The Silent majority of YDers ... Speak Up!

[A-M]

I guess I'm one of those lurkers too.
There are some 'local' fora that I'm interacting more but I like to read some of the YD-threats too. I'm not reading YD everyday so a lot of times there are already good answers on threats and minde will not add something...

[westside]

I must also be a lurker with few post like the other posters I tend to log on a read the other posts and will make posts when I have something to say, most of the time the more active posters have already added many of their views and quite often these also reflect my views. I find the forum a useful source of information and have in the past joined a trip and hopefully more in the future so may become more active.

I suppose the question is what is the problem with lurking? If you set limits don’t you run the risks of the forum becoming full of rubbish?

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by westside

I suppose the question is what is the problem with lurking? If you set limits don’t you run the risks of the forum becoming full of rubbish?

There really isn't a problem with lurking as far as I am concerned .... and as to the forum becoming full of rubbish ....well.....!

On a more serious note there have been a number of the "hotter" threads recently where some poster have suggested that YD is a hostile place to new posters and that people are often silent because they feel intimidated.

I am hoping to work out whether this is supposition or fact.

I am grateful to all who have posted so far and for the PMs too....but keep the comments coming.

Thanks again
Mal

[splodge]

I agree with most of the coments already posted but the reason I don 't post much is that i don't have internet access at work and therefore tend to browse, read lurk when viewing of an evening even though I log on most days

[bex80]

Hi Mal

I'm a lurker too, for the same reasons as the others. I'm very new to diving and use YD as a resource for kit, techniques and trips etc (also usually quite an entertaining read at lunchtimes! )

Occassionally I'll post but normally I'd just be repeating what someone else has already said rather than adding value, or a quick search and I have the info I was after.

I'm a naturally shy person and not confident about my knowledge of diving yet. I wouldn't describe YD as hostile to new members, perhaps daunting? Most of the regular posts have years of experience so I have to feel certain that if I do post (on the rare occassions!) I'm not wasting peoples time or going to be laughed at with my silly questions!

Perhaps in the future, once I've dropped the newbie badge and have alot more experience (& hopefully confidence!) I'll be able to contribute more & feel comfortable doing so.

Bex

p.s this post took me half an hour to type (read, retype, reread, retype again!) another reason not to post!

[keelhauled]

Thanks for your concern but I like the others rarely post unless I spot something overlooked by the regular contributers which is quite rare.

[StephenTh]

Just like lots of others have said - I'll only post if I feel I can add something new (oh - but seeing as I'm now saying that this is the same as everyone else - does that mean I do post when I don't add anything).
Also - I'll deliberately avoid controversial / provocative / argumentative topics - can't be bothered with the grief, basically.

[ssteve]

yep same as most above, lurking and learning from others experiences
log on every day (sad ?)if a post strays in to my area of knowledge
i'll be in like a shot, but you have got to be very quick or your just repeating
threads.long live YD
ssteve

[wacky28]

Mal,

I share the comments that most of the other newbies here have posted, I have been stalking the boards for about 2 years now, registered for ages, but only post when I feel that I have something to contribute.

Normally a thread will be started, I think this is for me only to find that someone has given a similar or same answer as I would have given.

That said there does seem to be a bit of a clique with some people, not that this is bad, as most of it is funny to read, but is could be a little off putting. That said maybe all the newbies who are posting could start our own little clique.

There is loads of good reviews & opinions on here, I ahve bought expensive kit on the views of others, also learned or taken some some good advice on practices.

Maybe I just need to be a little quicker off the mark to answer questions or share my opinion!!

[David P]

Like others, I only post (here like elsewhere) when I feel I've something useful to contribute, or feel strongly about a subject where I'm confident I know enough to comment. But I greatly enjoy the community and the virtual company - even the cliqueiness - read a lot of threads avidly, and have often been HUGELY entertained. I think it's also true to say that there's something for everyone, whatever your interests, experience or background. My evening would be much poorer without YD... for which, many thanks to many people.