# De-lurk...and I'm nervous! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849 "2004-10-12T18:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/1 "2004-10-12T18:23:32Z")
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOkay. (deep breath) Just joined (on the 30-day trial, which means I see that annoying message whenever I try to post), although I’ve been lurking here for a while now. I’ve seen a few newbies post “I’m new!” threads, so I’m hopping on the bandwagon, so to speak. I have _never_ been involved in any sort of message boards, but this place is just too interesting to pass by. So, a little about me… Thirty-something, three kids, tutor at a community college, love history, SF, movies, and reading almost anything. I imagine I’ll be spending more time in Cafe Society, IMHO, and MPSIMS than in Great Debates (although I love to read GD, some of those people _scare_ me!! 😃 ). I consider myself to be politically moderate, though here in Alabama some folks think I’m a flaming liberal. Oh, and I actually found a copy of “The Straight Dope” in a Books-a-Million once upon a time, and fell in love with Cecil. Subsequent googles led me here. Questions? Comments? Snide remarks? Fire away! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/2 "2004-10-12T18:56:33Z")
> [@shadowfax33](#): > > Oh, and I actually found a copy of “The Straight Dope” in a Books-a-Million once upon a time, and fell in love with Cecil. Subsequent googles led me here. Back in my day, before Google was the all-powerful near-sentient entity we know it as today, we had to actually try typing [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) into our browser windows:D Roughly half the board will be along soon to comment on the choice of username;) (we have one or two tolkien fans here…) ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/3 "2004-10-12T19:06:19Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > Back in my day, before Google was the all-powerful near-sentient entity we know it as today, we had to actually try typing [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) into our browser windows:D You had URLs? Why, in the days of yore we had to type in random numbers and HOPE we didn’t end up at an unsavory Sesame Street website. You guys and this newfangled technology! Welcome **shadowfax**! Excellent name. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/4 "2004-10-12T19:22:47Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > You had URLs? Why, in the days of yore we had to type in random numbers and HOPE we didn’t end up at an unsavory Sesame Street website. You guys and this newfangled technology! You got to _type_? We had to chip our search requests on rocks and throw them out into the path and hope that somebody tripped over them! **Shadowfax** , huh? We shall see which end of the horse is represented before long… 😃 Welcome! ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/5 "2004-10-12T19:38:58Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > You got to _type_? We had to chip our search requests on rocks and throw them out into the path and hope that somebody tripped over them! > > **Shadowfax** , huh? We shall see which end of the horse is represented before long… 😃 > Welcome! Why, thank you, thank you very much (bows). I have been known to represent both ends of the horse on occasion. About a year ago, one of my younger children came into my office (which I share with 2 collegues), and saw a typewriter sitting on a table. He didn’t know what it was–he was 7 at the time. BTW, I _love_ LOTR; read it for the first time as a sophomore in high school, and have been a fan ever since. I remember Sam as being the first literary character I truly loved–I wanted to have his little hobbit-children 😉 . The Tolkien scholars on this board put me to shame, though. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/6 "2004-10-12T19:49:16Z")
Welcome! Make yourself comfortable. There’s some good people here. And the combined knowledge of all dopers on things both trivial and profound never ceases to amaze me. I don’t think you’ll be bored. _(Although you may not get as much done at work as you used to before 😛 )_ ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/7 "2004-10-12T19:54:29Z")
> [@Silenus](#): > > We had to chip our search requests on rocks and throw them out into the path and hope that somebody tripped over them! You had tools with which to _chip_?!? We had to _gnaw_ the symbols into the stones, and hope that our teeth held out long enough!! Welcome, **shadowfax**! We’re a silly bunch sometimes, but it’s fun here! ---
**Author:** ![\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7cd45c/32.png) [@\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Deep_F_ied)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/8 "2004-10-12T19:55:31Z")
Glad to have you aboard **Shadowfax**. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/9 "2004-10-12T20:52:25Z")
Try the buffet. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/10 "2004-10-12T20:55:00Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > You had tools with which to _chip_?!? We had to _gnaw_ the symbols into the stones, and hope that our teeth held out long enough!! You had symbols? WE had to bite at the stones, hoping someone else would figure out we were trying to say “discover stone tools, damnit!” Those Ss were a BITCH! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/11 "2004-10-12T20:55:54Z")
Don’t worry, dear, we’ll be gentle. I see that no one has of yet mentioned the goat… ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/12 "2004-10-12T20:59:41Z")
Gracias to everyone for the kind–albeit sometimes weird–welcomes. I think I’ll sit a spell. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/13 "2004-10-12T21:00:44Z")
Am I late? **leads in goat** Welcome! ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/14 "2004-10-12T21:04:21Z")
There’s a GOAT?! :eek: Y’know, that goat looks familiar… I _am_ from Alabama, after all. _To goat: Didn’t we run into each other at the Talladega 500 back in '92? Hmm?_ ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/15 "2004-10-12T21:06:30Z")
> [@shadowfax33](#): > > although I love to read GD, some of those people _scare_ me!! > [@Brutus](#): > > Look’s like meat’s back on the menu, boys! Regards, Shodan Welcome. Land and be friendly. ---
**Author:** ![Lao\_Tsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/16 "2004-10-12T21:32:56Z")
Welcome Shadowfax33. I’ll bet you’ll enjoy it here. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/17 "2004-10-13T00:27:09Z")
_snort_ No servants of Mordor joining? No champions of the Eye? We welcome you to the Straight Dope Message Board. May you remain unmolested by the denizens of Mordor, and may the hamsters always run faster for you. WRS - Dark Lord of Middle earth, Sovereign Despot of Mordor, Lord of the Rings. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/18 "2004-10-13T01:11:18Z")
Welcome, from another Tolkein geek! Let me add that some of the Tolkein fans display a …dedication to detail… that almost scares me. OTOH, this is where I found out about the Secret Diaries. > [@](#): > > I remember Sam as being the first literary character I truly loved–I wanted to have his little hobbit-children. “Pervy hobbit-fancier…” 🙂 [sub]twickster, what are you doing giving me the goat _now_??? I’m still setting up for the Salad-Tong Ritual! He’s gotten into the calamari![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/19 "2004-10-13T01:22:08Z")
Well, isn’t this just the _nicest_ neighborhood, where even Dark Lords are welcoming me. I just hope there is no evil ulterior motive. You’re not thinking about gifting me with a pretty, pretty ring, are you?? Always nice to meet other LOTR geeks! I may indeed be a pervy hobbit fancier, Sunspace, but I’m always mindful of the fact that Sam will kill me if I try anything 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849/20 "2004-10-13T01:33:59Z")
Right. Should have remembered. I think someone’s been stealing memos out of my inbox again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-lurk-and-im-nervous/268849.md?page=2)