[*BCM*] Politics

[Lisa Williams]

I assume that "lurkers" is a reference to the fact that most lists have 
a large proportion of people who might be described as "read only 
members," that is, people who subscribe to the list to read the posts 
but rarely write one. "Lurker" is a term that's in fairly wide use to 
describe a basic fact of most online communities. As a former MB board 
member and largely read-only member of the BCM list, I fall into this 
category, but I don't find LP's categorization or the word "lurker" 
offensive, just descriptive.

Despite the fact that I have delurked from the vast misty ether 
enveloping the series of tubes we know and love as our dear Internets, I 
can't answer the question, either ;->

-- Lisa Williams

robert fine wrote:
>
> Lee, can you elaborate on what you mean by calling Massbike members 
> who read this list, “lurkers”? Obviously it’s a snarky remark that 
> sounds cool, and I’m not saying this as some sort of “phantom 
> politeness enforcer” because we are acquainted. Massbike works hard to 
> advocate these important policies and I as a citizen spoke out at this 
> past summer’s state house hearings in support of the Bicycle Safety 
> Bill. While I’m putting my cards on the table so to speak, I’d like 
> you “lurkers of the streets of Boston” to know that it is very 
> difficult to advocate any improvements in bicycling conditions to 
> politicians and public officials when there are vast numbers of bikers 
> in Boston who totally ignore the traffic laws. So we are in fact 
> making a presence on this website solicit your collaboration in these 
> efforts and yes, maybe influence you conform a little bit to our ways 
> of bicycling.
>
> *From:* bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org 
> [mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org] *On Behalf 
> Of *Lee Peters
> *Sent:* Friday, October 05, 2007 2:55 PM
> *To:* Boston Critical Mass
> *Subject:* [*BCM*] Politics
>
> Dear MassBike Lurkers,
>
> Who, at the state level, determines the Mass. driving laws? Which 
> committees?
>
> and
>
> Did that bike bill ever pass? The one making it illegal to door a 
> bicyclist.
>
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