Any Theories On Why Some People Just Look Instead of Post?

[Wart]

I was just wondering why there are so many views to a thread as opposed to the number of posts? If a thread is so popular to "guests", why can't we hear from them? I'd like to hear some theories--from regular contributors and from this forum's guests. The way message board users think--is also interesting to me.

Register and let yourself be heard!!!!! Woo Hoo!

[Pigsnie]

The guests are afraid of our throbbing brains, that's why! Hee hee. Frankly, I noticed that here too. There are always guests hanging around, but they don't post nuthin. Maybe they work for Dino DeLaurentis; they are going to cast us all in a MOVIE!

COMMISH DE BERGERAC
WART DE FLORETTE
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF MR. FONG
PULP PIGSNIE
STOP! OR ZEPHYRUS WILL SHOOT!
A PRAYER FOR JAMESGLEWISF

[Ha, watch this thread get 300 views and 5 responses.]

[Wart]

Well--I get the sense that some people are scared to post--I've spoken to people in chat rooms about message boards. They feel safer in chat rooms because the chat rooms seem ephermal. THey disappear and it doesn't matter how inane their chat is. (DO you have an AOL account? The chat that goes on is at the point of illiteracy but no one seems to care.

On message boards--they're telling me that the stuff is there forever and people have the leisure to criticize them. Its interesting that the "permanence" of a forum is what a lot of people don't like. Its the opposite for me. Looking at past threads is fascinating to me. You read what people believe in. You don't get that in chat rooms. I believe people in chat don't think as much about what they put down so you probably will never get a sense of who they really are.

[Pigsnie]

I hate chat. (And I have several AOL accounts.) By the time I have answered a question, ten people have answered before moi, and my response just hangs there like a disembodied ghost, unwanted, unloved.

I agree with you, Wart -- message boards are better; at least, you get a sense of that special personality behind every post. As for people actually being "too scared to post," for heaven's sake, WHY?
No one's being graded here for spelling, grammar or sentence structure. Just write down what you think, and we shall all be richer for the experience.

[Zephyrus]

I think that precisely is what they're scared of...they might be afraid to voice their opinions lest they look stupid - I guess the old axiom "Better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt" still holds true! :D

I find that I have to think carefuly about my posts sometimes, in order not to sound stupid, convey the wrong message, or plain and simply to make sure that what I intended to say has been conveyed...I must admit, I too was very nervous when I first signed on, constantly worried about what other members thought about my posts (but now I am mod I'm not that worried, I can just edit theirs out)!! ;D

[Wart]

So if Chris makes all his regulars (lemme see---after 250 posts) moderators, :D there will be a FLOOD of NEW POSTERS just coming out of the woodwork!!!! Sounds like a great idea!!!!

[Yoda]

Hehehe. I just might. :)

I think you're right about the Forum .VS. Chat debate. Those who are not bold enough to speak up in general, are more likely to chat online, than to post online.

I hear now and then that this person or that person wasn't sure whether or not they should speak up, but for me it's a non-issue. If I'm registered somewhere (and sometimes when I'm not), and I see something I strongly feel like replying to, I do it. It's as simple as that.

Anyway, it is the nature of ALL forums, not just this one. Oh well.

[Zephyrus]

But the point is that if they prefer chat, then there are plenty of chat rooms out there! :D The point of the forum is to come and post about things they find in common...

[Yoda]

I do have some theories in the works, by the way, to help turn our users into posters. EVERY forum has the problem we've discussed here -- overcoming it is quite difficult, but I think I can help a bit.

[sunfrog]

Since this post is going to be here forever I'd like to take this moment to say: I can't taste butter.
Thank you. Maybe someday they'll invent a cure for me and I can look back on this and laugh.

[PigsnieLite]

So what are your theories TWT? maybe you can fix this board so that if anyone clicks a thread they will win a picture of thmilin. :D
And you are weird sunfrog with your butter thoughts. Me I like marmalade meself :p

[Yoda]

Well, one involves email updates to remind them to come back -- contests, tying other areas of the site (they're coming!) with the forums, and things like that. I'm confident I can make it so that either more users post, or the users that do post are more loyal. Right now we have a very loyal bunch, and it's taken almost no intervention on my part.

[sunfrog]

I'm sticking around 'cause I want to see the picture of Thmilin. :) Also 'cause I'm scared you might throw a can of soup at my head if I try to leave. Lol.

[Steve]

There's 21 guests on right now. This is insane.

