Posted by Helen on November 15, 2006 at 06:42:32 from 71.236.185.241 user Ruthless.
In Reply to: posted by Jock on November 14, 2006 at 23:35:48:
I would say "lurking" and "too busy" are the same thing because I often have time to read but not to post. Isn't lurking better than not keeping up at all? It's better to listen to a conversation than not go at all just because you don't have anything to add.
In case John doesn't have time...
The OED says:
Lurk, v.
1. a. intr. To hide oneself; to lie in ambush; to remain furtively or unobserved about one spot. (Now only with indication of place.) Also, to live in concealment or retirement.
b. To shirk work; to idle. Obs.
2. trans. and fig. Of things: To escape observation, to be concealed or latent.
3. To move about in a secret and furtive manner; to ‘steal’ along, away, out. Now rare.
The third one seems kind of harsh, like lurking is bad, but AR uses it as a fun thing to do, because it's part of the game the Swallows and Amazons play.
Here's a more modern definition:
Computing slang. To read communications to an electronic network without actively contributing or making one's presence known. Cf. earlier *LURKER n.1
All of the definitions are from:
http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50136977?query_type=word&queryword=lurk&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&search_id=KaHg-AXOMKN-3917&result_place=1