The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHow long have you been at the DU?
I've been here 15 years and 2.5 weeks.
Kali
(55,007 posts)16 years
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Kali
(55,007 posts)RGinNJ
(1,020 posts)applegrove
(118,622 posts)ramen
(789 posts)not long as a participating member. I lived in NYC from 2000-2006 and learned of the site during that time. For all our squabbles and occasionally toxic discussions, I'll probably never leave. This site gave me a lot in those trying times.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)DonaldsRump
(7,715 posts)Kept hoping that there was something that would propel Kerry over W, and this and DailyKos were my sanctuaries.
Started posting after 2016 GE.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)results did not.
Response to applegrove (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,237 posts)And I was here for the lead up to the Iraq war, among other events, some good, some depressing as hell (2004 election).
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,237 posts)The admins changed GD and GDP into 2 separate forums, one where DUers could express anger and sound off and the other to post their sadness and get some sympathy. I posted in the latter.
Little did we imagine back then what the future would bring...
applegrove
(118,622 posts)are on a mission. Vibes to Americans on this journey.
Rhiannon12866
(205,237 posts)Who have no idea what's really going on and assume that the propaganda ("alternative facts" ) that they're hearing is actually real news. I believe right now that there are more of us than there are of these stubborn and clueless souls, but these are still scary times since Trump is continuing to gut our government agencies and he and his minions are spreading more lies every day...
PufPuf23
(8,767 posts)But I had an earlier account and screen name and after one of the forum re-designs I could not gat back in and made this new (lol) account, So probably since 2003 or 2004. Never been that prolific a poster but visit DU every day now and for 15 plus years have visited DU more days than not (except had a break in at home internet access 2014-15 or so).
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Phoenix61
(17,003 posts)line after the 2016 election.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)mrsadm
(1,198 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I'm one of the oldies - not many of us left.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)stopbush
(24,396 posts)Don't know the exact date, but it was within months or weeks of the DU launch.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)stopbush
(24,396 posts)It says 2003 before July 6, but I know I joined before then.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,366 posts)then you are the 127,665'th person to sign up.
I am 130,116. The OP Applegrove is 164,532
From what I understand, a shitload of the early members were republican assholes who just wanted to make noise.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,366 posts)and is accurate, because I never gave up this user name through all the changes of format.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=130116 <--- and that is my user ID number or "Serial Number" as I referred to it.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,593 posts)Just over 15 years.
I feel as though I've been here all my life.
This place is home.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Itchinjim
(3,085 posts)DU was my lifeline during the Dubya Presidency. It helped me keep my sanity after Kerry lost. The 2008 primary battles nearly drove me away but I stuck around. Celebrated here when Obama won in 08 and 14. Nearly left again during the 2016 primary battles. The election night hack in 16 left me with a dread that something terrible was about to happen, which of course it has. DU has been a part of my daily life for almost twenty years.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)DU is a safe place to think and learn.
Pachamama
(16,887 posts)Approaching 16th anniversary
Wow....time flies and a lot shared together....
applegrove
(118,622 posts)sakabatou
(42,148 posts)applegrove
(118,622 posts)Polly Hennessey
(6,794 posts)I found the site in 2001.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Polly Hennessey
(6,794 posts)I found the site in 2001.
elleng
(130,865 posts)applegrove
(118,622 posts)peacebuzzard
(5,170 posts)And sending a check by mail for membership
On edit: I guess admin will take a check by mail still, probably wont get a bumper sticker though.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)CottonBear
(21,596 posts)Like you, I must have sent a check by mail.
I joined Democratic Underground on Wed Oct 6, 2004, 02:48 PM.
However, Id lurked for several years prior to joining DU. Ive always had the same name from DU1 to DU3.
DU is my online home. Ive had the pleasure of meeting up with many of my fellow Georgia DUers over the years as well.
