How many DU folks that started in 2001 are still here? I hit my profile & the 2001 jumped

[JanMichael]

Last edited Wed May 27, 2015, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)

While I may have started in 2001 my wonderful spouse was in that first DU round in 2000 - edit did du start late 2000 or january 2001?. I was a crazy poster at one point. then over time I think I just ran out of steam. I Googled my posts and it appears that I was much more verbose and started several threads every week. Now I only seem to post on threads where something ugly is going on. Oh well.

This is not a diminishing or negative post for those that signed on in 2002 or 2005 or 2015. I simply would like to see how many of us from the dark ages are left. When I say left there are so many that have passed away, given up, and also those that were run off for one reason or another.

Of course since I met the only woman in the world that I liked enough to marry and who in turn was also willing to marry a godless commie I owe DU a debt of gratitude.

In addition I should add that I will support whoever is running against the racist loudmouth numbskull that the Koch brothers get on the repuke ballot. That does not mean that I have to like him or her either. Mr Sanders is awesome but I am not an incrementalist or Fabian Socialist. Mrs Clinton is a decent person and obviously a soft social issue corporatist. Not my pot of tea but at least they are civilized and sane. The others I simply do not know much about. Ms Warren is a good speachifier but isnt committed now or maybe ever.

Man I hope things shake up once December rolls around. It would be so cool to see 5 or 6 serious candidates duke it out. Of course my revolution is unlikely but one has to have dreams or one evetually dies inside.

Any strong dark horse candidates lurking in the shadows? I would love to see that if only for the illusion that this is at least a bit like a democracy and not a nasty corpo republic which I believe it is.

This may be more of a lounge post but it is political and mildly issue based. I don't really care either way. It is JUST weird being on a website for what appears to be 14 years. Holy shit I haven't been in any club or group that long EVER - except a registered Dem I guess.. That just occured to me. Are becoming cyberpeople? Next year it will be 15 freaking years on one site. Unreal...

[daleanime]

1. Sorry Senpai.....

I'm kind of a newbie, but I have to admit to being curious about the class of 2001 myself.

[Rex]

2. What is amazing are the posters that have been here since 2001

but never started posting until DU3.

[bunnies]

5. Then 2000 posts in a couple weeks.

Im sure they were just busy.

[Rex]

7. Very busy it seems. nt

nt

[bunnies]

8. I miss the green face.

Just sayin.

[Rex]

14. Mr. Grumpy will be back, but Spock gets a year dedication.

Leonard Nimoy taught me it was okay to be a nerd when I was young and to be PROUD of it! He was just as much a father figure as my own father in many ways.

[bunnies]

16. I'll accept that.

One year. Then Im all over yer shit.

[Rex]

26. Good my memory is bad so I will hold you to it!

[QC]

59. Suddenly insired to speak, after fourteen years of silence

in a time marked by 9/11, three presidential campaigns, two wars, a near meltdown of the worldwide economy, and Lord knows what else.

Fascinating.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

21. YouBetter...uh...Maglieve It

[Drahthaardogs]

27. I have been here since the beginning

under several names. I remember when Kephra died, greywarrior and the duct taped duck, as well as the slander of poor Andy. DU Panic Room on election night in case we crashed. OH yeah and swampy and his fun artwork. Been good times.

[MrMickeysMom]

87. That's funny… I remember that, too...

Since Dec 2004, but what the heck… there's a lot to remember since I cried over Bush's second coming.

[Bonobo]

3. I was here.

I started as "skepti cal" or something like that but then I started to think people would think I was from California.

[Skittles]

4. CHECKING IN

I joined a month before 9/11, after lurking for a few months.....I have never been much of a joiner but that thieving bastard Dubya put me over the edge.....I wanted to find others who were DISGUSTED by the Supreme Court installing that piece of garbage into the White House

[JanMichael]

12. people should never forget 2000. the end of hope and decency.

god i still hate bush cheney rumsfeld condi and those old fake trotskyites

[hrmjustin]

6. I signed up as hrmjustin in 2001.

Lost my password in 2005 and just read throughout the years. In 2012 i signed up again but as luck would have it found my old password in nov of 2012. Decided to stick with this account.

