Thanks for your post, Lauren. I agree that the word "lurking" is a bit evil sounding. It would be interesting to think about why that term evolved, as well as think up some more appropriate substitutes.... Everyone's thoughts are welcome here in this forum, whether they involve big words or not. Some of the best insights I've heard about cyberspace have come from people who weren't researchers or academics. As Zen Master Suzuki once said, sometimes the "beginner's mind" sees things that the expert fails to notice because his/her theories get in the way.