Once Upon A Time, A Lot of DUers Posted Names Here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

Their own. Shoutout to Mortos for bringing us together 11 years ago after a crushing blow. The thread is no longer linkable but...

My name is still Laura Harper, and I remain unafraid.

I'm no longer a soccer mom, my hair is now gray, my husband but a memory, but I still hold true to the things that brought me here with you fine people in 2003. My own children are (almost) grown, with the last graduating this year. He was a toddler when I first logged in here. I still care about our country. I'm still here. Not as much, but someone here reminded me of a time when visiting DU was a treat. I left for a long time... after everything... and returned with a new username and a worse attitude, I admit. Jaded.

Anyway, here's to those who stick around. For fun. For laughter. For commiseration. For respectful disagreements. For a common ideal. To those who don't take words on a screen too far or to heart. I just wanted to share that one wonderful moment when Mortos brought us all together for thousands of replies and a true moment of unity.

Take care DU

[geomon666]

1. Nice to meet you.

I'm sorry things made you jaded. I hope with time, that can go away.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. It won't. Nothing lasts forever.

I was lucky to not be jaded for so long. It's all good. And thank you.

[geomon666]

3. I understand

I fight really hard not to get too jaded myself. But I like to keep some hope that things will always get better and maybe one day DU will be the place we both wandered into so many years ago once again.

[bigwillq]

4. Bye, Felicia.

I think I need to go to bed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. ...

Sleep tight dung beetle.

[Suich]

6. Hi Laura!

Good to hear from you!

Susan

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Hi Susan!

It's even better to hear from you!

[uppityperson]

7. Admin deleted that thread recently. I no longer tell who I am as I am more cautious

I still hold true to the things that brought me here with you fine people in 2004. I am glad to see you here still, new name and all.

It was a good moment of unity.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I figured they had.

It really was.

[salin]

63. I read/lurked from Nov. 0f 2001 til joining in Jan. of 2002.

Given the where I live, and not wanting wingnuts to launch personal attacks on my professional work (that has nothing to do with politics), I have always been close to the vest with my rl identity. You never know when crazy town ala some rw sight picks a comment to grow hundreds of attack calls.

Still, appreciate that call for unity.

[Omaha Steve]

8. Thanks for posting

K&R!

OS

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Thanks!

[MuseRider]

10. Hey there Laura!

I remember signing that thread I was really proud of all of us but for the life of me I cannot remember what the reason was that made us all feel compelled to do that. I am kinda glad it is gone because it is best not to have your name out there but how hard would it be to find out anyway? I certainly don't hide much.

It did really feel good to do that. Thanks for that memory. We were much smaller then and it felt closer than it does now.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. It was the day after the election.

It could be what has happened in my life, and it is also because there isn't much anyone can do to me. There are also (I think) 10 women with my same name in this area of Texas alone. My father instilled the "live free or die" in me.

It was a different time.

[MuseRider]

15. Oh yes.

There was plenty of reason right there to band together in a public way.

[pamela]

43. Freepers were trying to out DUers

They were in a particularly obnoxious mood after the election and were making all kinds of threats like firing employees who had Kerry stickers (as if any of those basement dwellers were bosses) and playing cyber-sleuth to determine the real names and info of DUers. That thread was a big fuck you to the ones threatening to "out" DUers real names.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. I'm glad that you're still here, my dear Laura!

I"m not here as much as I was, since so many friends have died and I miss them.

But DU will always be home. And I expect to always be here too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Thanks Peggy!

[lovemydog]

24. I consider you one of my mentors here,

because you (and others) were friendly and kind when I first started posting. It meant a lot then, and it still does. I know you've lost friends. Please know you always have friends here too CaliforniaPeggy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. Thank you, my dear lovemydog!

I miss my lost friends so much, but I am aware that I have friends here too........and that is a wonderful thing. I appreciate your reminding me.

[Samantha]

30. I am your friend

and I will never let you leave here. I am also lovemydog's new friend!

Sam

[lovemydog]

16. I enjoy your posts.

I love learning a little more about DU history too.

Thanks to you and all the folks who helped build this cool site.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Thank you lovemydog.

There are a lot of great stories. People really should share them more.

[lovemydog]

23. Yeah, I love the personable stories.

I joined DU after reading here for a while. A very nice person told me about this place. It took me a while to figure out where I most enjoyed reading. The groups like reading books and the mac group, they just made me feel like there were kind human beings here so I decided to join. Some very nice people welcomed me here. I also got a very rude reply in one of my earliest posts. I said something to the effect that I don't watch much tv and someone replied something along the lines of 'Yeah right, you're so hipster cool making fun of people watching tv.' Another person put my on ignore after like my second post, lol.

