DU: In the beginning.

[kentuck]

I have been on DU since the beginning but did not sign up officially until about March of 2001. Skinner and Earl were advertising for "writers". I posted about once a week under my real name. At that time, if you posted on DU, it might stay on the front page for a week or longer. There were not that many people posting on DU. But there were some memorable ones!

There was a small army of DUers that felt threatened and fearful for the future. They had to speak out. They had to talk to someone. DU was the best place to spread the word at that time. I don't know how much impact we had but I like to think that we had some. We tried to give people hope.

Nowadays, your post may disappear in a matter of minutes. The population of "writers" has grown immensely. I don't know how much longer I will be here but I want everyone to know that I appreciate their input and opinions. You never know who you may be speaking to...

[monmouth4]

1. I've been here a long time also and you were one of the first posts I read. It was so good I knew I

was in the right place and wanted to stay. Thank you kentuck for the many years of great stuff.

[mahina]

2. I can't imagine DU without you. It wouldn't be the same place at all.

I hope you mean you don't know how much longer you'll be here in the sense that none of us do.

DU has changed so much with every big bend in the road we've all taken together. There were many times I felt like we were a community, and I hold those close. Here we had our Opihimoimoi who brought us together at his house. Come, we go eat, he'd say.

Lots of great DUers I remember looking back but you are right up there buddy.

Aloha.

[kentuck]

5. I loved communicating with opihimoimoi !

He was a joy.

None of us know how long we will be here. We lost Tom Petty last night. We just have to appreciate the time we have to the best of our ability and try to love each other as brothers and sisters.

Your name caught my attention from the very beginning. Your words were always fresh and welcoming.

We have lost a lot of great DUers. It would be an honor if I was ever remembered with them.

[whyzayker]

3. As one of the originals

I was always a fan of yours, kentuck.

[kentuck]

6. ditto

Last edited Wed Oct 4, 2017, 10:08 AM - Edit history (1)

#936 ! Definitely one of the originals. You may have been the first person that I responded to on DU?

Were you ever on the old Prodigy Discussion Group??

[Achilleaze]

4. .

[Justice]

7. Great post. Been here forever, feels different in last 12 months

Having General Discussion as the only real option after Breaking News is part of reason post disappears in matter of minutes. Too much happening in world to dump it into one gigantic forum. Feels like chaos (and I use DU to help sort out the chaos).

People aren't looking to see if someone has posted, just posted same information again. So in GD have three, four, five posts which cover the same thing. Not as much discourse, more "click bait." posters. Heck, that happens in BN but at least you realize people are posting when they see something and may both post within a minute or two of each other.

I really wish we had a Russia investigation Forum, to put things in one place, so they were easier to track and follow.

[kentuck]

8. C-H-A-O-S

That's a good description sometimes.

The Russia Investigation Forum is an excellent idea, in my opinion. We could have an entire Forum just on the Trump Administration.

[The Blue Flower]

14. Yes--excellent suggestion

I've been here nearly from the beginning, too. To me, the disrupters are obvious. I just wish folks wouldn't help them by taking the bait.

[MrPurple]

41. Hopefully, the Russia investigation will become breakingenough news that its own forum is inevitable

[Justice]

47. I think if we all ask for a Russia forum - maybe. I've been asking for months.

Unsuccessfully.

Yet, to prove my point, we have two OPs on GD about Brooke Shields and Donald Trump. Posted 2 hours apart.

I am going to start posting an OP regularly about the duplicate GD posts.

[MrPurple]

54. The Democratic Underground Impeachment Hearings Forum - has a nice ring to it

[louis c]

9. I have been here since 2004

and have contributed to this site every year.

I don't go to other sites, because this site is Democratic Underground, with a huge emphasis on "Democratic".

People who come here to advance "Independent Underground" are sometimes divisive. People who advocated that, in the end, we ignore the binary choice in November and vote "our conscience" by writing in a name of someone you "believe in", or vote third party, did Russia's dirty work for them. I'm not saying they all did it knowingly, but the end result was the same.

If, as a poster, you can not advance the Democratic Party, then you undermine the mission of this site.

In 2008, we had lively debates in the primary between Barack and Hilary supporters. But in the end, we all came together for the common good of the party and the country.

Not so much in 2016, and I firmly believe, that cost us the election. Sure, there were a lot of other factors, but that was surely one of them. And Trump would not be President unless all of the factors merged to create the perfect storm.

if this site starts to allow divisive comments against Democrats to enter the debate, I'll leave, and I have been a member for 14 years, gladly paying to be part of this community.

[kentuck]

12. A lot of DUers came here just before and just after the election of 2004.

There was an onslaught of new recruits.

[roamer65]

13. I was one of those.

Been here for 11 years, I do believe.

[marlakay]

23. I am one too came while working on Kerry campaign

there was a link to our site on Michael Moore's website.