Yall are the best! Cheers to DU and to the Administrators; Skinner (owner), Elad and Earl G!
peacebuzzard
(5,170 posts)It was a small DU faction; I have those 35mm pics(!) along with the bumper stickers in storage in NM. One day, I will disinter.
I was despondent after the Gore/Bush debacle, carried a 16 lb laptop around the country, and joined DU somewhere along my travels at the time while plugged into dial-up and Compuserve.
solara
(3,836 posts)since October 3, 2006
I don't write a whole lot but I am on everyday, reading, responding sometimes and doing a lot of thinking. DU is a place where I can go to make some sense of what is happening politically. And, while I don't agree with a lot of the posts I read, especially lately, I am glad for this forum that allows for important and much appreciated discussion.
I would be really happy if some of the un-called for nastiness went away.
We have one enemy, with many tendrils of evil which we need to focus on removing.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)5X
(3,972 posts)so, 18 years.
My profile says 2003, so maybe 17 years. I know I was reading before that.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)5X
(3,972 posts)it is now past my waist and we haven't left there yet.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)5X
(3,972 posts)IcyPeas
(21,859 posts)Furious about invading Iraq. I didn't believe the shit they were trying to sell us.
Smirking Chimp led me here.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Wow, I guess 17 years. Hard to believe.
5X
(3,972 posts)Did they lose some records back then?
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Maybe they weren't keeping track before then. Or they didn't expect the board to be the success that it has been.
IADEMO2004
(5,554 posts)edit add
2001 The Late Great Bartcop sent me.
SeattleVet
(5,477 posts)Just short of 15 years.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Arkansas Granny
(31,515 posts)applegrove
(118,622 posts)but prefer not to most often. Many democrats on that discussion group spoke so highly of the DU i just jumped right in. Right after you signed up. Congrats on 15 years
Satch59
(1,353 posts)Even though under this profile since 2012, came here as the only refuge to the GWB mess, which actually seems so mild compared to now. 9/11 certainly was surreal and to have this place to go was a comfort, along with the lead up to the Iraq war, Kerrys loss, the magical Obama years and the horror of Trump. This wonderful place...so grateful...
applegrove
(118,622 posts)democrank
(11,093 posts)Was almost 60 at the time and just learning how to navigate a computer. I was leading a simple life in the woods of Vermont and was clueless about all the computer lingo here. Didnt know what button was for what...mostly still dont. I learned so much here, including what a Bartcop was.
Still send my membership donations by snail mail, still have no idea what a signature line is, and still know less about computers than my youngest grandchild.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)When i was new to the internet i played hearts. You could make comments and i cracked a joke. Someone posted lol. I thought they were calling me an absolute zero because lol is the symbol for absolute zero in math. I thought 'that's not very nice'. LOL!
Duppers
(28,120 posts)Long time.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)peacefreak2.0
(1,023 posts)I remember Kephera was one of the first people to welcome me. Got bounced off in 2016 crash. Lurked and finally put my nose back in last year.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,384 posts)Although I am pretty sure I was lurking prior to that. Found the site either from reading Daily Kos or the Dean for America site where I was very active in 2003.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)Not once.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,848 posts)Actually, I had two earlier incarnations. The current one is since mid 2016.
sazemisery
(2,608 posts)hlthe2b
(102,228 posts)Of course as a "Child" prodigy...LOL
DAMANgoldberg
(1,278 posts)14 years to the day. Not surprised it's been that long. 💯👍🏾
mahina
(17,646 posts)Lurked from Jan 21 2001 till I joined in 03.
Buncha hippies
I keed, I keed
mrsadm
(1,198 posts)Wow I had not thought about this. Are there prizes?
griffi94
(3,733 posts)I joined in the middle of Dubyas first term.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)When you look at someone's post, click their profile icon (the one that looks like a file card) to the right of their name. In the address bar at the top of your screen you'll see a URL that ends with a 6 digit number - that's their member number, and it will show you where they fall in the order of sign-up. (Unfortunately, if someone lost their original login and had to re-register, it won't show the earlier member number, only the current one.)
