I believe I know of a lurker in my midst. . .

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I believe there may be a Straight Dope lurker in my midst, right here in lowly North Dakota.

No, it isn’t particlewill, and it isn’t my friend “Lurch”. No, I believe a newer coworker of mine is a lurker/column reader of Uncle Cecil’s.

My suspicions were raised when I recieved an e-mail relating to the origin of the phrase “Soup to Nuts”, that included this line:

So now I’m left puzzled. How could I verify this, without hauling off and interrogating people left and right? What clues should I look for? Keeerist, this is cool . . .

Tripler
I feel like I’m a detective in some wierd game of Clue.

2

Who sent the email? I’d go to him/her first. If that fails, make use of the handy Ignorance Scanner issued to you on the day of your registration. Whoever shows an unusual lack of such has got to be a acolyte of Adams. Or an unusual amount, if this year’s summer troll season is any indication. Me, I haven’t met anyone yet who fits the general description of a Doper, despite the number of central Floridians here in high school.

I’d also mention Cecil a lot - as much as you can without scaring people. If one of your coworkers is a Doper, then that’d be one way of finding out who.

3

The Secret Handshake[sup]TM[/sup] didn’t work?

Then try the Secret Wink[sup]TM[/sup].:wink:

4

Try dropping Doper catchphrases and see if any ears perk up. Of course, you have to think of some catchphrases that the general population would understand. You want to catch a glint of recognition, not a look wondering what the hell you’re talking about.

If that doesn’t work, try sending out an email saying, “Is it true that duck’s quacks don’t echo? Sounds like BS to me. Anybody know where I could find out?”

5

I disagree. One nicely placed “GOTCHA YA!” should do the trick.

6

[quote]
the handy Ignorance Scanner…

[quote]

?

7

Ackkk!!! Gaudere, I kneel…

8

That might work, but it isn’t a fail proof way to sniff out a Doper, could bring out a coworking snopester, as well.

~V

9

Set up a lemonade stand that also sells cookies.
Using a big blck magic marker and a sandwich board, list your wares as:

  1. Lemonade
  2. Pink Lemonade
  3. Hi Opal
  4. Cookies

The person who does NOT ask “what the heck is ‘hi, Opal’ supposed to mean?” is the SDMB lurker.

10

Cow-orker, eh? How about leaving one of Cecil’s books in a conspicuous place on your desk? See if anyone notices.

11

I suppose rounding up everyone into the office supply room at gunpoint and demanding that the lurker step forth is out of the question.

12

That’s just the kinda guy Trip is, too, Zebra. But he’d do it in a hangar instead of the supply room.