Delurking reflections

[piyr]

I delurked last week and thought I'd share a few thoughts, but before I do does anyone else hate the term "lurking"? It sounds creepy. Anyway, a few days passed and among the many kind welcome messages was one member who commented "feels good doesn't it?" I started thinking about that - how exactly did I feel? I realized that it did feel good but for reasons other that what I expected. I guess I imagined that I would feel either a great sense relief or feelings of shame. Of course nobody should feel shame for posting here but I suspect that shame may contribute to the various reasons that people continue to lurk (there goes that word again). Strangely, my feelings were neither relief or shame. In fact, I felt nothing unusual whatsoever. I went along my business without much thought about my post other than to check if there were any replies, albeit a bit too frequently. So yes, it does feel good. It feels good knowing that finally participating feels as normal to me as having turkey on Thanksgiving. I have no idea how often I'll post. Perhaps very rarely or maybe I'll earn a colored feather. Who knows? Now I understand everyone may have a different experience but I thought I'd share mine so that people who are on the fence can hear from someone who just took the plunge that it was no big deal, at least for me. Did anyone else feel like me? How did you feel after your first post?

 

[TMF Jeff]

I never had that first-post moment as such, but I do remember when I started openly talking about what I like. Not in gory detail, obviously, but in the same general way that you end up finding out that your one friend likes babysitter porn, or is way too into breasts.

It enabled me to feel more normal, not because I had felt especially abnormal as such, but because I was no longer constantly self-editing when the subject of sex came up.

 

[guysmiley]

For me, my first post felt like a relief. I had always been on the outside looking in so finally stepping across the threshold felt good 🙂

 

[robmic]

It was so long ago that I first posted here I really don't remember. That being said, when I post now, it is a feeling of satisfaction when others comment, or disappointment when they don't or are negative. It's kinda like real life. The big difference is here I feel like I'm with "family". People with mostly the same interests. People that understand me and I understand. Of course there will be times when you say WTF? And others may say that when you say something. But, again, that's life. You make the most of it and move on, or learn from it. When it comes down to it, I like it here and look forward to seeing new people coming in and/or "de-lurking" as you put it! 😛 We can feed off of each other with experiences and feelings to make each other better.