Been here since '04 and I'm seeing people with 1000+ posts I've never heard of.

[givemebackmycountry]

I'm on our favorite destination ALL day long.
At home I'm on DU as a default destination of choice.
At work, I track it for breaking news.
Like I said...
ALL DAY LONG.

I've read a quarter a million threads, and five times that in posts to those threads.
I admire DU'ers with 20k, 30k, 50k, 70k posts because I can't figure out how they do that.
I have barely 6k posts, and I think that at times I post a lot.
And I have been here since 2004.
But, I admit up front that I read a lot more than I post.

And that's my point.

I recognize a lot of DU screen names, and there are a BUNCH of DU members that I follow because I like their work.
Recently, I have noticed a proliferation of members with 1000+ posts that I have never heard of before.
And I pay close attention to my fellow DU members choice of screen names, because I admire how clever they were when they chose who they would be here.
We're they hiding?
Are they long time DU'ers who changed their user names?

I have two questions:

Who are these people, and where did they come from?
Is it just me, or has anyone been thinking the same thing?

My Spidey sense says something does not feel right here in my favorite community.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Like clockwork we get them

before every election... we are near silly season

:hi:

[leftstreet]

2. There are only 60 members here. We each have 5,000 sockpuppets

:hi:

Good questions

[gateley]

6. LOL! nt

[gkhouston]

14. Actually, some of my puppets

are silk stockings. :smoke:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

111. HEY! I resent that remark!

I only have 2,712 sock puppets! At no moment I had more than 3,000! You take that back!

[davsand]

119. Don't laugh, but at one point it was said on another website that all of DU was Will PItt...

...pretty much by himself!



We all laughed at the stupidity and then posted in a long thread where we all said in the subject line, "I am Will Pitt." Every once in a while I'll see somebody make reference to that and I still laugh. I must be easily amused.

So, in response to this thread and just to prove a point:

WE ARE ALL WILL PITT!!!

:evilgrin:



Laura

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Did you check their profiles?

I suspect that you're seeing a pattern that may not really be one...

:shrug:

[givemebackmycountry]

19. My Dear Peggy. I do.

That's how I track who is who.
I know who you are, because I love how you respond to each thread or post with "My Dear".
I also have a thing about "stars" because I like to buy a star for people who don't have one because it makes me happy.
Why?
Because I like to help people who I think contribute to the betterment of our community.

I don't know.
Maybe I'm wrong but my radar is beeping and I just feel something is afoot.

I hope I am wrong, and you have lessened my fears.
But still...

[aquart]

31. It's easy to build up the 1000. Lounge comments... whatever.

Whenever something big is happening politically, they come out of the woodwork.

Be alert for the ones we call "concern trolls" who worry that we might do something that would cost us the election and generally work toward demoralization.

But other than that, we have some screaming disagreements among true and dedicated members.

[nadine_mn]

164. I am a proud lounge rat - most of my posts are in response

to something in the lounge that made me snort out my beverage

[aquart]

166. Wasn't accusing you.

But it's a congenial place to hide out.

[kick-ass-bob]

82. Some of us disappear for looooong stretches.

:hi:

[Major Hogwash]

42. Yeah, but that doesn't help very much Peggy.

Most of them don't check the "asshole" box in their profile!

:rofl:

[gateley]

4. I went over 1000 before I knew it, and I realized it was because

I was always doing K&R!!!! Thanks!!!! Agree!!!! - not much of substance. Plus, I never shut up. :shrug:

EDIT -- and I still screw up my smilies.

[roomfullofmirrors]

29. +1

lol

[Art_from_Ark]

41. If you keep making posts like that,

you'll be up to 1000 in no time.

[elvisbear]

45. +1

[calimary]

48. Love it!

Especially the "Plus, I never shut up" part! :D

[Horse with no Name]

161. My post count went from 0-60 during the Schiavo debacle. n/t

[Newest Reality]

5. Curious ...

I was noticing lots of new names with a high post count, as well.

Are people coming back into action, or is it something else?

edit: typo

[Uben]

66. Some members changed their names......

.....after the last presidential elections. The admins allowed it on a one time basis. That is probably why you see new names with high post counts and don't see the names they went by previously.

[hfojvt]

117. I saved this thread

although I hardly ever refer to it http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4970873

to answer the OP I think that 1,000 happens fairly fast. It didn't for me, because I tend to write longer posts, but many people are much more succinct, writing only one or two lines per post. knr, +1,000, I call bullsh*t, etc.

Myself I became more paranoid when people who had been here since 2004 and had less than 400 posts suddenly started posting "Obama sucks" threads in late 2009 and early 2010. So, they were inactive for five years, built up no progressive cred, but then suddenly started "I am a progressive who is upset with Obama" threads. It sorta felt like we were being played. That some people wanted to create progressive dissatisfaction.

By now though, almost everybody is upset with Obama except a few diehard BOGgers who would seemingly praise Obama if he came to their house and killed their cat.

