Nah, I don't really think that most of these situations are made up, but there actually exists a marketing technique called the "scare tactic". It consists exactly in what you said, and it has been proven to be very effective. It's especially common in Canadian public service announcements.
I am a Lurker at times not because I am lurking. There are times that my internet access is intermittent and I lose patience before I am able to post. It's easy to read threads but posting takes time and sometimes there's even a time out... losing what I had typed in the process. So when I am lurking, I am really not. Or maybe I have an important call or visitors.
@Corie Henson I have a similar problem sometimes with losing posts, even though my internet is supposedly stable. When I'm making a long post, I sometimes copy and paste it into a word document just in case, so if the 'net cuts out, I can copy and paste it back into the comment field when the connection returns. @Admin @Ken Anderson There's a feature on another site where it auto saves what we've typed so far, then when we return to the site, it gives us the option of reinstating that text. Is it possible to turn that on here on this forum?
I really not technologically oriented, but the feature that you are speaking of is always there for me, even if I have to leave the site to take care of something. I've had my partial post waiting for my return even after a day. Could it be your computer, or it's age. Like I said, I'm not a techie.
Lurking doesn't just happen here. It's a HUGE problem on every website (and there are dozens) that I have ever been a part of. Statistically, ninety per cent or more of all typical site traffic remains silent, seemingly contented to 'eavesdrop' on the conversations of just a few active posters. This REALLY annoys me because I'm here to TALK to people! I'm alone and housebound (mostly) and a quiet site is a BORING site! As for identity theft, I have a bit in my stand-up routine (which I perform on the first Tuesday of every month at my tiny town's only local watering hole) that runs something like this: I got my identity stolen a couple of weeks ago. Very inconvenient because I had to change my name, burn down my house, kill several of my friends and relatives and get a new mother's maiden name and Social Security number as well as canceling all my maxed out, passed due for a payment credit cards. The banks just HATE that! I finally got all that done when, just last night, I got the NICEST email from the thieves, which ran: "Dear Sir, We sincerely regret to inform you that we are returning your identity to you, forthwith. Your credit is nonexistent, you're on the Federal no fly list, you've been permanently banned from all taverns and most shopping malls in the western United States and you have several outstanding felony warrants in Texas." Now I have to admit, I got a little defensive at this point, firing back a message which read: "C'mon, you guys! Who the hell DOESN'T have a couple of felony warrants in TEXAS?! Like Ken, I talk freely about myself and my exploits. If I were to do less than that, why would I bother coming on at all?
Haha, Yes, that's quite possible. What browsers are y'all using, maybe that could be an issue, as well. I'm on an old computer, using Windows Vista, and Chrome.
@Diane Lane, I'm using a 2014 iPad with Safari as my browser. As I said, I am horrible at technology, and Yvonne taught me what I do know. She is my guru and mentor in the computer world. Have you looked into any of the new tablets that are available? I upgraded from an iPhone 5 to an iPhone 6 about three weeks ago, mainly because I wanted a phone with a larger keypad. When I did that I got a free Android tablet that I gave to my oldest step daughter, and she says she likes it better than any other computer she has had. It seems many of the phone companies are offering tablets to attract new customers, or to get current customers to up grade there data packages. I do love my iPad, but I also think Kindle offers an excellent tablet, and the Kindle is so affordable too.
I look into them regularly. Unfortunately, new technology isn't in the budget. Yes, they sure are willing to attract new customers, but don't care about lowering the rates for their current customers, which I've told them several times makes me an unhappy customer, but they don't care. They would rather throw money into ads and free tablets and gift cards for those who are unhappy with other companies that do the same for their current customers, than decrease their advertising budgets and lower their rates for loyal customers. I can't afford a cell phone, let alone a new computer or tablet, so upgrading that isn't an option, either. As I was typing this, I saw an auto-save notification pop up, so I did a copy and paste in case this disappeared, and paged back then forward, and the text was saved here, so apparently now it's working for me. Maybe the other day was just a fluke, I don't know, but hopefully now it's rectified . Hmm, I'm having trouble getting the site to load lately, and it just did it again, wouldn't load when I tried to re-open this after posting, so I'm not sure if this actually posted or not.
Okay, I am doing everything that I can do about connections. There is nothing that I can reach into and fix, or hit with a hammer. I have reported the problem to tech support repeatedly. Short of changing hosts, which is something that I have neither the time or the money for at the moment, there isn't anything to be done other than wait it out. I have already stated what the problem is, and it is not something that I can personally do anything about. Some of the largest sites on the Internet have been taken down by DOS and blunt force attacks, and there is no magic that I can use to make them stop. Yes, I know that it's a problem. When you can't access it, I can't access it either, and I want it fixed. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening in any hurry and there isn't anything that I can do about it. I will change hosts if things don't get better here by the time that I can afford to do so, but that's just not something that I can afford to do right now. Potentially, it can be a major problem to change hosts, and I don't have the time for it now even if I could afford to pay for another host, being paid up for a year here. I am far more frustrated than any of you could ever be but again, I have done everything that I can do right now. Meanwhile, this thread is about lurkers.
Sorry, Ken, I wasn't complaining, I was just noting that I had an issue connecting. I've had issues with other sites, as well, and have had issues with my television connection, so I'm never sure what the problem is, since I'm sort of out in the boonies.
Some of the problems with connection could also be due to the powerful CME's that we have been getting a direct hit from the last few days. That would affect radio and satellite transmissions; so it could also be the interference that you are getting with your television, @Diane Lane . I posted about those in another sub-forum the other day, and we are continuing to have these coming right towards the earth. To try and stay on topic with this post (Ken) , I will also add that at least when no one can log in to the website due to the DOS attacks, then we are not having any lurkers on here either.
We have some new members who haven't posted yet. While you are free to lurk if you prefer, I want to encourage you to participate in forum discussions. It's a lot more interesting for all of us, including you, when you join in. Don't be shy. Feel free to join in on any conversation or start a new one if you wish.