Hi, I haven’t posted in a while, partly because my husband and I have been busy with moving to Okinawa for the past month or so (lovely place, by the way.)
Having lurked for 2-3 years, I finally bit the bullet and paid the $15 a while back. However, I am finding it hard to make the transition. I rather feel like I don’t have anything to say, although I still really enjoy reading others’ posts, profound or not. Anyway, has anyone else had this problem? I feel oddly…shy. Any advice?
Yep, I got that problem. My life is boring compared to alot of people on this board. I can’t compete when my weekend involved working a 24 hour shift, and then sleeping. Very seldom does penis ensue(at least any that I would talk about). I don’t have remote controlled blimps attacking loved ones in the middle of the night either. I guess the weekend we had the BBQ and killed an adult blow up doll by throwing it under a passing bus might have been worthy of a post, but that was one weekend. Also in GQ my expertise is computers, and networking. We have that pretty well covered so by the time I read the post it has been answered 3 or 4 times over. No need for a 5th. I am not a big trivia buff, nor do I watch much TV. My opinion is my opinion, and usually a boring view point anyway. I normally can’t build up the rage needed for the pit.
My post count is going up. I am coming out of my shell a little bit. Not enough to be a known name on the board, but maybe someday. Now that I am not working 24 on 24 off my weekends will be more exciting, and maybe worthy of joining the cool kids in the MMP. With my week starting way before the US I usually don’t get to the MMP till that night so it is more of a MNP for me.
-Otanx
Yeah, I remember being timid when I joined. I couldn’t imagine having anything to say to the people here. Having them speak to me would be like meeting a rock star or something. I had to force myself to post for a while. Now you can’t shut me up.
I’m not one of the smart people and all I have to offer is my opinion, but I do it and I have a lot of fun, although you’re not going to see me much in Great Debates, GQ, or the Pit.
By the way, Otanx, I remember seeing you around somewhere.
One of the things that I found out early on is that eventually the board can show you that you have more interests and opinions than you might have been able to list off the top of your head otherwise. Keep reading around, and then something will grab your attention enough that you start posting more, and more, and more… 
So just join in a thread, and when you get a thought that’s totally off topic, but related, start your own. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you 
I think you will find the Monday Morning Post a nice place to really get aclimated and accustomed to posting. Everything is off-topic and conversational, and the MMP denizens are a very nice bunch - nurturing, welcoming and friendly. Every Monday morning, a new MMP is posted, and continues as one great big hijack party all week long.
I’m not an avid poster, my post average is 1.27 a day. So I’m around but not a big poster.
I joined a number of years ago when my bro introduced me to the site, and I lurked for a long while. I was a teenager who broke the mold and knew he didn’t know much, so I kept my trap shut and lurked for the most part. But then I began realizing that, you know what, this forum is for us to hang out. And I wanted to be part of the conversations! So I began chiming in.
Some tips:
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If you don’t feel like there is a thread going that you can add anything to, start your own! This is MPSIMS, if it doesn’t fit anywhere else - throw it here. Tell us what you had for lunch, and others will respond in kind. Tell us you have seven fingers on one hand and we’ll discuss the merits and problems with this. Ask us if we’ll sign your petition to free Tibet and your thread will get moved to GD
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Remember, the essence of a story isn’t the story itself, it’s the character. I know people who can enthrall audiences by telling them how they just painted their room beige and then proceeded to watch it dry.
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This is the Internet, we only know you by what you tell us. And we want to know you!
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When in doubt, throw in a “Hi Opal!”
I feel your pain.
I lurked for a couple years before jumping in and ponying up the 15 beans, and now that I’m here I feel nearly as invisible as when I was a lurker. I wasn’t one of those that announced myself in a big coming out party, because I preferred to just meander my way in. But I find that I kill a lot of threads, or comments I make usually go unrecognized.
But I’m not that worried. I don’t have too many posts yet, and I’m not entirely unhappy with flying under the radar a bit.
