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Appendix 2

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Lurking

Researching group activity is constrained by the possibility of lurking. The researcher may not know what amount of activity is occurring in the main group forum, and how much is being conducted through email and other channels. This mail exemplifies this phenomenon:

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Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 02:03:37 +0200
From: Marco
Subject: Re: DIRECT-L Converting files

>Does anyone know of a program that could be used to convert
>autocad .DXF files to another format like swivel 3D or 3DMF

.... delurking......

Hi!
There's a list of translators here:
http://www.sdsc.edu/vrml/gmtranslators.php
I think some are shareware.

-Marco

.... relurking ....

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The participants are unaware that the lurker is there until a comment is posted.

Participants in electronic groups often seek to encourage newcomers despite disparaging comments from longer-standing members of the group.

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Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 09:25:30 -0500
From: Holly Jean Bogossian
Subject: Re: Message To All Lurkers (Newbie and Otherwise)

snip
>At least once a week there is a post with a subject line
>such as:
>
>"Stupid Newbie Needs Help"
snip

The only "stupid" question is the one that goes unasked.

holly jean

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Moreover, this imperative is not limited to ‘newbies’:

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Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 16:46:30 -0800
From: "John C. Ware"
Subject: Re: Message To All Lurkers (Newbie and Otherwise)

Another thing to think about with "stupid" questions, is that they give someone else a chance to contribute to the community. Regardless of your knowledge base, theres always someone who knows just a little bit more, and is excited to get a chance to help!.

------------------------------
jcw = John C. Ware, Macromedian
for more info, uh, reply...
------------------------------

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There is an implication that the group’s continued existence depends upon the contributions of its members, ‘newbie or otherwise’. It would therefore seem that the element of participation is as important for virtual communities as it is unavoidable IRL (In Real Life).

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Source: http://cpmu.haystack.co.uk/newbie/appendices/appendix-2/