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Pastimes : Discuss Go2Net's acquisition of our beloved SI -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SI Brad who wrote (171)	4/25/1998 8:43:00 PM
From: philan	Respond to of 446

To add to what kholt says, we who really appreciate SI, have talked to many people who then join SI at the going rate.

To: SI Brad who wrote (171)	4/25/1998 9:52:00 PM
From: June	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 446

Brad, SI was brought to my attention because of a particular company I had first hand knowledge about. I registered on my first visit because I had information to share about that company. Since then I regularly contribute to a few threads and occasionally to others when I think it is appropriate. I have been wondering what status my lack of volume would accord me as an unpaid member. I enjoy my favorite posters' easy way with words. I do not write with that ease but do try to make my contributions relevant and accurate. Whatever happens, thank you for many hours of pleasure and learning. June

To: SI Brad who wrote (171)	4/26/1998 8:24:00 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 446

Well, my first post has certainly been an enlightening experience for me. I thank all of you who responded. For other lurkers who have never taken the plunge, I suggest you give it a try--once. This is what I've learned. - There are lots of people out there who are willing to take the time to give warm-fuzzies to others. Having already corresponded privately, I knew how helpful people could be, but was still surprised by how welcome everyone made me feel. As a result, I shall take some time today to send thank-you messages (private) to some posters who have provided valuable information in the past and whom I've neglected to thank. - I can see how easily disputes get started and perpetuated. After I posted my lone message, I realized that I had made a poor choice of words and used a stronger word than I had intended. I said "derision" when I meant merely "disparagement." Afterwards, I had concerns that my words would offend and provoke rebuke. Fortunately, that did not occur, but I can see how it could have. In the future I shall be more charitable in my judgment of those posters who can't resist taking the bait from troublemakers or who over-react to a hastily phrased post. And I shall be more careful in my wording in any future posts. Brad, I thank you for your response. I'm clearly missing something, because I have no further understanding of why you continue to define contribution solely in terms of public posting. Perhaps I should infer that it has something to do with your recent transaction--the value of your property being a function of the number of posts or active posters. (BTW, congratulations.) Or perhaps, being an introvert, I "just don't get it." I recognize the need for a certain amount of thread maintenance posting, which is by its nature not information rich, but often this social posting gets out of proportion. There needs to be a critical mass of real information on a thread or IMO the thread becomes useless. I agree that if one has knowledge or insight and chooses not to share, that is selfish. If, however, one has nothing useful to share but continues to produce posts that take up everyone's time, that is just as selfish. I continue to hold the view that those of us who restrain the impulse to post unless we have something to say that is likely to be of real value to readers of those posts "contribute" more to the quality of life on SI than those who act on a need to express themselves publicly at every opportunity, and I shall continue to operate accordingly. Karen

To: SI Brad who wrote (171)	4/27/1998 1:16:00 AM
From: freeus	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 446

Dear Brad Jeff and all, Interesting discussion about lurkers and posters. I cant see how a "lurker" (that really is an ominous word, can we come up with something "friendler" sounding?) really contributes though. If we dont know you are there, how can that be a contribution. Also whether something is a worthwhile or not post is conjecture. For example, my first tech stock was usrx and all of us at the usrx thread supported each other in the ups and downs of the stock and then the horror of "THE MERGER". I dont know that a lot of that was "factual" but it sure was "supportive" and "helpful" and maybe even to some who were "lurking" but not posting. (For example if you didnt know before coming to the thread that usrx regularly went up and down you might have sold at a loss when a few weeks patience would give you a gain.) We became the "ghost of usrx and other stuff" thread. Pretty general. Lots of other stuff. But part of a comraderie that is almost as useful as information about the companies we are investing in, or buying and trading. And I have often posted ***off topic*** and been told "stop that" in one or more words. And been told"Thanks you said something that got me thinking" by someone else because of the same note. So who knows what is valuable to who? We are all so different and need different messages even on the same day! Best wishes. Hope this merger is absolutely fantastically successful, especially since I'm now an investor too! Freeus