I have been wondering what prompted many of the users of this site to register in the first place so here goes.
I joined UM because I wanted to talk to like minded people and discuss topics of interest etc.

I think many of the topics in this site could not be discussed with freedom among our friends or Family members.
Especially since some are controversial. I have found my experience here uplifting and informative.

Especially from not so like minded people and their Ideas and views on subjects.

Which topics are you referring to ??

I joined because I had an interest in UFO's and generally unexplained phenomena......Now though, my interest in all things God and Bible, are being explored........

I joined back in 2004, posted about four postings and then logged off. So many things were happening in my life at the time that I forgot I had even registered

Three years later I came on UM for another reason, I think it was to view some news item, I accidentally found the message boards and was stuck at the computer for about three hours, just reading. I decided to register and quite by chance I stuck "Lotus Flower" in as my new screenname only to be informed that it already existed (to me, I hasten to add, but I had forgotton ).

"Okay" I thought and stuck in some other name, now to register you have to put in your email address don't you, which I did only then to be informed that a UM account was already registered to that email address!

"Huh??" I clicked on "forgot my password" and the UM email came through to my email address informing me that Lotus Flower was MY name and gave me info on the password business.

Since then, I haven't been off the site

After all that rambling, I forgot to add I enjoy paranormal Threads and some of the Religious ones (even though I am not religious, I just enjoy reading them). How Bizarre is one of my favourite sections too, some of the stories crack me up

I found UM by accident. I had lost all of my favorites on my pc and couldn't remember the name of this website I used to visit. It's called anomalies-unlimited. So, I typed in something like "mysteries of the unexplained" or something like that in my search bar and it brought up UM. So, I checked it out. At first, all I did was view the photos and read all the articles. If you look back on all my posts, they are only responses to the front page stuff. I never read the forums or posted anything in them. To be honest, I had NEVER been in any forum until UM. Now, it's just the opposite. I stay mainly in the forums now. I guess that's why it took so long to reach my 1,000 post. I still don't know all the lingo as far as bumping, trolling and flamebaiting and such.

I joined because I was searching for something. I think I have found what I was looking for.


Plus, me being here is a bit of a treat for the ladies!

Well...I came across this site following up a link on another forum site about Uri Geller.

I joined and soon got 'hooked'.

To have the chance to talk with people all over the world about.....all the stuff that we talk about...

is brilliant.

I've learnt a lot....and it's great to be able to read about. and sometimes join in with...the myriad of topics

....from the comfort of my own living room.

I'm amazed, on a daily basis.....how the internet can bring people together....intellectually and

emotionally.

I registered because it was a breath of fresh air finding so many people who queried the real order of things, and the possible existence of life other than that which we know of.

I'm here because the alien ghost overlords force me to be.

I feel exactly the same. I was beginning to think I was alone on the Planet with a whole different species that I just happened to be related to somehow!!! People who never question the order of things and refuse to consider the possibility of other intelligent life forms - be it fairies, demons or life on other planets.

I was searching for sites with info on astral projection. Since I have started to induce OBE's again after a lot of time not trying to have an OBE. I like the title of UM and the wide variety of topics subjects etc.

I found more than I was looking for. UFO's have fascinated me as well. Especially the crop circles. Just a shame all the hoaxes people have pulled. But it is still unexplained. I think a lot of it is caused by secret aircraft of the US . The rest is just ????

I had a friend who turned me onto um...i found it interesting and addictive...enjoy!~

Could not have said it better. Nice to chat to out of the box thinkers who question and think about our reality. (And crack a joke to when the headache of all the thinking gets to much)

I came here by accident.

I was looking at the Coast to Coast website one night, and clicked on a link to read one of the "hot stories". It took me to UM. I read the stories and forums for about 3 months before deciding I might as well join. I love the different ideas and opinions that I find here.

That was no accident.....

*sniggers*

I found UM while randomly searching for paranormal things. My forum at the time was slowly going downhill and I found myself becoming addicted to reading everything here, I joined a year later.

You waited a whole year??

I bet you have read every Thread haven't you

I used to be shy.

