in a mailing list, someone who reads the messages, but posts none Most beginners to a listserv do this at first so as not to appear foolish The word lurker isn't a put-down, but sounds like one See wallflower
A lurker is someone who prefers to read other people's messages in a discussion group rather than posting their own People new to discussion groups often 'lurk' before contributing themselves
Someone who reads message boards but rarely - if ever - posts They show up just to absorb the information shared there rather than become a part of the discussion That's what I usually do! : o