But I don't think it's a conspiracy that a number of people gained 1,000 posts without being noticed, even by a voracious reader. Especially if those people are making shorter posts instead of long arguments that make a person take notice and say "that was well written, and well thought out" and pay more attention to a writer.

[MiniMe]

7. We used to post a lot when they had the senate and house hearings

I haven't seen much of it lately. I don't post much anymore, so you may not recognize my screen name. But I have been here since 2004 too, and I have quite a high post count.

[ClassWarrior]

8. You read my mind.

NGU.

[hootinholler]

55. HEY! LTNS! NGU. n/t

:hi:

[ClassWarrior]

154. Same to you, hoot!

:fistbump:

NGU.

[Lucinda]

9. There are lot of threads here in a great many forums, perhaps many

of the new people post in areas that don't get your attention?

[joshcryer]

13. Except for primaries and elections I posted almost exclusively in E&E.

If it weren't for the nuclear thing or the Libya thing I probably wouldn't be posting in GD/GDP.

[ClassWarrior]

17. True. There are many places here for a determined troll to hide.

NGU.

[SDuderstadt]

10. By any chance...

is one of those posters "Skinner"

I think you just might be on to something.

[Fearless]

11. People who came in during the 2010 election or soon thereafter no doubt.

They're just about hitting 1000 now based on my frequency of posting at any rate.

[jimmyflint]

12. To me it seems like everybody has a huge post count. n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. We were all new once!

I was a n00b 6 years ago...

You'll get there, too.

:hi:

[Big Blue Marble]

15. I have been here since 2004 just like you.

I am here everyday, but do not post often. If you want to make something sinister out of that, that is your choice.

I only post when I feel strongly about a topic. I haver never felt more so than this day.

[marlakay]

43. Same here since May 2004

I just looked it up and I have only 3,000 something posts. There is so much arguing here the past few years i don't post as much as I used to. I wonder if a lot of old timers left since the site is so angry now.

I am angry too but screaming at each other won't help. Sometimes I feel like there is nothing we can do. I have worked on both Kerry & Obama campaigns, I helped with local state elections also, I email them and Obama but it does nothing.

I feel like we live in a different world from those elected to represent us. I have been to DC, my daughter lives there now, her husband works at the pentagon, so I feel the pulse of the military.

I feel like I am losing my hope for this country.

and as for why I am not member like I have been for years is because I lost my job and my husband won't let me give money for political causes now.

[auburngrad82]

112. I signed up in Feb '04.

I don't post often because I don't honestly feel like I have a lot to add to most discussions. I do visit the site pretty much daily. I get most of my news from LBN.

[Spike89]

137. Much like me I suspect

I've been here quite a while (longer when you add in the time my wife and I shared the eugeneliberal name). I am just now coming close to 1000 posts, but it isn't because I haven't been around, I just only post on a few topics and for the most part don't do the "chat" type threads.

[pennylane100]

18. WellI have been a member a lot longer than you, and yes, I know my membership recently expired.

I do not post very often and when I do it is often in spurts, depending on how I am feeling. I read it almost every day and have noticed, happily, that our membership has grown considerably in the last few years. However, I must admit, I am mot sure exactly what you are saying. What is wrong in your (our) favorite community.

[Joe the Revelator]

20. I've changed my name

[MrScorpio]

21. I'm not doing as many rants as I used to….

Sort of like taking a vacation from apoplexy

[ohheckyeah]

22. Some people take breaks from posting

like I do at times.

[tularetom]

23. Um, there are 172,880 members of DU

Doesn't it figure that there might well be a lot of them you haven't encountered?

I live in a very small county, less than 20k population. And I've lived here almost 25 years, and yet I doubt if I've even met 5% of our county's residents. That's 1,000 people. In terms of people I actually know, it might be closer to a couple hundred - 1 to 2%.

I've had the same experience as you. But I'd be less inclined to attribute it to any sinister plot than simply to chance.

For example there are people here with thousands of posts who never appear on GD, GDP, or LBN. For those of us who spend most of our DU hours in those forums, the chances of spotting these folks aren't high.

[Gold Metal Flake]

102. Um, you are wrong.

"172,890 user registrations and 55,063,643 posts since January 2001"

Thousands have been banned. Many others have left. 172,890 (notice the change since you posted) is the total cumulative number of people who have undertaken the automated membership process. When I served as a mod, we nuked many applicants before their first post for inflammatory, freeperish screen names. Likewise you will not find 55,063,643 posts in the current forums or the archives because so many have been deleted for rule violations. If you want to know the actual current membership total, try Ask The Admins.

[tularetom]

106. OK, so it's maybe as little as 10% of that number

Doesn't change my point. You can't possibly remember 17,000 posters, even if you're here 24/7 which the OP admits he isn't.

[socialist_n_TN]

138. That's interesting and good to know

because I was thinking that with almost 173,000 members I'm sure I would have missed some. So there NOT actually 173,000 that can actually post now.

