Got a favorite poster? Tell them!

[InvisibleTouch]

I didn't really know Khephra personally, but I still feel a tremendous sense of loss. I'm so sad to know we lost such a good person, both on DU and in the world. Gone too young, but he did more good in his short span of life than some have done in double that time. How much more he might have accomplished, with additional time. It's a sad and pitiless cliche', but it's true: life isn't fair.

I hope he knew how much he was appreciated.

So I was thinking ... if you have favorite posters - someone whose words always add something to your day, make you smile, make you think, inform you of something you've never known, someone whose presence is a consistent positive influence - please tell them so while they're here and can read your words.

I don't consider myself a newbie here, I feel at home, but I do feel like I'm a bit on the outer fringes of the central social community that is DU. Which is okay - that's a comfortable place for me to be - but it also means I don't have as many people's names in my awareness as I otherwise might. There are none the less some names that come to mind for me, that I'd like to mention. It's a woefully incomplete list, but this is dead-of-morning for me, and I've never been a morning person....

Anyway, in no particular order, my appreciation to:

William Pitt - always, always with the right words to say, even in the darkest hours, to inspire us to keep fighting.

Lorien - animal-lover and economic activist.

Faye - for unyielding loyalty to John Kerry.

OldLeftieLawyer - for insight and hope during the recount battle.

Slinkerwink - passionate fellow Deaniac who was around when I first started posting here, but whose name I haven't seen in far too long.

Newyawker - for conscientiously maintaining the "Milestones" threads that acknowledge people's posting achievements.

EVERYONE who reviewed exit polls, crunched numbers, found discrepancies, hounded the media, hounded our representatives, and helped prove election fraud in November.

Skinner and the other admins and mods who bring this place into existence every single day.

Chris Heinz, Elizabeth Edwards, and Wes Clark Jr., for letting us know by their occasional presence that DU's contributions are recognized and appreciated.

And many, surely, that I've left out through no intended oversight. Please add your own!

[Deja Q]

1. Everybody at DU is cool. To one extent or another.

While there are a couple of people I would mention, I've never been keen on popularity contest threads.

And I will make a mention of the freepers who invade.. They've a special place too. :-)

[InvisibleTouch]

2. Not meant as a popularity contest....

...just an opportunity to make mention of the people who come to mind as names and posts that add to one's day. Of course it risks leaving others feeling left out, and that also is not my intention. I agree with you that (most) everybody on DU is cool ... gotta draw the line at the "special freepers" though.... ;)

[Taxloss]

69. I was going to name you, actually.

Hypnotoad, I like your style.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. As an alternative

you can send PMs or emails to fellow DUers to let them know that you appreciate them. No need to save your kind words until after someone is gone.

[havocmom]

4. Yeah, let people know you appreciate them in the present.

Get over the inhibition of giving 'atta boys' to strangers who do/say things you find of value.

We can find the energy to complain when somebody is a twit, so we should do the reverse too. Makes you feel a little better to dwell on the good stuff, you start noticing more good stuff! And you just never know what a profound impact a kind, honest, thoughtful communication can mean to someone else. A kind word from a stranger can make a HUGE difference to someone who is fighting their own demons, especially in trouble times like we have now. It is good to remind ourselves and others that we impact more than we realize. It gives strength when you remember that, or when someone else reminds you with gentle thanks.

Try kindness. Create love. Practice honest appreciation. We need more travelers on the road less taken.

Peace & strength,
hm

[kainah]

29. very important & good point

This is so true, havocmom. We always find the time to complain when people don't do what we want but we almost never take the time to say thanks when they do. (For instance, how many of you have taken the time to write Sen. Boxer for having the guts we asked her to have?) In our peace group, I always try -- but too often fail, I'm sure -- to remember to thank people for the work they do. And, without fail, when we remember to thank them, we see them back again.

So, remembering to thank people, to tell them that we appreciate what they do, would be an outstanding tribute to Kheph. That's one way I will try to honor him.

Last night, when I first posted after hearing the devastating news of Kheph's death, while still in shock, I was very struck by seeing my signature line quote from Horace Mann. Kef sure had no reason to be ashamed. In case the sig lines are off, here's the quote:

Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity -- Horace Mann

[salin]

6. That is a good way to go.

PM - with just an appreciation. Of course if I do this I will be spending all of my time on DU sending notes of appreciation rather than following the news... there are just so many DUers who warrant appreciation.

Back to Keph, though... such a hole is left... I do regret that we hadn't been in direct contact much as of late. With that thought - the OP and your thoughts are well taken. Good to let people know...

