Non-posting members

Jack-Flash-Jr

At last tally Members: 1,826 and there seems to be new ones every day... but there's a lot of non-posting members, was just wondering why so many folks don't post? Not that I don't love the core posters ? The forum is incredibly rich already but would only benefit from more opinions and shared info...

aja

Many members are only here for the classifieds section. Some other forums require 100 posts before you are granted access to the classies. Perhaps that is an option here, too?

inflames

Some members just sign up to ask a question on gear then disappear!
A few also just sign up to post classifieds.

singemonkey

Oh. Let 'em come, why not? ?

Those with a yen to mouth off about everything they can think of (like yours truly) are always going to be a minority.

Sean

I would use larger forums for info only. I joined the forum on the Justinguitar site and only ever went in twice I think. The sheer volume of posts was crazy. I like the size of this forum because it feels like a community, and the spirit is unlike any other I've seen. Not to say that there is no room for more posting members, I think we can have a lot more before it starts getting impersonal.

G

i learn something new just by reading some of the posts :-[ but i do try to post something when i can

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote: Oh. Let 'em come, why not? ?

Those with a yen to mouth off about everything they can think of (like yours truly) are always going to be a minority.

Sure. There's many a list or forum that has a majority of members who just lurk. However in the case of this forum it is not necessary to register to read, so I wouldn't see a good reason for registering and never posting OTHER than to reserve a user name so that nobody else can use it.

singemonkey

Sean wrote: I would use larger forums for info only. I joined the forum on the Justinguitar site and only ever went in twice I think. The sheer volume of posts was crazy. I like the size of this forum because it feels like a community, and the spirit is unlike any other I've seen. Not to say that there is no room for more posting members, I think we can have a lot more before it starts getting impersonal.

The vibe on mylespaulforum just makes my jaw drop. The majority of posters seem to be aggressive trolls. So mostly I just go, search, see if I can find what I'm looking for and then leave without antagonising the hillbillies who're busy talking about how only communists like Barak Obama would buy a Japanese guitar.

@Bob Didn't think about the user name thing. I tend to use usernames that don't give me any problems ?

AlanRatcliffe

Many don't feel they have anything to add, but sign up anyway to get announcement emails, reserve a user name, PM users about classifieds or simply post a single ad (and yes, we have spoken about making a minimum post count to post to the classads or YouTube videos, but that will scare potential members away). Today's lurker is tomorrow's poster - There are a few guys here who lurked for a long time before posting.

Also consider that at any given time there are two unregistered users browsing the forum for every logged in member. Sometimes (like late at night) far more. Oftentimes it's just people brought in by search engines who have no need or desire to sign up. That's fine with me.

Jazz-Lover

Could you check if some of those are registration bots? In other words, not real persons?

inflames

Today's lurker is tomorrow's poster

I like that Alan!

inflames

Can't be bots. You have to use a image to verify your membership ?

Manfred-Klose

I have gotten a few PM's in the past from poeple that haven't posted anything yet, and they just want to ask you a question about something you posted.
there is alot of readers on the forum, check at the bottom of the page that shows the people that has logged in today, and see if you recognise any of the names.

Jack-Flash-Jr

X-rated Bob wrote:
singemonkey wrote: Oh. Let 'em come, why not? ?

Those with a yen to mouth off about everything they can think of (like yours truly) are always going to be a minority.
Sure. There's many a list or forum that has a majority of members who just lurk. However in the case of this forum it is not necessary to register to read, so I wouldn't see a good reason for registering and never posting OTHER than to reserve a user name so that nobody else can use it.

That's what I was trying to get at... I suppose pm-ing kind of answers the question - the late night browsers might be Yanks?

Sean wrote: I would use larger forums for info only. I joined the forum on the Justinguitar site and only ever went in twice I think. The sheer volume of posts was crazy. I like the size of this forum because it feels like a community, and the spirit is unlike any other I've seen. Not to say that there is no room for more posting members, I think we can have a lot more before it starts getting impersonal.

That's why I don't bother posting on reddit or any other HUGE sites... and yes, the community vibe rocks here.

EDIT: I am also genuinely interested in the Introductions threads, so when I see a Welcome new member message and then they don't post a little bio I'm a bit disappointed...

Jazz-Lover

inflames wrote: Can't be bots. You have to use a image to verify your membership ?

The images help, but they are not 100% fool proof

inflames

The images help, but they are not 100% fool proof

I fully agree, some bots can read images. Thus you double protect with e-mail confirmation.
Also there are new image technology out there that bots can't read ?

I have blocked 100% bot sign up for 18 months now by implementing better image verification.

singemonkey

Today's lurker is tomorrow's poster

+1

I'm a religious lurker on the Tokai forum. When I get mine, I'll feel a lot freer to post my stuff ?

AlanRatcliffe

There are some bots in there too - some sneaked in before we battened down the hatches and upped the security level to maximum. I will say that I check out every new member quickly and very few bots manage to sneak through. The biggest problem is with the real people who join up to spam (most of which you guys don't see, because I delete posts and ban accounts pretty quickly most days).

and yes, the community vibe rocks here.

Absolutely! We're very proud of the members we have and will make every effort to keep things the same as the community grows. I have been forced to be a bit more draconian lately than I had originally anticipated, and am forced to draw more and new lines in the sand on a regular basis but it's a case of "as needs must". It is unlikely that we will ever be as large a community as some of the US based forums, but that works to our advantage too - something that is easy to see when you look at the organised chaos of the larger online forums. I think that the community spirit we have eventually inspires some of the lurkers to join in.

Jazz-Lover

While you are at that point. Since I am still new here, I would like to know what your policy is on placing links, especially if the links are to your own sites?

inflames

Jazz, you will see some members have links on their profiles. So I'm sure it is fine if you do it as well ?