LURKERS

[polo1665]

Yes, I have to admit that I was once a lurker. I lurked for about six months while I decided which tractor I wanted to buy. Heck, even after buying the tractor I lurked for a few months, waiting for just the right opportunity to post a question or two. While I don't post alot, I try to add my experience were it is helpful. I must say though I enjoy reading the posts far more than posting. I especially enjoy reading those threads that eventually get locked. I get a pretty big kick out of some of them.

Mark

 

[IKE76]

I'm almost afraid to let everyone know just how long I have been lurking.I found this site by accident in 2001, when I was looking for a new tractor.We didn't even have a computer at home then, so my lurking was at work on our 15 minute afternoon break everyday.As several have mentioned the information available here is incredible, and I have used it extensively. I even figured out a problem I was having with my B7500 here,printed it, and took it to the dealer and said try this.He said where did you find this and I told him about TBN.He had never heard of it.
Also as stated it is very addicting. Now I have my own business and every day I take a 1 hour lunch at my desk so I can do some lurking.

 

[apmonte]

I continue to lurk on this and a couple of other tractor sites (WFM, MTF). I do tend to read the various sites a couple of times a day. I post questions when I have them if I can't turn something up in a search. (rare) Despite my burning desire, I have never driven (much less owned) a CUT of any kind. I only recently upgraded to a JD 445 last spring. One of these days I'll have an excuse to go out and buy a CUT of some kind. I'll post more often when I feel that I have something to contribute. (likely after a bunch more questions)

I'll agree with several other posters that this seems to be about the friendliest and most knowledgeable tractor community.

 

[jgrreed]

I didn't lurk for all that long, maybe a week or two. Once I started asking Q's it quickly helped me decide to buy my machine.

I felt a bit intimidated, but have since learned that was ridiculous to feel that way. Almost everyone has been very helpful, and VERY patient. Occasionally you'll get a 'sharp' response, but oh well........

The knowledge and experience on here is HUGE, invaluable really.

I think you'll soon find you're contributing too. I haven't contributed much yet, but it's coming. I've got some projects planned that I'll sure be posting as they go.

It's about a lot more than tractors too!! Welders, shops, homes, child-rearing, fencing, etc, etc, etc........ A great bunch of guys that I'm sure would all have a great fishing trip/ski trip/BBQ together. It's a wonderful community.

Thanks to everyone who's helped me along so far!!!

-Jer.

 

[jgrreed]

I continue to lurk on this and a couple of other tractor sites (WFM, MTF). I do tend to read the various sites a couple of times a day. I post questions when I have them if I can't turn something up in a search. (rare) Despite my burning desire, I have never driven (much less owned) a CUT of any kind. I only recently upgraded to a JD 445 last spring. One of these days I'll have an excuse to go out and buy a CUT of some kind. I'll post more often when I feel that I have something to contribute. (likely after a bunch more questions)

I'll agree with several other posters that this seems to be about the friendliest and most knowledgeable tractor community.

The questions you ask now will allow you to undertake projects that you can then tell us about!!!

-Jer.

 

[Lil_FarmerJim]

I admit it, I've been a lurker more then a contributor.

TBN 12 step program -

1. We admitted we were powerless over the pull of TBN, that our lives had become unmanageable with out our daily visits.
2. We came to believe that horse power greater than our own could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of the tractor god as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless inventory of our attachments.
5. Admitted to the tractor god, to ourselves, and to another member of TBN being the exact nature of our limits.
6. We're entirely ready to have a welder and spray paint remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked our wives for more money to remove our shortcomings (Honey I really, really need that backhoe, just look at all the things 'you' can do with it).
8. Made a list of all the things we have forgotten to take care of, and became willing to make amends for them all. (honest honey I promise I will redo your garden in the spring)
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. (Safety 1st!)
10. Continued to take inventory of our knowledge and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. (all advice posted is to be taken as opinion and not fact )
11. Sought through sprayer and tillage to improve our conscious contact with dirt and earth as we understood, praying only for knowledge and horse power and enough diesel fuel to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to tractor-holics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Ok...I'll go back to lurking now.

 

[MossRoad]

If it weren't for me replying "Welcome to TBN" to new members so many times, my post count would probably be under a hundred!

 

[kthompson]

My guess is many here were not blessed to grow up with a country store and wooden Pepsi or Coke (oh the brands that are no more) crates to sit on while you visited with one another. It was a time when you could catch up on the local news, important stuff like are the fish biting, how is so and so and such. But also a great source of what one would call "common sense" approach to stuff. Today sites such as this fill those voids for many, me being one. But as good as any Internet site is, it just is not the same as siting on that drink crate, with your soft drink in one hand and moon pie in the other as you share and lurk there also. At same time back then life and equipment was simpler and options much less. Today you really do need to reach out further than before. I have been very blessed in information gained both here and at another site. Some real pros out there who really do care. Now, if we could get them in office in DC we would all be better off.

 

[Sherweld]

My dad was born in 1910. The changes he had seen and adapted to in his lifetime are astounding considering that not too long before that, a person could go through an entire lifetime with basically the same technology.

Both he and my grandfather were master molders owning their own small foundry. They were very skilled with a fairly wide reputation for excellent work. My grandfather started out as a molder in logging camps, where they pretty much made all their own logging tools and equipment. The skills they acquired and invented were pretty much their own. To my everlasting regret, I was too busy with my own life to learn the skills they would have willingly shared.

Now that I have the time and inclination to learn this skill (of course, long after they are gone) I have participated and learned a great deal on the world wide web from molders all over the world much the same as on this great forum. I often wonder how it would have been for them if they could have had the web to learn and share as we do here.

The web, with forums like this are going to change the world probably a good deal faster than even we realize today. When I was a kid, "lurking" was sitting beside the woodstove listening to all the shop talk about the foundry.

Stay well
Sherweld