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)