Why does this forum have so many lurkers (guests)?

[Dicey]

It's because MMM has done a poor job of publicizing the fact that he personally delivers a mustachian care package to your home by bicycle when you become an active forum member.

I was going to say, "Meh, who cares about the stats? People will de-lurk when they're ready.", but I had decided to just lurk instead. Until I saw your hilarious post. You take the funny guy prize and that's saying a lot around here.

One thing that's refreshing is that people don't post crap just to say they did or to increase their numbers. There's very little vitriol here, and remarkably little bitterness or political ranting. Nice, I say, very nice. Lurkers of the MMM underworld, feel free to lurk as long as you want (or need) to.

[brooklynguy]

It's because MMM has done a poor job of publicizing the fact that he personally delivers a mustachian care package to your home by bicycle when you become an active forum member.

I was going to say, "Meh, who cares about the stats? People will de-lurk when they're ready.", but I had decided to just lurk instead. Until I saw your hilarious post. You take the funny guy prize and that's saying a lot around here.

One thing that's refreshing is that people don't post crap just to say they did or to increase their numbers. There's very little vitriol here, and remarkably little bitterness or political ranting. Nice, I say, very nice. Lurkers of the MMM underworld, feel free to lurk as long as you want (or need) to.

Thanks, but for my money the best comedy being served up in the forums right now is in this thread:

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/wasp-nest-inside-hinge-of-car-door-removal-tips/msg365339/#new

[zarfus]

In my case I usually stay logged out until I have something to say (like now! one less guest!)

The "problem" in my mind is that when someone posts a thread question, a million people jump on it in about 5 minutes.  No need to beat a dead horse when I agree with all the responses :)

[MustacheCowboy]

In my case I usually stay logged out until I have something to say (like now! one less guest!)

The "problem" in my mind is that when someone posts a thread question, a million people jump on it in about 5 minutes.  No need to beat a dead horse when I agree with all the responses :)

Same for me. I lurked for year +. Now I only post if I have something different to add to the discussion. Don't like to repeat stuff or advice.

[Fi(re) on the Farm]

I have a log in but I'm basically a lurker. Usually anything I'd have to say someone already has. I tend to live a fairly frugal lifestyle but the boards have given me a kick in the ass to invest smarter!

[Cheddar Stacker]

Same for me. I lurked for year +. Now I only post if I have something different to add to the discussion. Don't like to repeat stuff or advice.

Love the avatar dude.

[Zelda01]

It seems like the definition of a Mustachian Person is so specific, that it is hard to qualify.  Some of my health-related accommodations might be seen as non-Mustachian.  They keep me going though.  And due to the health issues, I can't really bike for errands.  So this is why I don't post. 

I once read this post about Mustachian Sacred Cows, which was pretty funny, and I thought I might post after that:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/our-mustachian-sacred-cows/

But I decided to mostly lurk instead, and read what pertains to me.


On edit -->   tl;dr  you guys make me nervous!  lol!

[Less is More]

My theory is that we're entertaining as hell to read, and that posting may not bring any extra entertainment.  YMMV (as a poster)

This is why I was a lurker for so long...was loving reading everything and wrapped to find so many people on the same wavelength but didn't necessarily feel the need to comment. Have only just registered.

[Cheddar Stacker]

It seems like the definition of a Mustachian Person is so specific, that it is hard to qualify.  Some of my health-related accommodations might be seen as non-Mustachian.  They keep me going though.  And due to the health issues, I can't really bike for errands.  So this is why I don't post. 

I once read this post about Mustachian Sacred Cows, which was pretty funny, and I thought I might post after that:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/our-mustachian-sacred-cows/

But I decided to mostly lurk instead, and read what pertains to me.


On edit -->   tl;dr  you guys make me nevous!  lol!

Zelda01, thank you for posting. I hadn't seen that thread before and its great. It gave me an idea that I'm going to propose to the mods over in the forum ideas thread.

Also, if anyone here looks down on you for not biking, they're doing it wrong. This is not a contest. It is ok if you don't comply with every sacred cow. If you have things to say, please say them.

[athenap]

I thoroughly enjoy reading the discussions (have been reading for 1.5 years or so), but delurk rarely since I have so little to contribute. Our lives are spectacular volcanoes of wastefulness, only supported by reasonably high income and an ok networth. And I have never learned how to bike :) We still save around 30% of income, but it's nowhere near what most here do (and with our income, I feel we should be at 70% level. But since we are deeply attached to our bedpans, I don't see that happening any time soon). I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

[EarlyQuit]

Sometimes I get a feeling that there are lurkers on here that look for potential writing material. I am a fan of the Lifehacker blog (that's how I originally found MMM), and recently I noticed that a topic of a heated discussion here would show up as a LH article a couple of days later. The issue of filing for unemployment is one of the recent examples. Maybe coincidence, maybe not :)

[Zelda01]

Cheddar Stacker - thanks for the encouragement.  I am starting to post here and there :)

[Cheddar Stacker]

Zelda01, you're welcome. Thanks for posting.

