Where is everybody?

[Astro Dave]

I'm just wondering where all you people go who click onto this forum but don't take part. I see the viewing numbers each time I log on and they are high. It needs to grow and can only do that by involvement.

Maybe you have a point of view? Maybe you have no point of view and want to share it??

Perhaps you are shy or new and feel you have nothing to input. Everybody has something they can say. Look at Radar, he wanders around in a cloud most days and occasionally stops to have a look through his telescope... but he still posts! So can you.

This is a good forum, clean and tidy without bias or innuendo and so far has spawned some pretty interesting topics... plus a few good quizzes I might hasten to add.

[Radar]

This is called lurking Dave. Internet surfers lurk before they post. Prior to posting they may read every single topic ever posted etc. Lurkers ultimately do become posters, it just takes a little time for their shyness to disappear. :duh:

[Astro Dave]

Uh Huh, "Lurking"..... yes, sounds logical.

I must say it sounds like an affliction I once had this 'lurking' ... I used to go round lurking through windows at night!!

[orion]

OK I'll say something, does lurking mean looking through a thread and not replying and then moving on to the next thread.
Or does it mean looking through the forum saying nothing and then leaving?:hmm:

[Astro Dave]

Errrr, Yeah - I think so ....

[Radar]

You can count on wikipedia to know what Lurking means.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurker

My definition of Internet Lurking is simply someone that reads the material but rarely posts. In my experience, lurkers do turn into posters. The term lurker is not to be considered offensive either. It is supposed to be considered funny internet jargon like the word "noob". :Chessy_Smile:

[orion]

In some threads the subject is not to my interest so I don't reply.
But it's always slow going when the forums are new.

[Radar]

OK I'll say something, does lurking mean looking through a thread and not replying and then moving on to the next thread.
Or does it mean looking through the forum saying nothing and then leaving?:hmm:

Hi Ed, I missed your question. Lurking is coming onto the forum and never posting. You are not a lurker, though lurking is not a bad thing either. Most members were once lurkers.


In some threads the subject is not to my interest so I don't reply.


That's normal and so is lurking. I lurk on other sites, but mostly post on here (time being the governing factor though).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurker

This site gets tons of lurkers at the moment, which is great. I'm sure those lurkers will realise how awesome the original and unique features on this site are, and as a result become super posters. :Chessy_Smile:

Lurking Welcome!

[hpcoolahan]

Hey Radar ,, if Beren and I are moderators,,,, does that mean we're SUPER LURKERS..lol:duh: :duh: :duh:

[Radar]

Hey Radar ,, if Beren and I are moderators,,,, does that mean we're SUPER LURKERS..lol:duh: :duh: :duh:

lol, that is actually quite close to what a super lurker would be. Maybe I should change the moderator title status to super lurker?:Chessy_Smile:

Ray

[orion]

Thanks Ray for clearing that up....so lurking is not a bad thing got it:thumbsupmate:

[Caveman]

Hi Dave,

I am a bit of an intermittent lurker and poster myself. I find my job as a shift worker and family life play havoc with regular posting and commenting. If I have not looked at the forum for a few weeks I always strive to look back at what people have been doing and posting about before i CHARGE IN so to speak out of respect for those who are more prolific with thier contributions.

Always enjoy seeing the results of the astroimaging and when the clouds clear here in Northern Tas and I get the tracking going with my soon to arrive EQ6 mount I may have some contributions.

Best regards and thanks:cool:

[Tenacious Del]

lurking is such a funny word. it's not really a word you would ever use in real life. there is something sinister sounding about the word "lurker". I like it though, it has a ring.

:thumbsupmate:

[mlcolbert]

Hi guys!

I'll jump in as well.

I only joined recently (as you can tell by my miniscule post number :yesplease: )

For me, I want to see what expertise there is out there, if I can contribute or if I am happy to listen / watch so that I can learn.

Another thing is that it is not shyness, it is more respect to wait until I have something to contribute and to be part of a serious dialogue, eg the relative merits of film vs digital images. Conversations regarding the merits of meade or celestron etc ad nauseum are of no interest as I already have a preferred instrument which I have spent / will spend a substantial (for me) amount of money on. Why do I need to comment on these areas or topics?

Sometimes on different fora there is a topic which has a history, which I am too lazy to chase up, or disinterested.

Other times the thread heads down a 'bashing' path or there seems to develop a competitive edge to the comments and so on. Again, this is childish to my way of thinking and I don't participate.

