Most conventional boards with fixed account identities, shunning of sockpuppetry etc. that are based on phpBB or similar shite are giving you the option to "hide" your online status, so that it doesn't appear anywhere on the forum.

I usually hide. I do this because I don't want people to know when I am online, mostly in a lame attempt to disguise how much time I spend browsing the forum but also because I want to be able to relax, have some time-off lurking and not be hit up by people through privat messages the minute they see me going online.

How do you feel about "hiding"? Do you do it? What's your rationale? Let's start a "hidden users" club!