For the lurkers

[lawrence stone]

It's time for some of you lurking slugs to step up to the plate and share some information.

If you want to be a water boy all your life it's fine by me
but we really do need more threads and answers to the threads.

Try putting out a little effort and emerge from your coma.

I gleen a lot of data off the internet and consider my contributions to this forum as a little payback.

It's time some of you guys learned how to type.

[jeffyr]

Excellent suggestion Lawrence. I have not posted a huge amount, but to post and see 200 have read and only 2 responses, and the fact that there are thousands of members, but always see the same names indicates you are correct.

jeffyr

[fdew]

I may be an example of a lurker. I read this forum because I like the machinery and have a respect for those in the business. I keep quiet most of the time because I am NOT in the lawn care business. (I am a mechanical designer.) I try to speak up only when I actually have an answer and have decided that my answer is not tainted by my lack of experience. Example, I will never respond to "how to find help", but I have responded to "what is more efficient, belts or drive shaft" because that is something I can just look up.

Frank

[Eric ELM]

Frank, anyone with 107 posts since March isn't a Lurker. We have a few members that don't have that many posts and have been members since last year. I consider a lurker as someone that hasn't joined, but just reads and absorbs what we write as a guest. Some day maybe they will join and become members. I would think there has to be a lot of them that can't type either or think they are to old to learn. I know for a fact there are members that come here almost daily, but they just don't feel they can answer a post correctly or that someone might jump all over them if they goof up. I wish this type of members would at least give it a try and that the other members would just ignore a little mistake they might have written. I know I make my share of mistakes, but at least I try. Keep up the good work Frank, I enjoy reading your posts.

[KirbysLawn]

Very good suggestion Stone and I agree 100%, boy this is scaring me. :eek:

[Likestomow]

There are two sides to this dilemma.

If every "Lurker" were to respond just imagine the amount of replies there would be. It could take hours to read everything.

Right now, there is a mixed group of responders. Personally, and I think most others as well, look for the responses of the solid citizens here on LawnSite.com. The first ones that come to mind are Lazer, Eric, and yes, Lawrence Stone, and don't forget Homer either. These guys have some good comon sense to offer.

There are many others, don't get me wrong, but then there are some who just feel a great need to say something very often. But then, at times we all feel that need to chime in an add our two cents to a matter.

I like the way it's going -- I find plenty of help as well as some great entertainment.

[Double D]

I am guilty of being a 'lurker', I admit it and am very ashamed. :( Whew, I feel much better. I am new to the business (started in August), and am trying to absorb as much information as my smallish brain will handle. I would like to thank those of you who do post, and as I gain information and insite on this business, I will begin posting. I have learned very much so far, and seriously do thank those who take the time to post.
Double D

[Lazer]

You just can't learn as much if you don't post.

Learning comes from the EXCHANGE of ideas.

It's like taking class, asking the questions and filling in the blanks VS. just reading the workbook.

You can't just read without interaction, you don't stimulate enough electrical nerve inpulses for long-term, full perspective learning to take place.





BTW: I'm a little uncomfortable with Kirby agreeing with Stone. :)

[Edited by Lazer on 10-16-2000 at 02:39 AM]

[BUSHMASTER]

oooh a new term to add to the book "lurker" it keeps getting better al the time ,i was one of those that found this site while surfing ,i figured what the heck,started reading and posting ,i don't post to eveything,but learn and
expand my way of thinking. i have saved money,recieved more refined ideas, and hope that i have contributed the same. great place,after all the average person speaks more than 25,000. words a day and when you run solo and don't see many oppertunities to talk with many folks very long during to day, you can't expect the wife to listen to that much stuff at one time.LOL "LAWNSITE.COM JUST DO IT"

[toddman35]

I Agree, i am still in school, so it takes me about an hour a day to read all the new posts. any more would be a little to much. But i do enjoy it and it is fun to hear what everyone else did that day. On the weekends i wish the "lurkers" would come out and post, cuz i check back every few hrs, and only 3 or 4 new posts.

[pace lawn care]

Man, just wait till I get a little experience under my belt. Before I got my ZTR mower, my wife did all the mowing. Now I tell her she doesn't know how to mow. She say's, thats funny, I've been doing all the mowing for 25 year's, you've done it 2 months and all of the sudden, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MOW. Then I tell her you can tear up your own lawn but not the ones I maintain. Plus I talk real big when she's not around.