[defendandprotect]

142. Interesting ... and then of course, difference between who actually posts every day ....

or even weekly -- or occasionally --

[givemebackmycountry]

24. I recognize 75% of the people responding. I also do a lot of browsing.

I READ but don't respond to a lot of threads in the Lounge and other forums.
I don't know it may be nothing, but I see a lot of negative posts by people I don't recognize.

[Serve The Servants]

30. Seen me before?

Just wondering

[Bladian]

37. I ask the same question as this person.

[BeFree]

113. Nope

Never seen either one of you.
Welcome to DU. Are yall here to become more liberally progressive?
It's ok to just blurt it out why you are here. We'll know sooner or later, so let 'er rip?

[Serve The Servants]

144. Thanks. Pretty much set in my ways

and don't play on moving any further in either direction, but I feel quite at home here.

[Serve The Servants]

163. Could of sworn I typed "plan" instead of "play" N/T

[safeinOhio]

25. ME,

I look for a star. If you care you give a fair share.

[SolutionisSolidarity]

44. If there were a way to donate anonymously, I would.

The last thing I need is to lose my job because my bosses discover I don't share their political beliefs.

[Obamanaut]

70. Don't register with your real name, or don't post at work if you do, and bosses won't know. nt

[SolutionisSolidarity]

125. Don't you have to reveal your name when you donate?

I donate to individual candidates, so there is a financial record of the fact that I am a Democrat. What scares me is the idea that they'll look at my financial history and be able to link me to my account name. My beliefs are well to the left of the modern Democratic Party, and there is a definite conflict between what I believe is good for humanity and what they believe is good for the company. When I was hired, my boss told me during the interview that she hated liberals, and she's quite representative of the culture here. After going 6 months without a job, I've learned to keep my mouth shut when there's a chance unfriendly ears could be listening.

[Obamanaut]

126. On the 'donate' button - blue, upper right of the screen - there is an option

for donating by mail - check or money order.

Perhaps you can send a money order without using your real name. It might be a fine question for the "ask the administrators" section

[Le Taz Hot]

49. Bit of elitist viewpoint, don't you think?

With the economy the way it is there are lots of people, myself included, who can't justify even $5.00 which will buy a day or more's worth of groceries for me and my husband. Luckily, I whine loudly during fundraisers and very nice people come to my rescue -- just as I did for others when I had the ability. There are lots of reasons people don't have a star and it has nothing to do with "giving their fair share."

[eilen]

51. I've donated in the past to this site

however, I don't judge anyone that hasn't and I don't feel it is a "pay your fair share" kind of thing since this is a private site and enforces its rules arbitrarily. Many have donated and gotten banned the same week. This may be a "community" but is not a democratic community (ie. members collectively own it).

[Xithras]

116. No, there are a million reasons why ppl don't donate. That's a bad yardstick.

I've been at DU for nearly as long as its existed, and I've donated many times in the past...but not this year. Why? Because jackass California Republicans refuse to talk about even the slightest tax increase, so my elementary schoolteacher wife was laid off many months ago, cutting our household income nearly in half. She's recently landed another teaching job, but the paychecks don't start until August. As much as I enjoy DU, if the choice is between donating and feeding my kids, DU loses.

The economy sucks. Don't assume that people are trolls simply because they're financially hurting.

[femmedem]

145. Agreed. I also used to donate, but now I'm on foodstamps.

Money's just as tight as can be.

[AsahinaKimi]

26. I have noticed this also

and thought, maybe it was just me.. Thank you for confirming what I have been thinking for a while, what ever this means.

[Oilwellian]

27. I don't have that many posts...

for being here 10 years now. I was originally Oaf Of Office. :D

[FreakinDJ]

28. Got a thread locked the other day about the same thing

Althou I didn't word it quite as eloquently as you

[defendandprotect]

143. Quite a few people have raised this issue ---

[Raine]

32. They might hang out in forums that you don't

frequent and then they decide to expand their horizons and post in a different forum than their usual.

[BillyJack]

33. Perhaps *worry* more about the good tried-and-true posters who don't/won't

post here anymore. I think we lost another one last nite....although only 11 posters saw it before the thread was deleted. :-(

[Dept of Beer]

34. Are you accusing somebody of something?

DU isn't a game sir, not unless some people have found a cheat code.

:eyes:

[laconicsax]

36. There was that deleted subthread that made it to the front page a while ago.

That was kind of like a cheat code.

[uponit7771]

35. one word... FUDrs!!!!!

[Bobbie Jo]

97. Especially since '08.

What a coincidence. :think:

[kevinmc]

38. I am pretty much like you....

Do not post much anymore but read DU everyday. If they are here to cause trouble they will eventually be TS'd.

[Starry Messenger]

39. Many screen names are dummies.

They were created years ago, and the passwords for them are available at conservative sites. They get passed around. However, it's hardly worth bothering about. The centrist Dems think the lefties are the culprits, and the lefty Dems think the more conservative Dems are crypto-right wingers. Who can say? Buy the ticket, take the ride.

[BillyJack]

40. Really?!?!

Many screen names are dummies.
They were created years ago, and the passwords for them are available at conservative sites. They get passed around.

