Twenty years on, a thank you to Skinner, EarlG & Elad

[yewberry]

So for those who haven't heard, there's a passing of the torch going. Announcements here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/101310307

https://www.democraticunderground.com/101310308

In honor of 20 years, and as a kind of thank you to all three of the current and former DU admins, please share something about DU that's meant something to you... a laugh, the best flame war you ever saw, the posts or moments you were most proud of or grateful for or made you feel like a part of the community.

Here's one: anyone remember how we pulled together after Katrina? People making sure others were okay, spreading word about who was missing and who'd been found? I was thousands of miles away, but I felt like I was contributing at least something by keeping the lost and found threads active.

Or after Andy's memorial service, I posted a (slightly maudlin, sorry) telling of the event and was really gratified by the heartfelt thanks and memories in response to my post.

Or maybe it was the exchange between me and Richardo ("Beagles up!" ) in which I threatened to defenestrate him right out the window. The time we all reminded Billy to pick up bread. Oscar, of course, and the "No more posts about fried chicken" edict.

What are some of yours?

[Staph]

1. Late on the evening of August 29, 2008,

there was an explosion at the Bayer Crop Science plant near Charleston, West Virginia. We were ordered to shelter-in-place, plastic and duct tape on windows and doors, turn off air conditioning, hope for the best. That plant produced methyl isocyanate, the stuff that killed thousands in Bhopal, India.

I was terrified. And DU held my hand, talked me down, kept me company through that long, dark night. I've never been one of the big names or loud voices here. But there are few who are more grateful for this community.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

[yewberry]

3. I remember the era of duct-taping windows!

It's been a while since I thought of that. Thanks for the memory.

Never been a loud voice here, either, but I think we all bring a piece of ourselves to make this old place what it is.

[msongs]

2. reading thos articles from 2006 - nothing in the news has changed except the names nt

[yewberry]

4. You think so? You mean news articles?

I think this feels like a very different era-- much more coarse and normalized dishonesty.

[Bayard]

5. Bookmarking for later

[Aristus]

6. I'll never forget that day in March, 2001,

after searching the net in a deep, depressed daze over GWB and the hijacking of the American Dream. I found the link to DU - Democratic Underground.

I clicked......and I found my home...…

After lurking until the week after 9/11, I joined, and never looked back.

Skinner and the boys will have my eternal gratitude for that...

[yewberry]

7. I think I found it DU via Bartcop.

I think it was a link to the DU hate mail bag. Or maybe the biggest idiots of the week?

Lurked for a while, registered, lost my password at some point, re-registered.

[live love laugh]

8. The Bush years ... Agent Dan remember him?

The first memes: “Get A Brain Morans” ..

Flowers sent to Pelosi ....

❤️❤️❤️

[yewberry]

12. I remember Agent Dan!

And the endless correction from newbies who didn't now we were spelling it that way for a reason.

I was trying to remember who we sent flowers to... did we also send some to a reporter at the beginning of the Trump years?

[love_katz]

9. I found DU thanks to The Rude Pundit.

This place has saved my sanity so many times that I can't even count them. I love you all, and I don't mind admitting that I panicked when I saw Skinner's post. It is a huge relief to see that EarlG and Elad are continuing on!!! Some of the features from the past that I have loved: The Hate Mailbag; The Top 10 Conservative Idiots; SalmonEnchanted Evenings LOL Cats; and posts from so many DUers that I had better not try to name them, because my post will be too long. I am sorry that I missed the fried chicken kerfuffle. I found out about that because of the edict banning more posts.

[yewberry]

13. The hate mailbag and the top ten were always favorites.

The one I hated: Something about Bob Boudelang. Do you remember that? Awful.

[love_katz]

18. I remember about Bob Boudelang.

It was called something like Equal Time with Bob Boudelang. It always struck me as parody and/or satire. I loved the responses to the Hate Mailbag, and the Top 10 Conservative Idiots ranged from hilarious to jaw dropping. I am and have been so grateful for DU. And I have a similar history to you. I lost my original DU name and access when the switch over happened from the old DU format to the current one. I tried numerous times to fix it, but finally had to give up and start over with a new name and new account.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. Two words: Olive Garden

There have been some epic flame wars in my 16 years on DU!

[yewberry]

14. Yes, that was a festive one.

I stayed away from it, as far as I recall. The poster who started that mess was pretty skilled at starting flame wars!

[Saboburns]

11. Here since the first months.

I, too, live in West Virginia. I saw Skinner and Elad holding a DU banner during the Bush/Gore recount fiasco on CNN back when the US Supreme Court actually ruled to stop counting legal votes before they all got counted.

I don't post much, just over 1,800 in twenty years.

But I can honestly say this site changed my life and made me a better, wiser, more caring human. I can't thank them enough.

Thanks guys!

[yewberry]

16. You saw the CNN banner?

I missed that. Those were such bad days-- but then, look where we are now!

This place has certainly meant a lot to a lot of people over the years, even if us oldsters are pretty quiet.

Glad to hear from you, stay safe.

[rurallib]

15. DU suggested to me by a friend in the campaign year of 2004

I became instantly smitten. Very smart folks who cut through the BS. Also very kind and funny.

I came in as someone who knew everything and found out quickly I had so much to learn - it was way worse than I thought.

Edit to add - I love the humor mostly and the Lounge is where I always end the night. With folks like Lefty Finger Pop, Middle Finger Mom and Pin boy 3niner The Lounge felt very comfortable.

[yewberry]

17. 2004 was ROUGH.

I think I remember walking to my polling place in a black hoodie, per Eminem's "Mosh." And the day after the election-- was that the day that epic thread with a bunch of DUers posting their real names? Dang, that was a thread.

[rurallib]

19. Never heard of that thread - wished I had seen it.