[buddhamama]

23. this is what i've been doing

sending PMs to those here that I love and appreciate for different reasons.

[jellybelly]

5. I like Gothic Sponge's threads

they are funny and stupid:P

and Placebo, he gave me my avatar...I have to kiss his butt for that

[Gothic Sponge]

21. Thank you.

:hug:

[goodbody]

7. yeah, where is slinkerwink?

[Renew Deal]

18. She was worried about being stalked.

Supposedly she was going to post under a different name.

[Texasgal]

56. Bleachers7

Your posts ROCK! They are always funny and insightful. I always open yours... :)

[Longgrain]

8. They all know who they are...

:hi: Many of them I already know on a first name basis...

Besides, I wouldn't to to call anyone out, or have anyone feel like i was snubbing them If I forgot to mention them...

A few of my favorite friends...intials only

JJ, RA, JB, RIM, and my longest, closest friend FN


I didn't have a chance to know Khephra, and I don't believe we've ever talked...but the loss of another DUer affects us all...

It kind of made me think what would happen if one of my DU friends passed on...:(

You are all apprechiated...:)

[jellybelly]

9. and longgrain because we are so different from each other...

but we get along through cyber hugging:bounce:

[Longgrain]

10. Differences and diversity

are what make DUers so great...

And the hugs are nice too...:hug:

[jellybelly]

11. and you're not crazy....

:hug:

[Longgrain]

16. I'm sorry if i went nuts last night...

I just had a very rough week, I started posting a bunch of angry vainity stuff until I saw the news...

I just sort of stepped back after that...

Thanks again JB :hug:

[Longgrain]

14. On edit to my first message...

I would appear as if Khephra and I have talked on at least one occation...

Someone mentioned he had a passion for fantasy litature...so i went back to the FLG and found this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=279x129

I wished we could have talked some more...:-(

[Magrittes Pipe]

12. I love my Farrah Fawcett poster.

[HEyHEY]

13. All the trolls

Cause then I get to say things like "I fucked your mother last night you fucking piece of human garbage" and Admin doesn't send me emails.

[Renew Deal]

19. lol

:toast:

[JVS]

39. Don't you hate when you accidentally respond to the wrong post...

with a message like that. Then everyone is up your ass because you slammed Kleeb.

[JohnKleeb]

40. huh?

[JVS]

42. I'm just using your name as an example of a respected DUer

You know, someone so well liked that heyhey's unloading of gratuitous vulgarity on you would make people mad at him.

[HEyHEY]

67. yes, I've done that a couple times

[havocmom]

48. And HooRay for HEyHey! I try to always read his posts cuz they put

the world in a little perspecitve. Even advised my wayward daughter to read HEyHEy when she does the DU. She was laughing her tush off reading his stuff when she was here at Christma. Said she would "definatley have to keep an eye on that lad!"

[HEyHEY]

66. Cool! Thanks!

[CO Liberal]

15. OK - Here's a Few

Arwalden
Underpants
William Pitt
Newyawker99
Mr Scorpio
NightTrain

And of course, my favorite DU-er of all:

The Princess

[MrScorpio]

55. Dude, You're the greatest

Lemme see if I have any room on my will.

I sure hope you like comic books and porn.

[Renew Deal]

17. There are many.

Kentuck is a very good DUer. He is well thought out and interesting. The Magistrate is another one. But there really are so many people here. We all work hard to make this place what it is.

[Gothic Sponge]

20. Too many to name, and i don't want to hurt anyone's feelings....

I love you all for different reasons.

Most of all, i love the fact that you put up with my silliness.

:silly:

[Bertha Venation]

22. DU -- for better or for worse -- is my only community right now . . .

When I moved to Maryland to make a life with Kathy (with a brief stop in VA first, while our house was being built), it was like uprooting a sequoia. I had never lived anywhere but Southern California and never imagined leaving. Obviously I remain in close contact with my family and others most important to me back home. But in 2000, the year I moved, I performed my last concert with a GLBT/friendly community chorus that had been the center of my life for seven years. Imagine spending three hours at least once a week with thirty of your closest friends, working hard at something every one of you adored and loving every minute of it. Then stopping that cold.

I am where I belong; I am glad I moved out here -- I love it here. I am deeply in love with Mrs. V. and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. But more and more lately I am feeling the loss of community. It's invading my dreams. A change is coming soon, and I don't know where I will land, but it's time I got involved again, somewhere.

This is my reply because I have to say that I'm happy to consider most DUers as my friends and I appreciate being part of this community.