[Eric]

I thoroughly enjoy reading the discussions (have been reading for 1.5 years or so), but delurk rarely since I have so little to contribute.

Delurk!  Ha!

I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

Oh yeah, Joet!  You've been lurking for awhile then.  He was a riot.  An exploding volcano of wastefulness and the epitome of all of the frivolous spending I see daily here in Silicon Valley (where he was too), but a riot nonetheless.

[arebelspy]

I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

Clearly you differ in one area: self-awareness.  ;)

Glad to have you here, hope it helps you in whatever your goals are.

Also gimp had the real answer: web crawlers.

[Johnez]

Long time lurker here.  To me, it's kind of simple-I glean what I can from the elite, and toddle off to see if I can apply it.  Sometimes success, sometimes not.  You guys are building hot rods of retirement here, I got my ramshackle beater I'm slowly but surely fixing up.  The beater will be chromed and tuned to perfection one day, in a mustachian way of course. ;)

[cowboysgirlfriend]

I lurked for a while before making an account. I'm hesitant to post because I'm so new to the way things work in the US, I have little to no idea what I'm talking about most of the time. I like reading, there is so much helpful info on these threads. I'm sure when I get to grips with the new ways of doing things, I'll feel confident about posting advice as well as questions.

[fmzip]

I typically don't log in.......maybe others do that too?

[Dr. Doom]

Web crawlers. Google indexes the content, one page at a time.

Although you're correct about indexing and all of that, most apps and reporting algorithms are smart enough to filter this out.  There's an HTTP header field called 'user-agent' that announces some info about the client.  This gives server side apps the opportunity to serve or not to serve content based on the requester.  So googlebot, bing, yahoosearch, etc probably are not counted in these totals.

Can't know for sure unless you wrote the forum app that MMM uses, but it's likely...

[arebelspy]

Web crawlers. Google indexes the content, one page at a time.

Although you're correct about indexing and all of that, most apps and reporting algorithms are smart enough to filter this out.  There's an HTTP header field called 'user-agent' that announces some info about the client.  This gives server side apps the opportunity to serve or not to serve content based on the requester.  So googlebot, bing, yahoosearch, etc probably are not counted in these totals.

Can't know for sure unless you wrote the forum app that MMM uses, but it's likely...

I can't say for sure, but most forum software I've seen (and other ones I've admin'd for), don't filter for that.  IDK what SMF does.

[tomsang]

I thoroughly enjoy reading the discussions (have been reading for 1.5 years or so), but delurk rarely since I have so little to contribute. Our lives are spectacular volcanoes of wastefulness, only supported by reasonably high income and an ok networth. And I have never learned how to bike :) We still save around 30% of income, but it's nowhere near what most here do (and with our income, I feel we should be at 70% level. But since we are deeply attached to our bedpans, I don't see that happening any time soon). I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

This was funny!!!  My wife threatens to rat me out to MMM as our lifestyle and budget are closer to JoeT than MMM or others on the forum.  I don't post a journal as I couldn't take the face punches and I am sure that the global moderators would take away my Senior Mustachian title and create a special title for those as wasteful as our family.  I love reading and participating on the various forums and feel that I can contribute in some areas and stay silent in others.   Stick around!!

[Cheddar Stacker]

I thoroughly enjoy reading the discussions (have been reading for 1.5 years or so), but delurk rarely since I have so little to contribute. Our lives are spectacular volcanoes of wastefulness, only supported by reasonably high income and an ok networth. And I have never learned how to bike :) We still save around 30% of income, but it's nowhere near what most here do (and with our income, I feel we should be at 70% level. But since we are deeply attached to our bedpans, I don't see that happening any time soon). I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

This was funny!!!  My wife threatens to rat me out to MMM as our lifestyle and budget are closer to JoeT than MMM or others on the forum.  I don't post a journal as I couldn't take the face punches and I am sure that the global moderators would take away my Senior Mustachian title and create a special title for those as wasteful as our family.  I love reading and participating on the various forums and feel that I can contribute in some areas and stay silent in others.   Stick around!!

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

[Dr. Doom]

Web crawlers. Google indexes the content, one page at a time.

I can't say for sure, but most forum software I've seen (and other ones I've admin'd for), don't filter for that.  IDK what SMF does.

In that case I agree with Gimp - there's a ton of searching going on, constantly.