[marlakay]

42. Lol i was for Howard Dean

But helped with Kerry like I did with Hillary even though not my person.

Sigh, if we could just all be supportive to each other.

[PCIntern]

53. Im in that bunch

I remember siting continuously on election night 2004 that Ohio was being stolen. It was obvious to anyone paying attention.

[Timmygoat]

10. One little bit of good news for us all.

It seems that Germany has stepped up and is busy restoring some power to Puerto Rico.

[MGKrebs]

11. One difference I see is that posters don't post in one subject thread so much anymore.

If they have something to say they start a new thread, often continuing a discussion from some other thread (and often just assuming readers are familiar with that thread).
We used to have pretty long threads, even to the point where someone would say "let's start a continuation thread" so it was easier to read. But they were actual conversations, with a development of thought.

There are at least 18 posts about gun control on the front page of GD at this moment. I think of them as vanity posts. Many don't really seem to want to have a discussion, they just want to throw their idea out there and have it be visible. It's a little like being a celebrity I guess. Otherwise, why not just write your thought into an existing thread on the subject?

Anyway, that's the new reality. In the big scheme of things, not too bad, just not as... productive, I guess, as it used to be. The involved discussions that do occur are usually very divisive and often not very informative.

I think the early generations that were here took some "ownership" of the place and really tried to make it better. I didn't come until 2002 but I still felt like I was helping to build something. Many who came later don't seem to have that same respect. This is just a place where one is able to come and publish yourself, quality of content is not a criteria.

But this place is still better than any similar forum that I know of!

[mopinko]

39. i keep bugging the guys for some sort of reply rating.

i understand they dont want to be like fb, but i have suggested that they could use the smilies, and add them at the bottom of a post, op or reply, like the hearts.
i am often discouraged from adding my voice on a good thread just to say the same as many others. i think it would be great to be able to scan through a long thread and easily see the cogent replies while dragging through all the "me too"s.

i too am sadly disappointed by the trolls that find so many eager to take their bait. makes me crazy.

[Caliman73]

40. Yep. Or they will simply post a topic line.

With maybe a one sentence intro and a link. No context, no questions to start off a discussion just ....

here ya go!

Call me verbose or pedantic, but I like to read about a topic and get the poster's viewpoint so I can agree, add, or disagree and state my case. There is too much sniping here and not enough discussion.

Yet as many, I still think this is one of the best forums on the internet.

[malaise]

15. I came here in 2004 and found you

Love your posts

[kentuck]

19. From one of DU's all-time greats...

[NRaleighLiberal]

16. it's been an interesting ride since I poked my head in, in 2004...

Our community has evolved as the conditions impacting us and the Democratic party evolved - sometimes bringing unity, sometimes division. I left for quite a long time due to the atmosphere in the 2016 primaries leading up to the election. I am so happy to be back.

You touch on a few tidbits - yes, frustration that there can be up to a dozen GD posts on the same topic. (I think it is because all of us want to be heard - we are all guilty of it at one time or another. It is noisy out there, and hard to get our views noticed when things get busy).

Also - some - Don Viejo, Babylon Sister just to name 2 - bring great stuff here to read. I try to do the same. TPM and Slate has been a treasure trove. I always hope a great article will stimulate thoughtful discussion....more often than not, such posts sink with just a few responses, even they can get lots of recs. It is great that great writing gets noticed - we should all be bold enough to add our two cents worth and views to them.

Like all things, DU is imperfect - but for we on the left, it is as good as it gets - and most likely, can get.

Always love your thoughtful observations, Kentuck!

[Nitram]

17. Hi, kentuck. I, too, lurked for a few years before I signed up and started participating in

discussions. I came to DU because of deep anxieties about the Bush administration, and was relieved to find like-minded progressive Democrats who were struggling to cope with the same anxieties.

[Skidmore]

18. I joined very early around the

time of the inauguration. I miss the camaraderie and common purpose. We have lost tolerance,focus, and civility. I really cannot stand the toxic variety of disruptors now. Good grief, Freepers seem quaint and naive now. I miss the great hearts that have passed from us. I treasure the friends who are stalwartly keeping the spirit of dissent with purpose. We got results by coordinating our activism . There were no tests of fealty or purity. Some times you need to look back to move forward.

[H2O Man]

20. Recommended.

I've been here since 2003. Times change, the membership has changed, and the tone has changed. Your input is -- at very least -- as important today as it has ever been.

[kentuck]

21. From perhaps DU's most insightful and admirable member.

Thanks!

[H2O Man]

36. Thank you!

The pleasure is surely mine.

[H2O Man]

37. I agree.

Of course, the opinion of a once-popular community member may be viewed as subjective.

[denbot]

22. Please don't go anywhere kentuck.

Just saying..

[Blue_Adept]

24. I still miss those old DCForum days around here

Good times, good times.

