down after that and don't respond. Would love to be the voice of a different view point if that would be accepted but I already feel like I have been called ignorant and other niceties and I don't even voice my opinion.

[bottleofred]

The app sucks for responding (I can only see about three lines, and then it's a hope and a prayer that autocorrect hasn't made me look like an ass). Reading from the app is easy. I'm blocked from work, so have to use my phone to do anythig here.

[SallySparrow]

I love reading this board. I just don't have a ton of time to post. I mostly hang out on MMM, and I don't even post a ton over there.

[linus]

I lurk because I have learned a lot from the board, especially since most of my IRL friends/family hold very conservative political views. I don't participate often (at all) because I'm too paranoid about running into someone I may know IRL, or otherwise giving away too much identifying information. Sorry for being a creeper, but thanks for keeping the board open so I can learn!

[mich1]

Dec 6, 2014 13:09:24 GMT -5 flgirl said:

I know I will piss someone off. I am not of the same political persuasion as most of the posters. I mostly lurk to see the "other side" of a particular subject or current event. I think that makes for a more well rounded political or world view, understanding what the other side is thinking. I don;t want to be attacked just for having a different view. I have been on MMM and I just shut down after that and don't respond. Would love to be the voice of a different view point if that would be accepted but I already feel like I have been called ignorant and other niceties and I don't even voice my opinion.

This is the way I feel.  When someone comes in and says something that I have been thinking, I see how they are treated and just retreat.

I want to see the other side of what I think, but am not willing to be beat up about my opinion.....so keep my mouth shut.

[knufflebunny]

I really want to participate more, but 1) sometimes don't have time, 2) don't alwas know what to say.

Lol, I don't even really have a good reason! I do post on occasion...much more active on my local board (under a different name).

[sarabi]

Mostly because I'm on during off peak times and I'd just have dittos. I'm also not super witty/funny and I think sometimes that means my personality doesn't translate as super interesting online.