My goal here is to enjoy some fun times and sorrows too, with friendly people. Like you say so well in your last paragraph. Another goal I have is to share the joy of being involved with issues of our day. To be engaged. To vote in all elections. To be a decent person with those who disagree. To build a big coalition that includes leftists like me, moderates and liberals. To expand rights and help more people who work hard get a good living. And take good care of those who can't work. I still find it fun & engaging here. Thanks to many people.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. The Pets Group is my favorite forum these days. I don't post a lot but I

read a ton and love the multiple pictures posted there. I'm really glad you stuck it out.

[herding cats]

17. I very much don't recommend doing such as this in this day and age.

There are some very real, and sick people out there on the internet who can, and will target you for your political affiliation.

Please, be careful out there people. A moment of solidarity can lead to years of being stalked.

I know everyone's reality is different. I'm just mentioning a bit a caution is not out of place these days.

I hope the OP doesn't take this as a snark against them. It's anything but that!

It's just some kind words of caution about the reality of now.

A good rule of thumb is really get to know people before you share private information with them of any kind. Then think again about if you know them well enough to grant them that privilege. Your entire posting history on whatever username you use when you do it is subject to their scrutiny. On every single site you've used it on. Ever. You'd be amazed what information people can gather about you from all those little tidbits here and there.

Please be safe out there above all else.

/PSA off

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Hey, no worries.

I didn't take it as snark.

I'm not the kind who worries about that anymore if I ever really did. Have a terrific weekend!

~Laura

[herding cats]

32. I'm really relived you weren't offended!

That really wasn't my intention here. I just didn't want anyone to get caught up in a wave and say things they might live to regret later without thinking about first. I understand how that's human nature, but been there, done that and trying to save others the similar anguish, and all that.

For what it's worth, I really admire your chutzpah and wish I could emulate it here also.

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. For me, it's easy to do.

The worst thing that could happen already has.

[herding cats]

38. .

This feels so hollow and inadequate. I hope you know what I wish to express to you. I can't find a way to say it and not sounding weird or creepy.

I do understand what you're saying, even though you're not saying it.

[Hekate]

18. Thanks for the memories, Laura. That was a helluva great moment of solidarity and courage

Heh. I think I declined to reveal my name, though I signed in and cheered you all on with love in my heart.

All the best.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Back at you!

[ornotna]

27. I remember that thread

Don't recall if I participated but I do remember it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. I haven't seen you in FOREVER!

How are you?

[ornotna]

29. I'm well, thanks

Like you, older and grayer, but I'm still here. I used to stick to the Lounge but I've migrated from there to the harder stuff.

[Loki]

31. I remember Mrs. Grumpy

I've been here for a very long time, in fact, some time in April or May after the *selection. My birthday present that year was the announcement that Senator Jim Jeffords was switching parties to give Dems the control in the Senate. Not many know me, except Crewleader, and most don't recognize me at all. I've seen many names come and go through out these years, but I read DU almost every day. Don't post often, but take my verbal battles to other sites and do my prep work here. Like you, I am not afraid, and too old to start now.

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. I know you...

...and it's good to see you.

I'm glad you posted.

[passiveporcupine]

33. Hi Laura

I'm pretty careful about privacy, so I won't give my full name, but Hi from Julie!

I think DU has gotten too big and oppositional to be safely personal here. Now you just find some friends and form cliques...I guess. I never liked cliques, but maybe that is the only way to identify with friends here any more.

I personally like pretty much everyone here, regardless of politics, if they are nice. It's OK to be a little sharp and clever and maybe even a little snarky at times, as long as you are not nasty. There are definitely some here who make me want to really protect my privacy. Am I"m not locking that into any political stance.

[ScreamingMeemie]

45. Hey there!

I also think a lot of older posters have left/died/moved on, which changes the demographics a lot. I've been enjoying a little regression into times past lately.

[akbacchus_BC]

35. Glad you are still here! Were you Mrs. Grumpy after?

Well when I discovered DU in 2004, I used my real name.

You take care too and hope you will stay for a while.

Best regards

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. I was before...

... I am ScreamingMeemie after. It made it easier for me to participate.

[Aerows]

36. My name is Aerows

I've never hidden my name, nor my character.

I have no reason to do so, because I don't do things that I should be ashamed of my own self for doing.

Thyself is your guide - if you find yourself needing to be deceptive, that means you are acting against the better person inside.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. Good morning Aerows!

Well said.

[zalinda]

37. I'm sorry, I never remember names

or when people declare the color of their skin, or male or female or straight or gay or what someone said last week, heck sometimes a day ago. There are only a few people who I know their color or sex, only because they put it out there, quite rudely, so I remember them.

I mainly take people for what they are, how they act, and what they say. Some are great and some are not. Some sound like paid activists, some sound sincere. And, some are just trolls.

I'm an old hippy, who would love to be able to smoke to relieve my pain, but can't. Actually, there's a lot of things that I'd like to do, but can't.

