***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org ***** Here is a network graph of a 3000+ on-line community. The community is on a platform that allows private messages/chats/web page visits between members. Any member can read the public messages/announcements posted by topic. Nodes are linked if they exchanged > 5 messages [of any type via the membership system] in a specific period. As you can see many people joined and 'use' the system but have not corresponded with anyone directly yet... ~ 40% of this network are lurkers/isolates. http://orgnet.com/OnlineCommunity2.pdf [4MB PDF] Valdis On Sep 21, 2006, at 10:24 AM, Ryan Lanham wrote: > ***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org ***** > > Has anyone studied "lurkers" in communities or networks? I am reminded > of Erving Goffman's famous front stage/back stage metaphors. What role > do lurkers perform? Are they actors? Is there an audience effect to > discourse on listservs? > _____________________________________________________________________ SOCNET is a service of INSNA, the professional association for social network researchers (http://www.insna.org). To unsubscribe, send an email message to [log in to unmask] containing the line UNSUBSCRIBE SOCNET in the body of the message.