Why do people register my forum and never write anything ?

[wii]

In one of my forums I have lots of members that register but never write anything, the forum is open for guests to read everything and they are not spammers, I don´t get it !

Any thoughts on why people would register a forum and never write - personally I only join a forum if I have something to say.

Thanks

[SNN]

Well if they don't have anything to comment on the community topics then they probably won't post. Just start some interesting topics people would like, that worked on my friends forum.

[wii]

But why register if they don´t write, that´s the part I don´t understand, there´s really no need to register if they don´t plan to write.

[Fusion]

Does it really bug you that much that people register&activate, then lurk for weeks, maybe months? Maybe they think that registering will grant them more access (and sometimes it does, merely based of promotions using Days registered).
Personally, I think it's good people take the time to feel out a forum before posting anything.

[wii]

Oh, I don´t mind, just curious why they do it !

[dreamer81]

Same happens on my forum. I dont understand why either.

[punchbowl]

they aren't angry or impassioned enough - maybe there are too many steps to climb before they post by which time the initial spark of having something to say has extinguished.

[Fusion]

True, which directly relates to the suggestion that the registration/posting procedure could be reversed. That way people start a post only to find that before submitting the post they need to finish registering, like shops etc do.

[MJM]

Reasons for registering but not posting
- To become a member or associated to a site's purpose or intent.
Think of how many people become a member of a group, club or organization but never actually contribute articles to their newsletter or magazine.

- To be able to subscribe/receive updates to topics and forums.
A person must be registered to use this feature.
People subscribe to many egoups and websites for the convenience of having a newsletter or discussion topic updates sent to their computer.

Unfortunately vB has an antiquated system that ...
- does not provide a one page forums subscription interface or provide an option to send selected forums as an individual newletter.
- does not provide instant thread notification without having visited the site repeatedly.
Many do not return to the site thinking discussion has ceased.
There is a higher proportion of egroup members who respond to posts because they are able to receive and reply to topics from their computer

It's only natural that readership be proportionally much higher than posters.
Compare the number of daily active members at this site to the number of posters. (And we're all paying customers with a vested interest or reason for visiting these forums)

It would be an outrageous situation if everyone had the gift of the posting gab.
Who needs posters who have the incessant urge to respond to every post, usually as one liners with little effort put into content, even sometime causing friction by their post first > think later attitudes.

I'd say ... count your blessings if you can have a reasonable number of quality daily postings to keep your readership coming back.
Without a readership than your forum is only catering to a relatively small group.

[MRGTB]

One reason can be to get access to downloads that you might have uploaded to your site, which they can only download as a member.

[wii]

Oh no, all topics and posts are available for guests, so that´s not it.

[WurkAnimal]

People just want to lurk about your forums, read then go away. That's what people 'used' to do with mine, I get a lot of active posters now though.

Good luck!

[Mark K]

could be several reasons

1. they are new to the forum world, so are keeping an eye on how others respond and talk to each other, before posting themselves.

2. to gain access to the PM feature

3. Downloads

4. access features that might not be available as guests i.e attachments, profile viewing etc

5. feel as if they are part of the community

6. dont currently have time to post but joined for a later date

etc etc