Fear stigma or something else ?

[SASA39]

There are 40 millions and more HIV people all over the world.........
In the US roughly 1 million.......................................................
And in this particularly site there is on the moment ~ 6000 members.
Let`s say that a 20 % percent roughly are living outside the States.
In that case a number goes down to ~5000
And lets say that every 1 in hundred HIV has a net connection.That make a number of 100.000 HIV people only in States with net connection.
And as I could see it the majority of this site is Caucasian type ( I do not mean to insult anyone) so a number goes down to a  let`s say 90.000.
5000 towards 90.000 ? ! ?
Where are the rest and what is the reason for them not to join this site ?
If I could ( from Serbia ) find it , than I think everybody with a so-so equipment can do , but why they are not doing so ?
Fear ,  social stigma , lack of free time or something else.........?
Thankfull for every kind of opinion
                                         Al

[antibody]

maybe these people don't know sites like these exist or maybe it is the fear of others finding out about their being positive.

[milker]

Right now there are 25 "members" and 83 guests. There are a lot of people who read the forums anonymously.

Milker.

[thunter34]

Right now there are 25 "members" and 83 guests. There are a lot of people who read the forums anonymously.

Milker.

Tons of the Am I crowd lurk as "guests" to spy on their threads.  You can always tell because there will be a "guest" hovering over a thread after the member posts and immediately logs off.  Somehow...like magic almost...the member will reappear to reply right after you've made a post in their thread.

Lots of regular members do that, too...when they have posted something that is ultra crazy or inflammatory.  They hide out while they drum up their next devastating retort.

[Buckmark]

Perhaps a combination of all of the above:

• Some people lurk as guests.  Perhaps due to fear / social stigma.  Perhaps waiting to pounce, as Tim point out below.
• Some people do not feel comfortable participating online -- it's just not a medium they are comfortable with.
• Some people don't have the time to participate here.  I'd probably participate a lot more if I were not so anal about the wording of what I post.
• Some people don't know about these forums.
• Some people consciously choose not to participate in these forums (which we have seen a few example of recently).

Henry