# 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:** 4
**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 12, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/61 "2014-12-12T23:32:29Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I’ve met **Quasimodem** (now apparently **Quasimodal** ) in real life. I think that counts. > > Super nice guy, if you’re wondering. Two different guys. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/62 "2014-12-13T00:11:16Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Sorry Guin… I’m sooo tempted…dare I? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/63 "2014-12-13T00:17:01Z")
10K+ posts, a few warnings and a suspension. Where is my toaster! ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/64 "2014-12-13T00:20:19Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I’m sooo tempted…dare I? 😉 Me too! You too?! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/65 "2014-12-13T01:06:21Z")
Guess I’ll never know if make it. I never read The Pit, so I won’t know if I’ve been pitted. Well I guess someone might tell me. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/66 "2014-12-13T02:09:03Z")
It’s not the time I’ve been here, or the number of posts I have. I recently had someone reference a thread I started, like, 8 or 9 years ago. So even if 99 out of 100 posters have no clue who I am, or that I once simmered myself in a hot and frothy diarrhea frappe while drinking Miller High Lifes, \*somebody \* here does! Therefore, I am established. I think the metric is different for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/67 "2014-12-13T02:12:39Z")
When **Dex** told **Ed** , “Damnit, it’s **kayaker** or me” and, well, you know the rest. That’s when I knew. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/68 "2014-12-14T16:30:12Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > This seems about right…I’ve been here a few years, I’m creeping up on 5k posts, I feel like I probably have some name recognition but not necessarily distinction. And I almost feel established. > > I’m sure there are posters who have have been here shorter time but contributed more substantially that would be considered more “established.” I don’t recall what my post count is, but it doesn’t have to be an official warning. Having a thread closed will do as well 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/69 "2014-12-14T16:31:21Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I’ve met **Quasimodem** (now apparently **Quasimodal** ) in real life. I think that counts. > > Super nice guy, if you’re wondering. I’ve met Quasimodem as well (and concur) but I don’t think he and Quasimodal are the same. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/70 "2014-12-14T16:36:07Z")
Also, I think another metric is when something about you becomes a board meme, e.g. [ul] [li]penis ensuing[/li][li]she said to Hal, sheepishly[/li][li]before saying “Bye, Opal” (:().[/li][/ul] Of course if one later disappears from the board (I think the poster who created “penis ensues” hasn’t posted in a while) does one lose one’s “establishment”? ---
**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 14, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/71 "2014-12-14T16:40:27Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Also, I think another metric is when something about you becomes a board meme, e.g. > [ul] > [li]penis ensuing[/li][li]she said to Hal, sheepishly[/li][li]before saying “Bye, Opal” (:().[/li][/ul] > Of course if one later disappears from the board (I think the poster who created “penis ensues” hasn’t posted in a while) does one lose one’s “establishment”? I always felt bad that person who actually said “Hi, Opal” doesn’t get remembered or credit for the board meme to nearly the same degree as Opal did herself. Anyone remember who was the poster who created the meme, because I don’t right now. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/72 "2014-12-14T16:48:52Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Also, I think another metric is when something about you becomes a board meme, e.g. > [ul] > [li]penis ensuing[/li][li]she said to Hal, sheepishly[/li][li]before saying “Bye, Opal” (:().[/li][/ul] > Of course if one later disappears from the board (I think the poster who created “penis ensues” hasn’t posted in a while) does one lose one’s “establishment”? But 99.9% of the board’s membership fails to meet this very lofty criterion. The better test of “establishment” is if you’ve been posting long enough to recognize that these as “board-specific” memes. And if you know where some of the inside jokes come from (like that crazy colander thing that still pops up sometimes). They are usually only funny to those posters who were directly involved (which is why they are eye-rolly after awhile). But if you can trace them back to the original posters or threads, then I think you can count yourself as a “established” member. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/73 "2014-12-14T16:49:06Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Also, I think another metric is when something about you becomes a board meme, e.g. > [ul] > [li]penis ensuing[/li][li]she said to Hal, sheepishly[/li][li]before saying “Bye, Opal” (:().[/li][/ul] > Of course if one later disappears from the board (I think the poster who created “penis ensues” hasn’t posted in a while) does one lose one’s “establishment”? I’d like to propose a new thread where individuals can post their own list(s) of people who have become “established,” whether they still post or whether they’re even still listed as members. From those lists we could develop a consensus list. I’d be surprised if that composite list wouldn’t top 200 people almost instantly. There have been a whole bunch of “typical SDMB posters” over the going-on-12 years I’ve been around. FWIW, I would label the ones responsible for **Mama Zappa** ’s list as **Legends** and not simply “established posters.” Maybe we need at least two such master lists? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/74 "2014-12-14T17:05:48Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’d like to propose a new thread where individuals can post their own list(s) of people who have become “established,” whether they still post or whether they’re even still listed as members. From those lists we could develop a consensus list. I’d be surprised if that composite list wouldn’t top 200 people almost instantly. > > There have been a whole bunch of “typical SDMB posters” over the going-on-12 years I’ve been around. > > FWIW, I would label the ones responsible for **Mama Zappa** ’s list as **Legends** and not simply “established posters.” Maybe we need at least two such master lists? 😉 What if someone just made a massive poll? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/75 "2014-12-14T17:08:24Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > What if someone just made a massive poll? It would have to be massive indeed! Go for it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/76 "2014-12-14T17:43:04Z")
Depends on the forum, too. For instance, one of my favorite posters here is **Colibri**. He’s a font of information in GQ, and as a moderator there, too, probably one of the most established posters in that forum. But he rarely posts in GD, which I sort of view as the top of the heap in terms of forums here. ---
**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 14, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/77 "2014-12-14T17:51:43Z")
When you’ve been posting here for at least 85% of the board’s existence. ---
**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 14, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/78 "2014-12-14T17:53:22Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I’ve met **Quasimodem** (now apparently **Quasimodal** ) in real life. I think that counts. > > Super nice guy, if you’re wondering. A classic newby mistake, combining two different posters into one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/79 "2014-12-14T20:11:31Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > I don’t recall what my post count is, but it doesn’t have to be an official warning. Having a thread closed will do as well 😃 I’ve had at least one thread closed, been here years, outed a troll with some real-life footwork[1], had one of my posts reported so many times the mods had to post clarifying it wasn’t breaking the rules[1], had a thread started about me by a 2001’er when I was in hospital… and I still don’t feel established. I tend to hang out mostly in mini-rants though, so most of the GQ and GD crowd will have no idea who I am! [1] Still proud of that one 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/80 "2014-12-14T20:56:05Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I personally felt it when I started reading things like ,“WhyNot, as always, said what I was thinking.” It was a bit disconcerting. Also, the first time I was “paged” to a thread. Weird. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re just blabbing to a cloud of keyboards, but stuff like that…Oh, yeah. You’re all, like, real people. Who actually pay attention to what I say sometimes, and remember me as a unique individual. Bizarre. My husband teases me that ya’ll aren’t real people, but I freakin’ know better by now. I’ve met at least 30 of you IRL (Michigan, New Jersey, Philadelphia, NYC) and you NEVER dissapoint. Some of you have become good friends off the board, I’ve got somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 Dopers as Facebook friends by now, some of which I interact with daily, and there are a number of people participating in this thread I wouldn’t hesitate to welcome into my home if they were passing through town. For me I felt established when I could recognize myself as part of a community of actual people. If I had to choose only one group of people I had to draw from for friendship for the rest of my life, it would be Dopers, no contest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953.md?page=5)