Re: [Harp-L] re: lurkers

[fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>]

Warren's forward of an offlist reply to his post underscores a problem 
endemic to virtually any online community I've ever been a part of. 
Communities in general are relatively high context cultures.  It's 
difficult to jump in and get treated well.  It's very much akin to 
walking up to a conversation at a party and just jumping in when you 
don't know any of the people participating.  The thing is there isn't 
really any other way to start.  I've had the experience of lurking a 
list for years and then finally jumping in and not having it go well. 
It's part and parcel of the media.  There are several virtual groups 
that I've belonged to for years in which I have never participated 
because it just seems too scary and perhaps not worth the effort but in 
the meantime I lurk because there's value in the content.


So yeah how to get from lurking to safe respectful participation?  Be 
thick skinned and don't take it personally but as I type this I know 
it's easier said than done.  Culturally harp-l is amongst the more 
polite internet groups I've ever participated in but it's far from 
perfect and one badly timed interaction could definitely stop a new 
poster in their tracks.  I think this is why there's a life cycle for an 
internet group.  When things are new and exciting and everyone is new 
it's easier to jump in.  Harp-l is a very old mature group.  That it's 
even still around is kind of amazing.  fjm