# Post here if you have been lurking for the duration of the paid memberships **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753 "2008-09-02T21:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/61 "2008-09-03T12:11:23Z")
> [@3trew](#): > > I used to be 2trew, way back when, but that name’s already taken and I can’t for the life of me remember which e-mail address I used to set it up, so I’m just going to work on an elaborate story about how my username has changed to reflect my evolution as a person. Or, possibly, be banned as a sock. Either way, it’s nice to be back. Please send an email or a private message to **TubaDiva** and she’ll get it straightened out. ---
**Author:** ![Dave.B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9f8e36/32.png) [@Dave.B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave.B)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/62 "2008-09-03T12:18:28Z")
I’ve been lurking for several years, but joined up earlier this year so I could respond to someone who was experiencing the exact same issue I had been through. I let the Guest account lapse, but continued reading every lunchtime. ---
**Author:** ![Shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/63 "2008-09-03T12:24:23Z")
Another long-ago member from the pre-p2p era who never could justify the cost for membership when I posted only about once or twice a month. It used to seem like I’d read an OP that I wanted to comment on, and by the time I’d read the whole thread, my point had been made by someone else already. Did somebody say that already? Shark ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/64 "2008-09-03T12:28:19Z")
I was a semi-regular poster in the old free days, then lurked for a while after the SDMB started charging… not because I was cheap, just from inertia and not getting around to paying. Eventually I stopped coming here because I got bawled out at work for wasting too much time. I signed up for a guest account a year or two ago because I wanted to connect with Ukulele Ike about a children’s book I’d written and wanted his opinion on, only to discover that he wasn’t in children’s publishing anymore, so I let it lapse. I’ve been filling the time alternating between working on my webcomic, [Scandal Sheet!](http://scandalsheet.comicgenesisi.com), and studiously _avoiding_ working on it. And now I’m back! ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/65 "2008-09-03T12:28:43Z")
I, too, am a long time avid lurker. I’m thrilled that the board is free and may eventually get up the courage to post! I never joined because, like others, I didn’t feel like I would get my money’s worth with my own posts. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/66 "2008-09-03T13:15:27Z")
Long time poster recently turned lurker. I did the pay-to-post thing for a year or two, but let my subscription lapse. It’s great to see all the old-timers crawling out of the woodwork 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Deej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@Deej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deej)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/67 "2008-09-03T13:26:36Z")
Another one signing on to see when I joined. I was never a prolific poster, in fact i think my total posts were less than 10 total. Probably less than 5 total. I waited out the pay to post period. During that time there were several topics I really wanted to post my input to, but didn’t want to use up my guest posts. I mean, what if something I wanted to discuss even more came up tomorrow? We’ll see what happens now. Even though I want to post, I still probably won’t. Sometimes the wit and intellegence displayed here is intimidating to me. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/68 "2008-09-03T13:48:01Z")
Oh, yay! [del] Fresh meat! [/del] New friendses to play with! And old friendses, too! Y’all have no idea how badly this board needs new blood. Wait, you’ve been lurking, so you so know that, but y’all just don’t really believe _you’re it_. Well, you are! So get out there and start posting - goodness knows I need to get a life, and if \*I \*slack off, there’d be hardly any posts! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/69 "2008-09-03T13:50:28Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Oh, yay! [del] Fresh meat! [/del] New friendses to play with! And old friendses, too! Y’all have no idea how badly this board needs new blood. Wait, you’ve been lurking, so you so know that, but y’all just don’t really believe _you’re it_. Well, you are! So get out there and start posting - goodness knows I need to get a life, and if \*I \*slack off, there’d be hardly any posts! 😃 My mind is still reeling from the amount of lurkers that were out there. I especially can’t imagine wanting to post something and not doing so. ---
**Author:** ![spaceweft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@spaceweft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spaceweft)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/70 "2008-09-03T13:54:22Z")
Hello. My name is spaceweft, and I’m a Lurky McLurker. I discovered the SDMB in 1998 or 1999, and like so many others was too intimidated to post (but I read at least three fora every day). Then the “cough up some money” thing came along and I had an excuse at last! Alas, I am now bereft of my shield of cheapness. On the upside, it means I can finally admit to having crushes on several Dopers, with a slew more on my List of Folks I Admire. (Too many to list, honest injun.) Thank you everyone for making my world richer! Weft ---
**Author:** ![Emergency911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@Emergency911](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emergency911)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/71 "2008-09-03T14:18:39Z")
I can’t say that I have been lurking, as I only recently found this site. But I am certainly glad that it is free to join now, as I really like all of you since I found you!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/72 "2008-09-03T14:20:47Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > I was a semi-regular poster in the old free days, then lurked for a while after the SDMB started charging… not because I was cheap, just from inertia and not getting around to paying. Eventually I stopped coming here because I got bawled out at work for wasting too much time. > > I signed up for a guest account a year or two ago because I wanted to connect with Ukulele Ike about a children’s book I’d written and wanted his opinion on, only to discover that he wasn’t in children’s publishing anymore, so I let it lapse. > > I’ve been filling the time alternating between working on my webcomic, [Scandal Sheet!](http://scandalsheet.comicgenesisi.com), and studiously _avoiding_ working on it. > > And now I’m back! **Cheffie!** Welcome back! ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/73 "2008-09-03T14:22:39Z")
Yet another poster who paid for the first year and then let it lapse. I’ve been back lurking for the past 8 months and was about to pay up when they announced free posting. If the board returns to it’s former glory, I’ll probably pony up the dough anyway. **Moi** should be along too. ---
**Author:** ![defecthunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@defecthunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/defecthunter)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/74 "2008-09-03T14:30:10Z")
I think I’m in the same boat as most here. I’ve been lurking since the mid-90’s, and joined for a trial membership in late 2007, but didn’t buy a subscription when my guest status expired. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/75 "2008-09-03T14:34:08Z")
Last time I was due to renew, there was a big announcement about forthcoming free posting. So I thought “I’d be a fool to renew for a year if it’s free in two months…” ---
**Author:** ![drgnrdr07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@drgnrdr07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drgnrdr07)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/76 "2008-09-03T14:41:42Z")
I was a charter member until this site started placing ads for paying members. I didn’t feel right about paying for the opportunity to look at their ads, so I let my membership lapse. I continued to lurk the entire time and I am glad that they decided to make this board free to post again. I don’t mind watching ads if everything is free. 🙂 EDIT: I just realized that I am still marked as a Charter Member. Weird… ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/77 "2008-09-03T14:41:55Z")
Like so many others, I paid for the first year and then let things lapse. I’ve read the boards daily in the intervening time, though. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/78 "2008-09-03T14:46:32Z")
> [@that\_darn\_cat](#): > > Yet another poster who paid for the first year and then let it lapse. I’ve been back lurking for the past 8 months and was about to pay up when they announced free posting. If the board returns to it’s former glory, I’ll probably pony up the dough anyway. **Moi** should be along too. Yay! I know **Blue Kangaroo** will be ecstatic! She talks about you all the time (not on the boards, in real life). Nice to meet you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/79 "2008-09-03T14:48:13Z")
I lurked for quite a while, as in a few years, then got a guest membership when there I was thread I felt I just had to post in. When the month was up, I went back to lurking. I read the boards several times weekly. ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753/80 "2008-09-03T14:49:59Z")
I joined back in May of 2000, just before I got on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”…I was trolling for trivia. Been busy since, but lurked from time to time. I just no realized my old login still worked! Cool.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-here-if-you-have-been-lurking-for-the-duration-of-the-paid-memberships/461753.md?page=5)