An Observation... And A Sad One At That
few posters but many, many more lurkers... too many, in fact
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 by starkers | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I spent a while away from the site to deal with various things, but on my return I notice the same few posters putting up various threads, and hundreds of lurkers, people who read those posts and benefit from the information provided, or get a laugh from them, but rarely or never contribute anything towards them.
So when I say it's sad, given how slow the forums can be some days, that's exactly what it is, S....A....D, SAD! It reminds me of the old commuter trains we used to have here in SE Queensland [Aus], where each carriage had around 10 rows of 2 bench seat compartments and a door either side. We used to call them cattle trains because of how people were so crowded in...and when all the bench seats were occupied another half dozen or so would cram into the small compartment and have to stand on what little floor space was left after the seated passengers had placed their feet and brief cases, etc.
Anyway, to cut a long story a bit shorter, there were these hundreds and hundreds of daily commuters, many travelling in the same compartment next the same people every day five days a week, all hidden behind the Courier Mail, which back in the day was a full sized newspaper, and none ever spoke to each other, not ever... and when those trains, of which there were dozens, and therefore the scene was repeatedly repeated, reached the city, all those people dispersed to their respective jobs, and still not speaking to each other, for any feching reason, until the journey home. The same scene was repeated on dozens and dozens of commuter trains carrying 1000's and 1000's of people, all of them with their heads stuck in the Telegraph, Brisbane's afternoon paper.
So, the purpose of this sad commuter story, which hasn't changed a great deal since the 1970's, apart from the diesel drawn cattle trains becoming electrically powered cattle trains carrying yet another generation of equally 'miserably inclined' people, is to draw its striking resemblance to the oft desolate forums here at WC, where a handful of people post and the majority has its head stuck in a feching newspaper.
Okay, maybe not a newspaper, but there is no participation from these lurkers to validate their existence here, no contributions to say: "Hey, I like this place and benefit greatly from it, so here's something in return." No, it's too much feching trouble. Well for mine, if you can take the time to read a thread/post, then you've enough time to post something... something so that regular contributors can acknowledge you, as a person and not some 'page view statistic', has truly joined the WC family and is a part of the human race.
Since my return a couple of months ago I have tried to visit more threads to contribute and participate, with a bit of information, with a bit of humour... something to say I'm a member and I've been here, but don't leave it all up to me all you lurkers, get your heads out of whatever and please join the rest of us.
 |
|
Page 1 of 5 | |
|
|---|
Reply #2 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 2:39 PM
What, it's a couple of hours now and there's40 views, NO comments. BAH!!!
Would serve you non-contributing lurkers right if those who did simply didn't any more and gave you eff all to read, laugh at, glean important information from.
No wonder the world is in such a mess with wars; atrocities; plagues and famine; inequality; hopelessness and fading trust. A small minority tries to help through effort and communication, the remainder turns a blind eye and a deaf ear: "Oh, fech no, I don't want to get my hands dirty or be seen talking to someone below me."
Frankly, the human race is doomed to repeating its mistakes over and over, but it no longer surprises me why so many people die alone... they never gave enough of themselves in life to deserve anyone present at their deathbed.
Anyway, I give up, should've known the exercise was futile, and maybe I'll start riding the commuter trains again. They're easier to move around on than the old cattle trains, with corridors up the centre of each carriage, and doors to adjoining carriages, not like in the old days, when there was no escape from 'last night's curry', so there 'll be more contactable people to annoy.
Yes I am bound to get a better response on the trains to the underwhelming one I got here, so in half an hour I'm gonna purchase a 'day rover' to get maximum fun out of my 'pissing off commuters' day. Now I know it will be pointless trying to speak with anyone, I mean: "God help it if I'm forced to speak to anyone.", so I'm going to use a different approach, a shock tactic, if you will, and kick the buggers in the shins as I move about the carriages. I'll only get an angered "Oi!" here and there, but it'll be better than the absent response here.
Ok look, is that the time alrea.....dy,
EDIT!!!!
Well knock me down with an eyelash from a Venutian asparagus dodo, but somebody took the time to respond, reply, contribute... and I do so thank you Barb... it is always a pleasure to see you. Sadly however, there are no unfamiliar lurker names in the respondants list.... STILL.