These are only some of the reasons I don't bother going beyond the lurking stage, although a significant one does come to mind, that of time. The time it takes to compose and respond to a thread takes away time which I need for work. ( I work from home in preparing tutorials then teach after school hours and week - ends, therefore my week day time is limited for non-work related communications).

I am happy to participate on the forum but I don't wish to be like some who add daily to their post tally by adding "...right on mate...." etc. This is not communication.

Thanks for the thread and comments guys, you have stimulated a response which I hope others can add to.

michael

[wakaleo]

Gidday all

I've been more of a lurker lately and not a 'poster', mainly because, like Caveman, I've had limited time. However, this could change dramatically in the not-too-distant future. My wife and I are looking at buying a business that may see us more involved in astronomy, and I'll be picking the brains of all the wonderfully experienced contributors to MAS if we succeed. I'll post more information later when, and if, our plans come to fruition!

Our stint here at Moreton Telegraph Station is almost at an end, and we plan to be heading out of Cape York within the next three weeks. In the meantime, we are preparing the place for the wet season and the possibility of flooding if the Wenlock River breaks its banks as it did after Cyclone Monica in April 2006 (see attached photos).

We've had a really great time here but with just the two of us running the place, we've had little time for other pursuits, like observing the night sky, and have been too knackered at the end of the day anyway. Ah, come the revolution things will change! Ha!

Catch ya

Jim

[Radar]

Hi guys!

I'll jump in as well.

I only joined recently (as you can tell by my miniscule post number :yesplease: )

For me, I want to see what expertise there is out there, if I can contribute or if I am happy to listen / watch so that I can learn.

Another thing is that it is not shyness, it is more respect to wait until I have something to contribute and to be part of a serious dialogue, eg the relative merits of film vs digital images. Conversations regarding the merits of meade or celestron etc ad nauseum are of no interest as I already have a preferred instrument which I have spent / will spend a substantial (for me) amount of money on. Why do I need to comment on these areas or topics?

Sometimes on different fora there is a topic which has a history, which I am too lazy to chase up, or disinterested.

Other times the thread heads down a 'bashing' path or there seems to develop a competitive edge to the comments and so on. Again, this is childish to my way of thinking and I don't participate.

These are only some of the reasons I don't bother going beyond the lurking stage, although a significant one does come to mind, that of time. The time it takes to compose and respond to a thread takes away time which I need for work. ( I work from home in preparing tutorials then teach after school hours and week - ends, therefore my week day time is limited for non-work related communications).

I am happy to participate on the forum but I don't wish to be like some who add daily to their post tally by adding "...right on mate...." etc. This is not communication.

Thanks for the thread and comments guys, you have stimulated a response which I hope others can add to.

michael

G'day Michael,

Welcome to the site mate. All valid reasons for lurking. I agree with them all, especially the bashing threads reason. Those threads really ruin the good vibes that a forum may have.

What do you teach at the moment Mike?

All the best mate.

Ray


Gidday all

I've been more of a lurker lately and not a 'poster', mainly because, like Caveman, I've had limited time. However, this could change dramatically in the not-too-distant future. My wife and I are looking at buying a business that may see us more involved in astronomy, and I'll be picking the brains of all the wonderfully experienced contributors to MAS if we succeed. I'll post more information later when, and if, our plans come to fruition!


This sounds very exciting Jim. I'll be looking forward to hearing more about this.

Those photo's you posted are amazing. Did you take those photo's or are you in them?

Cheers

Ray

[mlcolbert]

Ray Hi!

thanks for the welcome!

You pose an interesting question rather aptly, what do I teach at the moment? Well, that depends on the time of day and with which student I am teaching.
The simple answer is that my wife and I tutor children after school, from Kindergarten to HSC. I also am involved in counselling and acting in a mentor role to a Master's candidate. The subjects range from English, Science, Maths to everything else, but my focus is on clear thinking, excellent academic writing skills and research skills. I tend to also use my expertise as an academic psychologist to provide direction for study at appropriate universities as well vocational guideance and so on. When I have some free time, I'm either trying to put together the instrument or compose music, make miniatures, get involved with photomicrography and heaven knows what else! Oh yeah, figure out what I want to be when I grow up!:)

