More Members!

As a long-time "lurker", a recent "member", and a very seldom "poster", here is my viewpoint- I very much enjoy reading about the topics being discussed here. I find the regular contributors to be knowledgable, courteous, and helpful. I am not sure what benefit would be realized by compelling people to join the conversation and post something just for the sake of "participating", when they are just as happy reading, learning, and enjoying. I appreciate how welcoming and open the site is, and will make a point of being more involved- but I also recognize the high quality of what is posted here, and I am not sure that there is any benefit to having that diluted by any posts (including my own) that do not add to the conversation in a meaningful way. I guess what I am saying is that this site has managed to achieve a great balance and a wonderful flow, and I would hate to see it devolve into some of the nonsense that we've all seen on other sites. Forgive me if what I am saying does not seem to be in the spirit of what this community is all about- that is not my intent. By all means, I'd certainly love to here from anybody with knowledge or a respectful opinion, and I will share mine when appropriate, but there will always be few teachers and many students.

"...by compelling people to join..." ??

My original point was to brainstorm how to ENCOURAGE guests to become members...

We are doing something wrong or more of the guests would sign up for membership. Maybe the majority does not feel qualified to jump into rigorous discussions, but all those prospects have questions, want to show off their unknown items, want advice, want new ideas, etc. And everybody is an expert on something. Plus, we are much SAFER than ebay for new purchases, and do not compel PayPal, etc.

It is at this point, in my humble opinion, that you slip off the rails.

I agree that we should be welcoming and accessible to both guests and members, but consider there are millions of Internet surfers who simply want to read and move on.

Last week, I spent two hours reading a forum devoted to HATS, specifically Fedoras. I don't wear hats, don't own a fedora, and don't plan to buy one. For a little while, I was interested, then I moved on.

I think we can all agree it is extremely rare for a new member to be chastised, criticized, or flamed on SCF. Those who read know that if/when they decide to join and post, it will be welcome.

Having said that, I give a nod to good points made by NY-Steve. If his membership is working for him, who am I to question. By the way, the other extreme would be one of those forums where 400 people respond "me too" to every post.

KirkS

I have been mulling this over and decided we are just going to have to accept the "lurkers",the "members" and anyone in between !!

Me too
Sorry Kirk I just had to.

That'll be 10 lashes with a wet noodle for you!
(assuming the noodle lasts that long)

Mine don't !
I am logged in all the time as my computer stays on all the time. So I am only logged out when there is a power outage, which has happened many times recently.

Otherwise, I am always logged in.

I commend Doug for his enthusiasm in trying to get lurker to join up but do agree with others that this is the norm everywhere, not only here at SCF.
I would be more inclined to worry about those members who join up but don't post often [or never] or those that have been active here and have disappeared. I know that latter has been discussed before, but I think we should all make an effort to re-ignite the passion in those who have exited.
For my part, I do on occasion try to contact some of those [former] established members and I would like to think others are doing so too.
Many of us have busy lives and are not able to post,Log-in or even read messages but I feel that the occasional message would not go amiss and would be welcomed by those who miss them.
I don't know about others, but I have built up a small network of Internet'buddies' who I have never met, nor am ever likely to meet.
And yet I class them as friends, someone I know and feel comfortable talking too. When they 'disappear' for any length of time, I worry about what has happened to them, just like I would a freind that I meet once a month and then suddenly doesn't turn up !

Let us try to re-ignite those members, wherever they may be.

Londonbus1

While reading this forum I went and looked at the number of people were on this site and lo and behold I was not signed in... Now I am... And I am reading

OK, Chickasaw..

That's ONE!

Well I don't know what happened, but I logged on today and found about a dozen new members' posts in the introduction section. So all of you who want to encourage participation, head over and say hi to those who have taken the plunge and signed up!