[Yoda]

I've seen over 30 on. I have to suspect that there's a bug in the software :) The upgrade will fix it. If, after the upgrade, we see those numbers, then it must be true -- no doubt about it then.

[Yoda]

Oh, by the way: 101 of the (currently) 395 members on these forums have NEVER posted. In addition, the top ten most prolific posters account for around 7,000 of the 11,700+ posts on these forums. Just thought you all might find that interesting/

[PigsnieLite]

So who are the top 10 prolifickys? [crossin me fingers] :)

[ryanpaige]

I know I'm in the Top Ten, as re you PigsnieLite.

BTW, about half of those 7,000 posts are accounted for by the Top Two posters (TWT and OG-).

[Yoda]

Check it out:
http://www.movieforums.com/forums/memberlist.php?what=topposters&perpage=10

[PigsnieLite]

Oh oh, Sunfrogs catchin up to me & Im not even in the Top 5!
Must. post. some. hmore. [capt. krik impersonation] :laugh:

[sunfrog]

You left me far behind now

[mecurdius]

maybe movie companies all look at what we have too say about them, so they know if they should make changes at future movies and all that.

[sunfrog]

Someone should make a movie about Victoria's Secret. Or at least do some blatant movie advertising.

[thmilin]

you just post those inane comments to surpass us all!! i'm peeved.

look at how soon it's been since PLite joined and how he's #3! you make me ill. nyah nyah. who're you to call sunfrog weird with his butter thoughts when you have underwear thoughts 24/7! for shame!

i am amazed. The Original Pigsnie has spoken!

*raises hands* A moment of silence, please.

ok ok, so ... do i get royalties for the downloads of my pic?

yes, i understand about the lurking. it happens. here are my theories (I expect to be paid for these):

1) A lot of people register in order to say something, then get sidetracked, and never do. It happens to me all the time. Hence, a gazillion accts at a gazillion places, and either they want you to confirm by e-mail so you never get around to following through and you're a "member" but you never go back to the site, or you post once and forget the site existed for on your history bar are 300 other sites and, sorry to say, this one does not stand out in your day-to-day netsurfing affairs.

I don't think the people registered are studios cuz they don't need to respond, they just need to use us compensation-free and all they have to do is scan our most private, intimate, movie related interactions.

2) The people lurking just found us, linger perhaps for that one time and never come back. So maybe 15 people are total strangers and never come back, or maybe do, but read only out of curiosity, and never feel compelled to join or post. But only Chris would know this, if he logs IPs, but logging may only happen with posting and if he can't track visitors then he will never know if that's so.

3) Regular lurkers, and members who have yet to post - they intend to but are taking their sweet time.

You know, part of the motivation in your core group is they were here to MAKE your board. There's a total drop in the intimidation factor when you come along and see a young dude making a movie forum with just him and one other person talking about a movie. So you say hey, I gotta do what I can for my fellow moviegoers and stake my claim to fame. Hence, my original posts, way back when, and the satisfaction of seeing the site grow and change and knowing you were there "back when".

But when the board get busy with PigsnieLites and strange flyby sunfrogs and TobyDammits and illustrious mystery renaissance men like the Original PDaddy, lurkers feel plenty is being said already and a) they can't possibly contribute positively to it or say anything new or b) they don't feel like walking into a crowd to feel like Toose has recently - that they might get * - either shot down or ** ignored altogether.

so they wait ... and wait ... and then casually walk in with a brief comment to test the waters, and/or a gushing to accomodate for their silence and frustrated eagerness to prove that they, too, are great masters of moviegoing nonsense.

it doesn't matter, darlings, when you come. so long as you come. :) come into the light ... into the light ....

PS - I think the reason why you haven't had to work so hard Chris to keep us loyal and to continue to gain a steadfast trickle of members is cuz the discussion here is so fabulous. hotheaded opinionated teens, romantic older men with throbbing brains, sexy wicked governesses with a stash of net pics at the affordable price of $19.95, and the insider knews from a lovely gal named Laurie and the sense of a small but strong community that won't fail to deliver something utterly insane (our regular leading man, PLite), wonderfully principled (our ever present hero and founder, TWT), deliciously worldly (all hail the great Mr. Pigsnie!!), odd but lovable (monsieur sunfrog), et al ...

we're a neverending net/movie/world stage soap and by god, I love you all!

*bows*

THE END!

[PigsnieLite]

Oh Thmilin, I think you are the most wonderful sexy beast woman & I cant wait to look at your frilly knickers & your heavin mangos pn our weddin night! MARRY ME!

