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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Use of word "lurker" |
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| Anonymous |
| 04/05/02 at 15:07:28 |
| of anything that you might be thinking would make a non-muslim feel unwelcome here, i can tell you what affects me the most: when i read that you think of those of us who choose to be anonymous as "lurkers". in fact, it makes me feel bad, and makes me go away for long periods of time. why don't you call us something nice, like "those whose needs allow them only to reside, waiting and listening and watching, beneath the dark surface of the plane of visibility"? doesn't that sound more welcoming, more like you know that we're here but LIKE us to be here, and that you understand that we all have our own reasons for remaining anonymous? |
| Re: Use of word "lurker" |
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| se7en |
| 04/06/02 at 00:21:28 |
| salaam, Hmm.. why do you think the word lurker has a negative connotation? It's just a word we use to refer to people (both Muslim and non) that read and follow along with the discussions on the board, but choose not to participate. It's not meant in any offensive way, I assure you. It's just a short and easy term, as opposed to "those who read posts but choose not to participate". :P And you are *more* than welcome to continue reading the board without posting, if you are not ready to post. It's just that.. we'd like for y'all to post! because we're sure those of you out there reading have something beneficial and interesting to contribute to the discussions we have here. take care & take it easy 8) wasalaam |
| 04/06/02 at 00:25:28 |
| se7en |
| Re: Use of word "lurker" |
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| counterplex |
| 04/06/02 at 11:26:00 |
| Hi, Lurker does have a negative connotation in the English language. However, when you're online, a lot of things change subtly or even significantly. As an example, the word hacker in everyday English has a negative connotation (i.e. one who breaks into computer systems and does damage) yet in most of the online community, it has very positive connotations (i.e. an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer). Lurker is a similar term. It is not meant to be taken offensively. In any case, if you're interested in maintaining privacy, I'm sure you're more than welcome to assume a pseudonym (or handle) that does not reveal who you are. My $0.02 Take care C |
| Re: Use of word "lurker" |
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| eleanor |
| 04/06/02 at 12:36:10 |
| [slm] This usage of the word lurker is not restricted to this message board. No matter which message board you go to on the entire internet, people who just read and don't post are called lurkers. I actually contribute to another message board (non-denominational) where your first post is usually called "delurking". In my opinion there is nothing negative whatsoever about the word lurker. There has to be some sort of word chosen for this purpose and lurker probably fits best. To some of us who post regularly it is actually daunting to think just how many people are reading our posts. People we don't know and will never meet in our lives are reading things that are sometimes quite personal. When Jannah was designing this board she was toying with the idea of making the board only accessible to members. That would mean that without a registration, nobody could read the board. We soon decided not to go this way because the people who read and don't post are as invaluable to us as the board may be to you. :) Please don't be insulted by the usage of this word. wasalaam eleanor :-* |
| Re: Use of word "lurker" |
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| jannah |
| 04/06/02 at 13:06:45 |
| slm, this reminds me of an interesting response of zakir naik... someone wrote and said they were insulted by the term kaffir, so he wrote back and said well kaffir just means non-muslim etc so if you are offended by the term non-muslim, become muslim!!! :-/ how simple is that... anyway lurker isn't meant to be an offensive term, it's just what it is..* if anyone is offended become a member and we won't call you that anymore!!! :-X |
| Re: Use of word "lurker" |
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| Anonymous |
| 04/08/02 at 00:32:36 |
| um, please don't think that i've been either offended or insulted by your choice to use the term lurker. as counterplex pointed out, this word does carry negative implications. and in the same way that he (?) pointed out the variation in interpretation of common terminology in different contexts, i was trying to point out (through my failed use of humor, i see) that language is not without emotional content, and no individual term has to be accepted into one's own use no matter how powerful the general sense of societal acceptance of its use. no doubt that if the rest of the online community were carelessly and callously to begin using the term terrorist to designate its hidden audience, you wouldn't use that term here. (and, that word, as you know, is such a prime, prime example of terribly destructive and hurtful abuse of language...) so, sorry i failed to get across that i understood the need for a succinct term for those of us beneath that plane, and perhaps, since i avoid message boards in general, i'm missing the idea that this common usage might make some people actually feel more confortable here. it's just that i always try hard to remember to be conscious of how the words i use shape or alter the world on even the smallest and most seemingly insignificant levels, and to note my own reactions to such usage. so, i admit it: i'm a language freak, and am most likely more affected by careless language than most. |
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