Hanging out with My Group-ees

 I am involved with a number of online groups, compared with my actual life where I am pretty much solo.  This is partially due to my own social awkwardness.  I am just not that used to being around people any more.  Also, I don't know that many people, at least those that I think share these interests with me.  They are somewhat niche interests.  This past weekend, I was searching for a few more groups, not to join necessarily, but just to see if a I could look in on a get information.  Many of the groups were private, so I wouldn't be able to see what the online group was about, unless I tried to join.  I wasn't up for that at the time, so I didn't try to join those groups.  I looked into a few others where I discovered some I at least want to follow a bit before I decide to join.  There was also a few topics in another group that really intrigued me.  By the way, the majority of the groups I am talking about are game related.  Since I don't have a physical group to play with, at least I can converse with like-minded people and get tips and information.  Well, many times when I comment, I feel like I am faking it.  Sure, I talk a great deal, but I frequently fear that I don't have an idea what I am doing.  I have yet to post anything directly, just Like or comment.  Just last night, I was actually involved with a thread that really made me think about the game, about the ideas behind the game and its related partner game lines.  I almost posted a link to this blog, one of my older posts that has pertinent ideas to the thread.  I didn't, of course.  I was afraid that I would be breaking the group's rules, or that it was too off-topic, or that it wouldn't be accepted in the way I intended.  And so on.  I was out of touch with so much of the world for so long that there are things that are commonplace that I have little idea about what they are.  What if my favorite interests are no longer available in the ways I remember them?  I know that is slightly an exaggeration, but not by much. I just don't have the background most people have.  That is why I usually just lurk behind-the-scenes on so many public groups.  I get the information and the "conversation" I crave, I am just unable to participate unless I join.  There are times that I just want to comment on some opinion or correct a grievous mistake, but can't until I officially join. I wish I could do more in many of these groups, but I am just not social enough.  I just don't know enough to feel like an equal.