It’s way past time for another thread for all the lurkers out there. I think it’s been just over 3 months, I think.
You all may already know this, but when you post your first comment, it goes into moderation, and sometimes it takes a while for one of us to see it and free your comment so it shows up for everyone. Once it’s released from moderation, it goes into the comments with the time-stamp for when you first submitted it, so then most people probably never see it. So it’s not surprising that first comments often don’t get replied to.
So here’s a special open thread where we can keep a particular eye out for first comments that go into moderation. Plus we get to say hello and wave to some of you!
A few of you who poked your heads up on previous lurker threads have turned into commenters, but don’t let that scare the rest of you away!
In any case, it’s lurker appreciation day here on Balloon Juice! Welcome, all.
Totally open thread.
*Also. This seems like a good time to remind everyone that we have a Balloon Juice signup link so that if we ever need to communicate outside of Balloon Juice – insert your worst case scenario here – you will receive the communication.
Does He Think He Can Fly?
Another Scott
Come out come out wherever you are!
Thanks WG!
Best wishes,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: Wherever they are?
I’m going with inside, out of the heat, in the air conditioning.
Unabogie
Do I count? I comment about once every two years. Hi, everyone! Here’s my current status:
Abolish ICE, jail Trump, and deport Stephen Miller.
Badluckgremlin
Still lurking! Trying to maintain a sense of optimism despite the constant barrage of crappiness.
JWR
@Unabogie:
A lurker after my heart!
WaterGirl
@Unabogie: Well, I know your nym, so that’s one count against lurker status, but I’m definitely glad to see you checking in.
WaterGirl
@Badluckgremlin: Tough times, for sure!
Stronger together? :-)
Sallycat
Although I have posted a few times over the years, I always seem to catch the end of the thread and my comment sounds stupid. Then, the election was a hideous event. For months after the election, I could not look at anything political. I returned to Balloon Juice slowly–first just reading headlines. I have recently come back to Balloon Juice to read some articles and comments. I feel a duty to be informed, but I also need to avoid reading so much that I collapse into a sobbing lunatic. It’s very easy for me to feel hopeless and helpless. Balloon Juice has, at times, been a place where I can connect with like-minded people. Thank you for being here.
eclare
@Unabogie:
Come sit by me.
mrmoshpotato
@Unabogie: Yes. Deport Miller back to his place of orgin.
Ariobarzanes
I mostly lurk here, although my partner Athenaze and I have contributed a few sets of pictures to On the Road.
And, speaking of which, if anyone out there read, remembers, and enjoyed our OTR posts, you might like our new podcast!
https://havetogawilltravel.com/
May
Hi everyone,
Sticking my head up to say our rescue Border Collie and Jack Pit both brought north from a Houston area shelter by a VT operation are just about all, my garden too, that is keeping me from despair. Got them a year apart and they are inseparable and adorable. The old Husky even tolerates them. It is another scorcher in southern MA, so we are all droopy like the flowers and shrubs and trees.
WaterGirl
@Ariobarzanes: I also remember you from some of the book club discussions, yes?
I was thinking of you guys recently when I was watching the movie “Find Me Falling”, which is set in Greece, and one of the main characters had a name that was close to (or the same) as your partner Athenaze, and I wondered if that’s how you guys pronounce her nym.
WaterGirl
@May: Glad you have all your pups. My furry guys and the beauty of the flowers and gardens are helping to keep me going, too.
Is VT Vermont? Assuming so, good people from Vermont and take dogs all the way from Texas to Massachusetts. Great reminded of the good people in the world in a time when we are surrounded by such ugliness.
Leinie
<waves hello>
Very very rarely comment but lean on this community when the insanity makes me question my brain function.
I hate this time so much. Living out my golden years under christo-fascist rule was not the promise of my youth.
Scout211
Hi Lurkers! My warmest welcome to you all.
And thank you WaterGirl, for standing by to release any lurkers from the dreaded holding cell. ;-)
WaterGirl
@Leinie: Waving back!
You put that so well.
WaterGirl
@Scout211: So far, not a one to be released.