[davsand]

25. We all face the pressure of our mortality if we're paying attention.

I'd hope to see you offering your insight and commentary for a very long time. DU has served as a huge resource for information since the beginning. I came to DU very early on via a link to a post here that had been shared someplace else. I read here for about an hour and registered that same day. It was a lifeline in those early years, and you and your writing were very much a part of that for me.

Like you, I've stayed for the entire run, and I've seen a lot of folks come and go. Some of them were notable for the quality and quantity of insight and information the brought, others touched our hearts. I still miss the ones we've lost, and I still feel we are diminished when those lights go out. Similarly, when the musicians and artists we cherish are suddenly gone, it feels like a part of our joy is gone along with them.

DU has grown and changed an awful lot since 2001. Some of it is tremendous and exciting to see--the sheer numbers of membership are mind blowing--some is really sad. I hate the degradation of content and tone here, but I have no solution to offer, so I just keep my mouth shut lest I become part of the problem.

Blessings to you, my friend. None of us ever know what the day will bring. I do hope to see you here next time I come.


Laura

[The_Casual_Observer]

26. My memories of the early days were arguing with people here about Iraq

WMD, the ones that couldn't imagine that the government could be lying to them.

I've been insulted every way possible, but I keep coming back.

[Ernesto]

29. March, 2001 is when I got here

16 years and I've made less than 5K posts.......................
But I just keep hangin' around.

[kentuck]

46. We came here about the same time.

#3967



It's always good to see the old timers.

[Saboburns]

30. I been here since the very beginning. I just topped 1,000 posts a few months ago.

I read much more than I post. Before Twitter I used DU as a quick news source. I could check in read the front page and see if there was any breaking news. If there was I could educate myself about it.

But the past few years I use Twitter to do that job. Twitter is a good place to get breaking news, and news fast.

But I am so very happy that this place is here and has been here since 2,000.

[canetoad]

35. I found DU about six months after 911

Prefer to read rather than post, so didn't actually create an account until 2004 then took about three years to get to the magical 1000+ posts.

Being Australian, DU is a magnificent place to learn about the politics and culture that drive the US and therefore much of the rest of the world. Made some great friends (Hi Sis!), seen literally thousands of posters come and go. Mourned the passing of many.

Kentuck, it's folk like you that make DU a special place.

[SoCalDem]

43. Early 2001 for me as well

I still read a bit here and there, but rarely post these days..

[kentuck]

45. You were # 3924 to sign up on DU.

I was officially #3933. We may have signed up the same day?!

[SoCalDem]

52. I still remember the countdown to 4K and then to 5k

how naïve we were back then

[kentuck]

59. There was a big celebration at 10,000.

[joshcryer]

44. Props to all of the posters who post under their real names for so long.

And social media be damned. This is literally my only social media presence other than a videogame forum I post on (and very occasionally, twitter).

[Metatron]

57. josh, it's nice to see you on this thread

You are one of a handful of posters whose absence I notice. 14 years of daily DU for me and I only hit a thousand posts last year.

Hey kentuck, thanks for the thread and hope all is well with you. You would be missed if you weren't here.

[ProfessorGAC]

48. Probably Just A Month Or Two After You, Kentuck

I do recall that stuff would stay on the first page in GD, LBN and the Lounge for days.

Activity really spiked the first time around the end of 2001. Been up and down for many years. Then, it got really active here again when "it" pulled that upset.

I have to admit though, i don't recall people posting under their real names, very much. I heard Skinner on a phone interview one weekend morning on CSPAN WJ. A day or so later, i checked out the site and have been here since.

On Edit: Just checked. I was 4,893. So, between you me almost a thousand other posters.

[kentuck]

49. Yeah, we're oldtimers!

I always admired the honesty of DU in the early days. And the truthiness...

[librechik]

50. me too since 2001--Always like your posts, kentuck, and your handle is a welcome sight!

stay cool!

[lapfog_1]

51. been here for a while now

and there have mostly been congenial and thoughtful discussions...

I come here for "breaking news" first.

Originally found this place because of the "Top 10 Conservative Idiots" column...

Stayed for people like Andy (rest in peace) and others who have since left.

Always enjoyed your comments Kentuck.

[jpak]

55. DU was a lifeline to me during the Bush years

Would not have survived without it.

And frying chicken with a corn flake crust is just OK with me....

[pwb]

56. Maybe Russian bots running the good posts down the page?

I have always wondered why sometimes the page moves so quickly too. Only 11 years for me. More of a reader than a poster. Enjoy your post Kentuck and hope we are around a while longer. God willing. Peace.

[IADEMO2004]

58. Bartcop mentioned DU and I wandered over early '01

I think the old format said March. Just watched for quite a while and remember you as one of the best. CatWoman gave me a nice welcome reply to one of my early posts and I've been lurking ever since. Last eighteen months of highs and lows here was a rough ride. Hope you outlast me by a generation or two.

[eleny]

60. .

..... .....