Really?

[Starry Messenger]

84. I've heard this from several DUers that I trust.

Yes.

[SoCalDem]

46. I've been here since 2001, and I think we have had 2 "name change" festivals

so some of them could be oldtimers whose new names escaped notice:)

or they could be people who racked up the numbers in a forum you "stay out" of:evilgrin:

GD-Presidential & LBN are two I used to frequent, but learned better and now avoid like the plague..

LBN?..too damned many locked threads to wade through and too many people whose main purpose seems to be tattling on others:rofl:

and then we also have the dungeon forums..'nuf said there..

also, a lot of us oldtimers have found other things to do and don't hang out here as much as we used to when we all kind of knew each other...

[scubadude]

58. Yeah, and some of us caused others of us to be here....

That was you kiddo!

[SoCalDem]

59. RON!!!!

(channeling "Cheers")

How ARE you doing?

[scubadude]

99. Hi Julinda,

we are doing well. We moved to Guam about a year ago. Snorkeling a whole lot. We've got the Filipine Sea and The Pacific to choose from. Cat has entered the University of Guam's Marine Biology program for her Masters. We are still going strong.

I'm working very long days and don't have a whole lot of energy to post anymore. Not only that, but it seems kinda hopeless in some regards. I don't know if you saw it but I put up a link to a video I took of the Presidents acceptance speech. We planned and stood in line for hours. What an event. Did you notice it or even remember? Seems like the reps have really held us back.

I see you out there all the time. You are incredible kiddo and I am proud to be here with you.

DU travels well. Reminds me of home and lots of really good people. My day is done kid, past midnight and I started work at 6am for my daily 12 hour shift...

Wow I wish I could pop by and visit all of the folks I have know or grew to know and love over the years. I am so lucky.

Warmth from all the way across the world I send to you. I hope things are good, I sure know you are.

Ron

[SoCalDem]

128. Wow from the icicle laden blasts of wind to

balmy tropical breezes.. what a change:)

I am so happy that things worked out so well for you & your family.. Did your son move with you? Hell he's probably a grown up by now.. time has really flown by:rofl:

[locahungaria]

85. I just have to tell you.....

..that every time I see your sig line, I get the biggest chuckle!

Thanks for brightening my DU experience. :D

[SoCalDem]

129. You are very welcome.. I aim for the random chuckle

:)

and I can see now that I am about due to look for a new sig line.. like to keep them fresh:)

[JDPriestly]

47. I have noticed that some old, familiar posters are no longer

posting regularly on DU. It may be that the folks you followed aren't so active, so now you are noticing people who have been posting all along but whose posts you did not notice.

Could that be?

Also, it may be that some newcomers have posted a lot of really short posts in a short time, and you just did not notice it.

Sometimes I check to see the date that people signed up for DU.

[eilen]

50. Some crawl out under their rock whenever

the administration does anything extremely stupid, mean and assholish to defend Obama's latest Republican policy. I don't know if they are paid per post or not but it certainly seems so. I've decided to lower the noise to content ratio (as many posts are very repetitive) and put them on ignore.

[sendero]

52. Funny.

..... I noticed that too but I assume it is just a case of I can't keep up with the whole site.

That said, if you have a donor star you can search by author and find the 1000 posts, theoretically.

[JonLP24]

53. You probably only know me

'cause I hang out in the Sports forum a lot. Or maybe you don't know me, I don't know.

It takes me awhile to become familiar with someone due to their screen name(avatars really help me remember someone but a lot people often change them), I could look back at a memorable thread I posted in 2 years ago and it didn't hit me at the time who was responding and saying what until I became more familiar with posters and their personality. There are still lots of posters I'm not familiar with.

I wouldn't worry about it. It is a large board, I don't think it is possible to become familiar with everyone and there are posters who'll be here a couple of days and then gone for a couple of months. Or there are posters that like to hang out in smaller forums. There was a period of time that I would never click on GD and hang exclusively in the Sports forum.

[JVS]

54. I totally agree.

The key is getting in goofy flamewars or posting a lot of lounge stuff.

[scubadude]

56. I guess you don't remember the 700 club then...

If you do, please respond.

There are still lots of folks here from the early days here listening. I for one no longer feel the need to post. I sit back and enjoy it as a rich source of information. I try not to get too involved in the internal politics, but occasionally I chime in, as I did regarding the rec/unrec debacle.

DU's thousands of members, to me, both new and old, make it worth spending a lot of time on. This place has been my home page for a decade, and will remain so as long as I have control over my surroundings and the economic means to do so. I believe that says it all.

Much thanks to all,

Scubadude


P.S. The 700 club was the noted milestone for posters early on. It was kind of a race, and many were proud to reach it. I think Catwoman started it.