I used to go to the sister site, (I have no idea why), and finally decided to come over to UM...I didn't register right away, it looked like a great place but a little mind boggeling....Then I decided to register, but kept doing it wrong, until finally after about 2 weeks I finally arrived....I love it here...Really just started because I loved reading the different threads, athough it took me quite some time to post...and meeting the great members was a big plus for me...

I used to go on grahamhancock.com until it got pedantic and boring. I saw the links from grahamhancock.com, one of which was UM and went from there.

I joined because we at the Illuminati like to keep an eye on what's going on.

Like Mema, I also found UM through Coast To Coast AM. I joined the UM forum board because:
1. The website is unmatched compared to most websites of equatable quantity.
2. The website is well-managed and the forum board is not overly-managed.
3. The website offers little or no propaganda compared to others.
4. The forum board is more diversified than most others.
5. I want to find out what out-of-body experiences are and why we have them.
6. I was completely fed up with two other forum boards and sought sanctuary.

I agree. I spend more time reading than posting...but I really enjoy the variety of subjects and people here. I appreciate the fact that Um is well moderated and done so in such a professional manner. One of the best run forums I've been involved in thus far.

I found this site while doing research on OBE's. I had self-induced a few via audio driving, and so I found several UM threads during a Google search on the subject of OBE's. I spent a good bit of time in the 2 Spiritual/Skeptic, Religious Beliefs forums for the first couple of months. Why I put myself through that torture, I know not why!!

I love it here, and I especially love the wonderful friends I have met.

Shyness brutally gets knocked out of you on here


ROFLMAO!

Ain't that the truth!!!

I joined to share my views on astronomy, learn from other members in this field, and teach other members wich didn't know about it. I also wanted to share my opinion with the others on the UFO phenomena although I'm a skeptic on that field.... All in general, I joined for the science boards.

I get banned a lot?

For me i had only started useing the computer and Um was one of the first sites i looked up. I intended just to read the stories at first, then i got into reading the different threads and enjoyed seeing all the different points of views as well as the fun people seemed to be having, so i jumped in and joined! Since then i,ve checked out other forums and have realised that i,ve been spoiled here at UM! No other forum that i,ve seen so far offers as much in the variety of topics available, it,s well run and the people here are really a great bunch! I,ve learned a lot and made some great friends! And even though there are times when people might not always agree with eachother, they try to respect and support one another! And because i,m house bound most of the time due to health problems, i find this a great place to meet and socialise as well as exchange thoughts and ideas! And i,ve had so many occasions to really laugh out loud, and that really is the best medicine! I,m so glad i found this site and become apart of this great big crazy fun family, i really appreciate and value the people and friends i,ve found here and all the support and encouragement i,ve recieved! Thanks UM and all of you!

Was sitting in my office and was bored and went through a list of recommended sites...

Have you noticed how many new people are registering too! I just looked, so far 55572 members! It's probably changed again now and I have only just looked.

This is definitely a great Site!

I came across this website while looking for local mysteries in my state and found it this site to be a lot more comprehensive and cater to all the mysteries of the world.I like the way this site is layed out and provides open discussion on various topics.

Yes...it's hard to 'meet' and interact with such a diverse bunch of people in the flesh.
I have a few friends...but only one of them is at the 'same place' as me regarding 'far out'
ideas....so it's liberating to connect with 'like minds' here.

It's also an experience to come into contact with people who hold very different views to me.

The verbal brutality of some sceptics was a shock....but I'm used to that now. My very
first post was leaped upon by a couple of serial, excessively blunt sceptics....so I started off in the deep
end...

I was looking up paranormal forums & I discovered this site. I saw that this is an interesting site(especially The World of the Bizzare subforum) & since I love paranormal phenomena, I joined.

I fell upon this site when I was looking into things of a paranormal nature.

Got reading the threads on loads of other sections and saw one post I just had to reply to (can't remember which) and had to register, I now visit this forum daily!!!

There's always something really thought provoking on here and it just keeps me interested. I love reading debates and usually start to write a reply but normally notice someone has already said what I want to say!!

