How Long Did You Lurk Before Joining In?

[SusieO]

I know I was eavesdropping on this board for three or four months before I ever posted myself. That seems to be a familiar story for a lot of us. I was a little nervous about joining in, but then someone (Natasha, I believe) started a thread on the Healthy Living Board for runners. I was just getting interested in running so the time seemed right to jump in.

So, satisfy my curiosity. How long did you wait before you posted and what made you want to?

[SandyM]

No lurking here. I think I registered and posted on the same day.

But, that should surprise no one around here. :D

Oh - and I joined because Gail joined.

[Wendy w]

Great question! I will have been on this board 1 year as of later on next month. I was looking for a dinner club and this was how I came across this board. I was thrilled to find fellow cooking fanatics and lots of advice. I immediately jumped in and added my $.002 and have been here ever since.

[LGBurns]

I chose Never but I think I might have waited a week. However, I think I made up with it the next week. If memory serves me correctly I think I probably posted 7-10 times that week. And that' s been my average ever since probably. :rolleyes:

[Jewel]

I've never been shy... :cool: I read the mag for 3 years, then found out in January or February that there WAS a website! Saw the word bulletin board, and the rest was history...

I've lurked on several other boards for a week or two before joining in, but there was something about the people here that made me feel right at home! I knew I could just jump right in! :D Of course now they may regret their hospitality...

[Meg O'C]

I had a question I needed an answer to and thought there might be some place on the CL website where I could find the answer. I found the BBs and asked my question right away. I had no idea I was joining such a wonderful community. After asking my original question I definitely became a more frequent lurker than poster.

[Gail]

I joined immediately because Sandy was breathing down the back of my neck and I was trying to get away...

Seriously, I joined because I'd seen a recipe I wanted in a back issue, but the Circulation Department was out of copies. I wandered onto the site, intending to write for the recipe, then I saw the bulletin board.

...and the rest, as they say (over and over and over again) is history!

Oh, yeah-- and in the process I also got my recipe. :D

[kwormann]

I also was never a lurker....I was home sick with bronchitis and I joined and made member (50 posts) in 3 days!

[BlueMoose]

I put never, but I may have actually waited for a couple of days or up to a week. By then I was fully addicted :o .

[Beth]

I said never, but I can't remember whether I posted the very day I first found the website (I was going to send a letter to the editor, but it went out into the ozone). I may have been too busy copying recipes to post right away.

[Ohioan]

I'd sworn never to join any BBs because of some bad experiences in the Olden Days of non-internet BBS's, and also because the other boards I'd been lurking around were full of nastiness and (may I say this?) ignorance. But when I got here, everyone seemed so friendly, so knowledgable, and so downright nice that I immediately decided to take a chance. And it's been one of the nicest neighborhoods I've ever lived in -- even though I recently took a vacation.

MrsReber (Susan) once said that being here was like sitting around the kitchen table talking to friends. I still think that's the best description of us, even if sometimes we throw rolls at each other.;)

Cheers,
Phoebe

[beejayw1]

I'd been posting to another BB on another site, which was as level-headed and non-flaming as this one. Both feel homey, and I started posting immediately here as a result.

(And been equally ignored here, too! :D )

[BlueMoose]

Originally posted by Ohioan


MrsReber (Susan) once said that being here was like sitting around the kitchen table talking to friends. I still think that's the best description of us, even if sometimes we throw rolls at each other.;)

Cheers,
Phoebe

LOL, Phoebe!

[funnybone]

No lurking here either. Although I've read the magazine for years, and visited the website for months, I had not looked at the board. I don't like the way a lot of boards are set up (the ones that you have to click on every reply to read) so thats the reason I never bothered. Once I did look, I joined in right away. My first impression was that the board moved so fast it was almost like a chat room rather than a BB. I've been addicted ever since.

[Little Bit]

I discovered this BB while the recipefinder was down, became fascinated with the food discussions and one day had the irresistable urge to post.

I'd been reluctant to sign on elsewhere, since so many sites seem to have problems with spam, silly arguments, unnessecary hostility between posters and other foolishness, that it didn't seem worth the hassles. A lot of stuff on other BBs seems like an enormous waste of a useful technology, but I've been totally impressed with the depth of information and quality of interactions here.

[BosunsWife]

I jumped in with both feet because I was looking for a way to preserve a can of very expensive Chipotle peppers. Tried the freezer method by the way and it works great. Those little suckers are expensive here.