[Workinghard]

I thoroughly enjoy reading the discussions (have been reading for 1.5 years or so), but delurk rarely since I have so little to contribute. Our lives are spectacular volcanoes of wastefulness, only supported by reasonably high income and an ok networth. And I have never learned how to bike :) We still save around 30% of income, but it's nowhere near what most here do (and with our income, I feel we should be at 70% level. But since we are deeply attached to our bedpans, I don't see that happening any time soon). I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

This was funny!!!  My wife threatens to rat me out to MMM as our lifestyle and budget are closer to JoeT than MMM or others on the forum.  I don't post a journal as I couldn't take the face punches and I am sure that the global moderators would take away my Senior Mustachian title and create a special title for those as wasteful as our family.  I love reading and participating on the various forums and feel that I can contribute in some areas and stay silent in others.   Stick around!!

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

But then how do you define high spenders? I think our spending is ridiculous-- 3-4k a month. Gas alone is $500 but my job involves driving. The only thing that makes it a little more palatable is that our biggest expense every month is charity--1k+. Still, I'd like to cut our expenses in half, but not at the risk of losing my husband. :)

[Cheddar Stacker]

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

But then how do you define high spenders? I think our spending is ridiculous-- 3-4k a month. Gas alone is $500 but my job involves driving. The only thing that makes it a little more palatable is that our biggest expense every month is charity--1k+. Still, I'd like to cut our expenses in half, but not at the risk of losing my husband. :)

I would not define what you outlined as high spending, but it's all relative. Even at $4k/month, subtract $1K charity and half your gas costs (post FIRE cost maybe) you're at $2,750/month or $33,000/year. Assuming that's 2 people, I'd call that low. Good job in my book, that's a lot less than our family.

Hard to define I guess. Maybe we use MMM's a guideline. $25K/year is MMM, $50K is MMM2, $75K is MMM3..... I would roughly define high spenders as MMM3 or higher without knowing any other details like high cost of living area, debt carry, # of kids, etc.

[tomsang]

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

I don't know how much this will add to the message of the Mustachian lifestyle. It would be more like looking at strange animals behind glass. Even with my monthly budget approaching MMM annual budget(MMM8), I am still able to save 70%. I am not necessarily living paycheck to paycheck and every line item has been scrutinized in detail based on my values. Our budget will probably drop in half over the next six years as our four kids head to college starting next year which we are currently funding.

[arebelspy]

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

But then how do you define high spenders?

Hard to define I guess. Maybe we use MMM's a guideline. $25K/year is MMM, $50K is MMM2, $75K is MMM3..... I would roughly define high spenders as MMM3 or higher without knowing any other details like high cost of living area, debt carry, # of kids, etc.

I'd bet the amount of people on the forums that spend > 75k not counting housing is quite small.. even in high COL areas, if you don't count the housing that's a good chunk.  I'd guess most of those that do spend > 75k not counting housing do so for kids (either childcare or private school or college spending/saving).

[Cheddar Stacker]

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

But then how do you define high spenders?

Hard to define I guess. Maybe we use MMM's a guideline. $25K/year is MMM, $50K is MMM2, $75K is MMM3..... I would roughly define high spenders as MMM3 or higher without knowing any other details like high cost of living area, debt carry, # of kids, etc.

I'd bet the amount of people on the forums that spend > 75k not counting housing is quite small.. even in high COL areas, if you don't count the housing that's a good chunk.  I'd guess most of those that do spend > 75k not counting housing do so for kids (either childcare or private school or college spending/saving).

I agree with all that Rebs, but where did the not counting housing thing come from? Maybe because MMM doesn't have a housing cost and some people try to call him out saying he should report an imputed housing cost as a result?

[Workinghard]

I would not define what you outlined as high spending, but it's all relative. Even at $4k/month, subtract $1K charity and half your gas costs (post FIRE cost maybe) you're at $2,750/month or $33,000/year. Assuming that's 2 people, I'd call that low. Good job in my book, that's a lot less than our family.

Hard to define I guess. Maybe we use MMM's a guideline. $25K/year is MMM, $50K is MMM2, $75K is MMM3..... I would roughly define high spenders as MMM3 or higher without knowing any other details like high cost of living area, debt carry, # of kids, etc.

Aw, thanks for the encouragement and making me feel better. We definitely could cut out some things, but I don't want to push too hard with my dh. At this stage in our life, it's not going to affect our retirement that much.

[arebelspy]

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

But then how do you define high spenders?

Hard to define I guess. Maybe we use MMM's a guideline. $25K/year is MMM, $50K is MMM2, $75K is MMM3..... I would roughly define high spenders as MMM3 or higher without knowing any other details like high cost of living area, debt carry, # of kids, etc.

I'd bet the amount of people on the forums that spend > 75k not counting housing is quite small.. even in high COL areas, if you don't count the housing that's a good chunk.  I'd guess most of those that do spend > 75k not counting housing do so for kids (either childcare or private school or college spending/saving).

I agree with all that Rebs, but where did the not counting housing thing come from? Maybe because MMM doesn't have a housing cost and some people try to call him out saying he should report an imputed housing cost as a result?

