The activity of one of the "silent majority" in a electronic forum such as Usenet posting occasionally or not at all but reading the group' s postings regularly. This term is not pejorative and indeed is casually used reflexively: "Oh, I' m just lurking". Often used in "the lurkers", the hypothetical audience for the group' s flamage-emitting regulars. Lurking and reading the FAQ are recommended netiquette for beginners who need to learn the history and practises of the group before posting. (1997-06-14)