I won't be having any grandchildren, so I shouldn't worry about the fate of the planet. I'll die before it does. BUT, I want a beautiful living planet for the rest of the population. And, I want peace and prosperity for everyone. This is a dream I have, and I'd like to see at least the start of it, before I die.

Z

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. Hey there zalinda...

I hope you get to see it too.

[mrdmk]

39. Being a privacy freak, dmk are the initials of my name. That is all I can give

That is all of the information I gave in that eluded thread. Knowing what I knew then about keeping information private is now a hundred fold today.

Need to say hi to a bunch of old-timers who are recognized in this thread and others in this site.


Peace and Love,

mrdmk


\

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Hey you!

It's nice to see old names and memories. Hope you have an excellent weekend.

[mrdmk]

55. Back at you and everyone else

[Behind the Aegis]

40. Wait...he's graduating?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

How old does that make me?!?

I share my name with a few people, you, of course, are one given we have actually met.

Good times!

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. BtA!!! I KNOWWWWW... Can you believe it?

He grew up way too fast, and it makes me old as dirt. Are you two feeling better?

[72DejaVu]

41. I registered here under my real name in 2001.

I had to change it when I was elected to my city council, because there is a mentally disturbed woman in my town who cyber stalks all the councilors.

It's a small thing but it reminds me of what those who serve the public on higher levels must have to deal with.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. I can't even imagine what holding a public office opens you up to.

Be safe!

[72DejaVu]

57. Thank you

You know, you would think maybe you'd have to worry about people who are hot over the big social issues or something like that, but no, it's the ones who are mad about things like zoning decisions.

[TBF]

42. I post under my real name at Twitter -

and have also connected with a few of the other communists personally on Facebook. It has gotten crazy on here with the primary infighting. I'll be hiding out in the socialist progressives group, doing what I can to post articles that are actually about leftist ideals. And occasionally post in sports - see you there!

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. Go Pack Go!

(at least I hope--scared about this game, scared about every game)

I think I'm subconsciously avoiding the Sports group these days, even though I'm not a smack talker.

[TBF]

53. Right?

What a crazy season!

[yuiyoshida]

54. Hi! I'm Yui

Hajimemashite! Dozo Yoroshiku!

I am that Asian kid right down the block... (well, if you lived in SF, than I would be.) I was brought here by my sis, who is no longer about these days.. anyway.

Just thought I would say.. HELLO.. or... Konnichiwa! ...Aloha, works too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

70. Hey!

My uncle was a proud SFer for 40 years. He was a sheriff's deputy, and then he owned a flower shop on Castro.

[yuiyoshida]

81. wow.

[niyad]

56. just wanted to say--LOVE your sig pic--I am pretty sure that the felids do, indeed, have their

own 'net, and post pics of us for their amusement.

[ScreamingMeemie]

71. I think you are right!

and thanks...

[annabanana]

58. I remember that thread.. For the longest time it was the ONLY

thing that popped up when I googled myself.

[ScreamingMeemie]

72. You are Internetting right then.

When I google myself, a basketball star comes up. I wish.

[tishaLA]

59. that was one of the great threads in DU history

thank you for reminding me of it and thank you for being you.

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. .

It really was, and thank you tisha. I will try.

[shanti]

60. yes, i remember that thread

although i didn't (and will never) post my real name here. it's just uncommon enough that anyone googling it would find my home address, and as a single woman, i don't want that! times are much different now...

[ScreamingMeemie]

74. Understood!

[mike_c]

61. I posted in that thread and then was cyberstalked....

Nothing ever came of it, but it was a pain in the arse at the time. I'm a university prof and have never made any real secret of my identity. My acct name is my real name, albeit with an abbreviation at the end. But some right winger in the Army at the time tried to orchestrate a letter writing campaign among members of a web site that was-- at the time, at least-- forbidden from mention on DU to my dept. chair, dean, provost, etc about my "unpatriotic" and "anti-military" DU post history. I've been a critic of militarism all my life. I don't know if that other "Underground" still exists.

Of course, my employers gave zero fucks about my posts. I found out later that the complaints went all the way to the CSU Chancellor's office, where the they were dismissed. Academic freedom, free speech, and all that. Still, it was a hassle.

[ScreamingMeemie]

75. Ugh, those people without lives.

I am not sure if that crew is still around, and I stopped caring before I even started.

A long time ago (and I'm pretty sure after looking back on it that it was a neighbor) someone called the man I worked with and told him that I was basically a commie pinko (he was not my employer, we just collaborated on stuff), and responded with something like,"and this affects me how?"

[JoeOtterbein]

62. My name is still the same, I don't care who knows it

What are they going to do? Send me a mean email?