[rixtag]

I suppose I am lurker. BUSTED!!! I read far more that I write. I have been a member for a long time and I really have little to contribute when compared to most of the regulars but I learn a great deal from reading. I did have hard time posting at first because when I asked a question that was important to me I was told to" use the search function as this question has many threads already". To a new member the message is" Do not bother us with that question we have already answered that for someone else, yesterday , last week or whatever.

I realize that to the regulars some topics get some serious action while others do not, but to a new guy everything is new and to be be told in the manner that I have experienced it makes the less experienced feel like a great big dummy. Not good. Not friendly.

I have gleaned more knowledge from this forum than from any other source and quite honestly the paranoia from people that you talk to in person make it impossible to learn much of anything. Please do not misunderstand me as I am just offering a point of view that others might not have the gumsion to offer. I am grateful to all of you who are regulars and I am sure that things here would not be worth squat if it weren't for you all. I could not have learned what I have if it wasn't for the site and the great group of professionals that read and write here.

I suppose that when get to be a big LCO like a lot of you I might have more to contribute but until then I will just have to be quiet and learn some more.


Rick

[Barkleymut]

Rixtag, nice post. I have been with the forum since the Hall of Forums days. I'll bet I've read 90% of the posts here but I'll never grow tired of learning. While I sometimes get tired of new guys asking questions about topics that have been covered over and over I also wish some of the older members would say something other than SEARCH. If they remember the name of the topic then they could give you a keyword to search with. Hope this helps everyone.

[zimm4]

I have to admit im a lurker. Boy I feel better already. Im just starting up in the business. Im currently a carpet cleaner looking for a new challenge. I love to landscape.

Being out doors and enjoying the fresh air.

[Ricky]

Ditto rixtag, I can't add much to that other than scrubs aren't very well liked. That's what I am (scurb). Nice post Rick.

Ricky

In His (lawn) Service

[KirbysLawn]

Rick, good post and I agree, and I would be guilty also. I think a point that should be made is even if you do not have anything to add, words of encouragement or acknowledgment of some type help encourage the more experienced folks to continue giving us information that is vital to our continued growth. Often many good post quickly drop down the forum with a high amount of views with little or no response.

Wonder how often someone reads a post, says to them self "I didn't know that", but they never give recognition to the poster? Often a simple question for one may be a huge enlightenment for another. I know there are many who have questions but do not ask, I'm sure many members have emails that contained questions that should have been asked on the forum but were not. I think what Stone is saying is ask, answer, get involved a little. Heck, it's free and anonymous if you wish.

[Starling Lawn]

Good thread Larry.I`m like alot of people,just look and don`t respond that much.I`ve been in this business for years and I still learn alot from lawnsite.I especially like the search feature.it helps tremendously.
Like what was said above,encouragement goes along way.Let`s let the new members feel welcome here.
Thanks,Dave

[scottb]

I try to respond if I think I can help or offer encouragement. Some may consider me a scrub but I will not leave my customers unhappy so I guess that makes me semi professional. I do pay taxes but am not liscensed yet but will not do anything that Im not supposed to such as chemicals. As for this post I have also been refered to the search feature,which is a great feature but can be discouraging if you really want an opinon.

[Greenkeepers]

Hey Larry and All-

I agree that people need to get more involved (myself included) but,

We can look at this a few ways:

I don't have a bunch of posts but I consider the majority of stuff that I post somewhat valuable to the individual who made the post and the forum in general. I admit I put some irrelevant info. in at times too. I read and take in a lot also. But am I a lurker.

On the other hand we have people who are "afraid" to post from things that have happened in the past and are afraid of being ridiculed. I can only say to the "GET OUT OF YOUR SHELL, NO ONE IS GOING TO COME AND BEAT YOU DOWN". But we can't force anyone to post.

Then we have people who post 2 words on their own post just to keep it at the top and have a bunch of posts. I just don't think saying "come on guys" or "good point" it that influential to the post or forum, but it does show that they are alive.

Just my opinion

Mike
Greenkeepers

[Lawn Cruiser]

I just joined a couple of weeks ago and have found this forum entertaining and informative and have began to post. Besides it apears that the more I post the faster I will be a senior member.