[SoCalDem]

61. I think the "700 Club" started when I was doing the Daily Thread on the Lounge

but then that was soooooo long ago:)

I know I still have the template for all the congrats stuff I used to add to it:)

[scubadude]

103. That could be it SoCalDem. I know Catwoman was racing ahead.

and I was loping far behind. I caught up though. Everything here seemed so bright and shiny, kinda newish back then, hopeful. Now everything seems polished but sometimes a bit contrived. I don't visit the lounge any longer. I'm being called in by my wife Cat. I must rest. I miss your whit and kindness. I tried to get work all over California to no avail...
Came close a few times until they found out that I was pushing 50.

Best wishes
Ron

[JuniperLea]

118. I remember that...

I was only lurking back then... I became JuniperX early in 02 and changed my name during the first name change.

We used to do huge birthday threads in the lounge too... and someone would PM you to let you know. Which worked well for me because I rarely go to the lounge.

Hard to believe how much time has passed. Nine years for me now... wow.

[JVS]

76. It was a race to get out of the 700 club.

[SidDithers]

86. Yup. I remember that...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1675316

Good times.

Sid

[Buns_of_Fire]

79. The 700 Club, newyawker99, should old acquaintance be forgot, and all that...

The tide comes in, the tide goes out, some sand is removed, some sand is deposited.

And so it goes. ~Linda Ellerbee

[Phentex]

147. The 700 club is back...along with Milestones...

now being posted in the Lounge.

[malaise]

57. +1,000

K & R
I've been wondering a lot lately

[kentuck]

60. A good question to ask might be?

How many former Republicans are now posting on DU? They can be honest about it.

[Another Bill C.]

62. Been here since 03

but I don't post unless I think I have something worthwhile to say. That doesn't happen very often.

[etherealtruth]

63. I've been here since January '05

I have a little over 6,000 posts. I likely have less than 100 posts in the lounge (those are likely attributable to OPs that have been moved), preferring GD and LBN.

I peruse DU looking for info and thoughtful debate that one can't find other places .... sadly, some of the most intelligent and insightful posters no longer post (or post with great infrequency). Many have been replaced by those that have mastered the skill of "cut and paste" and have no interest in an exchange of ideas or debate .... why engage in conversation with that?

I can't imagine having the time to accumulate tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of posts .... perhaps its post envy?

Folk are drawn to subjects and issues that interest them ... you may have stumbled upon posters that haven't shared the same interest s as you in the past ....but are now interested in the common "new" issue or event ....?

[JHB]

64. No offense, but I've been here since '01, and your screen name isn't a standout either

There was a big opportunity for changing names in '08, after Bush left, people can rack up a count just for kicking posts, some may frequent other areas of DU, some may post less frequently than they used to, etc. There any number of reasons people can have 1000+ post counts without your noticing them.

[SidDithers]

65. Who are you?...

I've been here since 2002 and I've never seen you before.

:hi: :rofl:

Sid

[joshcryer]

73. Had a similar thought.

Very odd thread.

[bluestate10]

134. Been here since 2010. Never heard of the OP either.

Of course, I have better things to do than be anal about other posters profiles. I have enough savvy to tell a mole from a democrat.

One poster proudly stated that she put those on ignore that she does not agree with. What an idea, if taken to it's conclusion, the democratic party would consist of a few thousand people on a fast track to making themselves irrelevant. I prefer a democratic party as it always has been, a big tent with many viewpoints, but a tent that ALWAYS has the only viewpoint that moves the country and it's citizens forward.

[CBGLuthier]

67. some of us changed our names of course

I used to be notmypresident.

Changed my name at the election.

And despite all the nonsense am not changing it back. :-)

[Shandris]

68. I've been here for a long damn time.

Too long, maybe. I was here when Symbolman posted clips a lot (my favorite of which remains, to this day, 'I Hate Republicans' (I hate Republicans, baby, I can't stand those Republicans....I hate that old Republican Par-teeee....) (aren't I going to feel stupid if that one wasn't Symbolman's :p ). I remember Bev Harris, and I remember Andy ( :( ). When I first arrived, Bartcop and SmirkingChimp were still somewhat 'big' or popular at least. Facebook hadn't been invented (or I hadn't heard of it at least!). I had a throwaway post on the thread during the 2004 election that got preserved by the LoC although it was under a different name at the time. I had a life-threatening and life-changing surgery/hospitalization not long after that and wouldn't log back onto the internet for 3 solid years, whereupon I didn't even remember my old email addresses, passwords, nothing. I've never had any 'friends' here though, not anyone that sent me messages or whatnot. Of course, that's true of every forum I post on. I guess I'm not likable. It happens.

I don't post a lot. Some days I feel like posting, but most I don't. I've been accused of being a troll by the boogeyman-in-every-post brigade, and I've had a couple of people who enjoy my posts. Usually though I seem to be a thread-ender, getting a post in near the end of a good thread that never gets responded to (or so it seems to me; I don't actively follow any thread not on the front page, its my browsing style). But you won't find me padding a post count in the Lounge or whatnot, I think all but a very small handful have been in General.

