Calling all lurkers and new members!

thumpingrug

How do we define a lurker?   I read much much more than I post but I've been here since the beginning and poke my nose in when I feel i have something worth contributing.  I have read pages of threads that are deemed "controversial"  but mostly feel that there is nothing I have that is worth adding and at least that way I hope I can stay away from some of the flaming.     I love guitar/Amp and FX porn and just like looking at the pictures.  Does that make me a lurker?

Bridgehouse

Kebabkid said:

Welcome New Peeps or Occasionals or Shysters (you know what I mean)

To complement or follow on from this, we also have this thread

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/23/introduce-yourself/p1

Thanks for linking that one! 

I did want to try to get some regulars/new member interaction going in this thread a bit too..

Bridgehouse

thumpingrug said:

How do we define a lurker?   I read much much more than I post but I've been here since the beginning and poke my nose in when I feel i have something worth contributing.  I have read pages of threads that are deemed "controversial"  but mostly feel that there is nothing I have that is worth adding and at least that way I hope I can stay away from some of the flaming.     I love guitar/Amp and FX porn and just like looking at the pictures.  Does that make me a lurker?

Not by my original definition - I read most days but wasn't even a member. 

Took me quite a few few months to make my first post too.

Or am I just a bit odd?

LuttiS

I was a lurker for a while, only signed up for the classifieds.. I've only bought one thing so far and that wasn't listed in the classifieds..

Now spend most of my work days checking back to see whats come up

TTony

thumpingrug said:

How do we define a lurker? 

Someone who's gone through the process to sign-up, creating a userID and confirming their email ... but never actually posted anything.

I understand those that browse by, and decide that they don't need to sign up (because most of what we have is on public view, so it's accessible to anyone who just wants to read it).  

I don't understand the joiners-who-don't-post, because pretty much the only reason to join is to get the ability to post.

So it'd be really good for a few hundred or so of the joiners-not-posters to explain why they did that!

DesVegas

Great thread Fred

Bridgehouse

@TTony - actually for me it was finding the right point to jump in.. I guess some never do...

mikem8634

TTony said:

thumpingrug said:

How do we define a lurker? 

Someone who's gone through the process to sign-up, creating a userID and confirming their email ... but never actually posted anything.

I understand those that browse by, and decide that they don't need to sign up (because most of what we have is on public view, so it's accessible to anyone who just wants to read it).  

I don't understand the joiners-who-don't-post, because pretty much the only reason to join is to get the ability to post.

So it'd be really good for a few hundred or so of the joiners-not-posters to explain why they did that!

I can't explain that unfortunately, so I hope some do.

But I can explain why I did start to post. After reading this forum for a bit I got the impression that it thrived on its reciprocal relationships, from the discussions to the classifieds. There seemed to be a deliberate attempt to foster a bit of trust and decency, which can be sadly missing in the web-based world as, no doubt, is plain to one and all. That really appealed to me. Things like the idea that guitars get circulated around the classifieds without Fretboarders making a profit from each other - very classy in my opinion, and something to be proud of.

Teyeplayer

Bridgehouse said:

Teyeplayer said:

Ok I’ll stick my neck out.

Lurked for a year or so, then was seriously trying to sell a guitar that had become an albatross and as a result of a few pleasant comments I felt a bit more comfortable getting involved.

This can feel a slightly intimidating place at first glance, lots of injokes, occasionally brutal banter and perceived cliques but once I stepped in, I realised that the fretboard is full of welcoming souls that like me are a little too into guitars. It’s great for advice on gear and spending money you dont have available to spend.

So, for those that are stood around watching: welcome, jump in and get involved.

Yes, it can be intimidating - which is why I thought I'd try this. @TTony is keeping a watching brief to keep it on topic and make it a bit more "safe space" for dipping a toe in.

Thing is - if I'd have seen a thread like this, I'd have probly jumped in and posted.

And a great idea it is too buddy, looks like its already proving a success.

m_c

I was never really a lurker here, as having just checked, I started posting not long after I registered, but then you could probably class me as a forum veteran, as I've been running/posting on forums since the late 90s.

My only comment to any lurkers, is treat the place like a local pub. Feel free to talk about guitars, and random nonsense, but keep it civil.

Bridgehouse said:

@TTony - actually for me it was finding the right point to jump in.. I guess some never do...

Some of us wish you'd never did... (sorry! But somebody was going to say it!)

