Don't be a lurker!

[Dizzy]

I often wonder how a great site such as NuggetShooter can have over 5200 registered members,

but there are maybe 50 members that are the regular posters. That is about 1% of the total

registered members, meaning that there are hundreds of people that visit the site daily, and take

advantage of the information that is there, but do not submit any of their own.

What makes this site great is the shared information, and while I am sure folks are always

welcome to browse, the site could be even better if those of you that are "lurkers" would also

contribute some of your wisdom to the site. Bill has put a lot of time and his own energy into

the site, so if you are a lurker then let him know you appreciate it by sharing some of your

own experiences.

No need to make a million posts, but if a site is to have great info then it needs input

from the whole of the membership, not from just a select few!

Just my :twocents:

Mike

p.s.: If there's a reason you don't post, let Bill know and maybe he can fix the

problem for you.

[Dizzy]

5200+ members, 37 views and not a single response. Guess I got my answer.

[garimpo]

Dizzy ole buddy don't get your shorts in a wad....my excuse was I was out beeping for gold...got

aluminum....steel bits....boot tacks...

But like THEY say: another great day above ground!!!! :wubu:

[Dizzy]

Hi Don: My goal was to try and drag some lurkers out of their caves. All of the regular

posters and members that have contributed to the site know who they are, but to make a good

site a great site it needs fresh input from a much bigger percentage of the registered

members.

You're a 1%'er, and it's that other 99% I was after... :hmmmmm:

Mike

[Mike Furness]

Mike ... That is not untypical for forums of any subject. There are always those that post and vastly greater numbers that just like to see what's going on and hear the war stories of others. Some like myself have had things going on in there life changing their way of life ... hopefully for the better ... that takes time that used to be spent spending hours on the forum posting replies to all the posts. I just don't have the time lately. Heck I retired December 31, 2010 and have been busier in retirement than when I was full time in the real estate business. But I may be an exception ... in the last 6 months I have closed down my business, moved in with my girlfriend Carol, moved out of, cleaned and prepared and rented my condo to my son and his wife, driven cross country from NH to AZ and back to NH twice, purchased a house in Prescott Valley AZ in February and started major renovations to the AZ house in April to say nothing of taking defensive handgun classes from Sig Arms Academy so that I can get my handguns instructor rating, trying to catch a few stripers out of my kayak at night on the ocean. AND ... Now Carol and I are packing up this place, getting her son graduated from High School and prepping for or final trip to AZ on June 19th with 3 dogs, two vehicles and a trailer of 'stuff'. Whoever it was that said retirement was a time to sit back and relax was full of HOOEY ... he/she knew not of which they spoke!

Back to the point and not to belabor it there will always only be 20% or fewer who will post every once in awhile and probably less than 5% of those last 20% posting very often. That's just the way it is ... it's the old 80-20 rule.

Hope that helps you out! Wouldn't want you to suffer too long for lack of posts to read on the forum!

Mike F

[LeeS]

I'm not only new to this forum, but new to prospecting. I am retiring in November and want to learn everything I can about this new hobby. Since I don't have any experience, I really don't have anything to post. So for a while I'll just have to be a lurker.

[Dizzy]

Thanks Mike...you're another member of that 1% crowd..

I guess I've failed in the intent of my post, as the goal is to get some of the

non-participating members who visit the site to add some content of their own. A site is

only as good as the material it's members post, and I'm still hoping that more will

participate if "nudged" along a little bit. There's always us "bucket mouths" that have no

worries about posting away when we have something to say.

I've been an Admin or Mod on sites continuously for over 10 years now, so I'm well informed

on the percentages of people that lurk vs. post, etc. I really don't have much time to spare

for my own recreational posting (like here at NS), but this is such a cool place that I

thought I would take a WAG at motivating a few lurkers. Bill has done an awesome job of

making a place for us to chat about our love for the gold, and it never hurts to "stir the

mix" on occasion and drag a few non-posting members out into the light..if nothing else just

to say and let us know they are there.

I could never be just a "taker" from a site...we all need to give back to the site so it

continues to grow with fresh information and zeal for the hobby.

My 2 bobs worth... :twocents:

Mike

[Dizzy]

I'm not only new to this forum, but new to prospecting. I am retiring in November and want to learn everything I can about this new hobby. Since I don't have any experience, I really don't have anything to post. So for a while I'll just have to be a lurker.

