Don't be a lurker!

[Nealz]

It struck me that as we have a new site here, and it's a new year, there's the opportunity for some new site/years resolutions.

These forums are the heart of the site. Don't be a lurker. We've already seen posts by some ex-lurkers - tinhorn and srlatty come to mind - and there are others out there too. Get in here and tell people what you're thinking about or ask questions! Everybody has something to contribute, and there are no such things as dumb questions... if there were, I'd have been publicly flogged time and again. It's a rare day that passes when I didn't learn something new here.

Sometimes newcomers or lurkers are reluctant to post because they feel like outsiders or may not know who or what is being talked about. Everyone of us here was a newcomer or lurker at one time and just decided to jump in. You can too.

One of the remarkable qualities of this site specifically is the genuine civility of it all. There are plenty of other outdoor sites that are downright hostile towards newcomers and have an established order of 'elders' and post-hogs. This does not happen here, in large part, due to the underlying element of respect we have for each other. If but the rest of the world behaved as such.

So start down a new trail this year and make it a point to contribute here. You are welcome!

-Nealz
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'Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.'

-P. J. O'Rourke

[srlatty]

Being an ex-lurker, I have to agree with you Nealz! I would read almost every post, but was a little reluctant to post since you all seemed to have such a close knit community already. When the old site shut down, I realized that if I had been more involved, it would be easy to reconnect. Thanks to Hooli, I got in touch with GTG and found out about this great new place that we have. I take this new site as a sign of a new beginning and want to become more involved. So, if you don't hear from me in a while, rattle my cage! I'll be stalking, I mean lurking, out there somewhere!
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Steve

[Kristyn]

You know I found the old site at a time when it seemed there were close knit groups, but that feeling goes away real quick once you start to post and become involved. I haven't met half of these people, but the ones I have will be friends forever. Awesome people! All it takes is one hike and you're hooked!

Post away, someone is always looking for a buddy to hike with.
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Formerly known as snow22_5150.

[Daddee]

lurk ( P ) (lûrk)
intr.v. lurked, lurk·ing, lurks
To lie in wait, as in ambush.
To move furtively; sneak.
To exist unobserved or unsuspected: danger lurking around every bend.

Yes, please refrain from "lurking" - we fear you

And don't be afraid to point out that somebody made a reference you don't understand. Tinhorn is a perfect example - Hooli and I were going off on each other, and tinhorn wanted to know what we were refering to - so we told him. No secrets here.

Except for my secret identity.
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"Only small minds want always to be right."
- Louis XIV

"...haven't you lived long enough to know that two men may honestly differ about a question and both be right?"
- Abraham Lincoln

[chihiggs]

Hey Daddee--Here's a quick question or for anyone else. What does it mean when I see "BTW" in a post? I can't remember now how I've seen it used but I have seen it used fairly often...
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All our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them...Walt Disney

[evenstar]

Higgs, BTW is short for "By The Way" just internet shorthand.
And on the lurking thing:
I moved to Arizona (I often refer to my new state as The Wonderful Land of AZ!)
in April, little less than two years ago without knowing a single, solitary soul. Now, I've developed friendships with a few neighbors and with some golfing buddies, but the closest friends I have are those I met on the old site! And I made those friends because I posted and got involved. (I know, some are saying "Did he ever!" ) I've only met some of those friends face to face once or twice....and some never! Yet they are my friends!
If you're only interested in picking up the hiking info and prefer not to post, that's OK....but you be missing the chance to develop some lifelong friendships.
_________________
John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[Canyon Dweller]

I really dont understand why somebody would lign up to something and not get involved. With the last site there was so much info I can understand that people would sign up just to get the info, but here its just a disscussion board, why sign up and just lurk.
I found it quite easy to get involved in the last one since i was looking for people to hike with being new to the area. I was invited to come to the picacho peak hike. I have to say that this is one of the freindliest communities on the internet that i have been to. Alot of others seam to bash each other and you get alot of stupid people trying to ruin everybodys fun.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

"Meaningless! Meaningless," says the teacher, "Utterly Meaningless, Everything is meaningless."-Ecclesiastes 1:2

[chihiggs]

Thanx Hooli!!
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All our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them...Walt Disney

[Guest]

[maryphyl]

I've only met a couple of folks here 'cause I live on the mountain. I'm afraid the only time I speak up is when I know something so that is not too often I really like to listen in to your valley adventures so I'll just lurk a little. MP
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Shikekeh hozhoogo naasha.
I walk in beauty.

[evenstar]

MP, your posts may have been few, but they they all had meat on their bones. Personally I'll look forward to those "not too often posts"
_________________
John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[Daddee]

[ck1]

[shy]

What can we say. Some people just like lurking. And Neal...talk about someone who has been quiet on some other forums this last year...

[Guest]