[LGBurns]

Originally posted by Little Bit
A lot of stuff on other BBs seems like an enormous waste of a useful technology, but I've been totally impressed with the depth of information and quality of interactions here.

What a great way to put it!

Phoebe, I try to only throw soft rolls... :D

[Alisa]

The first Internet BB I tried was a fiction/literature one. I posted a question about Barbara Kingsolver's new book, and got the response that "If I couldn't get some f*****g taste in books then I should jump over a cliff or some such thing. The second person said "Yeah, get lost, loser" or something to that effect. Just when you think you're an adult suddenly you're 6 years old and got ridiculed in the playground.
When I discovered CL I logged on to the site to see if it could ease the suspense of waiting for the next issue. I'd vowed I'd never try another Internet group of any kind, but when I saw how warm and interesting and funny everyone was here I just had to join in. I'm so glad I did.

[KimberlyE]

Good question...It was probably about a month that I lurked and I still lurk more than I post!!

[lindrusso]

I believe I jumped right in, but that was way back in the old days, ;) , when it was much smaller. I don't even remember how or why I found it, but I've been here ever since.

Phoebe - I still think that's the best description of us, even if sometimes we throw rolls at each other. - at least they would likely be yummy, homemade rolls!

And SandyM - Your Gail stalking references continue to crack me up!!! And I'm always checking your title to see if it's changed again. Thanks for the laugh!

[Mamasue]

Gosh I don't remember. I believe I jumped right in as soon as I found the website. *singing We Are Family......help me here Gail

[Nirak]

I'm a converted lurker. I used to jump on while I was waiting for the school bus. I really enjoyed everything I read and learned a lot, but I was a little apprehensive about jumping in. Then, when the girls were at daycamp this summer I decided I need to get involved! (I felt a little hypocritical when I kept talking about things I learned or read but wasn't contributing!) Now I'm hooked.

[Gail]

Originally posted by Mamasue
Gosh I don't remember. I believe I jumped right in as soon as I found the website. *singing We Are Family......help me here Gail

"We are family... something, something, something, something...."

Sorry. :(

[Beth]

Originally posted by Gail


"We are family... something, something, something, something...."

Sorry. :(

We are family, I got all my sisters with me....

Is there anything more than that over and over? There must be, but I can't remember anything more. Do I feel a roll being tossed? :D

[SusanL]

Funnybone, it used to be that you had to click on to each reply when I first lurked. I was so busy copying recipes and clicking onto replies, it took a while to go through them. Love all the bells and whistles that this one has.

The replies have always been kind and helpful, I agree a warm place to chat. Without this board, think of all the recipes we wouldn't have tried!! All the purchases we wouldn't have made?? All of the unusual quirks we have... I better stop right there ;)

[SandyM]

Originally posted by Beth

Is there anything more than that over and over? There must be, but I can't remember anything more. Do I feel a roll being tossed? :D

"Come on everybody, SING!"

I went through a serious 70's flashback this week (thank you Miss Jewel), and this just buys into the theme........:D

[KValley]

Here's the original, just beggin for a BB adaptation!

Dedicated to sisters (and brothers!!) of the BB:

Chorus:
We are family, I got all my sisters with me
We are family, I got all my sisters with me
We are family, get up everybody and sing

Repeat

Everyone can you see, we're together as we walk on by
And we fly just like birds of a feather, I won't tell no lie
All, all of the people around us they say
Can they be that close?
Just let me state for the record
We're givin' love in a family dose

Chorus

Living life is fun and we've just begun
To get our fill of this world delights
High, High hopes we have for the future
And our goals in sight
We, no we don't get depressed
And here's what we call our golden rule:
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won't go wrong
Oh no, this is our family jewel

Chorus 4x to fadeout.

[Curleytop]

Used to sign on to several other BB, they were ok, but this oneROCKS! :D

[ClaireM]

I probably lurked for a couple of months, just getting the lay of the land. This is the first BB I've joined. I lurk at others as well, but they are MUCH less friendly. God forbid you ask a question which was asked a month or so ago! Anyway, everyone here seems so friendly and knowledgeable.

[kwormann]

Julie, you ROCK!