So either everyone so far has commented at least once, or WordPress is not behaving properly. I’m assuming it’s door #1.
Happy to see the folks who comment infrequently, as well as the lurkers!
AliceBlue
I very rarely comment, but I’m grateful for BJ (even though I sometimes have to take a break from the internet for a few days).
I’m 72 and I sometimes wonder if I’m going to live to see the end of all of this horror.
Ariobarzanes
@WaterGirl: Yup, we’ve been to a couple of the book club sessions—Adam Schiff and Elle Reeve—and both were great. Thanks for organizing them!
We haven’t seen “Find Me Falling”, but we’ll definitely add it to our list. As to Athenaze’s nym: it’s pronounced Athen-AHD-zay (that is, with a long “A” in the next-to-last syllable). It isn’t a name—it’s basically an Ancient Greek adverb meaning “toward Athens”.
kalakal
I’ve been pretty silent for the last few months, partly crazy busy, partly keeping my social media non contentious prior to naturalisation
SteveinPHX
Still cooking in Phoenix. Stunned into silence by the election. I would suggest that Stephen Miller not be deported, but dropped overboard in shark-infested waters.
I visit here every day. Especially Monday mornings to catch Albitrossity’s latest post!
Thank you Watergirl! You are tireless!
H.E.Wolf
Lots of love to all the lurkers and semi-lurkers!
WaterGirl
@Ariobarzanes: In the show, it’s her name. but they say it also has another meaning (which I’ve already forgotten!) which is not the one you mentioned.
In the movie, the protagonist jokingly pronounces her name as “Euthanasia”, and she corrects him. So I think your nym is the name of the female doctor in the movie.
Rotten Tomatoes panned the movie, and it’s certainly not high art, but I liked it! I also really liked the two songs in the movie, which helped. You’ll have to let me know what you think of the movie.
WaterGirl
@kalakal: I have missed you!
Josie
@Leinie: Exactly how I’m feeling.
Welcome to all the lurkers and semi-lurkers. Please comment more.
May
@WaterGirl: very good people! They are called Potter’s Angels Rescue. I was still up there then. As are the ones who select them and send them up. Also the fosters when they first arrive. Recommend them to anyone in Vermont or NH. I guess I need to get the newest into the next calendar. Nothing like dogs and cats to bring BJers together.
sab
@kalakal: I hope they don’t have a spelling test. ///
Gin & Tonic
Still waiting for commenters appreciation day.
Baud
@Gin & Tonic:
Still waiting for commenters to appreciate.
Gin & Tonic
@Baud: I’ll try to do better.
kalakal
@sab: aaarrrghhh! What a give away!
Baud
@Gin & Tonic:
I won’t. Too much work.
Almost80
@AliceBlue: I know what you mean. When I was your age, Trump was elected for the first time and as a long time cigarette smoker and lover of the fat on some fine bbq brisket, I figured he was going to be my last president and hated it. And now….he’s BACK wreaking havoc. And I’m still here and wanting to stick around in spite of it.
mayim
I’ve emerged from lurkdom. My job got DOGEd [GoFundMe for immediate crises] ~ and it turns out I’m not quite as much of an introvert as I thought. I was fine during Covid lockdown being home with only the cats for days on end ~ but I’m finding that I miss the interactions I had at work.
So here I am. Once you jump in, it’s a fun place, so i hope some others join me in ex-lurker mode/
NotMax
I miss Tbone and her unfettered exuberance.
p.a
Hello
probationaryjackalslurkers!Helen
I mostly lurk, but have commented a few times. I read Ballon Juice and most of the comments every day. And I find that others express my opinion and do it better. I’m heartsick about what’s happening, especially arresting immigrants. I do hope that ‘We the People’, correct the government. And I appreciate all the hard work of the contributors. Thanks!
Jharp
I’ve been posting here for 10 years and my comments still go into moderation.
As matter of fact my pepper garden was the very first photo posted in the garden posts.
And I tried to get through moderation the last time this was tried and it didn’t work.
