lurking, cliques and depression

• lurking by Ladywolf, 7/29/97
  • Fellow Female Wolf - Lurkers allowed by WlfWoman, 9/9/98
    • re: lurkers allowed by John Suler, 9/11/98
      
      

John - You point out the negative effect of non-responses to postings, which I am sure is true. In the recent study showing depression and loneliness, I wonder if some users have come across the very cliquey nature of many of the chat areas that exist. Although they ARE public forums, they tend, I observe, to be populated by people who know each other very well... this can be quite off-putting if you are sensitive to how you are perceived, or are unsure of "the rules" of cyberspace, that only become obvious with experience.

• re: cliques by John Suler, 9/13/98