This may or may not be what you’re referring to when you say you’re having trouble. So in response to the thread title, yes, I’m also having a bit of trouble. But as far as offering advice? Sorry, can’t help ya other than to wish you luck.
Cluricaun has it right. We’re glad you’re here - and like to read what you have to say! Enjoy.
Doesn’t work once you start posting in the “Apprentice” thread.
That hasn’t stopped the rest of us jamokes. We’ve become extremely comfortable saying absolutely nothing at great length and high volume.
I did, and sorta still do, though I’ve posted a fair bit. I think the problem was really joining what has been a community for years and feeling a little like an outsider – you kinda wanna say things but aren’t sure what’s tacitly permissible, you’re not familiar with everyone here even though the lifers and other long-termers are pretty familiar with one another. I only lurked here for a few months before joining, though, more to familiarize myself with the way things worked rather than going all bull-in-china-shop. I try and pop in and add my loose change where I can but haven’t been here long enough to rid myself of that New User Smell. 
Plus, the fact that I’m hardly an expert at much and don’t hold any degrees, doctorates, masters or anything like that doesn’t give me a whole lot to contribute to most of the GQ posts. At least I can fill out my urge to flap my … er … fingers … in a manner that doesn’t require me to know a lot about much.
The Apprentice threads are my safety net- if I started killing those, then I’d really start to worry!
Wheee! I am also new as a poster on this message board, although I have been reading the Straight Dope for quite some time, and adopted a habit of reading through the message board as well. So far I have just casually poked my nose into a few threads, or as it was so brilliantly described above by Mindfield, just flapped my fingers about. My experience with message boards is very limited, and this one is actually one of the few that I really have wantd to participate in. On the other hand, my experience with massage boards are even less. But, we newbies just have to keep posting!
I always feel like if I have something to say some other doper will say it more eloquently than I will (and they usually do). In real life I’ve got a great sense of humor and like to make people laugh but that doesn’t really come out here so much. Mostly because there are so many really clever, witty dopers that my humor seems silly.
I pay the fee because this place is just so damned entertaining and informative. I don’t know where I’d find the same level of information combined with the same wit.
Dopers are the best!
It’s been said before but it’s good advice. Laught at someone’s funny, express sympathy to the mourning, congratulate the fortunate. Everyone here appreciates acknowledgement.
smitty’s right about the MMP, too. The Cool Kids are all just regular Joes and Josies who cozy up on Monday mornings to see what’s happening in each other’s neck of the woods. And we’re nice, dammit! Just ask fairychatmom!
I was terrified . Everyone seemed so bloody smart, I felt like a huge tool.
Finally one day I just did it like I jump off the high dive board, deep breath and one big step forward.
I am by no means a really prolific (or popular) poster, but I still enjoy it.
I can certainly sympathize - I’ve been a member for a few years and a lurker even longer, and I still read tons more than I write. Hell, I read more threads per day than posts I have.
Essentially, I agree with velvetjones - anything I want to say has been said, and either more eloquently or witty.
I guess I should at least post in my own thread, hu? I actually feel like I have a pretty interesting life; I am pretty young (25) but have a sucessfull home renovation business, have traveled a lot, have a degree in philosophy (everyone needs one of those,) and, as I said in my OP, just moved to Japan. I really think it is just force of habit that keeps me quiet here…I am not shy at all in “real life.” Anyway, thanks for the support/comiseration. It is almost 2 am here, and I need to crash, but I’ll check back in tomorrow.
Jump right in. You’re anonymous here for the most part, at least if you wish to keep it that way.
I have nothing profound or important to say, yet I say it all the time, to whoever I can get to listen.
Glad to run into this thread because I was just thinking about this today as I was browsing through the board.
I’d find myself getting ready to post a reply and thinking “Naw, it won’t come out right” or “Someone else will probably come along and point out what I was going to mention, only do a better job of it.”
As others have mentioned I guess the cure is just to relax a little bit and take it less seriously
I have a few post under my belt and hopefully I’ll get into a groove here.