Not everyone is a frequent poster Lee, so no worries. Glad to know you're there

Mike

[azblackbird]

I'm not only new to this forum, but new to prospecting. I am retiring in November and want to learn everything I can about this new hobby. Since I don't have any experience, I really don't have anything to post. So for a while I'll just have to be a lurker.

Same here, new to prospecting, so don't really have anything new to offer that hasn't already been asked or answered. There's a wealth of information to be had on many of the local gold forums here in AZ, so I just keep my mouth shut and listen to those with the experience. :shrug:

[Dizzy]

Guess it's just me then. As mentioned, it was simply an effort to get more folks to post.

There's other forums aside from just prospecting, but I guess if folks got nothing to say then

no reason prodding them. My apologies to the forum, and I'll move on.

Mike

[Mike Furness]

Dizzy ... Mike ... no need to move on just know that sometimes the forums are slow. As the summer heat comes on the hunting and gold post slow way down. It will perk up again when we have cooler weather and especially after the monsoon season.

Mike F

[Nugget Shooter]

Very true and in summer we do slooooooooooooooow way down here. No worries on members and content as we have been around over 12 years so far helping folks find gold and I hope to be around a little longer yet as well....

[Dizzy]

No worries. A site tends to go a bit stale when there is not much "new blood" coming

in to keep the questions and info fresh. The whole point was to shake a few lurkers

off the sidelines and get them contributing. If even one new person starts contributing as

a result, then the post did it's job.

Thanks all for the responses.

Mike

[Gilaoro]

Well first of all welcome to LEE that you shook out of the trees in Peoria, I have noticed that there lots of newbies lately from Peoria.

Why don,t you guys just come on down the road a few more miles to Wickenburg/Morristown area and be closer to the gold, i,ll give you a little tip , some of the best club claims in AZ are within 5 miles of either post Office.

[Chris Coffee]

For some of us newbies there can be a plethora of reasons for not posting. For others they could just like to read more than write, I guess. I am closing in on 100 posts now, but in the beginning I sat back and read a lot. My main reasons for "lurking" the time that I did was to kind of get a feel for the people and personalities here on the boards. I would slide in a post or two and wait to see how it went. After a week or two, I felt comfortable enough to start being more active. I am glad I did! I have learned a lot of interesting things on here, and had some great interactions with some even greater folks. When I learn enough about all this stuff (prospecting) and have some valuable info to share, my cup shall overfloweth with knowledge...LOL. Until then, I'll politely raise my hand and wait for the teacher to call on me so I can ask my question.

Welcome, Lee!!!!!!

[ipraytofindthem]

Hi Mike,

I sometimes write even when I have really nothing to add, but I do because I really like the hobby of meteorites and I like the people who like similar-minded hobbies. And if someone needs some advice I try to give him that advice even if it's too general. I would like to grab the opportunity to thank you and all the people who contribute to this great website.

Bassam

I often wonder how a great site such as NuggetShooter can have over 5200 registered members,

but there are maybe 50 members that are the regular posters. That is about 1% of the total

registered members, meaning that there are hundreds of people that visit the site daily, and take

advantage of the information that is there, but do not submit any of their own.

What makes this site great is the shared information, and while I am sure folks are always

welcome to browse, the site could be even better if those of you that are "lurkers" would also

contribute some of your wisdom to the site. Bill has put a lot of time and his own energy into

the site, so if you are a lurker then let him know you appreciate it by sharing some of your

own experiences.

No need to make a million posts, but if a site is to have great info then it needs input

from the whole of the membership, not from just a select few!

Just my :twocents:

Mike

p.s.: If there's a reason you don't post, let Bill know and maybe he can fix the

problem for you.

[Hoser John]

:baaasmiley: Posting is like voting--not many do it--- :zip-lip: John

[Short-stick]

It’s a lot like Chris Coffee said, as a newcomer it seems best to lay low, get the feel of the place, before standing up and giving a shout-out.

Those that regularly post here are, for the most part, qualified and experienced enough to make observations or statements that carry enough weight to make their posting worthwhile.

I was taught long ago that it is wiser to remain silent and be thought a fool then to speak and remove all doubt. Although, I’ve never been accused of following that sage advice.