I saw a man on tv with a sign advertising DU during the 2001 inauguration protests. Du has always been a part of my adult life.

[madfloridian]

9. Lurked 2001, joined 2002.

[Elwood P Dowd]

29. Similar to me. Discovered DU in 2001 and finally joined in 2003. (nm)

[Coventina]

149. Me too. I lurked from day 1, almost. Joined because of Kephra.

He was so awesome I wanted to actually have interaction with him, rather than just read his posts.

RIP, you are still missed my friend.

[rainy]

10. I'm still here:)

[Lochloosa]

11. Feb 2005 but I was reading for a year.

I'm not a big poster, which shows with my 9100 post. I wish I had found this place in 00.

[Liberal_in_LA]

37. 2006 for me

[WillyT]

13. Me...

& Rec !!!

[neverforget]

15. Joined in July or August of 2001.

My username neverforget is in reference to Bush v Gore.

[mindwalker_i]

17. I started reading DU in 2001, became a member in 2002 I think

I've seen a lot of people come and go, a lot of arguments come and go.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

18. Hello, Jan Michael. I joined in 2001...sometime after September.

I was, of course, looking for an online enclave of sanity while Bush enjoyed a 90% approval rating. I found it. And although it's changed a lot over the years, I'm too stubborn to leave.

[Zorro]

19. In since 2001

Found DU through Bartcop.

[Nevernose]

23. Same here

I was in Mexico recently, and I noticed how expensive Chinaco was!

[alphafemale]

20. Yeah. One of the originals.

Low post count compared to some.

[Nevernose]

22. I thought DU wasn't live until 1-20-01?

Either way, I signed up a couple of months after that. Great place for news, picking up the zeitgeist, and hearing different ideas; still the best on the Internet(s). I can't believe I've been here for 14 years!

[JanMichael]

28. you may be right. when did they put the banner up? that may have been january 2001.

i came on in the fall of 2001. the early du was a true underfround at at first buti was not a part of that.

if the banner was lifetd during the election battle then it was late 2000. i am not sure.

[Orangepeel]

44. The banner was during the inauguration

Here's a great article Skinner wrote about the beginning

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/01/01/010127_7days.html

I didn't see the banner -- I got here in early 2001, February or March, maybe, via to the Top Ten Conservatives idiots List.

[xfundy]

24. Joined in '02.

I was very pissed off at *. Still am.

[shenmue]

25. I've been here since 2004

[masmdu]

30. Visitor in 2001. Joined in 2002. Hardly post anymore.

[Sinistrous]

31. I have been a member since 2001.

Found this place thanks to the recommendation of BartCop.

[redstateblues]

32. Can't believe what has happened to this place since

I joined in 04. I sometimes feel like this is no place for a mainstream Democrat like me.

[Logical]

72. What would you say your main complaint is ? Nt

[hunter]

141. I joined in February 2002.

I'd been reading from the beginning and thought maybe this place was too "mainstream Democrat" for me... I still do.



I do however strongly support Democrats because the Republican alternatives are alway worse. I'd rather not live in a "two-party" political system, especially one in which "mainstream" candidates lean so far to the right, even the Democrats, but here I am, I was born in the U.S.A. and that's my family and my community.

I haven't yet abandoned hope...

I voted for Carter in my first Presidential election. Carter lost. (I wasn't old enough to vote for Carter in the 1976 election.)

Ronald Reagan brought down showers of piss and shit on this nation and called it rain. A shocking number of U.S. Americans still believe that venal clown and his successors, even as they are drowning in the Republican "trickle."

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Most of my material does not make it here any longer

For example I would be accused of all kinds of ugly stuff after I ran the Rick Santorum launches presidential bid story. But I run a non partisan paper.

So I cover all of them as best as we can. I am not here to tell you who to vote for, will give you as much smorgasbord as I can... and who I vote for... my damn business as well.

[gratuitous]

88. Santorum is running?

Ewwww.

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. Yup. he declared today

His speech was average midling christian conservative, with a dollop of Anne Ryan, but I took notes, since I did not know they were going to stream it, and posted a short story with some bio.

