# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/81 "2014-12-14T21:22:28Z")
To be “established,” you had to have joined in 1999. ---
**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 14, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/82 "2014-12-14T21:23:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But he rarely posts in GD, which I sort of view as the top of the heap in terms of forums here. Thanks for the compliments, but there are some jungles even I won’t venture into.😉 ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/83 "2014-12-14T21:39:25Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t think I have any warnings. Mod notes, yes, but I don’t think I’ve had any formal warnings. Reported. Your posting privileges are under review. ---
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/84 "2014-12-14T21:47:20Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > It would have to be massive indeed! Go for it! 😃 I think only an established poster should do it.😛 ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/85 "2014-12-14T21:58:35Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I think only an established poster should do it.😛 As I mentioned upthread a few years ago somebody with data mining and script writing skills collected pertinent data (join date, number of posts, date of latest post, and others I’m forgetting) into a spreadsheet for easy sorting, grouping and the like. From such data it would be relative easy to collect a list of potential candidates for the designation of “established poster.” However, the idea that each of us (established or otherwise) has some mental list of qualifiers might best be explored in the list(s) I suggested before. Extracting the common names would then build a list we could all relate to. I’m not qualified to do the data mining but I do have a list of users who ought to be considered. But I’m just one of hundreds with such a list in mind. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/86 "2014-12-14T22:05:48Z")
Joined date earlier than me? Established. After? Newbie. ---
**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 14, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/87 "2014-12-14T22:13:16Z")
#6. When you post a reply in a thread and people respond with “Yes, yes, we know, we know! Will you shut up about it already?” because you’ve expressed that opinion more often than is strictly necessary. #7. Off-board interactions with multiple persons. Not just Dopefests, but other interactions, be they in meatspace or cyberspace. #8. People consider you an expert in some subject. Getting paged to a thread is a good indicator of being “established.” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/88 "2014-12-14T22:15:07Z")
If you’ve ever received a PM alerting you that you are the subject of discussion, debate and degradation on that _other_ board (you know, the camelopardalis types). This one is a little gross, so, click if you’re not eating: If the words “paper towel tube” make you want to retch. If you get a mention in the bi-annual “Who’s Your Doper Crush” thread. In all seriousness though: If you experience a big storm or a natural disaster and immediately jump onto the Dope to let everybody know you’re all right, and to check if anybody close by needs help. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/89 "2014-12-14T22:30:17Z")
IMO, it takes at least 15 years and 24,000 posts to become an established poster. I should be there in about 5 months. In all seriousness, I think it is the point when people start associating your user name with specific content, even things that you wrote years or more before, and can refer to it from memory. I don’t really want to be associated with some of it in my case but I wrote it so it is a fair target. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/90 "2014-12-14T22:33:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > #7. Off-board interactions with multiple persons. Not just Dopefests, but other interactions, be they in meatspace or cyberspace. > > #8. People consider you an expert in some subject. Getting paged to a thread is a good indicator of being “established.” Pretty much what I was going to say. I would add you can always take the **silenus** shortcut to doper awesomeness and establishment Bring a bottle of scotch for a door prize at your next dopefest ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/91 "2014-12-14T22:47:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > #6. When you post a reply in a thread and people respond with “Yes, yes, we know, we know! Will you shut up about it already?” because you’ve expressed that opinion more often than is strictly necessary. > > #7. Off-board interactions with multiple persons. Not just Dopefests, but other interactions, be they in meatspace or cyberspace. > > #8. People consider you an expert in some subject. Getting paged to a thread is a good indicator of being “established.” I don’t know if I meet no. 6, but I do have my pet topics that you’ll always see me opining about. Though I do try to keep it varied, lest I be known as a one-note johnny. The only Doper (besides my sis) that I’ve ever met IRL is **Hippy Hollow**. I’ve never done a Dopefest. So I don’t meet no. 7. I’ve never been paged to a thread before either. I have my specialty areas, but I guess I’m not passionate enough to be an expert in them–unless someone’s just being really loud and wrong. Then I can’t help myself. ---
**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, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/92 "2014-12-14T22:56:49Z")
Just to see if I could find it, I located [Another look at “active users” at SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=632686) from 11-26-2011 through 12-28-2011 (121 posts when I looked just now) that may pose more new questions than it answers old ones. But there it is… ---
