Spinoff: Why do you lurk?

[GoldenBreeze]

I lurked for about 6 months for several reasons:

1. I knew what my goals were, and I wanted to be certain that I was joining a board with ladies that had similiar goals.

2. I had a good haircare regimen and was happy with my hair health, but wanted to learn additional factors that I could add to my regiem, proper terminology, new styles (I'm so style challenged it's pathetic), see product reviews.

3. I wanted to get the general feel of attitudes of the members. I don't like a lot of arguing and pettiness. It takes time to learn personalities on a board, so I sat back and "watched".

4. I wanted to see how other newbies were treated.

Once I realized that this board was full of friendly, knowledgable, caring, funny, goal oriented ladies, I jumped in with both feet and haven't looked back. I still lurk, because I just plain enjoy reading more than talking/typing.

ITA with Kini, Lock, and MissA regarding the search function. It opens up and encyclopedia of information.

 

[RubyWoo]

Ditto! I lurked for 2 yrs until the search was no longer available. Then I paid the $5 so I could search some more ...

Same here!!...lol!

When I first joined last year, I wasn't all that serious about growing my hair. I just wanted to revamp my regimen and find different hairstyles and learn to style my hair without braids. The search function was my best friend(it still is to this day). Soo much info out there it is crazy. I just wanted information and I wasn't looking to become a participating/active member.

Then I left the board for awhile and came back in Dec and noticed I couldn't search anymore. I figured I might as well pay the five dollars and become an active member since I was starting to get serious about growing out my hair and improving the condition of my hair. Now since I've become an active member, I post when I feel like I can add something of value to the topic at hand. Otherwise, I just read and soak up the information because there is still so much info out there to be learned.

 

[deejoy]

I lurked for a while because I had no idea what anyone was talking about. There were a lot of abbreviations and acronyms that were a headache to try to figure out. Then I started reading the board more and got a little more information about what was talked about.

 

[ToyToy]

I lurked for quite a few months as well before I eventually started posting. In the beginning I wasn't sure whether I wanted be part of this forum, because, as someone else mentioned, it seemed a little clique-ish. It was also quite overwhelming! Sooo many people and sooo much information.
But I learned so much here, and I also love the fact that I can do searches on sooooooooooo many products because someone would have definitely tried them . I'm glad I stopped lurking though! I love this board.

 

[DivaRox]

I lurked for about 6 months for several reasons:

1. I knew what my goals were, and I wanted to be certain that I was joining a board with ladies that had similiar goals.

2. I had a good haircare regimen and was happy with my hair health, but wanted to learn additional factors that I could add to my regiem, proper terminology, new styles (I'm so style challenged it's pathetic), see product reviews.

3. I wanted to get the general feel of attitudes of the members. I don't like a lot of arguing and pettiness. It takes time to learn personalities on a board, so I sat back and "watched".

4. I wanted to see how other newbies were treated.

Once I realized that this board was full of friendly, knowledgable, caring, funny, goal oriented ladies, I jumped in with both feet and haven't looked back. I still lurk, because I just plain enjoy reading more than talking/typing.

ITA with what she said, except I had no hair regimen, only an ever growing insatiable lust for long healthy hair. Plus, I don't care for the term lurk-it seems so unsavory AND sneaking. I think you should look around and get to know the "atmosphere" first with anything you do, cuts down on regrets later. I prefer "phantom researcher"

 

[PinkPeony]

There are boards where that is done?

People are something else.

Believe me it was done to me to,I don't even remember anymore who it was tough.I don't mind I have to improve my english anyways and if someone wants to give me free lessons I'am fine with it .
No seriously

I lurked for a month or so b/c I thought something was wrong with my account b/c I couldn't post.I had no idea I was supposed to pay something.I even mailed the admin and asked for help.
Someone posted on BHM that you had to pay 5$ and step to step instructions on how to do it... lord I was so happy b/c it drove me nutserplexed

 

[Siditty]

Because I just signed up on Sunday and was able to post as of Tuesday

I think when you intially join any board, you try and get a feel for the mood of the board. I know I was asking myself should I post an introduce yourself post? But what section would I do that in?

 

[Candy_C]

i only reply to posts that apply to me, advice wise or help wise...

i read alot of the posts cos i dont think i have much to contribute sometimes

 

[Desert Skye]

There are boards where that is done?

People are something else.

I cant even remeber. I know I was on some cultural forums and they would just sit there and tear each other apart. It was so stupid. That was my first experience of what a forum was so I didnt know if LHCF would be the same. I am so happy its not, I dont need that negativity in my life.

 

[Kenedie]

i read alot of the posts cos i dont think i have much to contribute sometimes

ITA and I am kinda lazy and cautiously private & reserved so I have become a professional lurker.

 

[CoCoEspresso]

ITA with all posted before. I asked this question because I was curious about it. I was sure that the reasoning would be the same for nearly everyone. Sometimes you just don't want to be an active participant, just an observer. Sometimes financial reasons deter people from even joining, so they just lurk. The primary reason people join is for hair, anyway, so really someone who chooses not to join would not feel shortchanged because the hair forum can be viewed by all. Also, people may not have their "game tight". I was a sleeper for almost 7 months as I perfected my craft. I soaked up knowledge about products and techniques and all the while my hair has become healthier and healthier. Now I feel comfortable enough to post because I feel that I have something to offer to others. Before... not so much. Moreover, I was "setting up my scene". I was unfamiliar with the board and vice versa. I wanted to feel things out before diving in feet first. Last, it may not even be necessary to say anything. If a thread is 37 pages long about xyz conditioner, I am sure that topic has been discussed fully and I don't need to add anything.

 

[cabellera]

I'm just too busy reading about other people's experiences and thinking to myself "me too" and simply LEARNING from everyone's trials and experiences.

I value my "lurking" time! Let's see what my lurking has produced for me.

-I've discovered "Dominican" products. Neva heard of them before this board, but through lurking here....I found out that I too could obtain the Big D products!

-Also got the confidence to purchase from online vendors through the info I gathered lurking here! Thanks Ladies!

-Didn't even know where to begin to make my own concoctions. Until I lurked through the recipe threads and found websites that sold ingredients.

I do luv to interact, but this board is just Lurker Haven! I don't feel idle 'cos I'm writing down websites or product info, checking out ingredients and making decisions on adding them to my regimen or not. I'm actually developing a hair regimen for myself. All I do presently is wash & a light detangle condition. So there's no need for a fotki or a hair journal, but thanks to lurking, I'm ready to add deep conditioning, oil mixes, whateva. So far small changes have made big differences for me, but I'm ready for a real hair regimen now.

Signed the Learning Lurker!

 

[Nefertiti0906]

i lurk because i truly enjoy reading posts. I never really have much to say, to tell you the truth.....

Ditto! But I'm posting more now, well a little bit more...

 

[Egyptjones]

This is gonna sound pitiful but I lurk because I know that most of the products I use on my hair are somewhat shunned. I am a paraben, cone using fool and just fear being put on blast for that.

 

[Blackberry7]

This is gonna sound pitiful but I lurk because I know that most of the products I use on my hair are somewhat shunned. I am a paraben, cone using fool and just fear being put on blast for that.

Well I'm a brand newbie member so I can't really speak but I think that's okay. There's got to be some Pantene lovers up in here right?

I was a long time lurker. Then I noticed that ppl were referring to things like journals and albums that I couldn't see coz I wasn't a subscriber. So that made me curious. I'm a believer in getting what I pay for and so far I think it's nice in here. I feel like I've joined an exciting new club.

 

[eboniwoman]

I gain alot of valuable information when I lurk. I don't feel the need to post everytime. There is so much information really I rarely need to post anything. I have been doing research for myself about my own hair since 1998 and feel like I know alot of things but there is always room for more information.

 

[Isis]

When I first discovered LHCF, I lurked for about a day. I had to join and ask questions.

 

[glamazon386]

I lurked for about a month because I couldn't figure out how to post for the life of me. Then I figured it out and paid my $5 and it was all good from there. Sometimes I do read threads without replying though if I don't have anything to add to the discussion or an answer to the OP's question.

 

[Maynard]

I lurked cause I didnt feel like paying the 5 dollars...

I still do, cause usually someone says exactly what I'm thinking if I wait long enough

 

[prospurr4]

I lurk because I still have so much to learn. In fact, this is my first post; I came out of lurkdom just to explain .

I am so grateful for LHCF and the knowlegeable ladies here. Everyone is so willing to help with problems, and share tips and information. When I first found this site in June 2006, I spend months searching through old threads, reading through the wealth of information and trying not to get overwhelmed by it all.

Hopefully, as I learn more, I will feel more comfortable about posting .

 

[deltagyrl]

I lurk mostly on the hair boards now that I have a regimen that's working. I search a lot more now and read threads that I find interesting. I also noticed that info recycles itself on the hair boards.

You'll mostly find me posting in the Entertainment/Off-Topic threads 'cuz there's ALWAYS something going on over there....

 

[Mars_Reiko]

Well, first I lurked b/c I was cheap. Then, I lurked b/c I felt my hair didn't stand a chance to the other gals, so what was the point in engaging in threads, right? Well, after my hair started to improve, I felt more confident. Now, I can't shut-up

 

[naicendivine]

I lurked for almost year until I got fed up of not being able to comment and look at peoples lhf profiles to find out their passwords to their fotkis .

Once I paid to post I stopped lurking.

HA! That was me!!!

I think the straw that broke the camel's back was when Candy_C put a pw on hers. I was like y'all are killing me!!!

 

[temfash]

I lurk because I'm shy.