I know I'm not quite up to 1,000 posts yet, but I'm within sight of it. I get tired of posters having to 'defend' why their not recognized, or why their post count is low, and so on, but I at least understand the mindset behind it. I don't think a persecution complex does us any good though; when we do that, we've given in to the 'pubs greatest and most oft-used weapon -- fear.

Anyway, hello from Indiana. A lonely blue dot in a sea of red, keeping SOME contact with the outside world. :)

[muffin1]

69. I've been around since 2006

and used to post all the time. I quit coming here several months ago because I grew weary of the same old fights.
I just came back a few days ago because of the debt-ceiling talks (and of course, there is now MORE fighting).

:hi:

[TK421]

71. of course I need no introduction, but I was lurking here since 2004

and didn't join until May of 05. I think many of the names you are seeing are long time DU'ers who took part in the Name Change thingy a few years back. I still get confused with some of them.

[Romulox]

72. And I would know you from?

[KittyWampus]

83. Great choice of LOLcat.

[MadHound]

74. I've been here since '02 and just marginally recognize you,

And that's only because I make note of people who are Royals fans, their such a rarity.

Are there a bunch of people who are new here, sure, so what. There are always "new" people here. Are they trolls or sock puppets or some such? Undoubtedly a few are.

But that is no excuse to broadbrush demonize people who are new here in such a manner. In fact I think there's even a rule against calling out newbies.

If they are trolls and such, leave it to the mods, they'll work it out. If they are simply newbies interested in trying a different place, say :hi: hi and treat them as part of the community, on their individual merits, not on the basis of some baseless, broadbrush suspicion.

[B Calm]

168. My thoughts too. . .

[scheming daemons]

75. I've never seen the name "givemebackmycountry" before

And I've been here as long, or longer, than you.


;-)

[bluestate10]

135. The name sounds teabaggish. nt

[frustrated_lefty]

77. Sometimes taking an extended break is necessary.

I first joined DU somewhere between '02-03 and my interests in the forums have fluctuated over the years.

03-06-heavy posting and interest in LBN, Editorials, and General
06-08-primarily reading LBN
08-present-increasing interest in LBN, Editorials, and General, occasional posting

Katrina ate my life at the tail end of 05 and reinventing a life took a few years. A new president was elected in 08. I'd wager others have had significant events within a similar time frame affect their forum habits.

You might want to check and see if you kept the warranty on your spidey sense

[RedCappedBandit]

78. Can't speak for anyone else...

But I very rarely post these days. Used to post a lot. Doubtful my username rings any bells.

[kickysnana]

80. I ran up my post totals during Katrina.

Been here for ever under two screen names. I changed mine about 2005 because of the new Dems who started fighting against traditional Democratic values and in many cases the good of the country. I ended up with one as a Senator. I voted for her in the primary but then she did an about face on many issues and I did not vote for anyone in her race. I keep my comments usually short because I tend to rant if I don't.

Warning (rant on)

I don't know what I am supposed to do because I want the DINOs gone and fast. I do not think that government should be the enemy of business but they should not abet their crimes. I believe in the Social Programs that the Dems have in place. With an unregulated Wall Street and banks (they still are) you have to have Social Security. I thought the Obama plan was an abomination, forcing you to buy insurance. The one thing we were unanimous on at the beginning when our Representatives were still asking what we thought was that they could not put extreme Right Wingers on the Supreme Court that they had to stop that at any costs but they did. They still do not take election fraud seriously. Torture, rendition, concentration camps for illegal and allegedly criminal legal immigrants (no lawyers, nobody knows who are where they are.) Wiretapping, banking and charge surveillance. I went to a Lyme Disease support group and found out that they have stepped up the counterattacks on the advocates, taking out files, operating systems and some computers despite strong firewalls and antivirus apps. Those that were recovered showed attacks were initiated by both USDOD and UKDOD. Some folks have access to computer security experts because this has been done before. This is just sick people trying to get treatment. Nobody has ever been threatened other than lying researchers and then it was attacks with peer reviewed research on their credibility. I want my family out of this country but so far they are smart, strong, loyal getting by and the thought off leaving everything behind is too hard to comprehend (yet) and they don't want to keep hearing that the changes will eventually take everything they and my grandchildren have. They think it cannot be changed so they live within the tight boxes that are American lives.

There are very strict limits on what we can even do here on DU and that has been my sanity these long years until Obama. Now we have a fox in the henhouse and we are supposed to wait to see what his motives are before we act and for sure we are not allowed to get him out of our henhouse.. That is nuts. That only leaves fleeing to freedom or waiting to be eaten because they tell me he will be in another 6 years.

Sorry (rant off). I am so discouraged.

[KittyWampus]

81. I've been here since the beginning and barely recognize YOU.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

87. Oh the drama

I devote my D time to actually participating in my local DEC.
Its all about the vote, but if you spin you win.
Love DU and read the greatest most days.
I greatly admire many of the regulars.
Too lazy, busy, or verbal to post much myself .

We need to win in 2012, hope everyone will help to get out the vote... even if you don't get the pony.

