Not a GBCW Post, but Definitely a Farewell - DU Has Run its Course for Me [View all]

[Prairie Gates]

I started on DU in 2001, shortly after it went online. I don't remember the exact date, as that was many usernames ago, but I know that I discussed the antiglobalization protests in Quebec here on DU, and that was April 20-22, 2001, so it was probably a few weeks before that, maybe even March. So, yeah, pre-9/11. Early adopter sorta thing.

I argued often with J. Carlos Jiacinto in those early days, read khephra's LBN posts. I've seen many posters come and go; too many pass away.

I posted in the original threads of many of DU's most famous posts. NYC Olive Garden? Oh, I had my say! I saw the war come, the Mission Accomplished that was only a sad beginning. I was in the mix in the various primary fights, first pro-Obama, later pro-Hillary (contra Bernie). Wrote a few popular posts myself. Pissed off many; probably made a few smile. It's been a trip.

In the interim I've had and (mostly) raised my kids, done OK in my career, moved to different cities, bought a house, and generally lived the majority of my adult life. I've buried both my parents; I'm more or less estranged from one of my siblings (gone Trumpy). The spouse and I have been married for the duration. Twenty-four years on DU. A few hiatuses. Some mandatory, I'm sorry to say!

It's run its course for me. It's hard for me to see this as anything other than hobby at this point, again, for me. And it's not a healthy or useful hobby. Sure, I'll probably drop in from time to time - hard to break a 24 year habit. But I've broken others, and I'm hoping to here as well. For me, there are better ways to spend time. There really have to be. And ultimately, I'm just ready to let others stand the post. Good luck, all (even the gleeful trolls). This too shall pass.