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Kerrigan · Nov 1, 2006, 10:29 AM

Whenever you scroll to the bottom and see who's online, I usually see that the number of members is only a fraction of the total number of visitors. For instance, now there are something like 30 of us online, and then 110 "guests".

Who the heck are these people? Isn't it a bit creepy that there are 100+ unknown people watching what we write but not commenting?

Atheist · Nov 1, 2006, 10:30 AM

Why?

analogika · Nov 1, 2006, 10:32 AM

This is the internet.

Nobody knows you're not wearing pants.

Kerrigan · Nov 1, 2006, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by the organ guy

Nobody knows you're not wearing pants.

But how did you know?

Dork. · Nov 1, 2006, 10:35 AM

Spambots?

The NSA/CIA/FBI/TLA?

Steve Guttenberg?

MacPino · Nov 1, 2006, 10:46 AM

I am

turtle777 · Nov 1, 2006, 11:06 AM

I'm glad. Just imagine how much sh!t they could potentially post

It would kill the hampstor.

-t

analogika · Nov 1, 2006, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

But how did you know?

I'm not a lurker, am I?

Andy8 · Nov 1, 2006, 11:28 AM

lurker
noun
one who lurks, in particular a user of an Internet chat room or newsgroup who does not participate, one who does not wear pants.

badidea · Nov 1, 2006, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

But how did you know?

Well, if you would know the internet good enough then you would know that there's a little hack out there that enables an iSight camera without your notice!

rickey939 · Nov 1, 2006, 12:17 PM

They are all Ca$h. Oh, and his wife.

Kerrigan · Nov 1, 2006, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by badidea

Well, if you would know the internet good enough then you would know that there's a little hack out there that enables an iSight camera without your notice!

Well I may as well start charging you two for it.

Did you hear that everyone? That goes for you lurkers too. $10 to see teh pantlezz, $20 to see teh wankin, $50 to see teh bum action.

badidea · Nov 1, 2006, 12:36 PM

Do the $20 for wankin already include the $10 for pantlezz or do you also wank with pantz on (cause I only saw you wanking pantlezz so far)?

Kerrigan · Nov 1, 2006, 12:44 PM

Wankin includes pantlssez free of charge.

Do you wanna get anyone else in on this? Ambush and Cash might like to join the fun, I've seen them performing on other sites.

But seriously, I'd take ambush.

Gossamer · Nov 1, 2006, 01:00 PM

Wow, this thread turned really gay really fast.

FireWire · Nov 1, 2006, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

For instance, now there are something like 30 of us online, and then 110 "guests".

Who the heck are these people?

I was one just 2 seconds ago! When I'm at school, I often don't bother to login, as I'm just reading. So I guess a good amount of these guests are members reading MacNN while at work or at school.

Rumor · Nov 1, 2006, 01:13 PM

The are the People under the Hampstor.

TheoCryst · Nov 1, 2006, 01:27 PM

Like Firewire, I was lurking, and am now not lurking. It's easier to not bother logging in unless you feel like making a post, especially when you aren't at your personal computer (at work, etc).

And honestly, do you think that many of those 110 lurkers have anything valuable to add? It's probably for the best that most of them simply remain as lurkers.

EDIT: Then again, Rumor's "Hampstor" theory is fairly convincing as well... hmm...

SSharon · Nov 1, 2006, 01:34 PM

For the year or so before I registered I was one of those lurkers.
2000 posts later and I can only hope that some of them have been valuable.

kick52 · Nov 1, 2006, 02:01 PM

they are your wives checking up on you guys.

dont talk about sex!

BlueSky · Nov 1, 2006, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by kick52

they are your wives checking up on you guys.

dont talk about sex!

By gosh if he doesn't have something there. Seriously. Deb...?

Sage · Nov 1, 2006, 02:35 PM

The vast majority of them are probably web crawlers (bots). This is true for almost any large forum in general.

Still, a number of them are probably like me – doing a lot more reading than posting. I just happen to be registered and post once in a while.

drnkn_stylz · Nov 1, 2006, 04:35 PM

IT'S A NO PANTS PARTY!!!

One of my ex girlfriends was a lurker on at least 3 different forums (2 local, 1 car related). It was honestly a little creepy. She would read about all this stuff, and peoples opinions (including mine) yet never commented herself. It's weird, it's like she (or any lurker) is reading about other peoples lives, not being part of a community. After like 3 years her post count was at ~30.

Creeps.

jonasmac · Nov 1, 2006, 05:51 PM

I read and read and read, but only post if I have the time. Like now.

