Well, I finally began to feel guilty about making the hamsters work when I wasn’t feeding them, so after a year of lurking, I ended up joining.
That’s pretty dull, but probably par for the course. Still, I’m hoping somebody else has a better story about why they joined – maybe something about the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, or a deathbed promise to your sainted mother.
Anyone got anything good?
The money of course. I couldn’t afford to knock back $5.99 per post.
The first year, I wanted to discuss novels in Cafe Society, and did fairly frequently. This year, **gum ** bought my subscription for me.
Yay, Amsterdam Dopers! The Dutch are the best!
I like the religion and evolution debates. You just can’t have those kinds of conversations around here in my real life area!
Frequently, the debates link to books or websites that I find interesting, too.
But, I hardy ever take part because the other posters usually make any point I may have in mind. I have my favorite posters that I really look forward to reading, too, like Darwin’s Finch and Diogenes the Cynic.
I was already posting when the board went to a pay system, and I was enjoying it enough by then to want to stay on.
I wanted to know why gas stations in some areas didn’t have those things that allow you to pump gas without holding the handle (turns out they are ‘latch open devices’ that are illegal in some areas and taken off because of liability concerns in others). I somehow turned up this place in a search, posted the question, and got some really good answers. I have been here for 5 years since.
I wondered what “colitas” were, from “Hotel California.” A Google search led me to Cecil’s column on the subject. Then I read the archives, and discovered the message board. I’d never seen a message board before. The people were smart and funny and very literate, which I appreciated. So I lurked for awhile, then joined when it was free, and stayed when it went pay.
I was posting on a different message board, and had had it with every single discussion erupting into a flame war. I posted a thread complaining about it and someone was kind enough to point me here.
Ed Zotti came to my house with a gun.
A couple years back, a friend sent me a link to the now-infamous Cafe Society thread about “What if different authors wrote Lord of the Rings?”, with Dopers posting hilarious excerpts in the style of familiar writers. I was pretty impressed with the humor and intelligence around here, and became a regular posted after that. Plus I get questions answered all the time, good advice, and even virtual drinkin’ buddies.
I had read Cecil’s books, and one day discovered the message board by following a link from a site called Vegan Porn. I lurked for a while and was finally drawn out of the shadows to respond to a thread about Stephen King’s story The Mist. Killed the thread, as I recall…
The usual. Read columns (online), got interested in posting, etc, etc…
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Man, it’s like voyeurism. It’s addictive, listening to stories about cute cats and people yelling at each other about Star Wars/Bush/SUVs.
Hell, it’s the most social interaction I get. 
It was an Orbital Goat Cannon.
You should be specific.
Honestly? It was so I could search better. I am a lerker by nature and rarely post, but any time I am curious about somthing I read here(or elsewhere for that matter) a search here will generally give me good info and often good links as well.
off to search for “What if different authors wrote Lord of the Rings?” that should be fun reading
I guess a related question is how long you lurked before you joined. I lurked for about a year, but I recall reading a post from somebody who had lurked for about five years, if that’s possible. And of course there are people out there – you know who you are! – lurking at this very moment, reading this. Gives me the chills.
You must be special. I got Lynn and a pointed stick.
I got inducted into the Dope by watching the show on A and E, when it still existed. Then came around to the AOL site just to look around; never to post or anything, I just loved the articles. Then found the webpage and eventually got addicted to Threadspotting. I had to be here - everyone is funny and intelligent, unlike myself. 
And I learn something new, every day! (With thanks to Misnomer. :))
Are you kidding me? I’d be *more * scared of **Lynn ** & a pointed stick.