I had never heard of ATS prior to my first thread here.
I was brought here like a fish on a hook.
No really, I was invited to tell my story as if I was a juicy meal in which others might partake in and also enjoy? And well, I usually do what I'm
told so... here I am. BON APPETIT! lol, but really. When I arrived people nibbled with such class and manners that I became addicted. And I think
there's a therapeutic quality to reading and writing here which has served me well. So in a way, ATS has become the meal for me and now we form an
oroborus of which we can all feed off of one another for an indeterminate amount of time? And that's ok with me. As long as there's no physical
assault in order and no personal boundaries crossed, why not!
Actually one of my friends pointed out because of my military and NSA experience they have had my name since I was 20.... I realized they were
right... so there it is. Now the mustache twirlers know fah-shizel.
Yep, I was a lurker for a long time before I officially joined up - Part of my hesitation to join was that I came from a forum where it was heavy on
the metaphysical side, and ATS seemed so...professional. Even before ATS merged with BTS I was more or less a casual poster there.
In my lurking, I found I was spending more time on here reading than my social media account, so I ended up joining.
I joined the day I found this place. I couldn't believe what a huge site it was with so many topics and so many people from all over the world. So I
moved right in and have been here ever since.
I think everyone wants to admit that they lurked it's the "I'm not a newb" thing. Though, then again most of the viewer base, is just that, lurkers.
I found it through paranormal, esoteric, crypto, conspiracy, etc., searches, coming up quite often. I eventually joined but didn't use contribute
much, except for BTS to learn the ropes so to speak.
I was googling random things and my answers kept leading to this forum, so I ended up bookmarking it and reading it every day. Was overwhelmed by the
amount of knowledge here and how smart a lot of the people here are, and I didn't really feel that I would be able to fit in here. So I lurked for
about 2 years, so not as long as some lurkers claim, just happy to drink in others knowledge.
Then I discovered the off-topic area and thought - I can be friendly! At the same time as lurking the more important stuff.
a reply to: KyoZero
In my case, the starting-point was that my sister-in-law remarked "They say the world is going to end in 2012". I had not heard of that idea before,
so I googled it, and of course found this place.
Then my attention was caught by "What's happening in Yellowstone?", so I kept dropping in for many months mainly to see the latest on that thread.
I had no reason to sign up until I thought of things I could contribute.
(I did attempt an "anonymous" post once. But by that time the facility had been cancelled, even though the button had not yet been removed.)
Lurked for years, following threads like D4rk Knight ( that one really messed with my head ) and other golden oldies like the creepy 10/28/2011
website.
I was too intimidated to sign up and expose myself to whatever / whoever was lurking around the site at the same time !
I must have got desensitised through time and decided to "come out of the shadows "
I think I have earned my tin foil hat, although I believe less than I used to.
I am sure ATS has raised my objectivity.
I thought the only way to get in was to join, so I put the horse before the cart.
It took me, I think, about a week of soul searching before the introduction, as I didn't know what to say and what not to, so I just held my nose and
jumped in and got it over with quickly.
I've been here two months today, and it already feels like forever.