Oh well. Wish me luck.
funlady75
I am now 82, but signed on at 75….Love Medium Cool & comment sometimes….also I thank Adam when I read his reports on Ukraine every nite….I love the posts of Baud, Rikyrah, Satby, Scott, Goku, Not Max. etc. amd all Front Pagers, Especially JC. wonderful site to read.
WaterGirl
@Jharp: I just got back from a quick errand, but this wasn’t in moderation when I got back. Did this one go into moderation and someone else freed it?
Jharp
@WaterGirl: I haven’t a clue. But thanks for caring.
Dyspeptic
Yes, I am a long time lurker. I am delurking to say that there is good work being done here. Balloon Juice has saved me from madness many a times. I would however, like to thank the Front Pagers for their tireless work here, keeping us informed, and to John Cole for having this blog. You all should be proud of the things you do here. Even the Jackals…..with or without pants :)
NeutronFlux
I’ve been here since Andrew Sullivan recommended this place after Bill Frist diagnosed Terry Schaivo in that whole cluster fuck. Copy and paste a lot of stuff to my FB group.
WaterGirl
@Dyspeptic: Welcome to commenting!
Love your nym.
As I like to tell all our lurkers, lurk less, comment more! You guys make the place more interesting.
WaterGirl
@NeutronFlux: Surely all this madness will be the Terry Schaivo of 2025. Right?
CatHairEverywhere
Hi All,
I’ve been a lurker since 2007ish. I’ve commented a few times over the years, but I’m a west coaster & often don’t see the posts until the tail end of the discussion. Balloon Juice has the best commentariat anywhere.
CatHairEverywhere
@NeutronFlux: that might be how I found this site as well. I was trying to remember and I dis regularly read Andrew Sullivan at one point
NeutronFlux
@WaterGirl: Beats me. Every day I wake up turn, on the computer and scroll, and think we are so fucked. I hate hate hate to have that negative vibe. This place helps. Thanks everybody.
Geminid
@NotMax: Yeah, I miss T-Bone too. My understanding is that she self-exiled. Maybe Gloria Drygarden will pass the word to T-Bone that some people here miss her.
Mr. Bemused Senior
@Geminid: my first interaction with TBone was a bit rough. Later we became friends. I miss her too.
Jharp
Test
WTFGhost
@Unabogie: Hey, there, good to see you
@Badluckgremlin: Curse our enemies, not our friends, with that bad luck, friend.
Sallycat: I hear you,friend.
@Ariobarzanes: I watch most of the OTR posts, but I don’t comment much – I can’t think of anything to say but “oooh, pretty!”
@May: May your nephew, Spider-Man, come to rescue us all. Or, may I continue to confuse your name for a long time. I’m not sure which!
WTFGhost
@WaterGirl: Welcome to commenting @watergirl!!!
@Leinie: OMG do I appreciate knowing we help some folks keep sane. During the Iraq war, I really felt lonely, like, only the sane people could agree.
@AliceBlue: I sincerely hope you do, within the next 8 years, and then you can choose how to spend your 80s.
@kalakal: Sounds like you played it best.
@SteveinPHX: Glad to see you here.
WTFGhost
@Almost80: Here’s hoping you see the end of quiet hatred in America
@mayim: Glad to have you here!
@Helen: Good to see you, too, Helen!
@Jharp: I’m sorry, could you repost your comment? It seems to be lost in modera… sorry. Welcome!
@funlady75: Glad to see you.
@Dyspeptic: Good to see you! Here’s hoping you stick around!
WTFGhost
@NeutronFlux: I’m glad you’re seeing hope. Everyone needs to, these days.
WaterGirl
@SteveinPHX: You are very kind to say so!
Rich Gardner
As someone mentioned cooling, I got a Utilitech 14 inch tower fan two years ago. If you wanted to cool a whole room with a lot of people, I’d recommend a number of them, but for just me, it works great. My utilities bill is less than $100, so it’s easy on the wallet, too!
We have a nearby town that’s featured concerts during the summer, Upper Merion. Before, they used to make the concert free and passed the hat. Now they’re charging $50-$70 at the gate or for purchase online. Ah well, artists gotta make money! I’ve signed up for a concert in late July.
