One of the "silent majority" in a electronic forum such as Usenet; one who posts occasionally or not at all but is known to read 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 is encouraged for beginners who need to get up to speed on the history and practises of the group.