Ex-lurker here. I really don’t find this board intimidating. I lurked for 2 years or so, and finally paid up as a Christmas gift to myself. I really like the banter here, and I like how I’ve really learned a lot. My first few posts as a member gave me a warm reception, but I’ll only post if I feel I have something worthwhile to contribute - maybe. I have two distinct careers - 35 as a machinist, and 30 as semi-pro and studio musician. So if something comes up in those subjects, I’ll kick in a comment or two. Really don’t care is someone doesn’t like my post. People post stuff that I don’t like, and I’m sure it doesn’t bother them.
I also notice there are over 570 views here, and only 40 replies. Come out and show yourselves, lurkers !!!
Among other reasons:
- usually other posters answered factual questions already
- I got quickly bored by discussions and don’t feel like coming back to repost my opinion for fourth time to remind “hey, guys, we already talked about this on page two”
- English is my second language and I know that sometimes I can be misunderstood (and of course hi Opal!)
- I’m better at listening than talking
- I don’t care enough to pit somebody or something
- etc.
Well, I’m trying to post a little more, so maybe days of my lurkdom has ended.
After I make one of my rare posts, I re-read it and see that it can be interpreted completely different than how I meant it, or worse, it can be interpreted as some smart-ass reply.
Then I slink away and hope nobody gets the wrong idea about me.
And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?! Nevermind, you can answer in the Pit thread I just started about you.
I’m kidding Buckwheat, I’m kidding! Yikes, now I know why I don’t post very often.
I’ve been reading the Dope nearly daily since “the beginning.” So why the really pathetic post count? Probably the biggest reason is that I do a lot of my reading at work where I can read but cannot log on and post. By the time I get home, the moment for “appropriate posting” seems to have passed.
I have a number of proud moments–including recently assisting Fetus in his re-naming efforts, helping with the rewriting of Lord of the Rings, and a well-received post in the funniest things that happened during sex. Mostly I tend to offer rather matronly and preachy advice/opinions (see the Catholic sex haver thread)–it’s a mom-thing.
A lot of the time I don’t think I can add much to the discussion. For example, in threads where people post the results of an on-line quiz (how many 5-year olds can you beat?), I can’t see anyone caring about my results.
I’m fairly content to be one of the nearly anonymous teeming millions. I add a morsel or two when I can. I’ll admit to being a bit envious, though, of the people who join the Dope with a splash and quickly become well known (sometimes beloved, sometimes annoying). I just haven’t been able to think up something clever enough (or notorious enough) to get really noticed.
“Hey, look at me…over here…I’m invisible.” 
Now see, I loved this! It made me laugh. You should post more often Fiveroptic
'Cause all the points get covered before I get to the topic – just like with this thread. :smack: 
Mostly - I just don’t have a lot to say.
I lurked for forever before I subscribed. Mainly for the reasons already listed - it was all a bit intimidating and I felt like I didn’t have much to add to any of the conversations that hadn’t already been said.
MPSIMS is a good way to stick your toe in the waters. Especially the MMP. We don’t bite. They’re more like love nibbles.
Now that brings a question. What is MMP?
If HazelNutCoffee is giving out love nibbles in MPSIMS, I’m heading over there right now.
Longtime lurker, first time poster. Ah, hello? I too am intimidated. Please be kind. I too have lurked because though I am apparently intelligent, others come off as much more so than I am, and more eloquent as well.
I lack the low post count cred. of some here already, but the answer is the same–I can read much faster than I can post–so I read and almost always find someone else who has been paying closer attention and has already answered anything I could add.
The thing is for you posters, we ARE out here. The truly silent (minority/majority?).
I must be one of the leaders in posts-per-year (low score is better, like in golf, right?)
I tend to get too emotionally involved in my posts, which is odd since I’m not a terribly emotional person. Especially true in the religious threads, where (at one time) I was answering a fair number of the Islam questions.
A lot of times posting creates anxiety in me, for some reason. I have expert-level knowledge and experience in several (very) diverse areas, yet I felt a lot of self-imposed pressure to be both perfect and unassailable in my posts.
And I think at least a little bit of it is that, from my perception, the board has more flamers than before. In years past, I think I could have participated in intelligently and objectively discussing many issues; now, it seems there are a lot more people either thread-shitting or being a recreational asshole. I have no need for that in my day, so instead I rarely post, though I read every day. And it saddens me.
Is it my imagination or do some of these lurkers have some of the most clever usernames on the board? Not fair! You guys should be posting so I can have a smile when I see your usernames!
I personally lurked for a long time because it seemed like everyone was already friends with everyone else(well, for the most part - I DO read pit threads!) and nobody would care what I had to say and would probably ignore me, anyway.
I still feel that way sometimes, but screw it, I post anyway! 
Actually, I’ve found people here really nice for the most part, so I’m glad I decided to take the leap from lurking to membership.
Special welcome to a fellow Mainer, BrknButterfly!
Only to the newbies. 
Monday Morning Post. It’s just a thread where people post chit-chat that doesn’t merit its own thread. A new thread is started every Monday morning, hence the title MMP.
Although I spend time every day reading a lot of the threads, I am afraid to commit to interacting in them because I know that once started, I would spend more time than I could afford to do it “right.”
I urge more of you folks to post more often. We need some new blood around here.
I started posting here because there were things I felt I could say here that I couldn’t say IRL. CRAZY THINGS! Unconventional things. Smart ass things. I have a sense of freedom here that I don’t have anywhere else – well, not since I was in college many years ago getting drunk and stoned regularly.
Also, please don’t worry about being ignored. Most of the threads I start get half a dozen or less reponses. Many get zero responses. At least half of the comments I make don’t draw direct responses. I like to imagine they make a contribution anyway – just because someone hasn’t actually quoted you doesn’t mean your post doesn’t influence their response.
I also find a degree of comfort in knowing how many jackasses are prolific posters here. If they can be shameless attention whores, so can I!
Also, as encouragement to you and because I haven’t stopped bragging about it yet, participating in this board has led directly to me being world famous for several weeks this summer.