# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/21 "2012-02-10T18:23:47Z")
I read all of the columns online in about 2000 and then found the message board shortly after that and lurked for quite a long time before signing up. Ironically, when I lurked I mostly just read the Great Debates, which is a forum I very rarely participate in now. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/22 "2012-02-10T19:52:23Z")
Still lurk, mostly. But started my own actual topic on a TV show I enjoy because nobody else did! Still, on most posts, somebody has already said what I think/feel, so there’ s no need for me to chime in. ---
**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, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/23 "2012-02-10T19:54:29Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’m not all that sure you qualify as “reformed.” Well, I’ve done quite well I think, proportionally - but I will endeavour to start 2 threads and make 10 or maybe even 20 posts today. How’s about that? 🙂 ---
**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 10, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/24 "2012-02-10T19:57:25Z")
> [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > how am I doing? Not bad. Not bad at all. 🙂 ETA: Go **Crumpet!** ---
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/25 "2012-02-10T20:05:58Z")
> [@spankthecrumpet](#): > > Well, I’ve done quite well I think, proportionally - but I will endeavour to start 2 threads and make 10 or maybe even 20 posts today. How’s about that? 🙂 That ought to get you closer to “reformed” for sure. I’ll watch for your threads and reply if I can think of something worth adding. ---
**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, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/26 "2012-02-10T20:07:04Z")
Thanks, **Cat** and **Zeldar**! I have made a thread in Cafe Society. Not sure what the next thread I will create is going to be as I don’t have anything obvious to post about and don’t want to force anything, as that would be a bit rubbish. Actually the CS thread was a tiny bit forced if I’m totally honest! I’m sure somehting will come to mind. Now to read a lot of threads, and hope I can think of helpful contributions to make! ---
**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 10, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/27 "2012-02-10T22:50:56Z")
Well, you know, they don’t all have to be helpful, you old crumpet spanker, you. ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/28 "2012-02-14T23:58:42Z")
I shall gracefully ignore that comment Missus Whisper (well, drunkenly) Just bumping this on the offchance I can get other lurkers out of their shell? If you don’t want to post, maybe you can PM me or other people and show you exist! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/29 "2012-02-16T08:19:22Z")
I was a lurker back when the board was pay to post, because I didn’t want to pay to post and then never have anything to say. Turns out, I needn’t have worried. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/30 "2012-02-16T08:51:07Z")
I think one of the reasons I started posting was that I felt empathy for people who didn’t know I existed, and I thought that was a little bit weird. They probably still don’t know, but at least they can see a little about me if they do. So just so everyone knows: if you ever posted about having a hard time, I cared. ---
**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 17, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/31 "2012-02-17T22:36:03Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > I think one of the reasons I started posting was that I felt empathy for people who didn’t know I existed, and I thought that was a little bit weird. They probably still don’t know, but at least they can see a little about me if they do. > > So just so everyone knows: if you ever posted about having a hard time, I cared. Yeah, if you went through a hard time here, there was a bunch of lurkers on your side. One of them’s even been known to pray for you… but I would never say that, 'cause it sounds a little stalkerish. ---
**Author:** ![Stately\_Greek\_Automaton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Stately\_Greek\_Automaton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stately_Greek_Automaton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/32 "2012-02-17T23:56:11Z")
Working on reformed. That said, I first registered before the board crashed in 2000. My registration got eaten, so that set me back a couple years. After which the board was pay to post, so that muted me for awhile as well. Other than that, it’s mostly been lack of anything to add, I guess? ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/33 "2012-02-17T23:58:36Z")
I can’t beleive I started a dog thread and with over 160 views it hasn’t got a reply. I thought dog threads here had eveyrone falling in love - or maybe that’s only cat therads 😃 And with them being the best dogs in the world, it’s doubly strange… ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/34 "2012-02-18T22:21:19Z")
Yeah, I know, I should start a blog… but I’m starting to post all over the place now! Very addictive. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/35 "2013-11-20T14:13:53Z")
I was toying with the idea of starting a new thread on the topic of Lurkers until I searched on the keyword _ **lurker** _\* in thread titles and found 63 such threads, with this one being the most recent that I had had anything to do with. So this is just a bump to see who might want to “break their silence” for a moment or two. If you use the **User CP** in the blue bar at the top left of your screen, then click on **Your Profile** , and then click on **Show All Statistics** , you should see \*Posts Per Day: \* and some number. If that number is way less than 1, something like .001, then you can consider yourself a Lurker for purposes of this thread. Or use your own definition if you think of yourself as 'mostly a reader." Or if you were a Lurker and now have become more active in the posting department, then it’s up to you what to do next. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/36 "2013-11-20T20:15:32Z")
I joined in 2004 and posted a bit, and then went into lurk mode til recently 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/37 "2013-11-20T22:27:03Z")
If I post twice in a zombie thread, then my lurker status takes a horrid hit. So I’m not posting. ---
**Author:** ![Mind\_Your\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Mind\_Your\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mind_Your_Head)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756/38 "2013-11-21T19:59:36Z")
Seems it’s time to step forward and admit to my lurkish behaviour. I had been sneaking about in the background for several months before joining and now I am the proud purveyor of posts, albeit a handful. When I thought I had something relevant to say, someone had already said it so I crawled back into my cave. But admitting your problem, they say, is a big step in one’s reformation and I stand before you a better man. Okay, maybe not so much [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformed-lurkers-chat-space/611756.md?page=1)