[Air-l] where does the term "lurking" come from

[Terry Calhoun]

Heck, I don't like that, either, though. Still too negative. There is 
immense value in having lots of people connected, even if most are silent.

Terry Calhoun wrote:
> Among the many lists I manage is the college and university webmasters 
> list (UWEBD), which now has upwards of 2,500 members. No flame wars, 
> ever, and lots of good info. But most of the posts are by a 
> (relatively) small group of a couple hundred posters.
>
> As Barry noted, "lurkers" in the early years may have been the 
> minority. They are surely in the majority now in the lists that I manage.
>
> Maybe what we need is a term that positively describes the minority of 
> really active list members and recognizes that most people join and 
> appreciate but do not post much, if at all.
>
> So, let's call those who post "contributors" and everyone is a 
> "member." If someone needs to say about themselves what would have 
> been "I just lurk," they can instead say that "I am not a contributor."
>

-- 
Terry Calhoun, MA, JD
Director of Media Relations and Publications
Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)
terry.calhoun at scup.org | 734.998.7027 | www.scup.org | AIM = "splendid1"
339 E. Liberty Street, Suite 300, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA