For those that think they aren't quite ready to join the debate I'd suggest a couple earlier steps:

- Rate each article you read. Authors like feedback, and it helps others in the community decide if they should read it or not. Only takes a second and start to build the habit of evaluating and commenting on what you read

- Discuss an article you read with a peer, even if you think it might make you "look dumb". I bet it won't and it's another chance to evaluate and comment in a more comfortable setting.

- Reward really well written articles that you found useful by just posting "Nice article" or something similar, the author will appreciate it!

Don't think of it as an obligation, just build your own rule set about when you'll participate. For me for example, I know Steve works hard at writing the editorial and enjoys seeing a few different view points in the replies. I don't post to each editorial (not all of them are interesting to me!) but I post on a lot of them, because I know that he views it as a conversation between many peers with different views/experiences, not as him evangelizing as the Super DBA.