It's probably worth noting, I've never met @Bridgehouse (please note he loves a good tag!), but it's never stopped us having a laugh, while still being serious when needed. This is one of the great things about forums.

monoped

I lurked for a year or more before joining. The place is a hugely useful resource with some extremely knowledgeable members. I finally joined after speaking to @TheGuitarWeasel and subsequently ordering some of his stone tone pickups for my strat. Really pleased with them thanks Ash. 
Now I've joined I'll try and contribute.
Will post some pics once I sort out imgur or similar.

Kebabkid

Bridgehouse said:

Kebabkid said:

Welcome New Peeps or Occasionals or Shysters (you know what I mean)

To complement or follow on from this, we also have this thread

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/23/introduce-yourself/p1

Thanks for linking that one! 

I did want to try to get some regulars/new member interaction going in this thread a bit too..

No worries. Hence, to complement or follow on from this

BRISTOL86

I’m kind of a semi lurker rather than fully fledged regular but that’s more to do with the fact that I’ve not had a lot of time for the guitar in recent months for one reason or another (family stuff, work stuff) 

In the spirit of the thread....about me....I’m 31 and only really picked up a guitar for the first time properly about 2.5 years ago, though I’d say in terms of serious commitment it’s been about half that. 

Despite always enjoying listening to music I wasn’t ever seriously into music in my youth/teens like no doubt most of the regulars here were. It was about 3 years ago that I stumbled across John Mayer’s ‘Where The Light Is’ live DVD and I sat up and said ‘I want to do that’.

Nothing like a nice sensible, achievable goal  

Gear wise, I have one guitar and one amp - an American Special Strat and a Roland Blues Cube Hot. I’d like to add an acoustic to that once the expense of the upcoming wedding is over and done with!

To any lurkers reading, this really is a wonderfully friendly place with lots of very helpful folk, so please dive in and get involved  

thumpingrug

TTony said:

thumpingrug said:

How do we define a lurker? 

Someone who's gone through the process to sign-up, creating a userID and confirming their email ... but never actually posted anything.

I understand those that browse by, and decide that they don't need to sign up (because most of what we have is on public view, so it's accessible to anyone who just wants to read it).  

I don't understand the joiners-who-don't-post, because pretty much the only reason to join is to get the ability to post.

So it'd be really good for a few hundred or so of the joiners-not-posters to explain why they did that!

Thanks for that.  I too find it interesting and will watch this thread with interest.  I hope those who join but so far have not posted feel enabled to do so.

chrispy108

https://y6auj24xr4y3qq95tz7io6uu-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/140044286_5c4552af8e_edit2-1400x788.jpg

DrBob

mikem8634

But I can explain why I did start to post. After reading this forum for a bit I got the impression that it thrived on its reciprocal relationships, from the discussions to the classifieds. There seemed to be a deliberate attempt to foster a bit of trust and decency, which can be sadly missing in the web-based world as, no doubt, is plain to one and all. That really appealed to me. Things like the idea that guitars get circulated around the classifieds without Fretboarders making a profit from each other - very classy in my opinion, and something to be proud of.

And this in a nutshell is what makes this a wonderful place to be.
It can come across a bit like 'The League Of Gentlemen go Guitar Forum' sometimes but underneath the sarcasm and sniping it is a wonderfully supportive network of idiots who will go over and above time and time again to help a brother out.
I've met some great people on here, I've a nasty suspicion that @Travisthedog & @guitargeek62 & @Richardj ;amongst others are friends for life and they'll be sitting in the back row of the Crem at my funeral, probably ripping the piss out of me as they light me up ! But that's good, I'm lucky to have made the friends I have through this forum

Bridgehouse

To all new(er) posters - some great comments - thanks for joining in! Do feel free to engage in conversation here - it would be nice to get a conversation going with you - and regulars, do feel free to jump in and engage!

Oh, and to the lol-troller - *slow clap*

Longtallronnie

Just my opinion but while encouraging lurkers to contribute, I’d also encourage regulars to think about how they’re interactions with newcomers might put some off getting involved. 
Yes, there are some great people here and there’s a lot of support etc but we can come across a right cliquey bunch of fucks as well. 

horse

I suppose I've been a lurker from the musicradar days if you count my visits vs posts. If there's something I'd appreciate input on I'll post a thread, if I have a strong or possibly useful view on something I'll comment, but often I can read without feeling the need to say anything - particularly if I don't have the motivation to debate my view. Probably an introvert thing, but might be the same for some other lurkers too

ourmaninthenorth

A gentleman on his 2nd post has just listed a Matamp in the classified, one of the rarest Matamp of recent times. Apart from the one I owned, I never seen a single other example of a MK1 1224. I'm thrilled to bits to find there's another. 

This is what members, whether new, old or infrequent flyers bring to the party.