How long did you lurk before you started posting?

[uppityperson]

Did you watch and read and lurk or jump right in?


I watched and read DU for at least a couple days before jumping in to post an important topic in the wrong forum, not understanding about forums yet or what happened to topics once they left the latest page. I'm sure there were sighs and eyerolls. I'm curious about other DUers.

[yewberry]

1. Lurked for months.

Then signed up, promptly lost my password, and signed up again.

I still don't know my PW.

[Turn CO Blue]

2. Lurked for a few months.

DU was't accepting new registrations that close to the Selection (in November). Even after I registered, I just replied for awhile, I didn't post threads. Even now, after 7 or 8 months here -- I've probably only started 10 or so threads.

on edit: clarity

[Crazy Guggenheim]

3. A few months.

[aquaman]

4. I still lurk quite a bit....

Been here since 2001 and have less than 2000 posts.

[yewberry]

7. Dude, look at my post count.

You are a posting machine!

[aquaman]

12. LOL,

wow, I guess I am a post God. What are you in grad school for? Former grad school person here too.

[yewberry]

15. Oh, the embarassment.

MFA. Poetry. (Next year...it's taken me this long to jump through the hoops.)

I'm insane. I know.

PS--I really like the way you can talk to the undersea creatures. The rest of the JLA must be very jealous.

[aquaman]

22. Well, talking to undersea creatures is a skill I admit....

Your grad degree, not insane at all, sounds interesting. I got mine in 2001, master of social work.

[RevCheesehead]

5. almost 2 months.

God, that first post was scary! I was so worried about violating the rules, read them thoroughly, and hoped I wouldn't screw up. I think I was worried about losing a good thing. :)

[usedtobesick]

6. lurked for a few months

also tried to join in November but had to wait. I had a good guide and that helped.

[enlightenment]

8. Over a year --

erring on the side of caution; naturally quietish; terribly terrified of saying something wrong.

[Turn CO Blue]

19. Well, let me share...

I tried not to post anything to offend anyone, and wouldn't you know it, I did anyway on one of my first posts! I was trying to show how FAIR-MINDED I could be, and offered an argument showing two possible explanations for someone's action... and it was no less than Bev Harris who jumped all over me (quite rudely too). Ah well. Now I just post when I feel like it. Mostly I just read.

[enlightenment]

45. Thanks.

I think I have already managed to offend someone -- I had hoped to reach a 100 posts . . .
oh, well!
And I still mostly read.
Are you in CO? I used to live there -- still consider it my home. Every morning I wish I could see the mountains.

[Left Is Write]

9. I don't know. Not long.

It was a couple of months before I started posting regularly, but I posted now and then. I've never been much for lurking anywhere. I like to jump in.

[lenidog]

10. I lurked for a couple weeks posted a few times

then proceeded to leave the country for a couple months and forgot about DU till I saw someone post a link on the Yahoo boards. I then got my user name and password e-mailed to me and jumped right in.

[ifyouknewsushi]

11. I lurked for quit a long time and just recently started posting.

I am still lurking the politics forums as I am not very versed in it. The reading is a wonderful education and I plan to slowly slip my toes into the water.

I do feel comfy posting here in the lounge for now and thank you all for the nice way you have recieved me.

Suzi.

[Turn CO Blue]

14. Welcome to DU! Come on in, the water's fine... n/t

[ifyouknewsushi]

17. Thanks Turn CO Blue!!

I have had all wonderful welcomes here in the lounge.

Suzi.

[fleabert]

54. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[autorank]

13. Lurking, what lurking, I don't need no stinking lurking!

Not for one second. Just started out posting. Is there any other way?

[Paranoid_Portlander]

16. Any other donating lurkers out there?

That's what I did for over a year, most of 2002 and part of 2001 (?). Yes, DU accepts donations from lurkers, before becoming a registered user. It really squelches the flames to start post #1 with a gold star.

[ifyouknewsushi]

18. I have been in no shape to donate.

One of your wonderful fellow friends here on DU shot me a star!!

I am forever grateful for that and thank you all who donate for Us that are not able to at this point.

I will pay back by donating to another in the future who is unable.

Thanks DU!!

Suzi.

[uppityperson]

21. You don't have to donate much, a couple dollars helps.

More helps too, but anything is good. Thanks to all that help each other.

[ifyouknewsushi]

49. I was in the middle of responding last night when my power went out.

I am more then thankful to the someone who starred me!!! I will do the same for another when I can.

I did not ask for a star, in fact I said please don't. The user gave it to me anyway.

Thats how I am, I think thats a good quality.

Suzi.

[uppityperson]

20. Well, welcome to DU everyone, lurkers and jumper-iners.

All types are welcome and don't worry about making mistakes. Learn from them and just be open-minded and decent to each other. All sorts of egos here.

uppity

[Lady President]

23. Two years (give or take)

I lurked for about two years. The only reason I registered was to answer an obscure questions someone posted. (The question was about litigation that I done which was too coincidental not to discuss.) I've gone months without posting, even though I lurk here every day.

