Regardless of a discussin group's size, there are generally a number of subscribers who follow the discussion, but choose not to participate in it. These are the lurkers. Generally speaking, it is best to lurk for a while after subscribing to a new list in order to familiarize yourself with the group.
A lurk is a person who goes around looking at all the Usenet newsgroups or chat rooms without participating in the conversation or posting a message. However, the negative connotation that we apply to the word does not necessarily apply online. Most people lurk when they are new to a group until they are familiar with the scope or the rules.
to read and observe the going-ons of a public discussion without posting or contributing to it.
be about; "The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square"; "Who is this man that is hanging around the department?"
Reading the offerings of newsgroups without contributing posts of your own.
Term used to describe listening to discussions on the Internet without participating in the conversation. Abbreviation for 1,000- used after a slash mark to indicate cost per thousand or CPM.
When computer users visit and listen in to chat room discussions without identifying themselves or their presence, they are said to be lurking.
hanging around a newsgroup or list without contributing to discussion
On a messageboard or anything similar, to browse the board very often, but without ever posting anything.
Staying invisible on a mailing list or Usenet discussion (ie. not sending any messages). Strongly recommended until you have the feel for the content, style and etiquette of a particular group.
To observe an online discussion without participating. Good idea when first joining a Mailing List.
To spend time watching a newsgroup without posting anything.
To read messages in a newsgroup or chat area without participating in the discussion.
Read messages in a Usenet newsgroup without ever saying anything.
To read articles in a newsgroup without posting any of your own. Always lurk a while before posting, to get a feel for the newsgroup. A person who lurks is a "lurker." See delurk.
This is slang for when a player is in a chat room but not playing. Many experienced gamers will lurk in a room for a few minutes to get a feel for what's happening before they role-play their character's entrance.
To read mailing lists, livejournals, be in a chatroom, or anything else that involves participation, without actually participating.
Listening in to a mailing list, message base, chat room, or newsgroup without participating. Newcomers are encouraged to lurk for a while as they get the feel of things. The term "lurker" is sometimes used negatively to refer to people who take from discussions, but never give.
what one does when they're hesitant to post in messages to the Water Cooler; lurking, lurker
To read and watch a forum without responding.
A term used to describe the practice of simply viewing messages being exchanged between others on a newsgroup, chat room, or mailing list before posting a message.
To read a mailing list, newsgroup or chat group without posting messages. It is a good idea to be a lurker when you first join a group.
To monitor a discussion forum or mailing list without contributing. Many users prefer to lurk in discussion groups until they get a feel for the forum and gain an understanding of what behaviour is appropriate and what is not.
To read messages in a discussion forum without participating. This practice is advisable when you first join a group.
To "eavesdrop" on messages posted to a newsgroup. Many people "lurk" in newsgroups to read information but do not contribute their own thoughts or comments. Guy would spend some time lurking in the alt.current-events.usa newsgroup to read some of the comments about current events before checking his e-mail.
vb. To receive and read articles or messages in a newsgroup or other online conference without contributing anything to the ongoing exchange. lurker: n. A person who lurks in a newsgroup or other online conference. See also lurk. Compare netizen.
