Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Mon, 9 Nov 1992 11:02:57 CDT
From:         Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Last Comments on Lurkers

3 Messages, 69 Lines
*-----
From: kclelan1@cc.swarthmore.edu
Subject: The social consciousness of lurking
        The less apparent waste on networks, the better.  Even if it
        does not "cost" more to send a one-on-message to PACS-L, when
        it is of interest to the poster to whom it responds, it cuts
        another cost...precious time.  Most of the job descriptions held
        by the various academics who read this list have not changed
        to allow replacement of old responsibilities with time for
        current awareness via the Internet.  Our print journals to
        read rts or increase, our knowledge base just to do the job
        expands exponentially, and the mail that is junk to most piles
        up.  So does the E-mail.

        Kudos to "lurkers" who respond one-on-one when appropriate, and
        to others who do not respond because they realize their comments
        are perhaps not earthshaking to hundreds or thousands from
        Perth to Papua (the long way).

        I regret having to treat so many messages like unsolicited catalogs
        in the evening mail, but my available K and time management needs
        require it.  Please think about social responsibility as you
post...
        who needs or wants this information?  Is it worth the fuss it might
        start?  If yes, of course, it can be argued that its socially
        responsible to start the thing going.

        As for what to call "lurkers," I can't see that it's worth the
        fuss, and I'm praising them, anyway.


        With the direction of my intentions,

        Kate Cleland
*-----
From:     <RHADDEN@USGSRESV>
Subject:  RE: Final Comments on Lurkers
English, espeicially the American dialect, is dynamic and words change
constantly. Some words with bad meanings take on new meanings, and vice
versa. A good example is the term "Gay" or "Pussy". A hundred years ago,
people in polite society could say these words without adolescents snickering
at their use.
   Words also change with technology. A "Lurker" is also a non-discriminated
trerm for the third boat handling a net, used by fishermen on the Grand
Banks.
   To hold with obsolete uses of words when they change in concept or intent
is aludable in purpose, but is like herding house cats. You end up with
confusion.
lee hadden
usgs library
*-----
From: Melissa Davis <mbdavis@tenet.edu>
Subject: Re: Lurker's Week
No matter what we decide, the term "lurkers" will continue to be used to
describe those who read but do not communicate their responses. The term
is not used only on the Internet but also on services like CompuServe,
Prodigy, Genie, and individual BBSs. It has become so pervasive that
attempting to curtail it's use would be like trying to put out a forest
fire using only one drop of water at a time.

        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        Melissa Davis                   Librarian
        Dukes Junior High               Splendora I.S.D.
        P O Box 168                     Splendora, TX 77372
        Internet: mbdavis@tenet.edu     PHONE: (713)689-2853
        CompuServe: 75146,771
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU