(And I agree with Tina that pretty much everyone gets the talking-into-thin-air feeling sometimes.)

Yep. I know I have days where I'm convinced that everyone is backing away and avoiding eye contact with me when I post. I get over it.

Still, a couple of times after delurking, I found myself thinking people would just as soon I left by the nearest exit. Not guacamole, exactly, but a definite chill when I tried to join in the conversation. Polite, but who the fuck are you?

This is exactly right (except for people wishing you would leave), and I notice the chill with new people, too. It's hurtful, but sort of unavoidable. It's a byproduct of a culture with a lot of people who know each other, instead of a board where if you have the same interest, you're an instant citizen. I don't think it's really much different from joining any sort of clique. The open nature of this board can be deceiving. But there are people who probably feel that it's our responsibility to be as welcoming as possible.

Shawn and ?? posted this upthread and it pretty much covers my feelings on the topic, LJ.

Dang, I think this is the most I have posted in a long time. I better get my butt back into lurkville.

FWIW, I generally like the quarterly episodes of "how I feel about this board"

Well, and I think "who we are" and "who are we" are looming large in people's minds with the last few Angel's coming down the pike and Wonderfulls getting lousy ratings, consciously or not. I know it's been on my mind, but I haven't had any major breakthrough on how I feel about the future of the buffistas.

It's just about impossible not to be paranoid about that, but I think 99.999999999...% of the time, that's just quirky random timing.

It's not paranoid if they really are out to get you...

t looks around suspiciously

It's just about impossible not to be paranoid about that, but I think 99.999999999...% of the time, that's just quirky random timing.

Oh, I'm sure it's just random, Sean.

whispers behind hand to Teppy, "Threadkiller in da house!"

And there are thread subcultures. I often feel thin-air-ish in the Movie and Music threads. No big whoop -- I don't post much in either of those threads, know my taste and experience are different from the "norm" of the thread, etc. And god forbid you only have five minutes in Natter -- that's a sure ride to the thin air feeling -- you have something to say, it's not what the current conversation is about, and then you have to leave before you get a chance to catch the topic. It's no one's fault, it just is -- really the only way to "fit in" is to spend a lot of time interacting, not just posting.

Also, agreeing with what everyone is saying about talking-to-thin-air. I'm always worried that I've ended up on people's personal twit filters, but I get over it.

edited to add a wandering "on".

I know you're talking about me in email now, damn the lot of you.

Don't worry Sean, it's just the lurkers.

I know you're talking about me in email now, damn the lot of you.

checks email

You're good with the Lurkers, Shawn!