So. hunh.

[shamrockshake]

I just assume there are a shit ton of lurkers and someone probably knows me IRL

[candreco]

I'd be more freaked out by someone approaching me in public than someone lurking on the board. I mean, these are public boards, there are all sorts of weirdos lurking. The one that identifies him/herself is probably the least of our worries.

[Deleted]

It wouldn't bother me at all. It's a public forum, you have to expect that you will be recognized at some point.

[Deleted]

No. They'd be lucky if I remembered them/the drama.

[janegold]

I assume that many/most people who have deactivated lurk, or have at some point. If the thought of anyone lurking on the board is worrisome, then perhaps one should reconsider posting on a public message board.

[Deleted]

Nov 9, 2015 11:37:39 GMT -5 shamrockshake said:

I just assume there are a shit ton of lurkers and someone probably knows me IRL

Very much this. I have the same picture of my horse as my avatar and in my office. I show people pictures of my cat all the time. If you recognize either of these animals, please just say hi to me sometime.

[jenny1223]

Huh...I feel like this should be assumed on all boards.

[pantsparty]

I would think that person was kind of weird, because this is just one of those things you don't say out loud. LOL. But in reality, there are tons of lurkers on a public message board. I wouldn't want to make the board private because of ONE lurker.

[sallywalker]

I keep waiting to see Stellas in a grocery store. I don't think she would approach me and tell me that she lurks though. Lol. Even if she did, it definitely wouldn't sleeve me out. I assume all people who leave lurk.

[LeggsBenedict]

have they never looked at the count of unregistered users that are on this board ALL THE TIME?

[flex]

I'm just wondering why this lurker approached the poster and told her that? For intimidation? A mind fuck?  ETA: to make amends?

[LeggsBenedict]

I have a grey cat and a brown horse avatar.

AM I SILVER?

[wambam]

I followed this thread this weekend (surprise! people from this board read other boards) and I didn't really get it. I mean, I would feel super awkward about someone knowing me IRL, but I don't *think* I would be as spooked as a lot of them seemed to be.

Also, I've been part of a group that splintered off another group (not related to GBCN) and that group basically fizzled out within a year.

[Elsa]

I'm with pps....I assume everyone who "leaves" either lurks or creates a new screen name and jumps back in. This place is hard to quit.

[LeggsBenedict]

OH GOD, NO. IM DISAPPEARING. IM FADING AWAY

SOMEBODY PLEASE. HELP MEEeeeee....

[flex]

I've seen posters in the past get all indignant about "lurkers who never post! EEEEK!" Frankly, I think it's silly.

[Deleted]

Nov 9, 2015 11:41:33 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Nov 9, 2015 11:39:52 GMT -5 @silver said:

Very much this. I have the same picture of my horse as my avatar and in my office. I show people pictures of my cat all the time. If you recognize either of these animals, please just say hi to me sometime.

Got it. Next time I see a brown horse or a grey cat I will scream "OMG I KNOW YOU FROM THE INTERNET!!!!"

Oh come on. It's the exact same picture. If I saw someone with the same picture of your kids on her desk at work I would probably ask if it was you (and hope it was because otherwise that's really weird).

[cc]

I would feel flattered. lol (and I would have likely forgotten what drama they were involved in)

[laurack]

we are becoming so famous from all this! I saw a thread on mmm and here about it.

if I see anything on ce&p about this I'll know we've truly made it

[mekia]

I actually think we can change our settings so what we post can only be visible to members or administrations.

But I suppose that won't stop lurkers from registering.

I'm not sure how I would feel if someone approached me- I think it would be cool. But because I don't think anyone lives remotely close to me.

[speckledfrog]

I'd be weirded out that someone I didn't know approached me and told me that they knew me/were watching me. I wouldn't go all PRIVATE BOARD!! over it, though. Every so often something like this happens and it reminds me of why rarely post photos.

[meganew]

I always hope someone will recognize me and say hi IRL.

Makes finger eye motion at Eagles

[speckledfrog]

MMMoms had a similar freak out when people wanted to move it from a sub-board to a regular board that was listed on the side. "People will see us!" Um, people are already looking.

[speckledfrog]

Nov 9, 2015 11:50:03 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Nov 9, 2015 11:47:48 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

I'd be weirded out that someone I didn't know approached me and told me that they knew me/were watching me. I wouldn't go all PRIVATE BOARD!! over it, though. Every so often something like this happens and it reminds me of why rarely post photos.

I think if I wasn't a very active poster, it would throw me a little.  But active posters?  Nah.  You can lurk for like two hours and know who Tamb is, or who I am, or who mofongo or KOKO or toledo are.

Fair enough.  Plus toledo has that distinctive "stab here" tattoo on her neck.

[Eagles]

Nov 9, 2015 11:48:25 GMT -5 meganew said:

I always hope someone will recognize me and say hi IRL.

Makes finger eye motion at Eagles

I always look for you at Target, even though you moved. I was in there Sunday and remembered "wait, she doesn't live here anymore."

[Deleted]

Nov 9, 2015 11:47:13 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Nov 9, 2015 11:44:36 GMT -5 @silver said:

Oh come on. It's the exact same picture. If I saw someone with the same picture of your kids on her desk at work I would probably ask if it was you (and hope it was because otherwise that's really weird).

LOL! I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I think you may be under the impression your horse photo is more distinctive than it is. 

Probably fair. I also look at it every day.

My point was that we all put a lot about our lives out there, especially the people who aren't using memes as their avatars and signatures. I would not be at all surprised if some lurker knows every one of us. The part I think is creepy is if someone is walking around with that knowledge and not saying hi.

[scottyderp]

Um, it depends. If I were approached in public by a mean poster I would be a little uncomfortable. Ripping on kids is a little crazy, I know you know that, but I'm just saying I would feel... gassy over it.

[revolution]

Nov 9, 2015 11:52:11 GMT -5 @silver said:

Nov 9, 2015 11:47:13 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

LOL! I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I think you may be under the impression your horse photo is more distinctive than it is. 

Probably fair. I also look at it every day.

My point was that we all put a lot about our lives out there, especially the people who aren't using memes as their avatars and signatures. I would not be at all surprised if some lurker knows every one of us. The part I think is creepy is if someone is walking around with that knowledge and not saying hi.

I recognized a MLer once and didn't say hi.  But the person I recognized has said before they don't want people to say hi or acknowledge them, so I didn't.  I still feel creepy about that.  

[scottyderp]

I need an ML equivalent of this person to really understand.

[textbookcase]

Yeah, I just assume everyone who has ever posted here still lurks.