Comments on: Do Lurkers Benefit from Online Support Groups?

By: Are you a lurker? | Digital Pivot

Are you a lurker? | Digital Pivot — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:27:21 +0000

[...] . Well, if you are I’d never find out anyway. If you are a regular online surfer, and are averse to posting comments–you’re a lurker. I used to justify it by believing there was never anything worth commenting about. But I think there’s more to that Let me just say I love how social media is not only engaging, but in the case of online support groups a good thing. For being such an open society, we certainly have a large number of support group site visitors who don’t contribute, preferring anonymity.IMHO I believe lurking to be a bit more justified on these types of sites. Nothing wrong with visiting one and not posting–not everyone is open enough to share their deepest issues/problems with total strangers. You’d think that non-participants in these groups don’t gain value–after all, isn’t that the point to be supportive? But I adjusted my point of view after reading an article about it. Albeit a bit dated, this article is nonetheless interesting. So lurker or not, most people can gain real life value from social media. [...]

By: Marina

Marina — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:39:49 +0000

Hello John and everybody!
I have been studying and researching this phenomenon “the reason of being lurker at any online course”. Once I had an opportunity to study at one Spain course to raise my education in practicing to modulate my own online course. Without false modesty I was a good student, but sometimes I felt uncomfortable: I needed more tech knowledges where and how to post my answer to the following task. I had to lurk and ask the tutor’s help. The second reason of my lurking was language difficulties. I had to think how to express my opinion briefly and correctly. I waited for someone who was ready to post his/ her answer. I studied their ideas, motivation to share their opinions in order not to repeat their ideas, language. behaviour.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:32:16 +0000

Why not? Some people go to Anonymous program meetings and sit silently for the whole time. They just choose to listen. Yes, you can get something out of that without active speech.

By: Ed Madara

Ed Madara — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:18:44 +0000

Wow, thanks John, for publicizing this interesting study.

I was surprised that they compared the outcomes to bibliotherapy, when so many other dynamics were at work for lurkers:
- the fruits of the other members’ POOLED EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE database or “collective wisdom” that would include others different coping skills, solutions to similar problems (i.e., the generation of ALTERNATIVES where previously some lurkers saw none and were despairing), identification of helpful and unhelpful resources, etc.
- like so many community face-to-face groups that don’t see some members who have “lurked” at a few meetings, the very real value of the PERCEIVED SUPPORT that they feel but may never tap, but which does provide definite benefits (like a safety net calms the tight rope walker above), i.e., the comfort of knowing “it’s there if things get worse and I need it.”
- value of NARRATIVE THERAPY – just listening to other’s different personal stories, their battles and perspectives, which can help newbies refrain their own stories, because they find…;
- POSITIVE ROLE MODELS in some of the active members;
- personal insights, VALUES, and LIFE MEANING not previously recognized;
- and more.

By: Wendy Aron

Wendy Aron — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:36:18 +0000

Lurkers are just people who are shy about revealing personal information out of fear that no one will be able to relate. But they can be empowered by reading that they are not alone and that is probably why they still benefit from online support groups.

Wendy Aron, author of Hide Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness
http://www.wendyaron.com

By: Books and Magazines Blog » Archive » Do Lurkers Benefit from Online Support Groups?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:24:09 +0000

[...] Original post by World of Psychology [...]