[katygirl]

I lurked for about two weeks or so. I still lurk more than I post. I am here so often but I only have 80-something posts. One reason I lurked before I actually posted was to get a "feel" for the BB. I like what I saw and I stayed :D

[Kerri]

I lurked for a little bit. I think the reason I broke my silence is that I had to share my opinion about a recipe. I get pretty opininated about a lot of things. It took me a long time to start my own thread. I still lurk quite a bit for how much I am logged onto this board. I have been a member for over a year and I only have about 300 or so posts.

[heeter]

KValley - thanks for all the words - I feel alittle like we're singing together - around that kitchen table I guess. I was a lurker and still am to a certain extent, probably for about a month or two before I actually signed on. Heather

[workinprogress]

About a week -- couldn't get my registration to "take" :) . I joined because this looked like such a great site and I knew I would learn lots from all of you. Didn't know I'd get music lessons as well! :D

(We * are * fam-i-LEE... )
:p

Robin

[SusieO]

Thanks for the great responses!

It's nice to know that I wasn't the only timid one out there.

Robin,
Welcome! Soon you'll be as addicted as the rest of us.

[Julia1Pin]

Originally posted by KValley


Oh no, this is our family jewel

Chorus 4x to fadeout.[/b] [/B]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[luv2cook]

Who are you kidding, SusieO? Keep this big mouth shut? NOT!:D

[Rose Ann]

I joined today and posted today- :)

[kwormann]

Great Rose Ann :)

[SusieO]

Originally posted by luv2cook
Who are you kidding, SusieO? Keep this big mouth shut? NOT!:D

I don't think anyone would make the mistake of calling you "timid." I'm sure that's why we get along so well. :D

P.S. Love your quote!

[Shirley Panek]

I think I lurked maybe a day before posting. Oh, wait a minute, I remember finding the "old, old " bulletin board right before they changed to the old, new board. Does that make sense? :p

Anyway, everyone on this board is always so friendly and helpful. I feel like they're old friends. At my CL Supper Club I usually bring up something I heard on the BB at least 4 or 5 times during the evening.

I've tried to tone down my addiction, but it doesn't help when your home page is the Cooking Light Community web page. :D

[Safari Girl]

I think I lurked for about a week. I started reading the magazine a little over a year ago and DH and I are trying to start eating more healthfully (easier now that we're in our own house). I love the whole concept of bulletin boards (we got married in May and one of my favourite resource tools was a wedding bulletin board - I still pop by there occassionally to check on the girls whose weddings are still coming up). You get so many great ideas and learn so much from what others have tried and you can pass on information that others might like to know. I'm really glad the board's here.

[Cookie_Mom]

I think I posted my first post immediately. I haven't been posting that much, but I just couldn't wait to jump right in!

Amy:)

[lorilei]

I think I lurked... for a while. Probably a month. Maybe more. Maybe less.

I needed to get a feel for the culture here. Didn't want to make myself part of a community of FREAKS, after all... ;)

[Julia1Pin]

Originally posted by lorilei

I needed to get a feel for the culture here. Didn't want to make myself part of a community of FREAKS, after all... ;)



Too late - Welcome to the freak show. Let the party begin.

[lorilei]

:)

Actually, I discovered that I too have freakish tendencies... so I figured I'd fit right in.

[DmOrtega]

Just lurking around. Pun intended.

[Mandy]

I think I lurked for about a month. I was just enjoying reading everyone else's posts. I think even now I lurk more than I post, but I am making an attempt to add more to the dinner conversation (as long as we stick to dinner rolls and not rotten tomatoes). :p

[Alisa]

So many freaks, so few circuses....

[JKS]

Still a newbie here...........

But, I waited a couple weeks before feeling motivated by a "nursing" question on the healthy living BB. Then started REALLY enjoying the fact that there are other people here who are weird as I am when it comes to reading cookbooks cover-to-cover for pleasure, waiting for their new CL and devouring it, rating recipes, and having cooking goals! Many of my face-to-face freinds don't even know all these details about me. They all just think it's strange that I LIKE to cook, instead of considering it a chore.

I'm running into a problem, though. I tend to check in first thing (5:30 am)before I go walking, and it's eating into my exercise time! I've gained 3 lbs in the past 3 weeks--UGH!! I sit down to browse, and an hour has gone by the time I get up! I have seen BBs with a more user-friendly, quick-browse set-up. I didn't see the old, or the old, old boards. But I wonder if CL would consider a different set-up? How would you all feel about that?