Just like I did yesterday with Bernie, and earlier with Clinton, Rubio and Cruz.

He launched at the small town of Cabot Pennsylvania.

[gratuitous]

96. I was too subtle

I was using "Santorum" in the Dan Savage definition, which brought on the "Ewww."

[nadinbrzezinski]

100. I know, but I deal with facts

as I posted, there is material we run that would be too much for hyper partisans. We mostly deal with policy so I cannot wait to see the policies all these clowns, on both sides, release.

Hey, I read budgets for fun, and infrastructure reports. I do not deal in talking points anymore.

[pintobean]

128. You run a non-partisan paper?

I didn't know they existed.

I guess I shouldn't question someone who buys ink by the barrel.

[nadinbrzezinski]

138. We also run one that is pretty old school.

So we cover things in long form. For example, unlike my local media, I think that a congressman's office taken over by peaceful occupiers, is worthy of coverage the country I came to used to believe that as well. But "access" has infected a lot of those editorial decisions.

We also do lots of policy. So I am looking forward to the policy positions from all these clowns. I would prefer without first being tested to the wind with focus groups, but cannot wait to sink my teeth in real policy positions, not talking points.

[nadinbrzezinski]

156. And so you know.. This afternoon we are running the

Pataki launches campaign as well.

I will have to watch stream at site. Had things, urgent errands to do today.

Again, not a piece most people here care for.

And while I hurry up and wait...lovely revised budget in my phone.

[DerekG]

34. Arrived early in 2001; it was the Wild West back then

Fewer than 10,000 folks. We were all united back then. Horrified by the Florida theft and the subsequent plundering.

Things changed of course, as did many of us. I started out as a party loyalist, but after the Iraq War Resolution in '02, I left the party in disgust. Since then, I've supported progressives like Ralph Nader and Jill Stein. I'm anticipating a major rift in the party, between the New Dealers and the Triangulators, and hope to do my part in overthrowing the latter.

[HornBuckler]

35. Been here a really long time. Never did post much. nt.

[KoKo]

36. Hi, JanMichael, I remember you and I'm a 2001'er....

I joined as KoKo01...and in the name change allowance after 2004, I dropped the '01.

Joined in April or May of 2001.

It's the "Hotel California" around here. It's amazing those old timers who drop in around every election time and disappear after. Others of us, like me, are here through the down times posting away-- thinking/hoping we are working to save our "Democracy."

Agree....can't believe how long it has been. Seems not so far away sometimes...other times it seems like too many elections we've slogged through.

Good to hear from you. Didn't you marry DU'er Samantha?

[JanMichael]

38. thtwudbeme

since 2003. hitting 12 years this summer.

[bettyellen]

50. Lol, now I remember talking to one of you and they later revealed it was the other- forgot to log in

[Samantha]

82. No, KoKo, he never married me

Left me standing alone and crying in the Lounge.

Actually, I don't know JanMichael very well, but I have received 3 marriage proposals since I have been here! This is a benefit that some do not realize actually exists if one hangs around long enough.

I found DU after 3 months of a deep depression over election 2000. Lurked for a few months because I had just gotten a new job and found out after I started working there many important people who had supported Bush* were also there. I truly feared if it was discovered I was posting on this website, I would lose my job. But one day, someone said something that truly set me off and I jumped in and started posting.

I have had some amazing experiences here, and I will always love DU.

Sam

[Heddi]

39. october, 2001 here. original username as well

[Blue_In_AK]

40. I joined during the second big wave,

November 2004, after the second robbery.

[progressoid]

94. Me too.

I lurked for a while, but the election forced me to sign up.

[Solly Mack]

41. I'm still here. But don't tell anyone.

Same user name as always.

[bettyellen]

51. Hey Solly! Heidi and Wesley still drop in time and again too....

[Solly Mack]

92. I adore them both!

[bettyellen]

109. Yep, you three are on my list! I did get to see good old ....

progmom a bit this year, she is doing awesome.

[Solly Mack]

113. Back at you!

That's great! I was reading one of the old DUzy threads by JeffR and there were so many names that are no longer around. It was sad.

[bettyellen]

144. Yes! I found quite a few on FB, mostly those who I had met in NYC or DC or

That crazy weekend in Boston. It's nice to know they're still around, even if it's not here.

[Doctor_J]

42. here

[kentuck]

43. I remember you from the very early days, JanMichael...

It has changed thru the years. There are a few old-timers still here but somehow, over the years, the DU became more and more connected to the Democratic Party, rather than democratic ideals, it seems to me. Obviously, in the beginning, we had the stolen election and Bush/Cheney to keep us united. Over time, we lost that and began looking for enemies elsewhere, sometimes under our own tent.

But, through it all, there are still moments of enlightenment and truth that make it all worthwhile.

On edit: By the way, you can click on the "view profile" box by your user name and it will show the number assigned when you joined DU...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

55. DU number --

I feel stupid -- I can't find my number. Checked my profile page but didn't spot it. Where on the page is it?

[kentuck]

60. #4796 in the http: line

Just guessing....about April or May, 2001?

[irisblue]

65. under statistics & information line

[neverforget]

75. If you change that number in the address bar, you can find out who joined

in front of you and behind you. My number is 3634. Number 3633 was phildurst and his posting privileges were revoked on.........Dec 31, 1969!

http://election.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=103633&sub=trans

Information on this Transparency page is currently displayed to logged-in members because the member's posting privileges were revoked on Dec 31, 1969.
Posting Privileges Revoked


Revoked on Reason Revoked by
Dec 31, 1969
For more information see Terms of Service
Malicious Intruder Removal Team
Posts Hidden by Jury (last 90 days)

Posts hidden by Jury: 0
Total posts: 0
Percentage of posts hidden: 0%

[madfloridian]

81. Okay kentuck, explain it to me once more about the user number.

I went to my profile page and the number was 112793. I joined June 2002. So what part of that is my user number?

[rhett o rick]

45. The 2000 debacle woke me up, but I thought it was an aberation that would be corrected in 2004.

Of course by 2004 the Republicons and Conservative Democrats were lying about the need to kill innocent Iraqis. And then again in 2004 another election is stolen and the Democratic Party Leaders didn't really care. That's when I started to panic. Al Gore didn't give a shit that his election was stolen. Why make an issue of it and possibly divide the country. Fuck him. And then again in 2004, another stolen election and again the Democratic Party Leaders yielded like they didn't really care. Like it was a tennis match. Fuck them. DU and Air America probably saved my life. I give a lot of credit to DU and being able to speak out. But now we are looking at another election and it looks like the Oligarchs are going to win again.

[Grey]

46. I joined in '01, there were only

around 30,000 of us back then. I still use the same name but still don't talk much.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

47. You always stood out for me --

because of your name. Every time I would see it, I would mentally add in "Vincent" to the end.

"Hell Hath No Fury" like a VOTER scorned. Here since forever.

I think we have created a wonderfully weird/dysfunctional family here over the years. Many of us have "met" here then gotten together in real life and made lasting friendships. I can't explain why it works for me, but it does. Most of the time.

Many have fallen away (willingly and unwillingly) over the years, but it is always heartening to see the "old-timers" who remember DU v.1.

[starroute]

48. I'm still here

I kept following links to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots for several months -- then finally joined, probably in the summer of 2001. I've used the same name all that time and the same icon since 2004, when they started letting us upload our own.

I do miss the long investigative threads of 2004-05. Things got pretty crazy at times back then, but I liked it. I think the effort to prevent any posts that could be used to discredit Democratic candidates has taken some of the flavor out of the board. I understand the reasoning but I'm not sure it's an improvement.

[kentuck]

52. starroute, you were number 102!

Definitely one of the firsts!

My number is #3933 and I signed on officially as kentuck at end of March or first of April of 2001, although I had written several articles for DU before that.

[Generic Other]

106. You were the first to speak to me

For auld acquaintance be forgot...

[starroute]

110. I wasn't actually that early

The last time there was a similar thread, I wondered about that number, because I know I wasn't one of the very first. Someone explained then that the first group of numbers doesn't actually represent the order in which people became members but was assigned retroactively a year later. Or something like that.

