# Wow, has membership picked up lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 24, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503 "2004-11-24T18:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/1 "2004-11-24T18:23:37Z")
Or has Cecil been funding some new billboards? Seems like there’s been a ton of “I’m new here…” type posts lately. To what do we attribute this influx of new blood? In any case, welcome, all you new guys and girls. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/2 "2004-11-24T18:39:06Z")
I don’t know what to attribute it to. I’m new (as you can tell) and for me it was just more of a finally getting around to it type deal. I’ve been lurking for quite a while and then I really wanted to search for something and I figured rather than just ask someone to do it, it was time to plunk down the money. And I’ve been reading Unca Cecil for years and years and years. And thanks for the welcome! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/3 "2004-11-24T19:17:15Z")
Welcome, all! I was going to make a remark that the Newbie Reception Committee had been vigourously performing sacrifices in front of the Altar of the Sacred Zotti, and the rush of newbies was the result, but that would be a complete fabrication. Carry on. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/4 "2004-11-24T19:17:51Z")
An alternate explanation is that membership is increasing at a steady rate, but for whatever reason a higher number than usual of the new members feel like starting “I’m new here” threads. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/5 "2004-11-24T19:26:40Z")
Could be that one person starts an “I’m new” thread, others realize that if they do, too, they’ll also get a warm welcome, and so on. I’m sure there’s some kind of technical term for this. In fact, I’m reading a book on learning in animals right now, so I know there is – I just can’t think of what the term is. Of course, all the initiation ceremonies have been wearing me out – it’s amazing I know what my name is. ( **looks at top of page to double-check** ) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/6 "2004-11-24T19:42:52Z")
What initiation ceremonies? There are no initiation ceremonies. At least, no-one ever _remembers_ any initiation ceremonies… :: innocent look :: [sub]How are things going, **twickster**? The workload _has_ been pretty heavy of late. It’s a wonder the goats get any rest at all![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/7 "2004-11-24T20:04:12Z")
I was going to post an “I’m new here” thread but then I heard about the calamari part of the initiation ceremony. 🙂 At least I assumed that it was part of the ceremony… ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/8 "2004-11-24T20:08:43Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > What initiation ceremonies? There are no initiation ceremonies. At least, no-one ever _remembers_ any initiation ceremonies… > > :: innocent look :: > > [sub]How are things going, **twickster**? The workload _has_ been pretty heavy of late. It’s a wonder the goats get any rest at all![/sub] I f you can remember it, then it wasnt a real initiation ceramony! ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/9 "2004-11-24T20:09:14Z")
Ritual blooding in for new Brit members on Saturday. Bring ye the sacrificial wine and the Goblet of Deliverance. The snakes are primed and ready to bite ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/10 "2004-11-24T20:23:37Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > I f you can remember it, then it wasnt a real initiation ceramony! Pony up your $15 and see who’s laughing then! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/11 "2004-11-24T20:57:32Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > I was going to post an “I’m new here” thread but then I heard about the calamari part of the initiation ceremony. 🙂 At least I assumed that it was part of the ceremony… You also assumed it was calamari. Just cause there are tentacles involved doesn’t mean you get to eat them, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/12 "2004-11-24T21:11:02Z")
“In Soviet Russia, _tentacles_ eat _you_”! Or something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/13 "2004-11-25T03:17:05Z")
Oh my. The mind reels at all the tentacular possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/14 "2004-11-25T03:26:40Z")
I got called a newbie, just once, in 1960, for 20 min, but my user profile actually pre-dates subscriptions. I lurked for quite some time before ever posting, but soon after, the board went subscription only, and it took three more years of lurking to convince me to pay to post. So I guess I’m still part of the apparent population explosian, but would prefer to be called Newb-ian. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/15 "2004-11-25T03:30:44Z")
A semi-belated welcome, **The Sonoran Lizard King**! As you may note, our festivities tend to be of a more …humid… nature than you may be used to. If need be, alternate arrangements can be made. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/16 "2004-11-25T03:45:03Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > A semi-belated welcome, **The Sonoran Lizard King**! > > As you may note, our festivities tend to be of a more …humid… nature than you may be used to. If need be, alternate arrangements can be made. Thank You \ **Sunspace** \, I don’t get seafood very often, bring on the calamari. What’s That I hear? \_C’Thulu F’thagen…C’Thulu F’thagen…C’Thulu F’thagen…C’Thulu F’thagen…_\ why do the walls look like rubber… I think I should lie d_ **THUD** _ ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/17 "2004-11-25T07:41:05Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Of course, all the initiation ceremonies have been wearing me out – it’s amazing I know what my name is. ( **looks at top of page to double-check** ) You? Hell, how do you think _I_ feel? It’s COLD here! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/18 "2004-11-25T07:44:13Z")
> [@The Sonoran Lizard King](#): > > So I guess I’m still part of the apparent population explosian, but would prefer to be called Newb-ian. I was going to ask if you wouldn’t prefer Nubian, but upon looking the word up I find I’ve confused it with nubile. [sub]moving right along…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/19 "2004-11-25T18:32:57Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > It’s COLD here! Put some clothes on woman! There could be children watching ---
**Author:** ![MrJones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@MrJones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJones)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503/20 "2004-11-25T19:18:03Z")
Initiation ceremony? I never even made the “I’m new here” post, so here it is. “I’m new here.” The Doper known as Eva Luna recruited me in, so I made a couple of posts a year ago, then didn’t post again until last month. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-has-membership-picked-up-lately/276503.md?page=2)