Reply #4 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 2:57 PM
I'm gonna lurk 'cause starkers said so. Always refreshing to see a good monologue then wait for the one lurker who reads it and says.....oops...better get the popcorn. 
Reply #5 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 2:59 PM
Did you ever stop to think that it's YOU? You and that stupid hat you wear? Or the way you're always doing whatever, you know? I for one, have had just about enough and all I can stand or take!!! You come, you go, you post, you don't, you comment...I mean, for crying out loud...just exactly where does it freaking end with you????
Oh, and the whole 'Australian commuter' synopsis, I mean, what? What is that? What is that supposed to be about, really? Like, no one else has ever seen or ridden on a subway car or commuted or taken mass transit? What!?!? Is Australian mass transit supposed to be THAT much better than everyone elses?
Jeez.
I supposed you're going to tell us that you all invented the term 'Down Under' as well?!?!?! Well, throw this on your 'barby'...China was 'Down Under' LONG before you were, my outback wandering friend.
Yeah. I went there.
And as for your 'bit of humour'...thats about the only thing you got right. It's a bit. A wee bit. I've seen one legged, drunk wallaby's that were funnier. Oh, yeah. That's right.
That's MY contribution. Uh huh. I said it. So, zip it, lock it, and put it in your pocket until you're ready to roll with the big boys.
Reply #6 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 3:19 PM
This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
Reply #7 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 3:40 PM
For the majority, so long as their cup is full, there's little reason to lift a finger.
Reply #8 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 3:45 PM
"O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart! 5
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead. "
Where's the damn popcorn when you need it.... 
Reply #9 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:07 PM
It's so much more fun to lurk, eat popcorn and watch other folks get picked on for making silly threads. 
You should also remember that lurkers usually are the folks that use the customizing software but normally feel they don't have the proper knowledge to contribute. 
Reply #10 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:11 PM
...Lurk...
Well sod off, then! If you wanna be a regular contributor who goes the opposite way, then SOD OFF! 
Oh, and while you're at it, take that blood Swedish au-pair girl I fired a while back and sent home. She's as useless as tits on a bull and could never get a damned thing right, like stirring my tea aniti-clockwise instead of clockwise... tastes better that way.
BTW, how's tha kitteh doing these days? Here's hoping you're both fine and well with a good dose of feeling bloody fantastic. 
Reply #11 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:20 PM
We're about 80k from 5 million registered users [Stardock] which means there're 5 million potential posters [minus the several thousand deleted spammers and other idiots].
Lurking should be an Olympic sport. I used to do it....on #skinners on Efnet ...and even on skinz.org for a while...
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:34 PM
I'm gonna lurk 'cause starkers said so. Always refreshing to see a good monologue then wait for the one lurker who reads it and says.....oops...better get the popcorn.
Um, you're gonna get a smack, right across the knuckles with a wet tram ticket. I did NOT say for you to lurk... nor to eat fricking popcorn. You know full well that your waistline will expand until the appendages below it, all 3 of 'em, disappear from view.
More to the point, you don't even cook it right. I mean, when will you learn that chucking a ton of salt on it while you have a shell to your ear does not constitute a beach party. And another thing I'm not so fond of you for... your failure to congratulate me on my attempt to get in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only pirate captain in Australia to have a storm in every port and a port in every girl. Well, a sip o' port be a lot cheaper n' sip o' rum, init!
Aarrgghh! 
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:59 PM
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 5:04 PM
Did you ever stop to think that it's YOU? You and that stupid hat you wear? Or the way you're always doing whatever, you know? I for one, have had just about enough and all I can stand or take!!! You come, you go, you post, you don't, you comment...I mean, for crying out loud...just exactly where does it freaking end with you????
Oh, and the whole 'Australian commuter' synopsis, I mean, what? What is that? What is that supposed to be about, really? Like, no one else has ever seen or ridden on a subway car or commuted or taken mass transit? What!?!? Is Australian mass transit supposed to be THAT much better than everyone elses?
Jeez.
I supposed you're going to tell us that you all invented the term 'Down Under' as well?!?!?! Well, throw this on your 'barby'...China was 'Down Under' LONG before you were, my outback wandering friend.