[kentuck]

136. I recall there was a big celebration when we hit 10,000 members...

It took a while to get there. Skinner or Earl G or Elad could explain it better for you.

[central scrutinizer]

49. Was pointed to DU by MWO

Used to post there regularly, started on DU early 2002. I miss the Horse.

[Gloria]

53. Me! Had A hiatus due to various family issues, but have been back

The last few months.

I can't believe DU is still here after so long. Even Buzzflash, which I got involved with at the very beginning, has had to "merge" wih Truthout.org...

Same old username, too.

[kentuck]

57. One of my favorites!

[Art_from_Ark]

117. I remember you from Buzzflash

In fact, Buzzflash is probably where I learned about DU

[myrna minx]

147. I found DU by way of Buzzflash as well.

I lurked for a Long time, but jumped into the fray In early 2002. I'm still in contact with Kurowski. He's a charter DU member and a dear.

[intheozone]

54. I'm still here! Don't post much, but read everything. Nt

[QC]

56. Member #2,875 here. Joined early in 2001. n/t

[inanna]

58. I joined in 2001.

I don't post all that much, but DU has been "home" to me for a long time now.

I mainly just read the forums: my faves are GD, Good Reads and LBN.

I've learned so much...

[kentuck]

62. # 447 !

One of the first.

[inanna]

71. Oh, so that's what that number means...

Did not realise til you pointed it out.

[matt819]

61. Been here since late 2001

And yeah, it's really weird to have been reading snd posting on one site for that long.

[Oilwellian]

63. I'm still here

I think I was one of the first 5000 to join. Signed up as Oaf Of Office for obvious reasons.

[choie]

64. I'm still here!!!

Was compelled to lurk obsessively after
the 2000 debacle and finally became a member in 2004.

[Purrfessor]

66. Member since February 2001.

I check in daily though I don't often comment.

[Cadfael]

67. Still crazy

After all these years. (And considerably older and creakier.).

[SoLeftIAmRight]

68. Late 2001 or early 2002

different name - I organized a DU meet in Houston - summer 2002.

[stopbush]

69. My DU user name reflects when I started at DU.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

70. 2002 for me

I think I was number 13, 200 or somewhere in there......

[SomeGuyInEagan]

73. I remember the early Top Ten Conservative Idiots lists in 2001

No idea how I found them, but know where I was living/working at the time, so it was early 2001. But did not discover the forums until a few years later and lurked for a while, joining in 2007.

Those Top Ten lists were gold and a ray of light each week in the dark early weeks of Junior's first term. Seem like innocent times now.

[susanna]

74. I started in late 2000, so Class of 2001 here. Don't post much though.

Interestingly, my profile says member since 2002. Don't know how that all shakes out.

on edit: added profile info

[slumcamper]

76. Nope, not I. Representin' newbies here. Peace & out. n/t

[Trajan]

77. I lurked in 2001, and joined in 2002 ...

I had been debating on Yahoo Political Chat for years, as well as C-Span comments ....

Although I saw the banner on TV, I didn't connect until I found DU on Buzzflash. ...

[DesertFlower]

78. i started posting 10/05.

my sister NanceGreggs wrote a few articles for DU and sent me the links. i decided to check it out. even though she wrote articles she didn't start to post until right after i did.

i've been through a few usernames. i used to post a lot -- especially during the bush years. i rarely post here anymore -- too many arguments.

i do a quick check of the site every day and occasionally post.

[Gore1FL]

79. I am one of the originals, as you can probably tell by my handle.

I didn't get in right at the beginning, but I lurked and joined in the winter/spring time.

I posted much, much more at the time.

[rocktivity]

80. Joined three weeks after 9/11

trying to find Democrats.com...


rocktivity

[Renew Deal]

83. 2003

And I'm an old timer now. I respect those that came before me. The people that were here in 2001 are awesome. I wish I was here then. I was looking for a place exactly like DU. When I found it, it became home quickly.

I remember you. You used to post about Mike Malloy or some radio show. I also remember that you had a nuke avatar or something like that. I remember most of the names in this thread from the old days. Like I said, I have nothing but respect for you and those like you.

[quarbis]

84. I am but I am a lurker

[bigmonkey]

85. My profile says July 2003, but I was reading before.

Only 1600+ posts in that time. I remember some early events, like witnessing, but not being in, the emergency meeting of the core members of the period. Bartcop sent me too. This is still the best place to keep up with the news, despite the unfortunate infighting.
I think this place saved me. I was so angry and frightened watching a presidential election be stolen before our eyes.

[Nite Owl]

99. Me too

Thought it was '02 but my profile says '03. Think I got here from Buzzfeed.
Been here through the voting debacle, losing Andy and so many others.
Don't know how I could have gotten through the Bush years without everyone here.

[7wo7rees]

86. We have been here since Sept of 2001.

In a few lifes, online.

DU is tbe best.

[MrMickeysMom]

89. Since Mr. Mickey was a 4 yr old…. So, that put's it in perspective...

I've always been Mr. Mickey's Mom, and now the old boy's still in my arms getting his strokes and kisses, getting full of arthritis and needing a stool softener every day.

Oops… There he is right now… always knows when I'm posting…

I wish we all had enough time to stay young while we could help this world we all created.

Kiss-Kiss

[nadinbrzezinski]

93. Tuky used to do that

and when old, he just sat on my lap on a towel. Old cockatiel. He passed three years ago... his brother is starting to show his age, the nanday conure, he's 25, he was ten... Time flies.

[MrMickeysMom]

97. I gotta bring levity to an otherwise tearful reminiscing moment, nadin ...

Time flies like an arrow…

Fruit flys like a banana…

[nadinbrzezinski]

101. That it does

[rwheeler31]

91. I just read for a bit and joined in 2002 very scary times back then.

We are lucky we are still here.

[dog_lovin_dem]

95. I have been lurking since early on,

but didn't join until after the 2004 election. Joined January 7, 2005. Still lurking.

[stevenleser]

151. Same here. Joined two days before you. nt

[haele]

98. I'm here. Laz (my husband) burned out of politics

mostly due to his disability and in chronic pain - too much work trying to keep his own self together.

But we're still here.

Haele

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

102. I've seen you kick ass and take names since 01. nt

[mama]

103. Still here.

I've been reading this site for a long, long time. Occasionally post, but not often.
Always have been a strong liberal, love to come here to know that I have kindred spirits.

[silvershadow]

104. I have been around since the first or second day...though I have changed accounts one time

through no fault of my own.

[denbot]

105. I joined around March of 2001

I joined as denbot, which was my avatar name for many games I played at the time. A couple of years later I moved, and with a lot of stuff happening, including an ISP change, I forgot my password.

I re-registered as puerco-bellies after fruitlessly asking the mods for my password.

After the 2008 election, we had another name change, during which I asked Skinner again about my old password. He actually responded, and after trying on and off for years, using every variation of passwords, family members names, pet names, the names of old girlfriends, cars, dinosaurs, anything and everything, Skinner told me my old password.

It was my first name.

[akbacchus_BC]

107. That is a good question!

I joined DU after Bush won for the second time, prior to that, I lurked for a while.

DU is the most progressive site that I have ever seen.

[Godhumor]

108. Discovered DU towards the beginning when Conservative Idiots was first published

Primarily read for a couple years before finally joining in 2004. Close to 11 years now and still have under 4k posts.

[CANDO]

111. 2002, but remember being on before then.

Guess I didn't set up acct until 2002.

[countryjake]

112. I started here in April or May of 2001, so yeah, it's been 14 yrs.

Every time someone makes a post like this I can't help but think of Mary Hopkin and Those Were the Days.

They really were.

[Spirochete]

114. I came here in February of 2001

lurked a couple weeks, then signed up about March. I don't say much (I have about 5000 total posts since I got here), but this is where I get all my news and information.

[SoCalDem]

115. Present

though not as prolific.. I get tired of the trolls & agitators

[Hobo]

116. I am still here

I don't post much, but this is the way I get my fix on the news back home since I became an ex-pat.

Hobo

[OKNancy]

118. I've been here since 2001- still here

although there are many times when I think of quitting.
The only thing I regret is my name choice. OK stands for Oklahoma, but I got teased about it after a while...
Ex: Are you OK?
Also, I think saying you are from Oklahoma, some have a preconceived notion or prejudice.

[a la izquierda]

119. I joined in '04 before the elections...

when I moved from California to Oklahoma. I was in a state of leftist shock at the move.

[angstlessk]

120. I was here when Will Pitt was still a teacher in the early stages and was agonizing about becoming

a writer.

I was banned because I thought he and his cohort was trying to placate us into being docile...I thought ..who knew what I thought...

[Skidmore]

121. I started in early 2001.

I check in everyday but don't post much any more. I think it is habit now more than anything. I don't like the ganging up on people that appears to have become a bloodsport. It wasn't always that way. I also miss so many who are gone now, either because they were run off or have passed on. I still drop by daily though.

[KG]

122. been here long time.

[JHB]

123. I'd stopped by here a few times via links from Bartcop...

Last edited Thu May 28, 2015, 07:46 AM - Edit history (1)

On 9/11 this was actually a pretty good relay place for news, especially in the first hour or two, because regular news sites were completely jammed. I think that was the day I actually registered, to ask a "do they know what kind of plane?" question before the 2nd plane hit.

I met a few DUers at a meetup in NYC Central Park, including Jeff Matson (nostamj). Just a brief acquaintance, but I went to the "Question W Review" he produced and directed. nostamj originated DU's TOON post tradition. After he died unexpectedly in 2005, I took that up for a while, as did others (and hat tip to n2doc, the current keeper of the flame).

I think the only posts I've had removed or hidden in that time were either happened to be in subthreads that got clipped, or once an unflattering comment was taken to be directed at a poster when it was intended for the RW idiot who was the subject of that person's OC. That probably makes me deficient in some respects, but it works for me.

My vote for greatest unsung DU ridiculousness (i.e., excluding the famous ones: fried chicken, Olive Garden, etc.): The influx of Brony memes in 2010. Images of "My Little Pony" dolls and Veruca Salt (from Willy Wonka) had become a way of making "want your pretty pony/want it now/you're being childish" scolds and jabs and flame-trading while keeping the text of a post nominally civil. While this is happening, MLP gets a reboot that develops a fan base completely outside its target demographic. The fans create an assortment of graphics, which start showing up here ("pony shrug" gifs and such) in posts that have nothing to do with the hot-button subjects, but are mistaken for people trying to start and spread flame wars, and hijinks ensued.

[Blue_Adept]

131. This was an amazing place on 9/11

There was a lot of misinformation to be had, but I remember reading it while at work while everyone was glued to CNN and watching the same thing play out over and over. Here, we got reports from all over with what people were doing, seeing and how authorities were reacting. A lot that never made the news.

[onyourleft]

124. I started reading...

...here in 2001, but I didn't register until 2002.

[ProfessorGAC]

125. Raising Hand

Sometime in early 2001. I heard Skinner on a phone interview on Washington Journal and decided to check it out. Been here since. Checked my number. 4893

[DrDan]

126. here since 2001

[Blue_Adept]

127. Been here since the beginning, coming from APJ

American Politics Journal was a hoot, stuff I read during the impeachment and elsewhere.

Ended up on DU through there, and because of the forum software (DCForum!) as I was using it on my site at the time and dialogued with others that were using it on the support site and saw DU.

Lost my account during one of the switchovers and just read for a few years before re-registering again a few years ago.

Never been far. But also never felt further away from a lot of the posters attitudes than I do these days.

[scarletwoman]

129. I'm still here. Member #6679, joined sometime around August 2001. I remember you, JanMichael.

I remember you as quite the angry radical in those early days.

[winstars]

165. Thanks, I am 6551 and now I have a clue when I joined up!!!

[dawg]

130. I joined in 2001.

Woof!

[Marr]

132. I joined not long before 9-11.

Had a different name then-- I lost my login when it went from DU1 to DU2... or was it DU2 to DU3...? One of those. Possibly both of those, lol.