Chris O'Brien · Nov 1, 2006, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by jonasmac

I read and read and read, but only post if I have the time. Like now.

Same

Spook E · Nov 1, 2006, 06:56 PM

The other thing to keep in mind is that some of us are on the otherside of the world, so by the time i get to work, many discussions are done and dusted.

And, not to be hatin' here or anything, but often its the same dozen or so posters in each thread bantering back and forward, the lounge can be a tight clique at times (or so it would seem).

Your Mama · Nov 1, 2006, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Who the heck are these people?

Your Mama !

Rumor · Nov 1, 2006, 07:17 PM

The term lot lizard just came to mind...

Zeeb · Nov 1, 2006, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Whenever you scroll to the bottom and see who's online, I usually see that the number of members is only a fraction of the total number of visitors. For instance, now there are something like 30 of us online, and then 110 "guests".

Who the heck are these people? Isn't it a bit creepy that there are 100+ unknown people watching what we write but not commenting?

Maybe you or someone should start a new members thread inviting lurkers to reveal themselves? Might work, might not. I think many new members end up being old members who want to start a new persona. I always imagine Marden having a secret liberal identity.

houstonmacbro · Nov 1, 2006, 08:35 PM

lurking sounds so ... seedy.

Gossamer · Nov 1, 2006, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Spook E

And, not to be hatin' here or anything, but often its the same dozen or so posters in each thread bantering back and forward, the lounge can be a tight clique at times (or so it would seem).

I think that's the lounge exactly. At the start of every thread, one can pretty much predict who will say what.

Kerrigan · Nov 1, 2006, 09:34 PM

For instance, there is a 90% chance that you will make some mild and inoffensive statement, being the hedge-sitter you are, and there is a 25% chance that I will tease someone in good humored way, but it will be interpreted as an insult.

Gossamer · Nov 1, 2006, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

For instance, there is a 90% chance that you will make some mild and inoffensive statement, being the hedge-sitter you are, and there is a 25% chance that I will tease someone in good humored way, but it will be interpreted as an insult.

How about a few more?

85% chance that what_the_heck will chime in with a three word smart-alek statement
110% chance that Salty will discuss what he had for breakfast

turtle777 · Nov 1, 2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

85% chance that what_the_heck will chime in with a three word smart-alek statement

Shut the ****up

Ahh, dang it, not really three words.

-t

Railroader · Nov 2, 2006, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

How about a few more?

85% chance that what_the_heck will chime in with a three word smart-alek statement
110% chance that Salty will discuss what he had for breakfast

"That said"...

- - e r i k - - · Nov 2, 2006, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

"That said"...

Annette310 · Nov 2, 2006, 02:28 AM

Hey Everyone! I am no longer a lurker. I finally took my time to actually register

- - e r i k - - · Nov 2, 2006, 02:29 AM

Congrats! And welcome!

Kerrigan · Nov 2, 2006, 02:29 AM

Yay!!

Annette310 · Nov 2, 2006, 02:30 AM

lol Thanks!

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 02:31 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

"That said"...

I'm not the only one that noticed! He must say that at least once or twice per post.
That said, I am going to sleep.

turtle777 · Nov 2, 2006, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm not the only one that noticed! He must say that at least once or twice per post.
That said, I am going to sleep.

LOL

Thing is, the other 50% of his posts start with "Things is".

-t

turtle777 · Nov 2, 2006, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Annette310

Hey Everyone! I am no longer a lurker. I finally took my time to actually register

Good job

From here, your live will go downhills

-t

analogika · Nov 2, 2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

From here, your live will go downhills

So wil you're granma and speling.

analogika · Nov 2, 2006, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

that's ****ing brilliant.

Brien · Nov 2, 2006, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by FireWire

I was one just 2 seconds ago! When I'm at school, I often don't bother to login, as I'm just reading. So I guess a good amount of these guests are members reading MacNN while at work or at school.

Yep, I was lurking too.

turtle777 · Nov 2, 2006, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

So wil you're granma and speling.

Eß fengt schohn loß bey mier

-t

Dex13 · Nov 2, 2006, 05:46 PM

wait. does zimphire and CA$H still exist?

turtle777 · Nov 2, 2006, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dex13

wait. does zimphire and CA$H still exist?

Yes, Zimpi = Kevin, Cash = Rob (and still banninated).

-t

qnxde · Nov 3, 2006, 07:16 AM

Does anyone know what he did to get banned the first time?