Every so often an AFIer throws out a comment about lurkers who should be joining in on the discussion. Then today I read another thread that appeared to be written by a newbie (i.e. lurker), followed by two pages of comments that jumped all over her case. Get the connection?
I understand that sites like this can only flourish when there's a healthy mix of people who are willing to contribute. Fortunately for AFI, we have many artists who are generous with their time and thoughts, which makes the site relevant, meaningful and helpful.
I also understand that those regulars have every right to become tired of doing all the heavy lifting. They should not have to continually carry the burden themselves.
From my perspective, there are many reasons why lurkers don't write. They feel they have nothing of value to contribute. They feel they're not skilled enough as writers. Or they're afraid others will jump down their throats if they say something wrong. And face it, it's easy to say the wrong thing when you're a new person and others don't know how to interpret your comments and your point of view.
I believe that we can best encourage lurkers to write by being consistently respectful and encouraging toward those who do, whether or not we agree with them. That includes not being a smartass when we respond -- a behavior that's hilarious in person and among people who know each other well, but when directed toward a newbie it's enough to make them crawl back into the corner and never come out again.
So can we quit trying to make the lurkers feel like they're doing something wrong? If you feel like you're being taken advantage of because you're doing all the writing, stop writing until you've calmed down and are once again feeling okay about sharing what you know.
Now let's all sing kumbaya and have a beer.
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I think that do write but not that much actively which they should write, at least on some specific topic that really means them to write about and come up openly sometimes. I also think they might be too shy for it.
There are some people who talk a lot and there are some people who don't. I feel that people who naturally talk a lot will write a lot. I have never been much of a talker and therefore do not write often. I come here to get educated information and I feel insulted to be called a "Lurker". It makes me feel like you want me to never come here.
We're always happy to see you here, Jacqueline. I think the point (kind of, sort of) is that the people who ask the lurkers to appear are passionate about the business, do like to talk and want more interaction with the readers. They know from being part of this business the great variety of personalities and talents of group. It is always interesting to see who set up in the booth next to you and sharing info is so enriching, be it sharing a glass of wine behind the booth, kvetching about how bad the show is, learning tips from the neighbor or even getting help scoring a good parking place.
Even, just a "yep, that is a good comment and helpful to me" is welcome.
Newbie here.
I did not read the particular post and its followup comments which you address, but have seen it happen on other boards. I think I tend to wait as long as possible and get to "know" the personality of a board before adding my two cents.
Thanks for addressing this - the reason folks come here and ask questions is because (surprise, surprise) we don't know the answers and hope more experienced people can help guide us so we make fewer of the obvious (to everyone else) mistakes.
Be aware that some strongly-worded replies can be intimidating to new folks! I try to have a thick skin, but I'm still lurking until I'm sure I can handle whatever is coming.
There are several posts recently that would keep people from writing. When you write a post about how you feel about a show and the promoter of that show jumps down your throat rather than reacting rationally, it can be rather intimidating.
(Ironically, the promoters are the ones that break their own rules more than artists ever do. And at an art festival, the one who always makes money, never loses, is the promoter. If I was a production house or a b/s person, knowing that promoters are in the business of filling booths, I would enter as many shows as I could. Sadly, nowadays, the general public isn't art savvy enough to always know what they are buying.)
Anyone who doesn't think they can write, don't worry about it. If you feel more comfortable, list the things you want to tell about. People are looking for the details about the show.
And the hardest thing to remember, for me at least, is that while I am writing, I have a certain 'tone' in my head of how my words are coming out on the paper yet the person reading it may have a different tone. Words sound harsher in black and white than often coming out of a mouth.
Good tip for writing.
This last part, Geri, is important, and don't you think that the longer you are online you learn more the knack of writing more directly in hopes that the reader hears what you are saying? Since there is no body language, direct looks or anything else that can get your message across you frame your sentences to be more direct.
I am still waiting for the sarcasm font to be invented. My life will be so much easier then.
:-/ is used for wry understatement and sarcasm
Thanks Robert. Now all I have to do is try to remember it (and with my mind, I am not kidding!!)
:-/
I think most of us, regardless of the "level" of show we do, are passionate about our industry. If you can call living in a tent for a weekend an industry. Certain things push buttons and emotions flare. Selling someone else's work was a recent hot topic that started calm and flamed. Mostly, I think, because the point was not getting across. I do mid level shows and I am not a fine artist, but I shoot my mouth off anyway. I've had the good fortune to meet some AFIers in person and it is always so much fun. SOrt of like an old home week. In my experience over the past 15 years or so, art show artists are a salty, opinionated bunch and I love almost all of them. This business is not for sissies as they say. If someone gives you flack, give it back. You might wind up sharing a Margarita in a resort town somewhere.
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