Attention Lurkers!

It's Time To Surface For Some Air.

from JoeUser Forums
I've been a member of JU for coming on four years now. Last January I decided (for reasons best kept to myself) that I would switch to lurk mode. I decided to surface today in order to reply on Tova's article asking about Bakerstreet. Never being what you'd call a regular, I'd be surprised if anyone even remembers me, but that's okay.

All this got me to thinking about how many other JUsers are out there just lurking - new members, old members, shy ones too. Blue ones, green ones, me and you.

So how about it, care to surface for a moment and make your presence known?
blogging
18,027 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Funny we got the same theme going!
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Funny we got the same theme going!


Yes we do.

Although I tried posting it earlier yesterday, but JU ate my first attempt. Not that I'm complaining about the free ice cream.

I figured that you're mostly looking for those missing in action. While I'm interested in the MIA as well, I'm also curious about the full-time lurkers. Come on folks, rise to the surface and say hello for once. We know that you're out there!
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have family members who lurk and it always gives me a chuckle when they start talking about someone on JU, or their article.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have family members who lurk and it always gives me a chuckle when they start talking about someone on JU, or their article.




Wondering if they even have accounts and just rarely/never post?

Smacks self in forehead upon the realization that you don't need a JU account to lurk. Duh!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
*waves*


Sorry for the delayed *wave back*!!!
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm never one to lurk here...I'm too opinionated. :P

Although I do take a hiatus from time to time.

~Zoo
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
I lurk here mostly... I post tech-related things here, and I have a personal blog for everything else.

I thought about making this my primary blog home, but I have found that the atmosphere here is very anti-liberal.... Much as I respect Brad (Draginol, Froboy, etc), he is a bit uber-conservative and is rude and offensive about it - and a lot of the users pick up on this attitude to make this site not very open to open-minded intellectual discussion. I guess it makes sense since it is for the "average Joe".
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
I would lurk, but I can't find the "Just Lurking" buttons. ;~D
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
So the 'average Joe' is a rude, offensive, closed-minded conservative who is incapable of 'intellectual discussion?'
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Do you honestly think the average person is capable of open-minded intellectual discussion?

So far as I can tell the majority of the population spend their entire lives quite happily without ever knowing the difference between Sartre, Hobbes and Marx.

On the conservative front, Brad's hostility and intolerance for anything less than the ultimate 'liberal' (ie highly educated, articulate and with extremely well-researched views backed up by mountains of evidence) is pretty obvious, and I don't consider it surprising that many people are intimidated away from saying anything 'liberal' on JU. Conservatives get it easier, if for no greater reason than that people don't tend to swat vermin that don't personally annoy them.

I stick around because sometimes interesting or insightful things are said, but usually only if they're drawn out of people. I consider the occasional personal slight or slam a small price to pay for a new insight or way of looking at something.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you honestly think the average person is capable of open-minded intellectual discussion?
End of quote


I'd say the average person, who tend to be more in the center than left or right, is far more capable of open minded discussion than most of the people who are either far left or far right.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you honestly think the average person is capable of open-minded intellectual discussion?
End of quote


Yes.

I'm not going to explain my statement. I mean, I'm just an average person; in your eyes I'm not able to have an openminded, intellectual discussion.

When you want to talk about Tudor and Elizabethan history, anatomy, physiology, emergency medicine or pallative care on a level far beyond that of an 'average' person, you come and let me know. I'll be happy to have an openminded, intellecual discussion with you about any of those subjects.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I wish I was smart enough to comment, but I am to busy trying to figure out how to make some some monies on the difference between the Dinar and the euro and the dollar right now.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you honestly think the average person is capable of open-minded intellectual discussion?
End of quote


Depends on your view of average. Admittedly there are a lot of idiots in this world...but I usually view average as several steps above. If they can't carry a conversation then I just give up on people.

I'd say the average person, who tend to be more in the center than left or right, is far more capable of open minded discussion than most of the people who are either far left or far right.
End of quote


This is true.

~Zoo
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mason, Dharma, Zoo: I'll try and put something together over the next week or so to explain what I mean. The figures I've seen (and will try and find again) have always suggested that the average person
1. rarely reads at all
2. rarely understands the political system in which they live
3. is largely unfamiliar with political, social or cultural theory
4. is largely unfamiliar with scientific theory and medicine, except in areas that directly influence their work.

But give me a week and I'll try to write that up with some sources for you.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
The original remark assumed that the average poster here was conservative, and the implication was that conservatives aren't capable of 'open-minded intellectual discussion.' I'd say they are no more or no less capable than the average 'liberal.'(and why is this reply box miniaturized on the new forums? It's tiny and tedious.
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Yes, ma'am, it is. It's horrible. The whole new layout is horrible.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'd say they are no more or no less capable than the average 'liberal.'
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Then we agree.

I assumed he was saying that the average person will simply follow the prevailing winds, and that on the good ship JU under Cap'n Drag that just so happens to be conservative.
Maybe I misread the subtext here. It wouldn't be the first time.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you honestly think the average person is capable of open-minded intellectual discussion?
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Intellectual snobbery is a disease not recognized by those who have it. See a doctor.