# So what made you join? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431 "2005-05-25T14:11:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/1 "2005-05-25T14:11:21Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/2 "2005-05-25T14:13:43Z")
The money of course. I couldn’t afford to knock back $5.99 per post. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/3 "2005-05-25T14:19:56Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > 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. 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! ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/4 "2005-05-25T14:24:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/5 "2005-05-25T14:25:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/6 "2005-05-25T15:34:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/7 "2005-05-25T15:43:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/8 "2005-05-25T15:58:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/9 "2005-05-25T16:02:30Z")
**Ed Zotti** came to my house with a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/10 "2005-05-25T16:06:55Z")
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. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/11 "2005-05-25T16:22:59Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/12 "2005-05-25T16:28:12Z")
The usual. Read columns (online), got interested in posting, etc, etc… ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/13 "2005-05-25T16:40:45Z")
It seemed like a good idea at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/14 "2005-05-25T17:38:12Z")
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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/15 "2005-05-25T17:52:15Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > **Ed Zotti** came to my house with a gun. It was an Orbital Goat Cannon. You should be specific. ---
**Author:** ![whatsittoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@whatsittoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatsittoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/16 "2005-05-25T23:04:03Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/17 "2005-05-26T00:04:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/18 "2005-05-26T00:08:48Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > **Ed Zotti** came to my house with a gun. You must be special. I got Lynn and a pointed stick. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/19 "2005-05-26T00:12:59Z")
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.** :)) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431/20 "2005-05-26T01:33:06Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > You must be special. I got Lynn and a pointed stick. Are you kidding me? I’d be \*more \* scared of \*\*Lynn \*\* & a pointed stick. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-join/305431.md?page=2)