Calling all lurkers! This is YOUR week: prizes to be won!

[RebeccaMumsnet]

AHOY! LONGTIME LURKERS!

We know you’re out there and we long to welcome you into the light. If you’ve been reading the boards for a while, but haven’t quite plucked up the courage to jump into the fray - or simply haven’t been able to settle on a username from your longlist - then this is YOUR week.

We’ve created a new topic - Newbies’ corner, especially for you. We’ve updated our ‘getting started’ guidelines in your honour (and even put them into video form, to make things easier still). We’ve come up with a guide to Mumsnet’s acronyms, so you’ll be spared the embarrassment of having to ask what a BFP is, or what you’d be doing if you LTB. We’ve summarised the key things you need to know about Mumsnet in a handy infographic (click here to discover exactly how many teabags we get through a week in MNHQ), and gathered the most legendary threads in the site’s history in one place, so you can do your background reading.

We've got a clutch of offers available exclusively to de-lurked MNers - and as if all that isn’t enough, we’re also offering spot prizes to those of you who make their your first post this week. Yes, really! So if you want to be in the running for

-two pairs of Kickers and £100 vouchers from <a class="break-all" href="http://track.webgains.com/click.html?wgcampaignid=185523&wgprogramid=10431&clickref=competitionthread&wgtarget=www.tower-london.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tower London

• a midweek family break for four at Crieff Hydro
• a Benefit beauty hamper worth £200
• a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Bloom and Wild
• tickets to the Ideal Home show
• Audible are giving all new members five free books

among many other prizes, get posting now.

And! We'll be awarding all stalwarts who extend the hand of friendship to newbies with your very own halo emoji, to say thanks

So come on folks, don't be shy: venture on below and tell us what you think of MN, and we'll pop your name into the lurkers' hat to win some fab goodies. Happy posting! MNHQ

Waves hello!

Another lurker here. Have posted a couple of times, nothing significant.

Came across mumsnet after a hideous birth experience and registered to PM someone who'd described an experience very similar to my own. The lovely messages from this girl helped me during a dark time and gave me lots of hope.

Needless to say, I'm well on the road to recovery, but have become addicted to mumsnet over the last while. I mostly lurk on the sleep forums at 4am when my baba is feeding for the umpteenth time that night :)

Well, it's only taken me YEARS to finally post, very long time lurker delurking! I'm always scared I might add a x at the end of my post absentmindedly... (no, I'm not a member of the other site, honest!) So instead I'll offer everyone a

I've lurked for ages .... I love it
I even whipped out my phone when buying a mascara last week to see what was recommended by Mumsnetters

Hello!

Long time lurker here too, came here to find some perspective on a (tosser) (now ex) husband and never really left. :D

[Pops head round door...] Started lurking whilst ttc in Jan 15, now awake (lurking) feeding a hungry 3 week old!

Hello all! Only been signed up for about a week but had a lovely time pottering about and looking at everything that's on here, all signs so far point to mumsnet being great! Having a chilling day with my very snotty, grumpy 14month baby who has a horrible cold, have a lovely day everyone!

Hello I lurk as well I post very rarely more of a reader but I'm going to have more time next week as having surgery and going to be on two weeks forced bed rest and then another six weeks sofa rest

I'm a bit wary of doing it wrong but other folk have been kind and encouraging so I posted more! Happily I see I'm in the company of strong intelligent women. So inspiring.

Welcome lovelies

Much better than the other site!

I love MN, not sure what I'd do without it during the lonely night feeds but have never quite plucked up the courage to post. This is actually rather nice isn't it?!

lucyladybird

First well done for de Lurking!

I don't see any replies to you so il try to help

It not wrong to wonder but don't let the thought of a possible troll/not real poster stop you joining in on the site.

The way to deal with somone you really get the hairy handed tingles from is to report to mnhq,

They will look into it and deal with it.

I will say though troll hunting (accusing a poster of being not real or lying) is really frowned on so try not to do that.

Hope to see lots of posts from you now

I've posted on book thread's and insight product tests etc quite a few times and although I spend much time reading the talk threads I'm rarely brave enough to join anyone's conversation. I love the fact there are such clever, witty wise women out there sharing their thoughts with one another - terrified that I may get it wrong myself though if I joined in. I shall endeavour to learn all those acronyms and take a leap of faith in to stopping lurking like some sort of peeping Tom and becoming a talker instead!

suzCQ how can you get it "wrong"

Every human is entitled to their opinion and thoughts and as long as you are respectful to others you couldn't possibly get it wrong!

Join in and have fun.

I am definitely a lurker and have been reading mumsnet threads for ages, although only became a mum myself a few months ago....

I am one of those mums who has avoided groups as I am scared of other mothers, so I am hoping joining mumsnet will ease me in gently and I may start actually socialising in real life!!!

Hello from Bedfordshire.

Occasionally I've visited this site due to the range of topics but mainly because of the positive and polite tone of exchanges.
I've just had a need to enquire about medical costs for my Dog and thought
it worth actually joining to say "thank you".

Bernard

I suppose I'm guilty of lurking, but I recently dived into the fray and did the review of Aunt Bessie's frozen roasties!! I'm not a newbie to forums, but I can spend hours reading and chuckling.
I especially like the usernames and the AIBU threads!! I'm a new Granny and Mum to a new Mum who's received some great advice on here, having just given birth to a lovely baby boy, after a very high-risk pregnancy, complete with SPD and all the ramifications that causes... So thank you for providing a platform for sensible advice and support to Mums of all ages - and count me in the draws, pretty please!

Hello, this is my first post! I have been signed up for some months now and really enjoy the community that is Mumsnet, especially the supportiveness and sense of humour. I hope to join in rather than lurking on the sidelines!

Greetings from the US...found this site when I Googled about sectioning an elderly parent which is the last thing I want to do but Mom's behavior is quite taxing my nerves...My name's David and I'm from Massachusetts, USA. 47 years old single male so being unmarried and no children and also the (youngest) of five it falls on me to care for my 86 year old Mum...Hope to read from others in my situation and how they manage...Cheers!!!

Greetings from another long time lurker....I have made a few posts but mainly feel that what I might say has already been well said by others. Mumsnet has been full of invaluable parenting support and advice and I did get some very strange looks from dh when I was laughing away at the 'you need to get your dog microwaved' thread last week!

Hello
I've done a couple of posts but I'm new and mainly lurk to pass away time during night feeds. X

Hello!

Following my summer wedding I've switched from lurking wedding forums to family forums as the arbitrary 'we will have kids in a few years' creeps ever closer to reality!

Welcome all of you lovely newbies.

It really is great that you've taken the plunge and posted for the first time.

Please do ask any questions and we will try and answer the for you or point you in the right direction.

Generally folks steer away from using their RL (real life) names on Mumsnet, just FYI and please don't be afraid to post. Try out _Chat if you're feeling a little more ready to post or stick with us for a while until you find your feet.

Im a lurker, I find it interesting to read what others write, but tend to hold back through fear of being 'flamed' online for my opinion as I couldnt handle the stress of an online battle with someone who does not agree with me - hence the lurking (in case you wanted to know my reasons for lurking) ALSO I do not know what all the abbreviations mean on so many posts eg: AIBU, SIL, DH, can we please have a translation guide then I may know what people are on about?