diff --git a/gittip/models/participant.py b/gittip/models/participant.py
index e3a9dc5586..ba203809a6 100644
--- a/gittip/models/participant.py
+++ b/gittip/models/participant.py
@@ -236,6 +236,13 @@ def get_og_title(self):
             out += " is"
         return out + " on Gittip"
 
+    def get_age_in_seconds(self):
+        out = -1
+        if self.claimed_time is not None:
+            now = datetime.datetime.now(self.claimed_time.tzinfo)
+            out = (now - self.claimed_time).total_seconds()
+        return out
+
 
     # TODO: Move these queries into this class.
 
diff --git a/templates/participant.html b/templates/participant.html
index 4a1bae3e07..922b4dc2e7 100644
--- a/templates/participant.html
+++ b/templates/participant.html
@@ -30,9 +30,14 @@ <h2 class="pad-sign">{{ participant.id }} receives</h2>
                 {% end %}
             </div>
         {% else %}
+            {% set age = participant.get_age_in_seconds() %}
             <h2>{{ participant.id }}
                 {% if g > 0 %}
                 gives anonymously
+                {% elif age < 60 %}
+                just joined Gittip! :D
+                {% elif age < (60 * 60 * 24 * 7) %}
+                joined recently
                 {% else %}
                 is lurking
                 {% end %}
diff --git a/tests/test_participant_model.py b/tests/test_participant_model.py
index dde4046264..2eeb9e6fd5 100644
--- a/tests/test_participant_model.py
+++ b/tests/test_participant_model.py
@@ -308,6 +308,19 @@ def test_gnob_looks_at_latest_tip_only(self):
         assert actual == 0, actual
 
 
+    # get_age_in_seconds - gais
+
+    def test_gais_gets_age_in_seconds(self):
+        now = datetime.datetime.now(pytz.utc)
+        alice = self.make_participant('alice', claimed_time=now)
+        actual = alice.get_age_in_seconds()
+        assert 0 < actual < 1, actual
+
+    def test_gais_returns_negative_one_if_None(self):
+        alice = self.make_participant('alice', claimed_time=None)
+        actual = alice.get_age_in_seconds()
+        assert actual == -1, actual
+
     # def get_details(self):
     # def resolve_unclaimed(self):
     # def set_as_claimed(self):