Because you used MMM's 25k, which is not counting housing.  It was an apples to apples thing.

[10dollarsatatime]

I've been lurking since February.  Just signed up today, because I thought I might have something to contribute to a conversation.  ... and then changed my mind.  However, I then found this thread, so my registration was not in vain.

As far as why I lurked so long?  I'm definitely an introvert.  I was taking things in.  I don't think I have much to add to a conversation that can't be added by someone already here...  I'm an introvert. :)

[Draggon]

As to the original post - who knows?  (my best answer)

As to why I tend to lurk on forums - I think it's a combination of laziness, a bit of apathy, and as others have noted, redundancy.  Of course, that last bit was a perfect example of the redundancy issue...  :)

After registering yesterday, I'm kind of scared of this forum.  I've never regularly visited a forum with so dang much traffic.  Obviously, this has its pro's, but the con's are - how the heck does anyone keep up?!?

[solon]

There's no way to keep up! You have to just pick a few interesting threads and follow those.

[Draggon]

There's no way to keep up! You have to just pick a few interesting threads and follow those.

But...  but...  I'm a completist....  :)

[athenap]

I thoroughly enjoy reading the discussions (have been reading for 1.5 years or so), but delurk rarely since I have so little to contribute. Our lives are spectacular volcanoes of wastefulness, only supported by reasonably high income and an ok networth. And I have never learned how to bike :) We still save around 30% of income, but it's nowhere near what most here do (and with our income, I feel we should be at 70% level. But since we are deeply attached to our bedpans, I don't see that happening any time soon). I am basically a female version of JoeT, and we all know how that went :) So I figured better to absorb the wisdom quietly, maybe something will stick eventually... :)

This was funny!!!  My wife threatens to rat me out to MMM as our lifestyle and budget are closer to JoeT than MMM or others on the forum.  I don't post a journal as I couldn't take the face punches and I am sure that the global moderators would take away my Senior Mustachian title and create a special title for those as wasteful as our family.  I love reading and participating on the various forums and feel that I can contribute in some areas and stay silent in others.   Stick around!!

Maybe someone should start a "Spendypants" thread so the high spenders can air their dirty laundry, no facepunches allowed.

The only way I am posting on that thread is if it allows Anonymous replies :). Let's see, live in HCOL area on East Coast (but in an inexpensive town with poor schools by local standards), had live-in nanny (now nanny/pre-schoool combo) for a kid, a bit of a shopping habit I am trying to eradicate, 2 cars, of which one is an expensive make (but bought used! :)) and a serious travel budget (4-6 trips per year, with at least one to Europe, most subsidized with cc bonused miles and points but still, these don't pay for meals and apartment rentals). Yeah, I am not posting my actual $$ spending to be tarred and feathered unless I can do it anonymously :).

 If I can get the spending to what it was before the kid and bloated budget (about 3-4k/month, including mortgage) I can die a happy woman.

My only redeeming quality is that when offered a lifestyle and options of other former poster (WestchesterFrugal) since former boss works for the largest hedge fund and has been trying to get me to move, I opted out. It would have probably led to more lifestyle creep despite exponential increase in income, considering the cost of property in the area. I can definitely resist the siren call of country clubs (and have, they just annoy me) but living near hedge fund central would probably eat up whatever increase in income I could realize.

[Lizzy B.]

Like many others, I lurked for a long time before joining. Like many others, I found you all terribly entertaining to read. Like many others, I've been reluctant to walk around in my financial underwear in public.

Mostly, though, the reason I didn't post for a long time (and still don't post frequently) is contained in the phrase I used above: like many others. When I think of something clever to say, usually someone has already posted my thought or something very similar, and usually more humorously than I would have.

You all are great!  Keep up the posting!

[DeepEllumStache]

Like many others, I've been reluctant to walk around in my financial underwear in public.

Hah! Now all I can imagine is a Victoria's Secret show for personal finance nerds.

<overdone announcer voice> and next up we have a lovely lacy taxable index fund bottom paired with an aggressive real estate top to balance the outfit.

[oinkette]

I lurked for a while. I'm still at "stubble" level so not even really active yet.

I stayed off because I felt a bit...intimidated by some of the posters.  What with the face punching for not being mustachian enough and occasional criticism of new people who ask questions that have "already been answered."  Sorry if I don't want to search through 100 results about a certain issoue and make the horrible faux pas of asking it again.

Now I realize it's just like any other forum (complete with occasional jerks) and feel comfortable enough to join in and not have it feel like a Mean Girls situation.  Most people are genuinely helpful and considerate.

[Meggslynn]

One reason could be that when you do post you get mocked by others (with some sort of superiority complex) for your sentence structure or grammar on this forum. I have been mocked for this and I have seen others too. I don't post much for this reason.