Boy, is that funny, the exact same with me! I disn't meant to join a forum, just to find info....and look where that got me! LMAO!

The same thing happened to me. Now UM is fortunate enough to be able to read my wisdom.

I saw UM as a Google Gadget for my iGoogle page and added it. I never clicked on that gadget until I saw the Springheeled Jack article one time. I had no idea what Springheeled Jack was and NEEDED to find out. Then I saw Chupa's, Bigfoots, Ghosts... wow this is my kind of site I thought.

Once I was on the UM site I found myself involved for HOURS... espcially reading the Devil House topic. I signed up and since then have met some very nice people on UM.

When I first joined, I couldn't get enough of UM either.....I was neglecting the kids, the dishes were piling up in the sink and there were never any clean undies around......

It can be very addictive especially when there is so much info on here.......Kudos to Saruman and his team for doing a wonderful job maintaining UM and it's still the best-looking site of it's kind......*wolf whistles*

A collective hurrah for UM !

I was just floating around the net looking for ghost stories/photos/hauntings etc and came across this site. I think I probably read the threads for ages before posting which was very enjoyable in its own way as I love stories.

First I just stuck to the ghost thread but now I am enjoying other parts like the believers vs skeptics, it gets the blood pumping

Was always interested in this kinda of stuff, but I usually stayed away from sites like this since they are usually full of werdio nut-jobs..

But after lurking for a bit I decided the majority of you are normal enough..so I descended down and started posting.

For about a year or so, I used to come here everyday just to read the news articles on the front page. I've always had an interest in all things unexplained. One day, I decided to take a look at the video and pic library, at which point I found out I needed to become a member to gain full access. So I joined UM to check out all the vids.

I didnt go into the forums for quite a while. But I kept seeing this thread showing up on the forum menu on the homepage entitled "when will america wake up?". I didnt pay it much attention until one day out of curiosity I decided to take a looksy. I came an ace from being banned at first because I wasnt used to all the hate and anti-americanism. I got past it and have been hooked ever since. I have met some awesome and informative people and learned a tremendous amount about the world in which I live.

I am just a poor working class individual whom will never have the opportunity to travel to or visit another country. So this is the next best thing!!

I saw something that I could not explain and decided to Google 'unexplained' and found the UM that way. At first i'd just read the articles on the front page and I didn't know I was allowed to browse the 'Forum' because I thought you had to be a member or pay a fee to review it. I clicked everything else and so I decided to click 'forum.'

For a couple of months I would just read and wondered what fee would it cost to join. ITS FREE! I jumped right in head first.


BTW Never assume UFO's are aliens ships but 'Unidentified'

Too right it is...and a lot less hassle...not to mention CHEAPER.

Another thing I love about this forum....is that everyones equal...although some individuals try
and pull the..... I'm more knowledgeable than some/most.... trip.....

i actually found this site while searching for the banned books of the bible. i wanted to read a little bit about them. a bunch of sites popped up and i happened to click on this site on a forum about the banned books. i looked through the site and liked all the subjects that were here to discuss. but i basicly joined to defend my belief in god since i noticed that alot of the religious were ganged up on and mocked by the skeptics here so i thought i would come help defend my home cats.

for one reason - back in 1998 I 'saw' something - and as time went on I looked once in a while for a site that didn't seem like it was full of people who needed professional help - until I ran across this site. While not perfect in the sence that I was only looking for serious discussion it is better than the ones I've read.

I guess I want answers and am angry in a sense we aren't getting them ( when other countries are at the very least getting acknowledgement on the subject).

I joined to make extra money and everybody knows that chicks dig moderators...

I'm here because I was placed in the Witness Protection Program, and THIS is where they put me...........

I found this site by typing in the keywords ''unexplained mysteries''.....it brought me to this place and I haven't left - totally addicting!

After reading posts for a couple weeks I thought "Man I gotta to be part of this group"
I like the different views, different styles of humour and the different ways people approach the forums
(some look for friends some look for fights every one is looking for answers)

'cause I like reading ghost stories (or any scary story really). Especially allegedly true stories. So I hung out at the true sightings forum at first.