[muffin1]

92. The pony?

And which pony would that be? :shrug:

[voteearlyvoteoften]

108. Check out the Alan Grayson on Fox video

It was an oblique reference to not getting everything you want from President Obama and the Dems.

[muffin1]

120. Oh, I get the reference.

It was used here quite a bit not too long ago. Many people took offense to it being used for Equal Rights. I'm sure we'll hear it again after the SS cuts come.

[ProfessorGAC]

88. Like Me?

I really don't understand your point. I've got many thousands of posts. But, i'm not posting everyday.

So, perhaps you just missed my name before. Maybe not.

Still don't know what the really point of this thread is.
GAC

[Stevenmarc]

89. The moment you begin to be concerned with the quantity of other posters

Is the time you need to turn your fucking computer off, stand up and walk out the door into the real world to regain some perspective in your life.

[deaniac21]

90. How do you check the number of posts you have?

[ProfessorGAC]

100. Click On Your Own Profile

ON the very post in which you asked the question, you can click to view "this author's profile". It's about half way down the profile.
GAC

[deaniac21]

151. You are truly the professor and I am truly blind.

[cwydro]

91. After some of us realized criticizing Obama

was trouble...we haven't been around as much.

The oil spill fiasco was pretty much the last of my regular posting.

[pipi_k]

93. I started reading in 2003 or thereabouts and

signed up in 2007.

Like some others, I don't recognize your name either.


Also, and sometimes I wonder if it's just me or what, but I don't spend a lot of time checking out people's donor stars or when they joined or how many posts they have.

I don't have some sort of 'radar' that sniffs out so-called "concern trolls" or any kind of trolls, to tell the truth. My own philosophy is to try to be respectful toward others no matter how high or low their post counts might be. I've been the new kid on the block at plenty of other discussion boards and not treated very well at some. Downright nastily, in fact.

When I see people being nasty to others based on low post counts or their own paranoia about trolls! invading DU!!! it really makes me shake my head in disgust.

[Fly by night]

94. Also here since (late) '04. Agree that some people appear full-blown here w/ 1,000+ post wrinkles.

Look for pods under their beds ...

Does seem strange. Likewise the absence of long-time posters and commenters to topics I frequent. I'm always curious what that is all about.

Miss you, Ghost in the Machine and Tsiyu.

[Puglover]

95. Been here since 2003.

Never heard of you, never seen you. Should I draw a conclusion about you? You seem to want me too. :shrug:

[ThomWV]

96. I am sure I could start a new screen name and get 1000 posts on it in a week

and no one would ever notice. I could do it with K&Rs, No-text, alone. Every one of them would count as a post and none of them would go noticed.

[Gold Metal Flake]

98. Thread: "New Names . . . . . . Old Names: My Alphabetical List"

This list was compiled during the last username change period:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4970873

If you are curious about high-count posters who are strange to you search for their usernames in the state forums. Many folks post in the forum for their own state. Some people post in multiple state forums. But some trolls build post-count by posting lots of kicks and simple affirmative posts in state and other topic forums.

[NoGOPZone]

101. You don't recognize me because my posts aren't memorable enough

Perhaps if I insulted you that would make an impression? :D

[Greybnk48]

104. I've noticed it as well.

I read DU every day, with few exceptions for vacation, and once for three months due to illness and surgery in 2007. That's since Dec. 2004. I'm here at least an hour in the a.m. and an hour in the evening. I've noticed that too. Names I don't recognize at all are established number-wise as long timers or frequent posters.

I asked about this years ago and someone told me that some on here go to the Lounge and build their post count and then come over to other forums. I don't know where they come from, but I'm skeptical that they all cut their teeth in the Lounge.

edit: typo

[bluestate10]

136. I have not been to the lounge. Don't plan to go. I am the type of poster

that use some features on a site, but not others. Been that way, no plan to change, regardless of what some subject.

[DFW]

105. You noticed that, too?

I'm not on here as much as some because I'm not on the same continent as most of DU, and there is a 6-9 hour time lag
for me for most of the year. Still, I have also noticed the same phenomenon, including some angry lonely adolescent that
blasted me for mentioning my job location and hours, and I had never seen or heard of this poster before.

"weird scenes inside the gold mine.............."

[starroute]

107. I did some checking during the big influx after the 2004 election

The big question marks for me were not simply people with 1000 posts I'd never heard of, but certain people who'd gotten 1000 posts in two months or less. So I used the search function to track their posts and found that many of them had clearly been pumping up their post count by adding dozens of one-line comments a day to non-controversial threads until they got to the magic 1000 number -- after which they started doing longer comments of a clearly trollish nature.

So it does happen.

But that said, I haven't noticed any particular surge in obvious disruptors lately. I occasionally keep track for a while of posters who seem particularly negative and undermining -- and though a few of them end up tombstoned, most turn out to be just DU's resident cynics and curmudgeons.

In the early days, DU displayed actual post counts for everyone, but fears that this was creating an artificial elite led to the 1000-post cutoff. I think that at this point, though, we have so many long-time posters that we could easily switch to a 2000-post cutoff, and that it might help cut down on the sock puppetry in the runup to next year's elections.

