My 10,000th post...a short trip down memory lane

[av8rdave]

I guess the fact it took 8 years to reach 10,000 posts says a lot about how much I write here. I'm largely a lurker who occasionally replies. If there were a count of original threads I started, the number would be small indeed.

DU was a search engine discovery for me. My union has an online discussion board that often gets into politics. Airline pilots tend to be a very conservative bunch - union members who watch Fox "News" and listen to Rush Limbaugh. A progressive amongst that group is greatly outnumbered. I remember thinking it would be nice to have an online place to visit with like minded people, and dogpile.com (remember that?) brought me here.

I've only met a couple of DUers in person. A few years back I had the pleasure of meeting up with California Peggy and her husband while I was on a trip. I hope I get more opportunities to meet up with some of you in my travels. I've gotten to know some DUers just from interacting here. Good people make a good place to belong. Although I sometimes go long periods without posting, I check in regularly to see what's going on.

I've had a handful of spirited exchanges here. They were all learning experiences.

Things I've learned:

You can't convert a Rush (the band) hater. It's easier to push string.

Some (very few) people will resort to hostility rather than revisit something when faced with facts or new information. Cognitive dissonance is a powerful thing.

Never, ever use the phrase "wild, wild west" in the guns forum.

You can discover wonderful new things (music, literature, humor, etc.) just by interacting here.

You can draw comfort and support from friends as well as complete strangers here. The vast majority of people here, I believe, are great human beings.

Thanks all for a great first 8 years!

[NYC_SKP]

1. Congrats!

:hi:

[Phentex]

2. I will add you to Milestones if I may...

Congratulations!

I don't know if I'll make it to 10,000 in 8 years!

I always wonder how many I'd have if I posted in all of MFM's threads! :)

[av8rdave]

3. Thanks!

My first milestone! :hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Congratulations.

Glad you found a "home." I know a fair number of liberal pilots, but it's strange that even more of them aren't, considering how ardently they demand their collective bargaining rights. A retired captain I know (a devout liberal) once commented, "Just because you're the captain, it doesn't mean you're the boss." I hope you can convert a few of your colleagues, but in the meantime there's always DU.

:hi:

[madinmaryland]

5. Congrats! I have met three DU'ers though it's only a technical...

We adopted Flaxbee's cat, Sonia back in early 2005. Met her and her husband at an IHOP in VA.

I have seen GoddessofGuinness perform several times (she is the lead violinist in the community orchestra). I was also going to hook up with GoG and Taverner, but we had no idea what each other looked like. When GoG posted pictures a couple of days later, I realized they had walked right by me at the bar! D'oh! Would you walk up to someone and ask if they are GoddessofGuinness or madinmaryland of DU???

:rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. You might be able to get away with GoddessOfGuinness in a pub;

but I doubt anyone would appreciate being called mad... :-)

[livetohike]

6. Congratulations!

:toast:

[abbeyco]

7. Congratulations!

I've been here since around 2004 and just barely reached 1k posting status. Like you, I lurk and rarely start threads - which sink like a rock when I do.

Loved your photos from the South Pacific a few months back and am glad you're a part of the DU family!

[av8rdave]

8. I'm amazed sometimes

How much I can get out of this place by just reading.

I'm glad you liked the photos. Every now and then a really great trip comes along.

:hi: from a fellow thread sinker!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Congrats!

:toast:

[MiddleFingerMom]

11. As 'seldom' as you've posted (and 'seldom' is definitely a relative term)...

.
.
.
... I've never seen one of your posts that I DIS-liked.
.
.
.
And I agree with the nice things you've said about the vast majority of folks here in The Lounge.
.
.
.

[av8rdave]

15. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough!

Welcome back!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Congrats, my dear av8rdave!

On your 10,000 posts!

I hope you'll have many, many more!

Here's a photo of that happy evening you mentioned:

[av8rdave]

13. Now THAT'S a trip down memory lane. Thanks!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. I was just glad I could find it, lol!

:hi:

[bigwillq]

14. Congrats on 10K!

:toast:

[liberaltrucker]

17. I haven't had the honor of meeting you in person

Judging from your posts and a few PM's, you are
who you say you are. The real deal. If you ever
have a layover at PIT, look me up. Our apartment
is tiny, but friendly. A 45 minute drive from PIT.

:hi:

[av8rdave]

19. That would be great

I'll let you know when/if I manage a reasonable layover there!

:hi:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

18. Congratulations!

Great post :toast:

[trof]

20. The dichotomy of pilots...it's weird.

Agree, they're mostly conservative.
Yet most airline pilots belong to a union, whether ALPA or an independent 'company' union.

I've talked to a good friend I flew with in the guard and at TWA.
He's pretty much a knee-jerk conservative and definitely anti-union.
And he was a dues paying member of ALPA for over 30 years.
He says "I didn't have a choice. TWA was a closed shop. You had to belong to the union to work there."
That was true for many years, but eventually you could opt out of 'membership', but you still had to pay the lion's share of the annual dues.
He never opted out.

I asked him if he didn't understand that the only reason he got the high pay, generous benefits, and (back then) excellent retirement plan was because of the sacrifices and battles fought by his brothers decades before.
He mumbled something in reply and changed the subject.
:shrug:

[TZ]

21. "You can't convert a Rush the band hater....."

That is the truest thing I've seen for awhile. And yet I keep hoping as I have a number of them as FB friends...:rofl: