It’s nice to see you de-lurkers! 
I hope some of you more shy folks will join in. As you can tell from my posts, you don’t necessarily have to be scintillating. 
This would be a partial reason I don’t post. I don’t want to look back on my post and say “You came out of the shadows for that!” Of course I just logged in and looked at my stats now (2 years since last logging in and 5 years since posting) and I came out of hiding for this!!! Never realized it was that bad. Like others I usually don’t post as whatever I’d like to say has already been said and doesn’t add to the discussion. As well I’d hate to be an absent participant, I’m not on here continuously and may be a while before I respond to a post.
If less than a post per day is considered lurking (Kopek), I will always be a lurker. Who has time to post daily?
Why did you say that?
Ben Franklin, I thought. Or Twain. Some dead white dude, anyway.
My baby sister reads the Dope regularly and has tons to contribute to GQ (all chemistry & math & business related) but never does. And it’s not for lack of ideas. She plotted a hypothetical once and sent it to me to post, and the thread lasted 3 or 4 pages as I recall. She just doesn’t care to post here.
Because there are usually smarter people in the post, saying things much more succinctly and intelligently than I can. I only post when I have something of value to say, to increase the understanding in the thread.
That is a good point.
This, and also there are plenty of search engine bots that crawl the page, raising those counts as well.
What’s really weird is when lurkers decide to out themselves.
Why do they do that?
If you are a lurker and you answer, your Honorary Cretan White Cane is available upon presentation of your post.
This is true, I am quite the introvert. I am trying to force myself out of my shell though.
Cripes!! Who said that?!?!
Nearly gave me a heart attack.
Next time knock first, would ya.
Now you’re just needlessly limiting yourself.
How are you on puns, snarky comments and dick jokes?
Everyone here is much smarter than me (mostly) so I come here to learn.
You know I actually bought a membership in those days. I just lurked, but paid my money.
And I see you’re still a ‘guest’ here , how many posts do you need to no longer be a guest ?
Hi, Skald’s baby sister!
Just in case you’re wondering, your big brother is just as loved around here as he’s always telling you!
Oh, and feared.
Hope the doggie is doing well! 
I lurk. The few times I’ve posted it seems like the thread has ended or my post just gets bypassed. I don’t mind, but I guess there’s no prompt to keep posting. Things with instant gratification are more addictive
I know this wasn’t directed at me, and I don’t know if I qualify as a lurker (I average less than a post a day) but I’d like to go for two out of three here:
Dick Nixon before he dicks you.
Yeah it’s an old joke but so am I.
Heee! Not me, sorry. LOL
It’s not. Merely curiosity inducing. What motivates people is far more interesting outside of sports and retail.