[ScreamingMeemie]

76. Crazy keyboard warriors will always be crazy keyboard warriors.

LOL, those dramatic mean emails.

[easttexaslefty]

64. HI Laura. I'm Marie.

I participated in that long ago thread.
My full name is Marie Pugh. I get where you are coming from.
My son died in 2007. I don't fear much anymore.

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. Hey Marie...

It's a long road back from those things, isn't it.

[hamsterjill]

65. I remember that thread myself.

I'd spent the day crying over the election because I was so fearful of what Bush was going to try after he was re-elected.

Although I think DU has changed a lot, and in many ways NOT for the better, I still enjoy the discussions that make me think and learn. Glad to see many of us "old ones" still here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

78. It is. Whenever a familiar name pops up (like yours)

It puts things into perspective. I might use the trash button a lot more than I used to, and I don't have the stomach for the Primary forum anymore, but I'm still around.

[alphafemale]

66. My name is Lori Mcafee

The mother fuckers already know me

[ScreamingMeemie]

79. ...

Hi Lori!

[tclambert]

67. Interesting. My name is in fact, T. C. Lambert.

While I love many of the screen names (noms de DU?) found here, such as ScreamingMeemie, 90%Jimmy, MannyGoldstein (after Emmanuel Goldstein from the novel "1984&quot and Demeter (goddess of the harvest), I long ago resolved I shouldn't tempt myself to post things anonymously that would embarrass me to later have associated with my actual self or actual name. The TC stands for Ted Carl, 'cause my momma, Eula Mae, came from Arkansas. If I ever get rich and famous, I may change it to Theodore Charlemagne just to be ostentatious.

[ScreamingMeemie]

80. Ha! Theodore Charlemagne would be lovely.

That's a smart way to think. I bet it's kept you out of a lot of "scrapes" with yourself.

[alphafemale]

68. In a world of Facebook which did away with posting anonymous

It hardly matters really.

I chose the user name I have here because I chose it for a name for many sites because wolves were a thing for me and they had just been introduced to Yellowstone and it meant Momma to me and my kids were in grade school.

And then men started randomly attacking me for my name.

And that was fun to swat those mental insects.

[ScreamingMeemie]

82. My original username was based on a Spoonerism.

This username is based on a post here during the worst of the marriage equality fight.

[MrsMatt]

69. I posted in that thread

with my full name.

Remember when DU had a photo page of members in alphabetical order? It was when you were posting as Mrs. Grumpy, and your picture was right next to mine!

Now I'm a bit more cautious. The world has gotten a bit scarier.

[ScreamingMeemie]

83. That's right!

I had forgotten that page. Thanks for reminding me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. I remember

I still do.

And I am convinced that if people posted with real names behavior would improve...somewhat.

People do n Facebook and the war of words can be ahem epic

[ScreamingMeemie]

86. I think you are absolutely correct.

Good to see you!

I've had a blast on FB lately. I keep my own FB non-political, but I have a lot of fun on other people's walls.

[nadinbrzezinski]

89. Mine is mostly local news

[laserhaas]

85. It's a good place with great people and I'm glad DU didn't toss me out when DK lawyers did

Hope to help this realm grow real big.

Feelin the Bern!

[ScreamingMeemie]

87. ...

My husband was big-time into poker tournaments.

Thanks for posting.

[madinmaryland]

88. I have always held back on displaying my name on a public board such as this one.

I tend to work for people who are conservatives, and I don't want to put myself at a disadvantage when working with them and keeping or getting a job. If someone googles my name they will get a few hits about my genealogy research and about a person with my same name who is a fisherman and caught a big fish.

[ScreamingMeemie]

91. ...

... a good idea... plus there's that backing the wrong team thing...

[madinmaryland]

93. ...

Their, they're, there....

Did you notice how much the Vikings new stadium looks just like Jerrah's stadium. I got a good laugh out of that. Bud Grant must be rolling over in his grave. Only babies play indoors.

[ScreamingMeemie]

95. Yes! We said the same thing.

It's a carbon copy. It doesn't seem to help them or Detroit for sure.

[alphafemale]

90. Seems like their was a place where we posted our pics as well.

And we had a DU Panic Room in a Yahoo Group or something.

Yeah.

My post count does not reflect what a damn DUosaur I am.

[ScreamingMeemie]

92. My post count was fast and furious for a long while.

Moderating helped that. Now, I'm a lowbie.

[WillyT]

94. I Remember That Thread !!! - HUGE K & R !!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

96. Hey WillyT

[WillyT]

97. Hey Sream... That Thread Was A Direct Response To The Bush Boys Treatening Our Privacy...

And I was proud as hell as people listed their personal info over and over...

One of the first DU Long Threads...

No bickering, no fighting...

Just standing tall and identifying ourselves.

[ScreamingMeemie]

98. It was. It was right after "I have a mandate."