All the original member numbers started at 100,000. For example, my member number is 106679, which means I was the six thousandth, six hundred and 79th person to sign up on DU.
Most profiles will also show the sign-up date except for a big group of the earliest members. There was some kind of major server glitch sometime in 2002 or 2003 that wiped out all the sign-up dates for everyone up to that point. That's why you'll see join dates that say: "2003 before July". Or like mine, which only says "2001".
CottonBear
(21,596 posts)...and a DU administrator (maybe Skinner or maybe EarlG) responded to my post!
They said that
kskiska was the first DU member to post
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=100805
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Over the years, several of the first members have passed away - and I still keenly miss many of them.
Have you ever looked in on the In Memoriam page? https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=inmemoriam
patricia92243
(12,595 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I was here for a couple years before that under a different screen name, but left and took a break.
lapfog_1
(29,199 posts)and there are a lot of the old posters I miss.
but then there are a few that make it worth while to come here (HI catbyte! love your pet rescue videos!)
samplegirl
(11,476 posts)Its been a long time and have watched lots of good people pass. Shared advice, and loved much like family.
No matter what we were united by being democrat first!
Just_Vote_Dem
(2,804 posts)I have been lurking since around 2014 or so
Drifter
(4,751 posts)Perhaps a day or 2 after.
Been here from the very beginning.
Cheers
Drifter
BlueTsunami2018
(3,491 posts)A friend turned me on to this site just before the foolish, criminal Iraq war started.
mindem
(1,580 posts)underpants
(182,777 posts)18 years plus
Ohio Joe
(21,753 posts)A bit over 14 years... Thats a while.
latinaliberal
(102 posts)Going on 19 years. I check in through out the day. I don't line to post. This place keeps me sane.
Hannahcares
(118 posts)Been here since Bush ... remembering the Brooks Brothers fake gatherings in Florida Remembering the Supremes and TIA... remembering when we would collectively DU a poll... getting old now, still trying to make the world sane for our first grand baby... moving to DC area to be near her. Remembering when we worked together... not so much polarization back then. Peace, Hannah
patricia92243
(12,595 posts)badhair77
(4,216 posts)Keith Olbermanns investigation into possible Ohio election corruption. Somewhere after DU 2.0 I changed my profile. I was devastated after 2016 when the site was down and realized how much I relied on the DU community.
TwilightZone
(25,467 posts)This is my second username. First was through the 2004 campaign.
lynintenn
(644 posts)Glorfindel
(9,726 posts)I dropped out for a while after the horrible "election" of 2004. Prior to that, my screen name was Gildor Inglorion, and I had been here since 2001 with "more than 1,000 posts," which is how they were counted in those days. So I'm a genuine old-timer. I don't post as much as many of my DU compatriots, but I visit and read every day. Thanks for an interesting question, applegrove!
katmondoo
(6,455 posts)xmas74
(29,674 posts)Follow this post.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287585154#post8
It might be the only time you're safe in Primaries, lol.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Fla Dem
(23,653 posts)OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)ploppy
(2,162 posts)I don't talk much for being here so long!
bikebloke
(5,260 posts)I read for about six months before joining.
bottomofthehill
(8,329 posts)Have been under this name since 2005. The big topic at the time seemed to be what was happening in Kleebs life.....
stonecutter357
(12,695 posts)livetohike
(22,140 posts)inspiration and laughs .
BarbaRosa
(2,684 posts)I lurked for a bit then joined, so I'll say late summer that year.
Zoonart
(11,854 posts)Star member since 2016.
MontanaMama
(23,307 posts)I signed up as a star member on Halloween 2016 because I didn't want to lose access on election night with the heavy traffic. Turns out we lost access anyway due to the hack. I know I relied on DU to get through the shock and disappointment of the election...it may have saved my marriage during that time as well. My husband just could not grasp why it was so upsetting for me...I felt lost.
CanonRay
(14,101 posts)ZenDem
(442 posts)I was able to pull up my 'old' account...kind of sad. Damn, I've changed since then.
I've been reading your posts for over 9 years.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,731 posts)But I had been lurking since February of 2001. At that time, I only had a computer at work and for some stupid reason, the company objected to my using it for non-work purposes.
I finally bought one at the start of 2002 and used to visit here on dial-up.
happybird
(4,605 posts)Just a wee babe in the woods, lol! I did lurk for several months before joining.
DU has saved my sanity more than once over the past year. When I was ill for a couple months last spring, DU was my only contact with people and the world outside my bedroom. The Lounge and Music Appreciation forums, and the cartoon threads, really helped keep my spirits up.
Thank you all for being here.
DinahMoeHum
(21,784 posts)gopiscrap
(23,756 posts)cilla4progress
(24,726 posts)Kerry/Bush stolen election
rurallib
(62,406 posts)came on a friend's recommendation. Stayed for the Lounge
a kennedy
(29,655 posts)BluesRunTheGame
(1,614 posts)Iggo
(47,549 posts)Last edited Thu Feb 27, 2020, 12:00 AM - Edit history (1)
12 years, 5 months, 2 weeks, 5 days...or thereabouts.
Staph
(6,251 posts)I joined 15 years and three weeks ago!
hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)I joined officially in 2004. I needed to know that I wasn't alone.
Dagstead Bumwood
(3,625 posts)just the past six months as a member. I probably could have found the place years earlier had I just thought for a moment about a place like this existing, derp. It honestly never occurred to me. Might have been a big help and gone a long way to prevent all of the teeth-gnashing and hair pulling I did during the Dubya years.
DFW
(54,358 posts)That Sequoia sapling I planted in honor of the day is now 495 feet tall and 60 feet around at the base.................
applegrove
(118,622 posts)DFW
(54,358 posts)I live in Germany.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)DFW
(54,358 posts)Russians, Slovaks, German Jews, Poles, whatever, but they all came over in the mid 19th century or before, so I never knew any relatives from "da old country." I know one branch had at least one deadbeat Mississippi riverboat gambler fleeing north to escape his debts. Another, born in Charleston, was the son of a poor South Carolina tailor who worked his way through college as a janitor, and managed to become deputy mayor of New York City.
So while I no doubt had ancestors who spoke German and Russian, I am the first of my family of my generation to speak them in daily life (my wife is German, and I often work with Russians), and I had to learn them both from scratch.
applegrove
(118,622 posts)David__77
(23,372 posts)Through the Iraq war, the recall against Gray Davis and all sorts of eras and events!
dhol82
(9,352 posts)Got lost in the shuffle after DU 1, but have been a lurker or full member for the duration.
Throckmorton
(3,579 posts)Joined mid-spring 2002
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Joined in 2016. I have a chain migration.
I got a couple friends on who got a couple friends on. Yada yada yada... here we are.
Niagara
(7,596 posts)I'n not sure on how long that I lurked here, but I registered in 2012.
spicysista
(1,663 posts)I started lurking a bit before then. The crash did startle me for a while. I also noticed an absence of black voices. Then niyad, and a few others, pulled me into this amazing world. I hope to be around for a long time.
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,681 posts)Skittles
(153,150 posts)yes indeed
A HERETIC I AM
(24,366 posts)16 years, 207 days!
And I just noticed that I passed 20,000 posts a little bit ago.
In all that time, I have averaged about 3.3 posts a day.
Joined August 4, 2003. Started reading/lurking about 6 months before that.
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)Originally I was Bluecollar but after the hack I had to get a new user ID since I couldn't remember the password to the email account when I first signed up.
I think there's a way to find out for sure but I dont know it.
mithnanthy
(1,725 posts)It's my daily routine. Love it here.
Doc_Technical
(3,526 posts)joined 2 1/2 years later
yellowdogintexas
(22,250 posts)before I became official.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)I had a different user name. Cant remember anymore.
(sorry if I posted this twice)