Warnock's dilemma, named for its originator Bryan Warnock, is the problem of interpreting a lack of response to a posting in a virtual community.[1] The term originally referred to mailing list discussions, but has been applied to Usenet posts, blogs, web forums, and online content in general.[2] The dilemma arises because a lack of response does not necessarily imply that no one is interested in the topic, but could also mean for example that readers find the content to be exceptionally good (leaving nothing for commenters to add).[2]
On many internet forums, only around one percent of users create new posts, while nine percent reply and 90 percent are lurkers that do not contribute to the discussion.[3] When no users reply, the original poster has no way of knowing what lurkers think of their contribution.
Warnock's dilemma leads to online writers and publishers adopting more provocative writing strategies in order to ensure that they will get a response.[4][5] However, this can also lead publishers to avoid producing the kind of content that might fail to generate comments due to its high quality.[6] This problem arises particularly with sites that focus on viral content, such as BuzzFeed and Huffington Post.[6]
^Re: RFCs: two proposals for change 2004-10-11 at the Wayback Machine – Original description of the dilemma
^Re: Warnocked? 2004-10-11 at the Wayback Machine – Post to the Perl 6 language list explaining history and uptake of term
Sourcesedit
Holiday, Ryan (2012). "Can't Stand the Silence". Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator. pp. 101–103. ISBN978-1101583715.
External linksedit
Warnock's later explanations
Mention in Wired Jargon Watch
February 21, 2024
warnock, dilemma, named, originator, bryan, warnock, problem, interpreting, lack, response, posting, virtual, community, term, originally, referred, mailing, list, discussions, been, applied, usenet, posts, blogs, forums, online, content, general, dilemma, ari. Warnock s dilemma named for its originator Bryan Warnock is the problem of interpreting a lack of response to a posting in a virtual community 1 The term originally referred to mailing list discussions but has been applied to Usenet posts blogs web forums and online content in general 2 The dilemma arises because a lack of response does not necessarily imply that no one is interested in the topic but could also mean for example that readers find the content to be exceptionally good leaving nothing for commenters to add 2 On many internet forums only around one percent of users create new posts while nine percent reply and 90 percent are lurkers that do not contribute to the discussion 3 When no users reply the original poster has no way of knowing what lurkers think of their contribution Warnock s dilemma leads to online writers and publishers adopting more provocative writing strategies in order to ensure that they will get a response 4 5 However this can also lead publishers to avoid producing the kind of content that might fail to generate comments due to its high quality 6 This problem arises particularly with sites that focus on viral content such as BuzzFeed and Huffington Post 6 Contents 1 Original description 2 See also 3 Notes 4 Sources 5 External linksOriginal description editThe problem with no response is that there are five possible interpretations The post is correct well written information that needs no follow up commentary There s nothing more to say except Yeah what he said The post is complete and utter nonsense and no one wants to waste the energy or bandwidth to even point this out No one read the post for whatever reason No one understood the post but won t ask for clarification for whatever reason No one cares about the post for whatever reason Bryan C Warnock 7 Since Warnock s original description of the dilemma in August 2000 the expression has become used in the Perl world 8 dubious discuss See also edit nbsp Internet portalLike buttonNotes edit Holiday 2012 pp 101 103 a b Holiday 2012 p 101 What is the 1 rule Archived 2020 07 10 at the Wayback Machine by Charles Arthur The Guardian 20 July 2006 Holiday 2012 p 102 Rosenberg Scott 2009 Say Everything How Blogging Began What It s Becoming and Why It Matters p 259 ISBN 978 0307451385 a b Holiday 2012 pp 102 103 Re RFCs two proposals for change Archived 2004 10 11 at the Wayback Machine Original description of the dilemma Re Warnocked Archived 2004 10 11 at the Wayback Machine Post to the Perl 6 language list explaining history and uptake of termSources editHoliday Ryan 2012 Can t Stand the Silence Trust Me I m Lying Confessions of a Media Manipulator pp 101 103 ISBN 978 1101583715 External links editWarnock s later explanations Mention in Wired Jargon Watch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Warnock 27s dilemma amp oldid 1159214494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,