Today is the start of my 23rd year here on DU

[ProfessorPlum]

I had lurked for a while here in 2001. It was a place for me to help retain my sanity as I watched W steal the presidency. Along with Bartcop, Media Whores Online, and Atrios, it gave me vital information that often ran counter to the prevailing media narrative.

The day after 9/11, I made an account and started to contribute. I met and have read so many fantastic posters here. I have been through 5 election cycles, and all of the in-fighting that goes with Democratic primaries. DU has seen me through four job changes, a house fire, and cancer.

Just wanted to shout out to the founders, the mods, the contributors here. All of the news gatherers and posters that make this such a vital place. Looking forward to many more years ahead.

It's nice to know that so many people actively support the party of human values, kindness, care, and equity.

[malaise]

1. Congrats

Get thee to the greatest page RFN 😀😀

[ProfessorPlum]

10. Thank you malaise - you are one of the most special on here

and I treasure your contributions

[malaise]

13. Back at yah

[samplegirl]

2. Been here for

twenty years myself. It went so fast. We have all been through so much since the Bush years.
Thanks to D.U. it kept many of us sane.

[twodogsbarking]

3. Try to be kind to all people. The good ones appreciate it, the others are bothered by it.

Win win. Good for you Professor.

[betsuni]

4. I was a DU lurker for years before feeling the need to join and comment

because I was disgusted by the attacks on women members and wanted to support them. The beginning of anti-Democratic pro-Russia populist attacks that peaked in 2016.

[multigraincracker]

5. Going for the record?

All you have to do now is out live your competition.

[hibbing]

6. Had to look, 20 for me n/t

[Lunabell]

7. Hey, and glad you are here.

I've been around almost that long. Life long Democrat, though. In the never have I ever game, my answer would be "voted for a republican "!

[PCIntern]

8. MWO was the BEST...

Whoever produced that, and to my knowledge that's still a very big question, was brilliant. I've been trying to figure out who it was for years - whenever I see someone who is creative in his or her pithiness, I follow them to see if they are The One.

[ProfessorPlum]

11. I second this - we really need to know who was behind it

brilliant, scathing, with honest language and insider info

[PCIntern]

15. ...and many congratulations...

I will be celebrating my 20th year next year. It has been a great experience...

[mamacita75]

9. Congrats

ProfessorPlum!

DU has been a mainstay in my life for as many years!
I really do believe that only the sane with survive.

[MiHale]

12. Congratulations Professor...

Kinda of a newbie, 14 years…lurked for far longer than I should have. Learned so much here.

[CTyankee]

14. I signed up the day after John Kerry lost the election for President...seems like forever since...

[sellitman]

16. Congrats.

Member since: Sun Nov 28, 2004, 12:58 PM

Almost at 20 years here.

Now that I'm retired it's even more appreciated.

Cheers!

[murielm99]

17. Congrats on your longevity and your

sensible posts.

I lurked for a year and joined in 2003. Any of us who join discussion groups are going to have our disagreements from time to time. But we learn a lot here, and make good friends, don't we?

I am glad you are here.

[underpants]

18. Happy DU Anniversary

[ProfessorPlum]

33. Thanks underpants -

so glad to see you still here too

[underpants]

41. 😁

My anniversary is coming up too. Same basic story about reading here and the joining.

[2naSalit]

19. COngrats!

It's a place that is vital for many of us! Glad you're here to participate!

[ancianita]

20. Congratulations, Professor Plum, and thank you

for sharing a little of your history here. I'm an aged newb, and love to learn of the OG's of this special place.

Long may you run.

[sinkingfeeling]

21. Congratulations!

[SouthernDem4ever]

22. I miss Bartcop

I still go read the older stuff on bartcop.com. Also CrookandLiars.com is still going strong but now is behind a paywall.

[niyad]

23. Happy 22nd DUnniversary to you! Thank you for so many thoughtful

posts, for being part of this great community. Here's to many more.

[ProfessorPlum]

35. Thank you niyad, I feel the same to read your stuff

[niyad]

51. Thank you. I am honoured.

[Frances]

24. Congrats, Newbie

I joined May 10, 2001, at 2 AM
I echo your sentiments

[ProfessorPlum]

34. LOL

I love it

[LoisB]

25. Congratulations!

[blm]

26. 🙌🏽 💐

[ProfessorPlum]

38. :)

[Hortensis]

27. What a nice post, ProfessorPlum. I feel the same way,

and of course you're among those I'm grateful for.

On to the future!

[herding cats]

28. Happy Anniversary!

DU is indeed a unique and special place.

[bif]

29. Been here since the beginning as well!

Good on ya!

Member since: Wed Aug 29, 2001, 05:00 AM

[Permanut]

30. Congratulations on a great milestone..

and thanks for your contributions to this incredible community.

Therefore, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Universitatus
Committeeatum e pluribis unum, I hereby
confer upon you the honorary degree of Th.D. -

That is, Doctor of Thinkology, with permanent tenure at Democratic Underground.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. Congrats and here is your mention in EarlG's "Anniversaries and Posting Milestones" Lounge OP

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181883493

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. Congratulations

[Spazito]

36. Congrats!

[kskiska]

37. Congrats!

[FirstLight]

39. Me too! ....wow.... time flies huh?

I agree, this place has been a haven through everything we've seen and been through...as well as personally having support in trying times.

Love to ALL my DU peeps!!!


(ETA: huh, it says 2008 on my profile, wonder if I changed it back when we changed names a long time ago...I know I was here during the W years...weird lol)

[mike_c]

40. same, and I have learned a great deal here over the years

DU can be infuriating sometimes, but I stick around for the positive experiences. I've learned a tremendous amount here, from politics to history to online behavior.

[Aristus]

42. I've been here almost that long.

I registered a month after 9/11/2001. (for years I had misremembered it as the day after.)

Good to see you still here!

[ProfessorPlum]

43. you too Aristus :)

[H2O Man]

44. Recommended.

Way recommended, at that.

[Emile]

45. Congratulations

[Raine]

46. Happy Anniversary!🥳 🍾 🎉 nt

[Skittles]

47. you echo me

I too despaired over the Supreme Court picking that piece of shit Dubya as president - where the hell is THAT written anywhere? I had lurked in 2001 and joined DU a month before the tragic events of 9/11. And I too treasure being in an environment free that is for the most part free of hateful assholes, especially since I live in a red state. DU has long been my oasis of sanity.

[bluestarone]

48. Congrats!!

Happy to be part of the family here. What a great bunch here. We all need each other when America is under attack with these scumbags!!

[Elessar Zappa]

49. It's such a great website.

Many websites fell by the wayside with the advent of Facebook and Twitter. DU is still here. I’ve been here for 20 years, I was 19 years old and very concerned about the march to war with Iraq. Glad you’re here, Professor Plum!

[roamer65]

50. Good grief...17 years for me.

Wow.

[BobTheSubgenius]

52. Congratulations on some great choices, sir...

...and thank you for all your efforts over the years.

Friday will be 20 years for me.

[Hekate]

53. Back at you, Professor. Good to see you're having an anniversary!

[moniss]

54. It has been a pleasure

to read your posts. Thanks for mentioning Bartcop which got so many of us here and to MWO and many others. Some day I hope someone writes a book (a real book) about the early days of the Progressive/Liberal internet people who worked so hard every day to have content and to reach out to like minded folk and those who may have been just wondering. Those efforts to maintain sites, develop content and build up a good list of links have been critically important to us all.

[Rhiannon12866]

55. Congratulations! And thanks for your thoughtful post...