PLite :)

[Yoda]

Quite a speech! I'm inspired..I'll try to get a lot of work on the new site done today now. :)

[Sir Toose]

they don't feel like walking into a crowd to feel like Toose has recently

I have overcome.....

[spudracer]

I'm kinda unclear where this thread has gone, but am just posting so that I might have a chance at beating PLite to the 1000 post mark. :cool:

[thmilin]

do you want a spanking, spdrcr? you don't just post to beat PLite, shame on you!

Glad to have inspired you all ...

Toose, I know you're over it, but I was mentioning it as an example, dahling, that's why the thread is here and we're discussing lurking habits of the native movieforum guest as they rummage through the wild underbrush of threads and meandering posts ...

PLite - i did not say I was a BEAST! now you're not getting any sort of glimpse of my frilly knickers or heaving mangoes. though, i don't really wear frilly knickers. unless you're into roleplaying in which case --

ahem. what? where was I? oh yes ... lurkers, i continue to insist that you must all come into the light.

[spudracer]

:)...i know I don't have a chance at beating PLite to the 1000 mark since he's already over 700, but i figured it was worth a try.

[sunfrog]

Hey! Was I offended? I can't tell. :)
I'm at skizool and should be doing something, instead here I am. When I was a Critic I went through my review phase, then when I was an Addict I came here everyday, several times a day. Now that I'm a Wacko I'm wacky. Woohoo! Arf!

Dang PLite dusted me. Yes, I just posted some of those things to catch up, but I'm scared of abusing the mighty Twt's bandwith.

You can't say $19.95 and then not provide a link. ;D
Eek! Teacher's behind me! Gotta hit submit!

[spudracer]

Yeah i know how you feel sun...As soon as i started getting close to 500 I just calmed down. I don't know why there's such a hurry to become a wacko, where as before all you had to do is move to a major city and try manuvering through traffic. But now, Chris made it easy for you to become a wacko, just make 500 posts and voila...

[PigsnieLite]

So I am depressed now that Thmilin has said she will not show me her knickers. :( BTW Spud, I think it would be very easy for you & Sun to catch up with me, youre only 200 posts behind. 200 posts is like nothin!

[PigsnieLite]

YEAH, I AGREE, hahaha!!!

PS. I was gonna agree to your post below TWT but I know youll duck tape me if I agree anymore. :)

[Edited by PigsnieLite on 09-13-2001]

[Yoda]

Originally posted by PigsnieLite
YEAH, I AGREE, hahaha!!!

Yeah, if you post like that, 200 posts is easy. :rolleyes: C'mon ya'll, no posting races/wars.

[Dannii]

Can the guests not participate in a chat? I wondered what they do, apparently they just read, gotta say i do enjoy reading the very old posts.

[matt72582]

Can the guests not participate in a chat? I wondered what they do, apparently they just read, gotta say i do enjoy reading the very old posts.

Sometimes I look just to see what the guests are reading, and many times, they are older posts.

[Yoda]

Yeah, gotta sign up to post anything. Anyone can read stuff, though.

[Thursday Next]

What's the record for the longest time between previous last post and current thread bump? Any advance on 16 years?

[Dani8]

What's the record for the longest time between previous last post and current thread bump? Any advance on 16 years?

Wow, who goes back that far? I wouldn't recognise any poster except the forum owner.

[Captain Steel]

Geez! Yoda was alive in 2001? ;)

[Iroquois]

When you consider the quality of posts these days, it's not hard to understand.

[kgbme]

Just (registered and) noticed that Thread Subscriptions (and some other Profile Options) seem unavailable on the mobile version.

Had to "Request desktop version" on Firefox. Maybe something to do with it, btw.

Edit: Viewing Subscriptions once the option is set is there, but initially.

[Dannii]

I like to read old posts, i'm quite surprised at how long some of the members have been around for.

[nebbit]

Geez! Yoda was alive in 2001? ;)
He was just a baby :yup:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/14/83/03/1483030e2d1512026b0c966d28c542e0--star-wars-onesie-star-wars-baby.jpg

[Yoda]

Just (registered and) noticed that Thread Subscriptions (and some other Profile Options) seem unavailable on the mobile version.

Had to "Request desktop version" on Firefox. Maybe something to do with it, btw.

Edit: Viewing Subscriptions once the option is set is there, but initially.
Thanks, I'll look into that.

My guess is it doesn't have too much to do with people looking and not posting, mainly because I've seen this question asked at pretty much every forum I've ever been on. Think it's just the nature of message boards.

[kgbme]

Thanks for noticing; wasn't sure if it needed a thread. :)