Re the astronomy (the important stuff) at the moment I am waiting for an APQ 130 to arrive in the New Year which will match the zeiss lunar and planetary camera I recently purchased for film and glass plate work. The guidescope is a zeiss 500 mm f8 telephoto lens which will soon have a 2 x teleconverter. The cameras at the moment include a Hasselblad 503 cw and a nikon D 70s. I am thinking about a cheap Bosch ccd B&W video camera for experimentation, only because it has a 1/2 inch chip!!!!!!:))
The other side of the coin so to speak is my interest in radio astronomy and the current servicing of a FRG 7700 for jovian observations. All of this will eventually be put through the mac. I am definitely an analogue photographer! :))

Re Jim, he's in the photos, but he's under the water! :)

Jim, yes please do advise once the direction is worked out. I too am thinking about veering my course a little to bring interest and income together and to consequently live the fulfilling lifestyle!!!! :))

[wakaleo]

Gidday Ray

Will definitely keep you posted. I will say that we'll still be in the North Queensland bush, but closer to 'civilisation' (not sure this is a good thing, having either lived in or travelled to many 'civilised' places 'round the globe - give me the bush anytime!).

As for the photos, that's me with the shirt on! Here's another, taken with tongue planted firmly in cheek. This photo of Malcolm 'Doc' Elliott, the wet season caretaker, checking the rain gauge appeared in a local magazine called 'the Cape Yorker' with a caption saying something like "Hmmm! I could have sworn we had more rain than that last night!".


... Oh yeah, figure out what I want to be when I grow up!:)

You've probably heard this Michael, but it's worth repeating: growing old is compulsory, growing up is not!


Jim, yes please do advise once the direction is worked out. I too am thinking about veering my course a little to bring interest and income together and to consequently live the fulfilling lifestyle!!!! :))

Will do mate. I doubt you'll have any trouble finding a suitable 'alternative' lifestyle - you sound a pretty adaptable sort of fella.

Jim

[beren]

Top pics Jim, like the thongs on the post, hope there wasn't any scaly paddlers in the floodwaters.

[mlcolbert]

adaptable...? nah just too many interesting things in the universe! :)

I just have to make sure that the wife and kids are dragged along kicking and screaming (in wonder preferably)

as for the growing uold/up, there is also the other growing 'out' which we have to watch for as well! Aah the life of a connoisseur....! :))


michael

[wakaleo]

Top pics Jim, like the thongs on the post, hope there wasn't any scaly paddlers in the floodwaters.

The thong-pole has now gone Stu. Some people think this is a sad thing but I was personally pleased to see the end of it. It was a copied idea from a 'thong tree' at Chilli Beach near Lockhardt River on the Cape York east coast, where the thongs were those picked up in the flotsam and wrack washed up on the beach by the tides and the almost constant south-easterly winds. At Chilli Beach it looks interesting, but in front of our office and shop, not so good.

Anyway, the termites were getting the upper hand on the timber pole so we got rid of it and the others and now have steel ones. As for the scaly logs or snapping handbags, we thought that since the water was flowing quite rapidly we supposed they would be elsewhere in calmer waters. We were either right or bloody lucky.

This is a little bit off the topic of astronomy (er, way off?) so I apologise to all.

[hpcoolahan]

Hey there mate, no apologies needed.
Great to here interesting stories about the trials and tribulations of our members.

We all have stories, so let them out ,so we can all understand each other better.

Clear Skies
Pat

[beren]

Jim checked out the Moreton Telegraph Station site, looks like a great place to visit :thumbsupmate: must be a dream location for stargazing

[wakaleo]

Pat, Thanks for the encouragement (you may be sorry one day! ;-))

There's certainly no light pollution problem here Stu, and when you get a clear night it seems like you can see forever. Sadly, however, at the time of year when the skies are best for observing, we are flat-strap running the place and are usually too knackered of a night time to get the 'scope out, set it up and spend any length of time at it.

I have had a number of night's viewing though, and it's surprising how fast time flies while you're at the eyepiece. It can even make me forget how tired I am, until at some point hours later you pull up to take a breather and almost fall asleep on the spot. And of course the next day I'm a cranky old bastard 'cause I haven't had enough kip time.

We are sussing out the possibility of being more involved in astronomy, which may happen in the not too distant future, but we'll certainly let the forum know if and when we make that decision.

[gyro]

I've been sort of busy following Comet Holmes 17p "threading" its way across our northern skys, kinda makes up for missing out on McNaught.

[Aussie Pete]

Hi Dave,

My Group has over 220 members Dave, many are lurkers and they are happy doing that. I am a member of over 20 groups and can understand the need to read and leave. But the core of every group is its regular, knowledgable contributors, and rare and treasured theses members are indeed :)

At times I sneek a peek at the hits on newly posted images and that tells me whats really going on :)

Pete