Yeah. I went there.
And as for your 'bit of humour'...thats about the only thing you got right. It's a bit. A wee bit. I've seen one legged, drunk wallaby's that were funnier. Oh, yeah. That's right.
That's MY contribution. Uh huh. I said it. So, zip it, lock it, and put it in your pocket until you're ready to roll with the big boys.
That'd be right, puff out yer chest and get all manly while yer the other side of the screen. Feching typical of a once welcomed participant who's become a lurker because it's so much easier to squeeze the pimples on his arse when using both hands. and what's more, where do you get off criticising Australian public transport like that? Have you been on it recently? No, of course not, you haven't got a bruised shin.
And the thing that most annoyed me about you was your repeated attempts to impersonate Dr House, when in fact the TV personality you most resemble is Bugs Bunny. Oh, and leave my feching hate out of it. You have no right or business to even mention it, not when the vacuous space between your ears would suck any hat up your nostrils quicker than a rat up a drainpipe.
As for China being 'down under long before I wandered the outback, which I think is a particularly cruel comment when it is well known that i can no longer throw a boomerang due to tendonitis in my tongue, I'll have you know that it was 'down under' long before you were 'up over' as well, and if you want to go all historical here, let me remind you that it was you, in fact, who royally sucked goose eggs well before doc raised the issue of your being an all-day-sucker. So get off yer high horse and try something lower so's you can have both feet touch the ground for once.
Oh, and before I go, stop using big words like synopsis. it clashes with your mascara and doesn't compliment your choice of lingerie.
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 5:04 PM
Starkers extends a friendly hand to the lurkers...
oh... and...
Reply #16 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 5:07 PM
I usually say to much, lurking may improve my standing in the world.Back to lurk, or try.
Reply #17 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 5:24 PM
This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
Here we go again, somebody who procrastinates over the blue and red pills when in fact he really wants to take the fricking yellow ones. I mean, why the need to procrastinate, like what's it all about? Be like me and give yourself a week or two to mull over the pros and cons, another week or two the assess the good and the bad, not to mention the ugly, a few days to reconsider it all and then a couple more to reassess to be sure to be sure. Oh, and don't forget to remember the red pills give you nightmares on night that end with ght
Also, what's with this rabbit hole nonsense? You know it's just covert type term, so's people think you're discussing a Discovery Channel doco, when really it's about taking a trip down memory lane while high on recreational herbage. Also, Alice does not appreciate unwelcome visitors to her ward in Wonderland Sanitarium unless one of the nursing staff has first brushed her hair with the leg of a chair and adjusted her strait jacket.
Reply #18 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 5:32 PM
"O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart! 5
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead. "
Where's the damn popcorn when you need it....
Um, reports of me early demise, late demise or otherwise, 'ave bin greatly exaggerated. It be true I were on tha deck all stiff n' cold, but that were a temp'rary condishun brought 'bout by that thar blaggard, Davy blasted Jones. Yeah, tha blaggard stoled me rum an a Sou' Wester were blowin' right up me unmenshunables. Lucky fer I, tha cabin boy brought I a wench an ' I were warmed up in no time.
Arrr!
Reply #19 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 5:33 PM
And the thing that most annoyed me about you was your repeated attempts to impersonate Dr House, when in fact the TV personality you most resemble is Bugs Bunny. Oh, and leave my feching hate out of it. You have no right or business to even mention it, not when the vacuous space between your ears would suck any hat up your nostrils quicker than a rat up a drainpipe.
As for China being 'down under long before I wandered the outback, which I think is a particularly cruel comment when it is well known that i can no longer throw a boomerang due to tendonitis in my tongue, I'll have you know that it was 'down under' long before you were 'up over' as well, and if you want to go all historical here, let me remind you that it was you, in fact, who royally sucked goose eggs well before doc raised the issue of your being an all-day-sucker. So get off yer high horse and try something lower so's you can have both feet touch the ground for once.
Oh, and before I go, stop using big words like synopsis. it clashes with your mascara and doesn't compliment your choice of lingerie.
oh YEAH?!?!?!
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
|
|
Page 1 of 5 | |
|
|---|
Reply #1 Wednesday, February 26, 2014 2:29 PM