While there may always be a few bumps in the road, and maybe this forum is considered somewhat slower then other sites, I personally feel a sense of ‘down-to-earth’ politeness and supportiveness from most all members, which I find refreshing.

Maybe slow and steady is best.

[wonderer]

I often wonder how a great site such as NuggetShooter can have over 5200 registered members,

but there are maybe 50 members that are the regular posters. That is about 1% of the total

registered members, meaning that there are hundreds of people that visit the site daily,

Just my :twocents:

Mike

Dizzy,

This site has alot of information on it ( & the search function works great & needs no reply postings <_< ), we all are grateful that Bill Southern runs a great site :wubu: . As the seasons change so does the amount of postings.

Here in AZ if you detect on the desert floor, you hunt during the winter, night hunt or very early in the morning in the summer 120 degree days are'nt fun. Or during the summer head for the high cooler country (Prescott area).

Were reverse of the high country where they get snow & frozen ground (& can't prospect) in the winter,only in the summer.

There are alot of great prospectors here, some post there finds some don't. I respect both camps of thought.........It has been stated on many forums that showing your gold or showing pictures of it will give away where you found it, so be sure you have cleaned out the patch first.....Trust & Gold Fever are problamatic.

As we all get older & more we lurk more & prospect less. :hmmmmm:

+ the economy has'nt been helping out much either.

:cigar: :twocents: wonderer

[Nugget Shooter]

And thanks All for your support. Trying to be biggest or most active in the forum world has never been the goal. Comradeship and education have and I think we are getting it done here at Nugget Shooter.

[Mike Furness]

Bill ... You need not have any doubts there. This is a great forum ... one of the two that I frequent often and have no hesitancy about posting to any thread whether I agree or disagree with the direction of the post. For the most part the disagreements when there are some are to the subject and not the poster with very rare exceptions. That is testiment in itself of the quality of the site and the posters and most importantly to your leadership and tolerance. Great job and greatly appreciated by this forum member!

Mike F

[Nugget Shooter]

Bill ... You need not have any doubts there. This is a great forum ... one of the two that I frequent often and have no hesitancy about posting to any thread whether I agree or disagree with the direction of the post. For the most part the disagreements when there are some are to the subject and not the poster with very rare exceptions. That is testiment in itself of the quality of the site and the posters and most importantly to your leadership and tolerance. Great job and greatly appreciated by this forum member!

Mike F

Thank you Mike....

[Dizzy]

Once again I have failed miserably in communicating my intentions.

My apologies to those members (anyone with more than 1 posts) who felt my initial post was

in reference to them, and that it implied they needed to post more. Somehow folks got the wrong

impression, and that they felt the need to defend their participation...it wasn't about that at all.

All I wanted to do was motivate/encourage a few members with -0- posts to come out of

hiding and contribute to this great site, making it an even greater site! There are a reported

5200+ registered members, and there's enough forums with so many threads that even the most

inexperienced prospector or detectorist can contribute to. (like saying "Happy Birthday" to

someone).

That was all...nothing more.

This is an awesome site, and a ton of good info is available to anyone reading through the

archives.

Mike

Edited June 16, 2011 by Dizzy

[wonderer]

Once again I have failed miserably in communicating my intentions.

All I wanted to do was motivate/encourage a few members with -0- posts to come out of

hiding and contribute to this great site, making it an even greater site!

Mike

Mike,

Chill, stop beating yourself up......You trying to be a cruse director.

Many people join to research to see if this is a pasttime they want to get into or get a detector & find out its not there cup of tea. Some forums require you to join to use the search function or see pictures. They add no posts because they have nothing constructive to say & don't want to make a fool of themselves.

Some of us post and remove all doubt ! .. :yuk-yuk:

I myself belong to 100's of forums, I visit only a few regularly + I post on only a handfull of them. :hmmmmm: + I haven't found a button to un-join from a forum yet. :hahaha: :hahaha: I just lose track of some each time my computer crashes :*&$*(: & I rebuild my favorites again.

wonderer

[Dizzy]

Mike,

Chill, stop beating yourself up......You trying to be a cruse director.

Not the first time I've heard such words. OK, I'm done trying to motivate the unmotivatable.....