Hi Asher,
This is not a lecturing situation (re. your previous example), I thought it was more like a meeting place to chat/solve problems, generate ideas, whatever. It works because of the few hundred who participate, the givers. Long term lurkers appear to contribute nothing, they do not give anything to the discussions, they just take away the results, if any (reward for no effort). They are taking up space in the room, looking over our shoulders. Maybe some are wary of posting, because they are supposed to have used their real name. If they do not speak, how do we know their thoughts? Personally, which may well be a very good thing, I very much restrict what I say here, since so many members are completely unknown.
My views on this are probably quite different than yours, but from time to time this question arises, re. number of lurkers. The question would not arise if lurkers de-lurked, or were removed. I think a number came over just after June 2006, and have not posted since. Many of the newer members post and contribute, which gives us the 'buzz'.
Speaking of which, ...... I used to keep bees, in as much as one can keep a few hundred thousand insects. Now the drones are a complete waste of the hive resources. The workers are all female, and other than mating with the queen bees, the only use for drones seems to be keeping out the draught, when the workers line them up in the hive entrance. Now, some bee keepers removed the drones, but the character of the hive then became rather morose. The hive was not 'right'. A morose hive produces less honey. Who knows the use of our lurkers.... ? ;-)
Best wishes,
Ray