# When does one become an "established" poster? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953 "2014-12-11T16:53:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/201 "2014-12-20T03:55:08Z")
There has to be a posting rate that would qualify one as “established”. I mean, I’m pushing 9500 posts, but over 14 years, and I’m not what anyone would call “established”. Someone like **John Mace** has upwards of 60k over 12 years, \*\*Shagnasty \*\*has something like 22k over 14 years, and \*\*Qadgop \*\*has 22k over 14 years as well, and all of them are what I’d consider “established”. So maybe somewhere north of 1000-1500 posts/year or so is near that ‘established’ threshold? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/202 "2014-12-20T04:01:12Z")
> [@bump](#): > > There has to be a posting rate that would qualify one as “established”. I mean, I’m pushing 9500 posts, but over 14 years, and I’m not what anyone would call “established”. I would regard you as established. I recognize your name, even if you don’t have an enormous posting rate. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/203 "2014-12-20T07:59:49Z")
Over and above the “posting rate” as a measure of one’s being _established_ I’ll make a case for the “response rate” to threads one has started as an indicator of that level of appreciation or notice. I just did a search on those threads I started that got at least 200 Replies and I got a total of 16 of them. And I felt as if I had “arrived” when this happened within three months of my signing in: > **[This thread is just about this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=206379)** > > Right now there’s nothing in this thread but this post and this post is about nothing but this thread. It could be that some other posts about this thread may expand on the idea of this thread, but if they are really a part of this thread they... This thread is just about this thread (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6) Zeldar 09-23-2003 12:03 PM by Zeldar Join Date: Jun 2003 290 5,749 Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS) I had already gotten some big “successes” in the way of threads I started even earlier, but the 200+ number that soon was a way of feeling “at home” here. There are plenty of “established” Dopers who have yet to start their first thread, so that’s not the only measure to consider. But it is at least one way of gauging that elusive attribute, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/204 "2014-12-20T09:42:31Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > When you’re on at least 20 Ignore Lists (that you can verify!) Or the publicly listed one on Brazil84’s website. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/205 "2014-12-20T14:34:08Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Or the publicly listed one on Brazil84’s website. What? No link? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/206 "2014-12-20T16:26:04Z")
I think being “established” also implies a moderately higher than average signal-to-noise ratio, too. **karlgauss** and **stranger on a train** are but two of the many examples of established folks whose posts contain solid info. Often these types posts don’t generate a lot of subsequent responses because the question has thus been adequately addressed. A solid response can be quite the threadkiller. QtM, whose SNR peaked early and has been plummeting since. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/207 "2014-12-20T19:44:09Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I think being “established” also implies a moderately higher than average signal-to-noise ratio, too. To paraphrase McLuhan, the noise is my signal. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/208 "2014-12-20T21:08:41Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > And you’ve now just become established as someone with a pretty impressive memory! Hah - thanks! Granted, usually there’s only one or two things. But I think most people have some sense of who certain posters are. Just to give a few random, hopefully-not-too-creepy examples, I know that, say, \*\*WhyNot’s \*\*a nurse; **RealityChuck’s** an author; **BobLibDem’s** liberal; you’re a doctor. I’d define establishment as not being just some faceless person out there on the interwebz, but having most people know a little bit about who you are. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/209 "2014-12-20T23:13:04Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > I know that, say… **BobLibDem’s** liberal… :eek: The hell you say! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/210 "2014-12-21T00:05:53Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > :eek: The hell you say! > > 😛 I was just as shocked when I found out how devout **Der Trihs** is. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/211 "2014-12-21T03:16:33Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > You don’t have to be particularly antagonistic to receive a Pit thread. Mine was for my vendetta against Canada by some dunderheaded Canadian (is there another kind?). 😉 I mean, how could someone not like Canada? Even Kim Jong-un probably likes Canada, deep down in his heart. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > If you have to ask if you’re an established poster, you’re probably not one. See, I want to ask because I always assume the worst and crave reassurance, but, after 14 years and a few SDSAB columns, it just seems needy. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I think being “established” also implies a moderately higher than average signal-to-noise ratio, too. And there goes my self-confidence. :o ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/212 "2014-12-21T04:32:12Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I think being “established” also implies a moderately higher than average signal-to-noise ratio, too. Nah, that can’t be right. I consider myself established, and my posts are nothing **but** noise. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/213 "2014-12-21T06:00:59Z")
Everyone who ever posted in a Trek Doper thread is established! Includes all of those who’ve changed their names or even left the boards. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/214 "2014-12-21T06:15:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nah, that can’t be right. I consider myself established, and my posts are nothing **but** noise. 😛 Nominated for username post combo irony award. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/215 "2014-12-21T19:39:51Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Nominated for username post combo irony award. I’m so proud. Or offended. I’m not sure which. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/216 "2014-12-23T04:37:49Z")
I’ve been here for 11 years or so. Does this count? I think I started the longest ongoing discussion this board has seen. In December 2008, I started the World of Warcraft discussion: [World of Warcraft questions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=498145) I was a noob at the game, looking for advice. That thread continued to 1.416 posts. That thread was deemed “unwieldy” at 1400 posts, and a sequel was launched. That sequel: > **[World of Warcraft General Discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=509115)** > > Okay…the World of Warcraft Questions thread is getting reaaaally long…29 pages and over 1000 posts. I’m proposing that we make this the new WoW discussion thread and retire the Questions thread. Other than that, I don’t have much of an OP to post.... … went on for 12,018 posts. The next sequel, “WoW 3” went on 11,727 posts. > **[New WoW General Discussion Thread 6/8/10](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=566381)** > > Okay, Quasi has requested a new thread to be started, since the old one was kicking his computer’s silicon butt. Link to the old thread, if anyone needs to find it Have at it, folks! Part 4? 1378 posts Part 5 (the current thread) 325 posts. TOTAL: 26,856 posts to my original thread and its four sequels. I think that’s a record. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/217 "2014-12-23T15:18:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’m so proud. Or offended. I’m not sure which. 😃 FWIW, I had to look up the meaning (and pronunciation) of your handle and didn’t see anything that would make the look-alike “silence” even make sense. So I’m going with “confused” if that helps! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/218 "2014-12-23T16:45:51Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > FWIW, I had to look up the meaning (and pronunciation) of your handle and didn’t see anything that would make the look-alike “silence” even make sense. So I’m going with “confused” if that helps! 🙂 His said his posts were nothing but **noise** , but his username reads (kind of) like **silence**. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/219 "2014-12-25T05:01:41Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > but his username reads (kind of) like **silence**. It’s more interesting than that… > **[Silenus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silenus)** > > In Greek mythology, Silenus (/saɪˈliːnəs/; Ancient Greek: Σειληνός, romanized: Seilēnós, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}IPA: \[seːlɛːnós\]) was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. He is typically older than the satyrs of the Dionysian retinue (thiasos), and sometimes considerably older, in which case he may be referred to ... ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/220 "2014-12-25T05:15:36Z")
Nothing more meant than that noted by **IvoryTowerDenizen** , a “silence” sound-alike stating that they only posted noise … not so subtle or deep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953.md?page=12)