This document discusses how to transform lurkers, or non-posting members, into posters in online communities. It defines what a lurker is, providing historical depictions. Lurkers are then described from various fields and perspectives. Common reasons lurkers give for not posting are outlined, such as not needing to post or being still learning. The document presents reasons for community members to participate, such as influencing others. It proposes using a participation continuum and transitional flow of persuasion model to encourage lurkers to post. Recommendations include community managers encouraging participation through good governance and education, experienced members sharing expertise, and members recognizing the community is open to all.

1. Participation Transformation in Online
Communities: From Lurker to Poster
Jonathan Bishop
Chartered IT Professional Fellow - Co-operative Party Town Councillor
Doctor of Information Systems Candidate

2. Co-operatives Fortnight 2011
The Principles of Co-operatives
•Open, voluntary membership.
•Democratic governance.
•Limited return on equity.
•Surplus belongs to members.
•Education of members and public in cooperative
principles.
•Cooperation between cooperatives.
•Concern for community

3. What is a lurker? Is it…
A dangerous being that stalks others, like this tiger
in a painting by Rosa Bonheur in the 19th
century?

4. Or is it…
Someone innocent
and shy, who is
afraid to post
because they fear
what might happen,
like this kitten in a
painting by Bessie
Bamber around the
20th
century?

5. They can be seen as…
Field Description
Economics Free-rider, Economically inactive
Sociology In-bound peripheral participator
Politics Apathetic
Education Disengaged
Religion Agnostic

6. Instead of what they are
– why they are…
Reason Detailed example
Didn’t need to post Just reading/browsing is enough (53.9), NO
requirement to post (21.5), Had no intention of posting
(13.2)
Needed to find out
about the group
Still learning about the group (29.7)
Thought I was being
helpful
Nothing to offer (22.8),
Others have said it (18.7)
Couldn’t make the
software work
Not enough time (9.1), Did not know how to post (7.8),
Too many messages (4.6)
Didn’t like the group Shy about posting (28.3), want to remain anonymous
(15.1), Of no value to me (11), Group messages low
quality (7.8), Wrong group (7.3), Delay in reply (6.8),
concern about aggressive responses (5.9), fear of
commitment (4.1), new members treated poorly (1.4)

7. Reasons to Participate
Public Sphere
Taking part in others’ online
communities
•Many others can see
one’s opinion
•One can challenge
others’ beliefs
•One can influence
others by latching on
to popular ‘soap-box’
websites
Public Square
Running one’s own online
community
•Where one can
decided what is
published
•Where one can direct
the direction of debate
•What one writes is
equal value to others

8. Towards transforming lurkers into
posters – The role of the
Participation Continuum

9. The Transitional Flow of
Persuasion Model

10. Recommendations
• Online Community Managers, or Systems Operators
(sysops) need to be more involved in encouraging
participation. Like a co-op, this requires good
democratic governance and better education of members
in co-operative principles.
• Outbound members, known as elders, need to share
their expertise even if they are not as enthusiastic as
they used to be. That is, like co-ops, they should show
concern for the community.
• Regular members need to realise the community is a
much about meeting the needs of new members as
maintaining their level of involvement. That is, that
need to realise that the community is open and voluntary,
like co-ops

11. Any Questions?
About the dark
side of
communities?
Or how to involve
the innocent
or fearful?