**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, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/93 "2014-12-14T22:59:26Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > As I mentioned upthread a few years ago somebody with data mining and script writing skills collected pertinent data (join date, number of posts, date of latest post, and others I’m forgetting) into a spreadsheet for easy sorting, grouping and the like. > > From such data it would be relative easy to collect a list of potential candidates for the designation of “established poster.” > > However, the idea that each of us (established or otherwise) has some mental list of qualifiers might best be explored in the list(s) I suggested before. Extracting the common names would then build a list we could all relate to. > > I’m not qualified to do the data mining but I do have a list of users who ought to be considered. But I’m just one of hundreds with such a list in mind. What do you think of these criteria: 1. 5000+ posts 2. Join date oder than 3 years 3. At least 1 mod note or warning That should narrow the field a little, right? ---
**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 14, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/94 "2014-12-14T23:00:59Z")
1. If you can be described to someone’s SO fairly accurately (without resorting to base canards and generalized insults) when they ask who you’re talking to/what is making you laugh/cry/so pissed. 2. For a general feeling of “established,” if a large number of posters have any feelings about you whatsoever. Positive or negative. (The exception to this is the knee-jerk hatred and loathing of spammers, trolls, racists, jerks and Scientologists.) 😃 ---
**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 14, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/95 "2014-12-14T23:08:47Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > 1. At least 1 mod note or warning The vast majority of posters have no mod notes or warnings. Many of the best known and most prominent posters don’t have any. Getting a note, and especially a warning, is a rarity. It would certainly narrow the list, but it would in no way indicate posters who are well known on the board. I don’t know why you would include it. ---
**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, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/96 "2014-12-14T23:09:23Z")
And the file that **ntucker/spinky** created can be found at [this post!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14512224&postcount=76) Katy, bar the door! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/97 "2014-12-14T23:13:32Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > IMO, it takes at least 15 years and 24,000 posts to become an established poster. I should be there in about 5 months. > > In all seriousness, I think it is the point when people start associating your user name with specific content, even things that you wrote years or more before, and can refer to it from memory. I don’t really want to be associated with some of it in my case but I wrote it so it is a fair target. Same here. I don’t feel established yet. For better or worse some of my threads are memorable. Quite a few are better left in the past. What was I thinking? 😛 I battle insomnia and posting helps pass the hours. ---
**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, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/98 "2014-12-14T23:18:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The vast majority of posters have no mod notes or warnings. Many of the best known and most prominent posters don’t have any. Getting a note, and especially a warning, is a rarity. It would certainly narrow the list, but it would in no way indicate posters who are well known on the board. I don’t know why you would include it. It was one of the first things mentioned - post#3. And then in the same vein a lot of comments followed such as needing to get pitted to be established, being on ignore lists, and being talked about on another board; I think most of it was half-serious though. Also, was I supposed to say high Opal? There’s some rule about lists is there not? Anyway, in all seriousness what metric(s) would you propose? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/99 "2014-12-14T23:19:49Z")
Any day now… _…stares at phone, drumming fingers…_ ---
**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 14, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953/100 "2014-12-14T23:50:19Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > It was one of the first things mentioned - post#3. You asked what we thought of your list, so I told you. > [@](#): > > And then in the same vein a lot of comments followed such as needing to get pitted to be established, being on ignore lists, and being talked about on another board; I think most of it was half-serious though. Yes, like the other those are tongue in cheek. They don’t apply to most well established posters. > [@](#): > > Also, was I supposed to say high Opal? There’s some rule about lists is there not? Please don’t. That one was worn out more than a decade ago. It’s something that mostly marks a newbie who is trying to fit in by parroting a poorly understood board meme without understanding that it’s long obsolete. > [@](#): > > Anyway, in all seriousness what metric(s) would you propose? I wouldn’t, other than the quality of your posts. Some posters are well known within a few months, while others that have been around for years still poorly known. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-one-become-an-established-poster/706953.md?page=6)