[MzShellG]

28. Likewise, as far as lurk time.

I'd say I lurked for about 2years. A year or so ago I registered but lost my password. I began visiting DU after the 2001 inauguration, where I spotted a DU banner and continued ever since. It's a part of my daily routine, so I decided to register again to become a more active member. Usually, I come home from work, watch the nightly news, then get online and come straight here, staying for hours. I'm happy to be able to interact with everyone in the political forums and the lounge.

[Huckebein the Raven]

24. Lurked for a few years before I joined

Found this site by way of whatreallyhappened.com linking to threads here

[MidwestMomma]

25. Lurked for a long time

I watched and read a lot before even registering. Heck, I still watch and read a lot. :)

[ValentinoM]

26. Lurked since the 2000 election

I only recently had the nerve to sign-up and post.. YIKES

[yewberry]

27. Allow me to welcome you!

:toast:

[MzShellG]

29. Welcome to DU...

I feel your pain.:)

[Droopy]

30. I lurked for about 2 minutes

before I realized that this was the place for me.

[Awsi Dooger]

31. About 12 hours

I discovered the place by accident while doing research on political polls. I have my own theories on how they err and I make adjustments by state, sort of like a sports pointspread.

Anyway, someone posted a thread on political odds for individual races in the 2002 midterm, compliments of oft-quoted political analyst Ron Faucheux. I live in Las Vegas and have wagered on politics since '96. Faucheux's odds are a farce, literally a laughingstock among the serious political bettors I know. Let's just say work would be optional if I could wager into his odds. He has races at only 4/5 or 1/2 favoritism when really they're an out price, meaning no offshore betting outfit will even book them they're so onesided.

Anyway, the first night I found DU someone posted a thread on Faucheux's odds. I waited patiently for someone to assail the numbers, but all you got were several posts remarking on how interesting they were. The next morning I checked and it was just more of the same. I finally couldn't take it any more, registered, and posted a reply titled, "Ignore those laughable odds." My response was lengthy but well received. One guy wrote, "Dude, I didn't even understand half of what you said, but post more often!" That felt damn good so I obeyed.

[Quixote1818]

32. About two days, then I just had to get in on the action!!! nt

[leftofthedial]

33. I'm not sure.

What time is it?

[BeTheChange]

34. Over a year... n/t

[Suich]

35. I lurked for about a year.

Found out about the site from a friend in Merritt, BC.

[tyedyeto]

36. 2-3 months

kept being brought here by buzzflash for the Top 10 Conservative Idiots and lurked. Finally registered just before the '04 elections.

[RobbinsdaleDem]

37. I lurked for months.

[SarahB]

38. I was the worst.

I post a lot now and tend to be a pretty chatty, open person here, but I started lurking 3 years ago, it took me a few months to sign up, and then barely posted until a year after I started lurking. I was shy. :blush:

[BlueIris]

39. Four months.

Found y'all after the election, registered in March.

I'd never been inspired to learn how to actually post on a message board before (long story--but basically my first board experiences were with places it's VERY hard to get and keep an account on; run by ultra-sensitive, control-freaky, basically abusive moderators). But I thought DU was worth figuring out how to access this stripe of technology for.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

40. I read LBN for a long time before I ever went into the rest of DU

I finally made my way into DU proper during the end of the 2004 election cycle. I kept seeing all these great things being said here linked to the John Kerry forums and decided to come check the place out. After I made that step I was posting within a few hours.

[enigmatic]

41. A few months, I guess

I used to read GD and not The Lounge when I first signed up; now it's the other way around..

[norml]

42. Jumped right in. I think I registered before even reading anything.

Right wing media whore Laura Ingraham had been bashing DU, so I figured it must be something I'd want to join.

[Ladyhawk]

43. I never lurk. I guess I just can't STFU. :) n/t

[cry baby]

44. 'bout 4 months of lurkage

before I stuck my toe in the water.

[UrbScotty]

46. Probably about 15-20 minutes or so

August 13, 2002.

[Seabiscuit]

47. Lurked a year before posting for the past 13 months.

[xmas74]

48. Almost a year total.

[sundog]

50. 2 weeks

[realisticphish]

51. 10 minutes

seriously. I found the top ten idiots, found the hate mail, found the message board, read for a few threads in GD, and realized i DEFINITELY wanted to be here

[Wapsie B]

52. I posted after a few months

but didn't really converse with anyone until this last year. I'd read threads and post where I wanted but didn't respond to those who answered me. I still don't start threads very often.

[fleabert]

53. lurked for maybe a day...

and then after a week of timid posting and responses, went on a post and reply binge. I hated being under a thousand, not really sure why, because when I came on, I hardly ever saw any trolls or freeps; so I had no idea about the uncanny relationship between post count and trolls/freepers (not that I don't trust newbies -which I still consider myself to be- nor am I not aware of the long time posters who recently were 'outed' as trolls)

anyway. Once I hit four digits, I just post when I feel like it, and try to respond to everyone that replies if I start a thread.