VenusFT
Long time Lurker..serious Introvert. May have come out before but mostly just read and agree.
WaterGirl
@Rich Gardner: Is the fan super quiet?
WaterGirl
@VenusFT: Welome to commenting!
Bedraggled and Bedazzled
Rarely talk here, always reading though, always grateful
funlady75
thanks classy ghost for responding:
stinger
Welcome, lurkers! Comment more! I’m trying to. Nobody here bites — and if they do, bite ’em back and give ’em rabies!
VenusFT
@WaterGirl: Thank you. I’ll try to be more active.
CatHairEverywhere
Did my other comment get lost in moderation, or did I mess up the posting part? Either way, hello from a longtime lurker & thanks for the interesting, well-informed conversation.
Maccheerful
I think I qualify because other than a couple of comments posted last week, I haven’t commented for perhaps five years, and perhaps only a couple of time then. But I do read daily, particularly Silverman, a hero for chronicling the grimness of Ukraine and Georgia without stint.
I am thinking of changing and being here more often because I joined a local group, Ukraine Defense Support, a few weeks ago, and I want them to known by everyone in the Puget Sound Area.
https://ukrainedefensesupport.org/
Because I know that getting more microsutures, or portable power generators to Ukraine may not make a difference in itself. But in a world where the power of nonbillionaires seem every much lesser, I want to do what I can.
And this is a good group of people generally. It often provides a place of needed respite.
Too-much-to-read-to-write
Comment? Oh, ok… I don’t remember when I got here but sometime back in Bush II. I used to lurk at Daily Kos from the Stolen Election to… I think chasing the trail of Karl Rove’s secret boyfriend was the last big fun time over there…
One day there was a call to come over here because it was much better “and funnier” so I came to check and never looked back.
But one thing I’ve been thinking about for awhile (I’m 71 yrs white female SF area native) is that aside from the politics here – and I guess I could eat that up all day, as pessimistic as I tend to be – I’ve really appreciated reading people yack about what life is like as they get older. I like old people and I don’t mind being one, and it’s a nice perspective.
Fondly Yours in Lurkerdom
One More Red Nightmare
Thanks for the reminder. I’m now lurking from the Left Coast!
May
@Gin & Tonic: confusion, but what evs
Polly Syllabic
I finally un-lurked here. I’ve been watching everyday since I was worried that John wouldn’t adopt LILLY. I still stop by Kos first everyday. Old habit, sorry, but you’re always next on my read, before Heather Cox Richards. Thank you all for being here for me.
Polly Syllabic
I’ve been a daily lurker here since I was worried if John would adopt Lilly. Dkos is always my first of the day news, sorry. But, B Juice is next, followed by Heather Cox Richards. Thank you all for giving me hope.
MichiganFTW! (formerly Temp Decloaked Lurker)
Hi. Just wanted to switch to a better nym. Plan to drop the clarification text next call for lurkers.
Martina en Espana
Long time lurker, ex-Floridian and immigrant for 3 years in Spain. My first protest was led by Hanoi Jane. I wrote my State Rep everyday for 4 years and never got an answer. Worked in Emergency Services for 30 years and have seen the best and the worst humanity has to offer. “B the Juice” is about the only political blog I can stomach now and Sarah Krenzior’s writing.
Thanks for all the effort it takes to post daily here.
WaterGirl
@Bedraggled and Bedazzled: Love your nym!
WaterGirl
@CatHairEverywhere:
I didn’t see another comment from you in moderation. I just checked SPAM, and your earlier comments were there. There were a couple of other commenters in there, too, for no apparent reason.
I freed you all. :-)
Anyway, welcome to commenting! Thanks for persisting.
WaterGirl
@Too-much-to-read-to-write: @Maccheerful:
So nice to see these comments here when I checked just now.
Welcome!
WaterGirl
@Martina en Espana: So nice to see you here!
WaterGirl
@MichiganFTW! (formerly Temp Decloaked Lurker): Now that I’ve approved this one with the new nym, your next comment should show up right away.
Then, the first comment after you remove the old nym will have to be manually approved, and then you will be all set!