RIP Khephra

[terrya]

24. I'm a bit uncomfortable with these kind of threads.

I'm not going to be on anyone's list of favorite posters, I know that.

And others won't be included as well. It's a little bit touchy, as far as sparing other people's feelings, to have these kind of threads.

Having said that, DU is a place of community and friends for me. I've met some great people in person through the Chicago DU meetups. DU is a place where I can learn, I can rant, and I can express myself freely, openly and honestly.

Thanks,
T

[Magrittes Pipe]

25. You're one of MY favorite posters, Terry.

What, am I a nobody? :cry:

[terrya]

34. Oh, please. You'll NEVER be a nobody.

And this place would be very, very, very boring without you.

Thanks, guy

T

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

26. I always enjoy your posts!

But this does seem to be a bit of a popularity contest. Story of my life. But to paraphrase the Smiths, I guess I "just haven't earned it yet, baby."

[terrya]

35. Thank you! I always enjoy your posts!

I do get that get iffy feeling about these kind of threads. It's like "who's the best looking DU'er". Just sort of questionable.

But thanks for your post. :-)

T

[Left Is Write]

27. That's why I have thus far refrained from naming names.

But you, sir, are definitely one of my favorites. :)

[davsand]

28. Terrya, you'd be on my list.

I'd like to think that most all of the Evil DUers would be, but if I'm being honest, I have got to say that there are some people who register on me more often than others. You are one of he people who always registers on me.

I see DU as being a lot like a yard full of peacocks. EVERY darn one is lovely in its own right, but the entire yard is just spectacular...


Laura

[Beware the Beast Man]

31. **** TERRYA IS MY FAVORITE POSTER **********

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[terrya]

33. Thank you

:loveya:, BtBM. :-)

T

[FizzFuzz]

30. Once in awhile I PM people because I just want to let them know I admire

their analysis on something...Or, I say so directly in the thread.

I have also wondered if I'm going against some kind of DU etiquette, because I rarely get any response. I mean, my point is not to get some kind of stroke in return; I am saying that being ignored when I say I admire someone's way with words makes me think I have overstepped some invisible boundary. I'm talking about the kind of posts where I hadn't been participating in the discussion, but just had to jump in to tell someone that I was impressed.

And, Im sad to say I didn't get to know Kephra; missed too many of his posts--sigh. I missed someone worth reading.

[Ladyhawk]

36. It would be nice if we could do this more often.

With so many of us we get lost in the multitudes.

[FizzFuzz]

44. I almost didn't open this post!

n/t means no text, so I assumed there wouldn't be any other comment....

But anyhow, I was even thinking about opening a thread to ask what IS the etiquette on it, since I have pretty consistently been ignored when I send out compliments this way. I don't THINK it's because I express myself poorly, and I don't think I end up looking like a stalker. I dunno, maybe it's hard for people to take compliments, or maybe I sound too smitten? Duhhh, ummm, :shrug:

[Ladyhawk]

47. I don't know...I've sent out a few compliments and received...

...usually quite modest replies.

And I fixed that n/t thing. I probably decided to add text after I'd already typed it...D'OH!!!

[FizzFuzz]

51. hope I didn't sound like I was scolding about the n/t

sometimes folks put n/t in the message part so it's a little pet peeve of mine, and I get tempted to "instruct" them on the proper use of n/t :eyes: LOL..sheesh what a noodge, (but thank goodness I don't act on it!!!).

Well, anyway, I guess I won't give up on complimenting good writing or insights--I can't help it if I get a little worshipful!! ;)

[Touchdown]

32. I always liked this one.

[Magrittes Pipe]

43. Hell-oooo.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=2385233&mesg_id=2385632&page=

[Bouncy Ball]

37. It'd be easier for me to say

that there are precious few here who I DON'T enjoy talking to. I have no one on ignore. I can't think of any screen names that pop up and I think "oh no!" There ARE a few names on my little piece of paper whom I suspect are freeper trolls and I monitor their posts with advanced search and hit alert on them if they are disruptive (I am the greatest troll catcher EVAH!), but for the most part, everyone here is on my side, as far as I'm concerned.

And this is a great community!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!

[johnnie]

38. I like johnnie's posts

Of course I am biased.

Other than that, there are a many here at DU that I enjoy. I am not on one on one talking terms with anyone here, but I enjoy many of the people and after 2 years I have come to seem to know how these certain people are.

[Kukesa]

41. VolcanoJen

and, it's NOT because I'm her Mother.

Wink-wink.