[BeHereNow]

140. Good to see you are still around-

:hug:
I post now and then, but read mostly.
Haven't seen any posts from you in a long time;
good to know you are still here.

BHN

[starroute]

152. And you too

I do post maybe once a day on average, but I guess I'm not very visible. I tend to stay away from the big, contentious threads, and that could have something to do with it.

[Skittles]

109. ever heard of me, givemebackmycountry?

if you haven't, I WILL KICK YOUR ASS

[JuniperLea]

110. You will find most of their posts in guns and lounge...

This is the main reason for my frequent and increasingly lengthly breaks from DU. Life is too short for this bullshit.

[Broderick]

114. I have been here for, what 8 years now.

I have yet to reach 1000. I use my ears and eyes much more than my big mouth. lol

[Baclava]

115. IBTL !

how sweet it is

[The Straight Story]

121. I don't recognize you

:)

[Rebubula]

122. I have no idea who you are??

My spidey sense says you are being paranoid...


I have been here for several years and do not remember seeing you either.

[tritsofme]

123. Been here since 2003 and I've never heard of you.

There are a lot of people here.

[Blue_In_AK]

124. It is very mysterious, isn't it?

I tend to look askance at these people.

[Kaleva]

127. It was easy to reach 1k when many of my posts are 'LOL!", "+1", "Unrec" and so on.

If all my posts that contained writing in the "Subject" area only didn't count, my post count probably would be cut by way more then half.

[Javaman]

130. 1) drink way more coffee...

2) never leave your computer, even if you need to use the bathroom

3) sleep is for suckers

4) eat only if you have to and if you do, eat only things you can eat with your hands. Utensils are for the weak.

5)never ever do anything other than be at your computer. family comes second...ALWAYS!

see how easy it is?

[Aerows]

132. I've been curious

Who is that in that image in your signature? I've tried to figure it out, but I'm pop-culture dysfunctional, so I haven't been able to do so :)

[Aerows]

131. I'm a defector from Huffington Post

I had well over 15,000 posts there, and the second Arianna sold HP to AOL, I left. I came here. I like to post.

I may be new, but I'm not new to message boards :D. I have a lot of posts because, well, I like to post and discuss current events.

[whyzayker]

133. Some of us said what we needed to say pre-04

DU got very crowded very quick so we spoke our piece and retired. :)

[bluestate10]

139. Just did some checking. I have zero posters on ignore, and zero on my buddy list.

Sounds like me, a person that thinks for himself and makes decisions after reasoning through the possible choices. :evilgrin:

[Stinky The Clown]

141. Stranger and stranger

[Taverner]

146. Agreed and IBTL

I just know the mods are going to lock this as a "call out thread"

[Phentex]

148. MILESTONES are back... posted in the lounge...

in case anyone is interested.

If people want to check their profiles and be added to the milestones, they can pm me.

[Tiggeroshii]

149. Me too.

But DU is a large and continually growing community, so we will often run into new people and people who've been here as long as we have and never knew!:hi:

[Gemini Cat]

150. Howdy. I'm Gemini Cat, I used to be Confound W.

I have under 2400 posts. I've been here since July 2003. I love baseball, history and politics. I hate home cooked meals and walks on the beach and candle light makes me squint.

Now in order for you to never forget me, I'm going to take all my clothing off and run through this post naked. Please do not take pictures.

[Gold Metal Flake]

157. Confound W. Brilliant!

:rofl:

[BiggJawn]

153. I came here in 2001.

Disappeared about 6 years ago, went back into lurking mode a couple months back.
Your spidey sense is FOS

[proud2BlibKansan]

155. I have no idea who you are

:hide:

Have we met?

[Texasgal]

156. I've been here since 2004.

I don't post alot.

So what?

[Blue-Jay]

158. Who are you?

Have we met?

:hi:

[Violet_Crumble]

159. I've been here since 2002 and I've never heard of you...

DU's grown into a big place over the years and I don't automatically think there's something dodgy if I suddenly notice a DUer with over a thousand posts under their belt that I've never noticed before. I'd rather go on judging posters by what they say and how they say it, as I don't have the time nor the interest in closely following post volumes of individual posters...

[mn9driver]

160. Been here since 2004. Working on having the lowest post count

of anyone in my year group, but then I keep screwing up and posting stuff......:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[pinboy3niner]

162. "Oops, I did it again," lol!

Leave mn9driver alooone!1!!




:evilgrin:

[nadine_mn]

165. I have only been here for a few years, and after the 08 election I pretty much

went dormant as far as original posts. But I am getting revved up again. I kept hoping that things would improve with a Dem Pres and Dem Congress but can no longer stick my head in the sand and ignore the crap that has been going on.

[Bonn1997]

167. I was away for a while...

Things have gotten so bad for the US that I became motivated to return though and see what progressives were thinking/doing.

[XanaDUer]

169. I've been here almost since the beginning, and never heard of you.

nt.