The Milestone Contests Are A Great Way To See...

[Lee]

Who the registered freeloaders on GWW are.

500 posts before the contests are won, all the affiliate reps and freeloaders come out of 'lurk' mode.

1 post after the winning number has been hit, they all scurry away.

Just thought it was interesting to note this happens ALL the time without fail $0.02

For this reason, i think the next milestone contest we have is going to have some tighter rules to deter more of the freeloaders from being able to win the contest, after all, its only fair to those of you who do contribute to the community on a regular basis imho.

Regards,

Lee

[Squirt]

I still have a hard time with the whole lurker aspect of boards.

It's like sneaking into trade show without paying, hanging around people and listening to their conversations while taking notes, then leaving without saying a word to anyone. Creepy

[Xstr8guy]

Some people are just shy. I sometimes lurk on a few other boards because I don't feel welcome or don't know anyone well enough. Ocassionally when posting on other boards, someone will jump down your throat on your first post. And that doesn't make you feel welcome.

And Lee, aren't contests like this meant to attract new members to the forum and make the lurkers more active? Don't you think it a little counter-productive to bash them for posting?

[Squirt]

I dunno Xtr8guy. People in the porn industry aren't known for being to shy to introduce themselves on boards. A simple "hi I'm new here" thread is just customary.

I do get lots of ICQ's from board lurkers though who don't want to post, and have valuable info and lots of experience. Many many content producers lurk and don't post. But, like I said.. I just have a hard time understanding the lurker mentality... it's just different from my personality type .. on boards anyway.. in person I'm a very shy guy.

[gaybucks_chip]

I talk to a lot of people, including some who post fairly regularly, who are deeply affected by conversation on the boards. I think that some people just can't handle being attacked or challenged and such and so they are reluctant to post because, even in cyberspace, it feels to them like they're being "beaten up" if someone challenges them.

I think that's a big part of the reason for lurking.

And, like Michael said, sometimes you want to lurk and read and learn and not post for fear of creating a flame war or otherwise not being appreciated.

When I post at a place like GFY where I *know* people are just rude, I just pretty much assume I'm going to get flamed, but I think some people just don't have the stomach for that.

[Lee]

Jim,

Yes contests are a good way to attract new community members, in addition to being a way to build loyalty towards existing members and also, in some respect a fun way of rewarding existing community members.

I have absolutely no problem with new people registering on the GWW Community and participating in the contests so long as they follow and meet the contest rules and minimum criteria.

The people i have problems with lurking, are those that without fail, every time we have a contest, or there is a contest on any other board, (the same people) suddenly start logging in an posting, perhaps one or two posts to make it 'appear' they are around, then, as soon as the contest is over, they disappear again until the next content starts on GWW or whatever other board is running a contest, these are the ones i take issue with.

For all intents and purposes, its theft, theft of a prize of significant value that should be going to regular contributors of the GWW Community, or going to someone who NEEDS help growing their business, not someone who just posts whenever there is something to be 'won'.

I mean lets be honest, would you have rather had Bec win the 200000th post contest, or someone you had never heard of, and only seen when a contest was underway, despite having been registered on GWW for over 3 years?

Regards,

Lee

[Squirt]

And, like Michael said, sometimes you want to lurk and read and learn and not post for fear of creating a flame war or otherwise not being appreciated.

I know the feeling. There have been times when people didn't like me posting their criminal past on boards and they, and their employees, have, and still do , attack me. I used to feel like, why bother informing people I don't even know of who to look out for. Then I get the ICQ's from lurkers thanking me and in some cases, giving me more info to help others.

At the end of the day boards are just the tip of the iceberg in learning about the industry. If you don't start posting, you don't make quality contacts to further your knowledge and learn in depth the necessities that are never posted on the boards.

[Lee]

I should also add, for anyone currently lurking and reading this thread...

I have absolutely no problem with people who 'lurk' because they arent sure if they want to post yet either because they dont feel that they can contribute or, they feel they may be ridiculed for whatever reason.

Lurkers are one of the things that keeps GWW 'organic' in the sense of its growth, after a while they will come of out hiding and introduce themselves and be welcomed by pretty much all of the regulars on GWW.

The lurkers i have a problem with are the ones who deliberately hang around until they have a chance to 'win' something, start posting, then vanish once the prize has been awarded. Just like the surfers who are never going to end up buying a membership to one of our sites, but would happily visit members areas using traded passwords.

Regards,

Lee