I've noticed many atheist websites have a higher ratio of lurkers to members, as opposed to popular topics like pets, home improvement, sports, etc. As the owner and moderator of a few forums myself, I get that there will be more guests, bots, etc, but it's the RATIO that intrigues me compared to the engagement.

On a pet forum, for example, a person may only be interested in reading a specific post about "How to stop my dog from pulling on a leash" and then leave, but on an atheist forum many people are arriving here due to important life decisions....questioning their faith, question their very existence....heavy stuff for many people, so they'll stay longer as a guest to learn more about it.

However, I think to many people, especially those who have escaped a religious belief system, the concept of "joining" atheists may be akin to joining yet more beliefs. Yes, I know it's the lack of belief that is important, but to those people questioning, wondering, pondering, it may just seem like a "cult of naysayers" to them, so they'll read with fascination, but perhaps worry about joining for fear of ending up in another "religion" of sorts.

Thoughts??

I'd be willing to bet that the reasons are particular to each individual, and each individual probably has several reasons.

Ever heard the saying that getting atheists to agree or act like a group is like trying to herd cats? I think Dawkins did a similar quote.

When I first joined the forum more than ten years ago, it was all about discussion for me. Granted, the place was more active back then. Now, I suppose that I have mellowed a bit and only engage in the deep stuff if I feel an urge.

I don't think that that is confined to atheists. I'm a member of some wood working and wood carving forums, as well as one for antique trucks, and another for metal working. If I look at the truck forum, for example, there are currently 56 members and 2833 lurkers online there. A lot of consumers of the product, as it were, instead of contributors.

(October 21, 2024 at 1:17 pm)Fireball Wrote: I don't think that that is confined to atheists. I'm a member of some wood working and wood carving forums, as well as one for antique trucks, and another for metal working. If I look at the truck forum, for example, there are currently 56 members and 2833 lurkers online there. A lot of consumers of the product, as it were, instead of contributors.

Agreed, a guitar forum I used to be active in had a pretty similar distribution of users.

I've read somewhere a long time ago that only about five per cent of forum readers ever sign up, and even fewer ever make a single post.

(October 21, 2024 at 1:14 pm)Silver Wrote: When I first joined the forum more than ten years ago, it was all about discussion for me. Granted, the place was more active back then. Now, I suppose that I have mellowed a bit and only engage in the deep stuff if I feel an urge.

That's why I joined. I wanted to find thinkers, not specifically atheists, even though I've been a non-believer most of my life, but I don't actively seek out atheist content. I'm aware of people like Hitchens, Dawkins, etc, but I don't follow that type of content. I just like anything that is interesting to me and that usually involves science or any discussion involving critical thinking and why we do the things we do as humans.

I actually like forums when I can have interesting debates, like reddit. But places like this can be fun too!

(October 25, 2024 at 1:07 pm)Modern Atheism Wrote: I actually like forums when I can have interesting debates, like reddit. But places like this can be fun too!

Ouch!

(October 21, 2024 at 7:06 pm)Asmodeus Wrote:

(October 21, 2024 at 1:14 pm)Silver Wrote: When I first joined the forum more than ten years ago, it was all about discussion for me. Granted, the place was more active back then. Now, I suppose that I have mellowed a bit and only engage in the deep stuff if I feel an urge.

That's why I joined. I wanted to find thinkers, not specifically atheists, even though I've been a non-believer most of my life, but I don't actively seek out atheist content. I'm aware of people like Hitchens, Dawkins, etc, but I don't follow that type of content. I just like anything that is interesting to me and that usually involves science or any discussion involving critical thinking and why we do the things we do as humans.

(Bold mine)

Maybe this is the reason why people on atheists sites are more often lurkers than posters. Seems like you've answered your own question.

Boru