[Magrittes Pipe]

45. Ha! I had no idea you were VolcanoJen's mom!

I see you're in Dayton. I misspent many younger days in the Gem City (I'm a Springfielder, and you gotta go out of town for some culture ;)).
:hi:

[Zomby Woof]

70. She is!

And for that reason, I love both of them equally. I ain't playin' faves with those two beauties. :-)

[liberalhistorian]

46. Well, what about posters we have

a major crush on and we know they're single, can we tell them, too? :evilgrin:

[Longgrain]

49. Same here...

Since I know of a few...:evilgrin:

[liberalhistorian]

50. Really?

Well, then, be a man about it and tell them! Although, how can you be sure that it's really you and not your fireplace that they like? :evilgrin:

[Longgrain]

52. I make a rule...

to never officially "hit" on another DUer until I've seen a picture of them (there have been one or two exceptions...)

Since I know everyone around DU has seen my picture, ad nauseam, I hope to see a few more DUers show there face...:)

[jellybelly]

53. my face is cute

look:hurts:

let the flirting begin...

[Longgrain]

58. I haven't seen your picture yet JB!

After asking you countless times!

Now leave me alone...You're not the only woman on DU I have eyes for...;-)

[jellybelly]

61. you should ask me more times...

and beg, then cry...maybe I'll actually figure out how to send one:boring:

It's fun stalking you...can't resist butting in}(

[liberalhistorian]

62. Ah, I see, so you're one of those

gents who values appearance over everything else, huh? Another fantasy deflated, waaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Oh, well, I guess I'll have to find another way to get close to a good fireplace. :evilgrin: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Longgrain]

63. Not at all...

I appreciate intelligence and sense of humor more than anything else...

Tho I admit, as an artist, I am drawn to a pretty faces...

It just goes with the turf...;-)

[opiate69]

54. So many great posters here, it's hard to single any out..

but there are a few who, for whatever reason, come to mind.
Will Pitt
Nothingshocksmeanymore
Trumad
HeyHeyHey
JohnKleeb
matcom
Flaming Youth.

Of course, these are just a few, and I mean no slight towards anyone who I haven't mentioned. Hell, I don't even have anybody on ignore, so I suppose you can take that as evidence that I pretty much like everyone here. Even the ones I don't neccessarily agree with.

[JohnKleeb]

57. Wow, I am humbled

I didn't make a list because theres a lot of posters I like.

[jellybelly]

59. I know what you mean...

For me, it's hard to remember names...I only know avatars..

[JohnKleeb]

60. well thats part of it too but I'd write a list then remember

it would go on for a while.

[lumberingbear]

64. Thanks to everyone!!!

While I set here in Podunk, Indiana (away from my beloved Florida) and take care of my mother with Alzheimer's, I thank everyone at DU for informing me, making me laugh and making my time pass a little more enjoyable. :grouphug:

(I get to go back to Florida this Friday for a month. Can't wait for the warmth and getting to sleep in my own bed :-) )

[Lorien]

65. Awww..thanks InvisibleTouch

:hi:

I've enjoyed your posts too, and those of all our regular "Economic Activism and Progressive living" group members (and you know who you are :hi:). The DU groups allow us to get to know a few posters fairly well, so I really appreciate that Skinner has allowed so many to be created; there really is something for everyone.

Hey, where is Slinkerwink these days? And Mopaul; he was always a favorite of mine, but I haven't seen him in quite a while.

Along with those you've already mentioned, I love Bouncy Ball's stories, Eloriel's commentary and research, Symbolman's flash animation, Moonbeam Starlight and Q's always lively threads, ET Awful's wonderful kitty pictures, Bertha Venation's tales of her rural wildlife (and not so wild life),and I don't know where Forrest Gump is these days, but when he and NSMA would get going I almost always ended up spiting diet coke all over my keyboard!

There are really too many to mention. I'm sure I'll be thinking of more names to list all evening. Of course there was Khephra, who was one of the first people to respond to my posts when I first signed on in early 2002. He will be greatly missed.

[WilliamPitt]

68. The Magistrate

for reasons that don't require explanation, sir.

Thanks, by the way.

Honorable mention to BigMcLargeHuge, for having the best screen name ever. :)

[TOhioLiberal]

71. Matcom...

...and his news stories. Odd bits, weird news, and double entendres are his specialty. Probably Googles 'weird news' to get most of it.

[fluffernutter]

72. there are so many that make me smile when i post here.

thank you. :toast: the list is long and growing longer.

peace and love to you all.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

73. I always like Pithlet's posts.

She has a picture of a little dog for an avatar.