[PeteSelman]

133. It's become harder and harder to stay here.

You can hardly say anything anymore without being alerted on and chased off. It's pretty damn sad really. I've been here since 2003, it was a lot cooler of a site back then.

[calikid]

134. I've been here since the begining, but with a different user name.

If I didn't loose my password, I'd still be using my original name. I'm here every day, harvesting whatever info I can to help in the war against insanity. It looks like Willy T and I must have got our info about DU from the same place, KZYX & Z, Mendocino's public radio.

[LWolf]

135. January 2003.

And you were here then.

[Lex]

137. Got here almost from the beginning, came here from Bartcop's messageboard.

I'm not sure exactly when DU went live, but I was here from early days.

[City Lights]

139. I'm still here.

Started out as Desert Dem, then used the name change feature to switch to No Surrender, and again to City Lights. I joined shortly after 9.11.2001, but had been lurking for months.

[ThirdEye]

140. Hi... though you won't be impressed with my post count

[Johnyawl]

142. I joined in the spring of 2001, 14 years with the same user name...

...and all of 2500 posts. lol I read LBN and GD everyday, I just don't say much. I tend to use DU as a news feed rather then a discussion board.

[Arugula Latte]

143. I started in fall of 2001 after I read a rant on another site about how ridiculously liberal DU was.

I thought "That sounds like the place for me!"

[deutsey]

145. I joined DU not long after protesting Bush's first coronation

Sometime in early spring 2001, I believe.

[Blaukraut]

146. Still here (fka LevensonK), but still mostly lurking

Still sticking to what works for me. Only post when I'm really compelled to weigh in, which isn't very often. I do miss the old times here on DU, though.

[BlueCollar]

148. I'd post more often

but I've been busy keeping the Yaks from eating the Kudzu...


Been here since 2001. Check in and get educated every day.

[G_j]

150. still here

sort of...

[Va Lefty]

152. Still here

joined shortly after the criminal regime bush/cheney was illegally installed

[Polly Hennessey]

153. 2001

I joined in late Fall 2001. Been here ever since. Don't post much and when I do it is usually about dogs. DU saved my sanity through the Bush years. I have learned much from DU. There was less arguing in the past. Now when I read a thread I usually go ......"OK, now it will be one, two, three before the fights begin." I am loyal and plan to stay on.

[mike_c]

154. Hi JanMichael....

I've been around almost since the beginning. Lurked in 2001, registered in early 2002 when one of Carlos Jiacinto's (sp?) posts got on my last nerve and I just HAD to respond. Or something like that. I remember you from those days, too!

[immoderate]

155. I joined the day Skinner was on Washington Journal in February 2001.

#3874

--imm

[BarbaRosa]

157. I hung around in 2000 and finally jumped in 2001.

I used to hang out at a place called "Turn Left", but it got so polluted they had to shut it down. After that I searched and found BartCop, which led me here. I'm here most every day, just don't say much, like in real life.

[Tracyjo]

158. I didn't get here 'til '04

I doubt I've missed a handful of days reading here since then. I was a John Edwards supporter and I'm still too embarrassed to post.

[lovuian]

159. Still here

and yes DU kept my sanity in those years of 2001 and Iraq

[KamaAina]

160. Yup. Delurked right after Nineleven(TM).

[villager]

161. Jeez, now that you've put it that way -- my time on DU has lasted longer than my marriage!

Indeed, it was shortly after that marriage imploded that I signed up here... Hmm.....

[Orrex]

162. I'm here since 2005

BC.

[truebrit71]

163. 2002 for me...

It was a much needed refuge from the awfulness that was unfolding politically in the US at the time...

[urbanhermit]

164. Lurking since 2001

I love logging in and reading posts but generally don't post. I used to be active in the photography group but got sidetracked with a move to Idaho and then getting married with an instant family.

[carolinayellowdog]

166. Discovered Media Whores Online in mid-2001, found my way here to lurk

and finally joined in 2002. Just hit post 3000 today-- have taken very long breaks and it looks like another might be starting soon. Looks like the meanest and ugliest primary season yet. From the old days, I still miss Khephra and Nostamj, RIP, but most of all NSMA, nothingshocksmeanymore. Glad to see you still here.