# Reformed Lurkers' Chat Space **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756 "2012-02-04T14:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/1 "2012-02-04T14:38:57Z")
Reading the new thread [A pointless Thank You, to You.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=640581), started by **SubaRhubarb** , gave me the notion to start this thread for “reformed lurkers” to share their stories on how the thrill of posting and getting involved has won out over the thrill of just reading here. I did a keyword search for titles containing _lurker_\* and found over 50, dating back to [Psst… Hey, lurkers…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=12927) from Sep/99! Three threads that I had something to do with in the area of “Lurkers” are: > **[Lurkers Anonymous: Roll Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=328473)** > > If you have less than 50 posts to your credit and have been a member of SDMB longer than six months, for the sake of this thread please consider yourself an official Lurker and just reply to this post with a word or two to indicate you’re willing to... Lurkers Anonymous: Roll Call > **[Lurkers Anonymous: Roll Call Part II](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=468241)** > > Zeldar posted a thread calling for lurkers to announce themselves back in August of 2005, almost two a half years ago. I still consider myself a lurker, since I come here every day and read the thread here, yet I hardly post. Since I joined in July... Lurkers Anonymous: Roll Call Part II > **[Lurkers: Say something](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=612530)** > > Just to check up on the Lurker Situation I did a keyword search for lurker\* in the titles of threads all-time and found 54 of them! (I just this week learned about the “\*” wildcard for keyword searches that allows for both lurker and lurkers to be... Lurkers: Say something Rather than doing the _Who Posted?_ lists as a reminder to those who participated in those threads, I thought just the thread title might attract some of you who have made the move from Lurker to Regular Poster. And I don’t expect to be posting lists of names and numbers of posts of those who choose to post here. I just thought it might be fun to identify yourselves and make some reference to your ex-Lurker conversion. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Room](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_room/32/5069_2.png) [@Little\_Room](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Room)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/2 "2012-02-04T15:40:07Z")
I am a very, very old lurker - since sometime around 2002 or 2003. I was active on some other boards, so I didn’t feel very compelled to add another to my list. However, pretty much all of the other boards have died away, leaving a giant ass hole in my life (note: I said giant ass hole, not giant asshole). So I decided to become active here. This leaves me in the strange situation of “knowing” many people here when they don’t know me. It kind of makes me feel like a stalker. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/3 "2012-02-04T15:54:57Z")
I’ve been lurking since…2004? Something like that. I formed opinions about quite a few posters before joining (I was saddened, for instance, when I heard that **Q.E.D.** had died, even though I had never interacted with him). The reason I didn’t join before was because I didn’t want to pay. I forget what thread actually made me say “fuck it” and join. ---
**Author:** ![simsimian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@simsimian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simsimian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/4 "2012-02-04T16:30:17Z")
I’ve just registered this year, after lurking for a couple of years. Generally I’m too worried about looking foolish to volunteer my opinion. But if I think I can actually contribute something, I’ll pipe up. I think the trigger for me to actually join in was cumulative, I probably ‘almost joined’ 20 times before I actually filled out the form and hit enter. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/5 "2012-02-04T17:12:48Z")
A thread looking for lurkers to chime in - bold. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/6 "2012-02-04T19:55:04Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > A thread looking for lurkers to chime in - bold. 🙂 Not really! Look at those threads linked to in the OP. I’m just looking for some of the true lurkers from back then, who have “come out of their shell” at least some, to let it be known that their lurking days are a thing of the past. True lurkers these days may not qualify. And then your point will be better taken. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/7 "2012-02-04T20:59:13Z")
Maybe we should have a thread for deceased Dopers to post in. It;d be pretty cool if some posts showed up. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/8 "2012-02-04T23:37:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Maybe we should have a thread for deceased Dopers to post in. It;d be pretty cool if some posts showed up. Your basic Ghost Post? ---
**Author:** ![Dee\_Troit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dee\_Troit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dee_Troit)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/9 "2012-02-05T00:17:34Z")
This is my first post, so I guess I’m reformed. I’ll tell ya how it feels in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/10 "2012-02-05T00:42:29Z")
> [@Dee\_Troit](#): > > This is my first post, so I guess I’m reformed. > I’ll tell ya how it feels in the morning. That’s some serious patience! Can’t wait to hear your report on how it has changed your life! ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/11 "2012-02-05T02:43:19Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > A thread looking for lurkers to chime in - bold. 🙂 Would you prefer if they were _italics_? -D/a ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/12 "2012-02-05T06:30:51Z")
Lurking (I’ve been doing it since the 90s) is safer. Now that I’m posting, I waste way too much time here… Like tonight. I should be in bed by now. So I’m stoppi ---
**Author:** ![MrStrangeloop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@MrStrangeloop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrStrangeloop)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/13 "2012-02-05T23:27:32Z")
That’s a coincidence: I just registered but probably won’t be a regular poster. The main deterrent to me is the thought that what I write here is likely to exist almost indefinitely in some internet archive. I would ask other lurkers if this is a factor for them, but I think there would be catastrophic sampling errors in such an exercise! Also > [@simsimian](#): > > Generally I’m too worried about looking foolish to volunteer my opinion. But if I think I can actually contribute something, I’ll pipe up. is the clincher. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/14 "2012-02-07T01:54:40Z")
I used to be shy about posting, but then I said “Oh, really, who cares?!?” Besides, compared to most of the stuff written here, my humble little posts are tame. And relatively sane (seriously, compared to some of the Denizens of The Pit… I’m Ward Cleaver). And, as for my privacy, I doubt anyone will read my Leftie Libertarian posts and connect “digs” with Ralph Dignokowski, Asst. Scoutmaster of Troop 21, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin… ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/15 "2012-02-07T16:07:13Z")
my first post in over 7 years how’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/16 "2012-02-07T16:19:49Z")
> [@adeste fideles](#): > > (note: I said giant ass hole, not giant asshole). No, no, it’s too late… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/17 "2012-02-10T04:37:19Z")
Wow, what if you broke eight years “radio silence”, and started your posting career with a typo? ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/18 "2012-02-10T05:22:11Z")
I lurked from 2004-2008. I didn’t want to join when it was still pay-to-join, because I was in high school and didn’t have an independent source of income. I think I finally signed up, after membership became free\*, when someone had had success with a very vague song identification, and I wanted to post [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=487440). Not so much success for me. \*I still want the distinction to change from Guest/Member to Member/Subscriber. :[ ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/19 "2012-02-10T17:43:48Z")
how am I doing? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/20 "2012-02-10T17:47:37Z")
> [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > how am I doing? I’m not all that sure you qualify as “reformed.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756.md?page=2)