I think that we are being watched.

[sowhat]

I think we are getting off topic.
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it odd that over 80% of the members here do not participate in posting?

Personally, i do not find it odd. Same thing happens in real life. The majority of people are watchers or do their job in silence.

[jps]

I think we are getting off topic.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it odd that over 80% of the members here do not participate in posting?

That may not be too unusual. When I lived in Los Angeles I was an unofficial member of the Hack-Packers, a hiking club from Hughes Aircraft. There were around 140 members but only about 15-20 participated regularly on hikes and camping trips, with the exception of the April 1st 1989 day trip to the top of Mt. Everest where all members came along. Mostly, we saw everyone at the annual Christmas party.

[leftyguitars]

I have never found the "I agree" post to be very useful and really figure it to be just a waste of digital space.

I totally agree with you on this point! Err...

[jingle_jangle]

... Ricks which are inclined not to be too forgiving or "idiot-proof".

Not meaning to hijack the thread or anything Paul, but I don't understand the nature of your comment here.

JimK

I was speaking entirely from on narrow viewpoint. (Although if you were to ask me to speak from another, I'd be glad to...). I was hoping the context would carry this comment. There is a type of person who must always be fiddling with his guitar. (Also applies to cars, airplanes, maybe to houses, certainly to motorcycles, etc.) This seems to be a 99% male thing.

My experiences restoring Rickenbacker instruments, indicate that unknowledgeable fiddling and tampering (especially by those who don't read the darned Owner's Manual) does more harm to a Rick than it would to (for instance) a Strat. I've also found it to be more prevalent among bass players than guitarists. I see very few cases of a guitar's fretboard separating from excessive truss rod tightening. On the basses I get for recommissioning, about 40% have required a fretboard reglue. Are bass players more likely to be hamfisted "doers"? Not meaning to take us further OT or to start any sort of controversy...I do 2 basses for every guitar; bass players are my best customers!

[bassduke49]

Thank you!

[jakeox]

I think we are getting off topic.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it odd that over 80% of the members here do not participate in posting?

As a statistician and internet geek, no, I don't think that's particularly surprising, if participation is defined as having made less than 100 posts. (By this metric, I guess I'm in the 20%.) I think that's probably a pretty typical ratio for a message board that requires registration to post. Of course, I'd love to see the numbers on how many of those seldom-to-never-posters read the forum with any regularity (impossible to tell as they may not all log in). Plus, there may be unregistered lurkers.

Which for the record, is a halfway decent band name. Unregistered Lurkers. Sounds sinister.

Like any hobby, there's a core group of enthusiasts who have the time and the means to amass serious collections. Then there are those who have the time and inclination to make a serious time investment in an online community. These don't entirely overlap, of course, and it's the latter group that is likely to do most of the posting. There will be others who have less time, or are less comfortable on the internet, or just aren't quite as obsessive about Rickenbackers. Or like me, have a hard time posting without turning each short thought into a full-blown thesis.

To make a long story short, I don't think the ratio of how many people post how much is particularly anomalous for this board, and I wouldn't read too much into what it "means" without more data (that in this case isn't available). If anything (to break my own advice), I'd take it as a sign of the quality of information on this board that there are so many people who come here to find information.

[jimk]

And I don't even own a Ric, yet. But I'm a real enthusiast, and have one on order. And I doubt that I'll ever own more than one Rickenbacker myself, practically speaking.

Hah! You say that now, but just wait until you get your first Rick - And then the RAS sets in...

Oh, noooooo.....! NONONONONONONONONONO! <whimper>
[assumes a fetal position and begins rocking back and forth]

JimK

[jimk]

I was on another message board once upon a time, and there actually was a rule that those registered had to post once a month. But the catch was that "me too" posts didn't count. And posts that said "here's my once a month post" didn't count, either.

Feeling like I wasn't holding up my end of the bargain, and thinking that the once a month posting rule was a little absurd, I declined further membership. I noticed that the number of registered users dropped off, too. Can't imagine why.
In sum, lurking ain't all that bad.

JimK

[jdogric12]

My only problem is with people who join and literally NEVER post, just to find and flip Ricks. I was unaware the sale/wanted sections had been blocked to non-users.

[mfb]

I think it's funny how some entities work real hard to become famous and then if they do become famous, they start wearing dark glasses and/or try to become exclusive.

[ajish4]

I think most clubs, organizations, groups have a core 5-10% that do most of the (and I use the term loosly) work or contributions.

My family has been involved in different kinds of volunteer projects for years. It is ALWAYS the same 5% of the group, church, school (fill in the blank) that show up to help.

But, IMHO, that makes for a tight knit base group.

[joepee]

I don't necessarily need members appreciating me being here. But I do hope they know I mean no harmin lurking, and I'm around.

One of the many things I love about not logging on is the dates of the posts are listed by the days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) rather than a numerical date.

My journalism background shines through. I was trained years ago readers will remember "The board will agree on a proposal next Monday," rather than "The board will agree on a proposal December 10." It is easier to remember next Monday for most.

I see days of the week before I log in. But once logged in, I have to remember what the numerical date is today. Yikes...I really have to think about that one.

I'm a word man, not a numbers guy.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

In reading this thread, I still have no clear idea what is wrong with lurking.

To answer Dave, I don't think the proportions are odd. On various other large sites I visit it appears to be the same story...lots of members, very few actively posting.

[doctorwho]

... I know it sounds harsh, but... "F" 'em!!!

Jdog, I think that it's OK to spell out "Fender" in this context ...

[ajish4]

... I know it sounds harsh, but... "F" 'em!!!

Jdog, I think that it's OK to spell out "Fender" in this context ...

LOL!