How long have you been at the DU?

[applegrove]

I've been here 15 years and 2.5 weeks.

[Kali]

1. day after tomorrow

16 years

[applegrove]

4. Time flies eh?

[Kali]

6. no kidding!

[RGinNJ]

2. 7 years in April.

[applegrove]

14. No itch for you!

[ramen]

3. Ha. Seventeen years as a reader, but

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]

15. Yes this site lifts.

[DonaldsRump]

5. Since a few days after the 2004 GE

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]

18. I hope 2020 brings you happiness that those other two election

results did not.

[applegrove]

9. That is an interesting profile you got there.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. January 2003, I joined on DU.1

And I was here for the lead up to the Iraq war, among other events, some good, some depressing as hell (2004 election).

[applegrove]

19. Here is to good times to come. And Shooo to the bad times.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. And I remember feeling positively sick after the 2004 election

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]

32. I see something deep inside happening right now in the US. A change. Like people

are on a mission. Vibes to Americans on this journey.

[Rhiannon12866]

38. The scary unknown is about those who aren't paying attention or watch (state) FOX News

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]

10. Under this account and screen name since 2007.

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]

20. Any of your incarnations are welcome here.

[Phoenix61]

11. I had to wait for the sight to come back on

line after the 2016 election.

[applegrove]

22. That was upsetting. Let us hope we have a back up plan for 2020.

[mrsadm]

72. I think the Russians were responsible, IMHO

[scarletwoman]

12. I registered in late summer of 2001. DU was born in January, 2001 - on GW Bush's Inauguration Day.

I'm one of the oldies - not many of us left.

[applegrove]

23. The oldies but the goodies.

[stopbush]

34. I joined shortly after DU started, hence my screen name.

Don't know the exact date, but it was within months or weeks of the DU launch.

[applegrove]

46. The date should be in your profile.

[stopbush]

95. The date shown in my profile is incorrect by about two years.

It says 2003 before July 6, but I know I joined before then.

[applegrove]

118. Okay. Sorry.

[A HERETIC I AM]

141. If your "serial number" is correct....

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]

142. Do you know when you signed up?

[A HERETIC I AM]

143. Yeah. The date is on my profile page....

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]

13. I joined in Feb, 2005!

Just over 15 years.

I feel as though I've been here all my life.

This place is home.

[applegrove]

26. And you make it feel like home.

[Itchinjim]

16. Joined in Feb 2004. Lurked from 2002 all through the lead up to the Iraq war.

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]

28. There have been losses over the years, but more good times because

DU is a safe place to think and learn.

[Pachamama]

17. 15 years 9 months

Approaching 16th anniversary

Wow....time flies and a lot shared together....

[applegrove]

29. Happy anniversary

[sakabatou]

21. 15 years, 4 months, 14 days

[applegrove]

30. Right after Kerry lost. Yes:

[Polly Hennessey]

24. A member since 2003.

I found the site in 2001.

[applegrove]

31. Another oldie. To the next 20 years and beyond. Republicans en garde:

[Polly Hennessey]

25. A member since 2003.

I found the site in 2001.

[elleng]

33. Since March 2004, 16 years

[applegrove]

39. Wow. Sweet 16.

[peacebuzzard]

35. Long enough to remember getting snail mail DU bumper stickers

And sending a check by mail for membership
On edit: I guess admin will take a check by mail still, probably won’t get a bumper sticker though.

[applegrove]

40. Oh i used to send US money orders to DU. Simpler times eh?

[CottonBear]

49. It'll be 16 years on Oct 6. I've a snail mail envelope & bumper sticker too!

Like you, I must have sent a check by mail.

I joined Democratic Underground on Wed Oct 6, 2004, 02:48 PM.

However, I’d lurked for several years prior to joining DU. I’ve always had the same name from DU1 to DU3.

DU is my online home. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting up with many of my fellow Georgia DUers over the years as well.

Y’all are the best! Cheers to DU and to the Administrators; Skinner (owner), Elad and Earl G!

[peacebuzzard]

92. I met Skinner at the DU gathering in NYC protesting Bush+Iraq invasion.....

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]

36. I've been here around 14 years

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]

41. Focus we will.

[5X]

37. Since 2002 during lead up to Iraq war

so, 18 years.

My profile says 2003, so maybe 17 years. I know I was reading before that.

[applegrove]

42. Wow. Long time.

[5X]

45. Quit cutting my hair as protest to Iraq war about then

it is now past my waist and we haven't left there yet.

[applegrove]

47. Tragedy. Will you cut your hair id Trump loses in 2020?

[5X]

48. Its become part of me now, so prolly not

[IcyPeas]

43. 17 years

Furious about invading Iraq. I didn't believe the shit they were trying to sell us.

Smirking Chimp led me here.

[applegrove]

44. You are wise. I fell for Colin Powell's act.

[smirkymonkey]

50. Since 2003

Wow, I guess 17 years. Hard to believe.

[5X]

52. Do you know why our profiles say before July, 2003?

Did they lose some records back then?

[smirkymonkey]

90. Not sure.

Maybe they weren't keeping track before then. Or they didn't expect the board to be the success that it has been.

[IADEMO2004]

107. The Great ReBoot

edit add

2001 The Late Great Bartcop sent me.

[SeattleVet]

51. Since April, 2005

Just short of 15 years.

[applegrove]

54. Go Seattle! Go Seattle! Go Seattle!

[Arkansas Granny]

53. Since January, 2005. I had lurked for a while before signing up.

[applegrove]

56. I was at another site before DU. But it was a mixed board. I can debate

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]

55. Since the beginning...

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, Kerry’s loss, the magical Obama years and the horror of Trump. This wonderful place...so grateful...

[applegrove]

57. Wonderful for sure.

[democrank]

58. Since September, 2003

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. Didn’t know what button was for what...mostly still don’t. 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]

59. Computer Newbie!!!

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]

60. Under current handle, 15+ yrs.

Long time.

[applegrove]

65. Went by in a flash those 15 years.

[peacefreak2.0]

61. In my previous incarnation (peacefreak) pre 2005

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]

66. Welcome back!

[mnhtnbb]

62. I'll be here 15 years in May.

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]

68. Yes. There were fewer sites then. I heard about DU online too. Has never dissapointed.

Not once.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

63. Since late 2001, but under a different name.

Actually, I had two earlier incarnations. The current one is since mid 2016.

[sazemisery]

64. August, 2004 eom

[hlthe2b]

67. Came here inauguration Day, 2001 and registered a few weeks later in February, 2001

Of course as a "Child" prodigy...LOL

[DAMANgoldberg]

69. I had to look it up:

14 years to the day. Not surprised it's been that long. 💯👍🏾

[mahina]

70. 17 years. Thank you Skinner, EarlG and Elad.

Lurked from Jan 21 2001 till I joined in 03.

Buncha hippies

I keed, I keed

[mrsadm]

71. Since W was elected, 2001

Wow I had not thought about this. Are there prizes?

[griffi94]

73. 18 years

I joined in the middle of Dubyas first term.

[scarletwoman]

74. Just for fun, here's how to find someone's membership number:

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]

137. Many years ago, I asked who was DU's first member to post...

...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]

139. Way cool! And she's still here!

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]

144. Oh that's great -thanks for posting so we can all enjoy.

[Sherman A1]

75. 2006 according to my profile

I was here for a couple years before that under a different screen name, but left and took a break.

[lapfog_1]

76. 14 years next month

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]

77. 16 years in March

It’s 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]

78. Only been a member for 18 days but

I have been lurking since around 2014 or so

[Drifter]

79. Inauguration 2001

Perhaps a day or 2 after.
Been here from the very beginning.

Cheers
Drifter

[BlueTsunami2018]

80. Since 2003.

A friend turned me on to this site just before the foolish, criminal Iraq war started.

[mindem]

81. Since 2003

[underpants]

82. October 2001

18 years plus

[Ohio Joe]

83. Jan 2006

A bit over 14 years... Thats a while.

[latinaliberal]

84. How long ?

Going on 19 years. I check in through out the day. I don't line to post. This place keeps me sane.

[Hannahcares]

85. A very long time

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]

86. 17 years. I didn't realize it had been that long.

[badhair77]

87. After Bush's re-election in 2004. I ended up here in following

Keith Olbermann’s 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]

88. 2001

This is my second username. First was through the 2004 campaign.

[lynintenn]

89. 16 years. October 2004.

[Glorfindel]

91. Since July 2005 as Glorfindel

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]

93. 16 years since I joined but I was here before joining with a name.

[xmas74]

94. If anyone remembers me

Follow this post.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287585154#post8

It might be the only time you're safe in Primaries, lol.

[Blue_Tires]

96. Since '03

[Fla Dem]

97. Sun Nov 2, 2003, 10:45 AM. 16 years as of last Nov. Had been reading it for a while before I joined.

[OregonBlue]

98. Since 2005. I couldn't believe it. How time flies.

[ploppy]

99. 2001

I don't talk much for being here so long!

[bikebloke]

100. Since 2001

I read for about six months before joining.

[bottomofthehill]

101. Joined in 2003 under a different name

Have been under this name since 2005. The big topic at the time seemed to be what was happening in Kleebs life.....

[stonecutter357]

102. My first 2003 , this one since: Tue Aug 11, 2009, 11:49 AM .

[livetohike]

103. It will be 16 years on March 8! Lots of support, camaraderie

inspiration and laughs .

[BarbaRosa]

104. 2001

I lurked for a bit then joined, so I'll say late summer that year.

[Zoonart]

105. Lurker since 2008

Star member since 2016.

[MontanaMama]

106. I lurked in 2015 and thought the 2016 primaries.

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]

108. 15 years, 7 months

[ZenDem]

109. Since 2011

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]

110. I joined October 8, 2001.

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]

111. Jan. 29 was my one year anniversary

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]

112. Since March 2002

[gopiscrap]

113. since August 17, 2005

[cilla4progress]

114. 11/14/04

Kerry/Bush stolen election

[rurallib]

115. August of 2004 - so 15.5 years

came on a friend's recommendation. Stayed for the Lounge

[a kennedy]

116. June 4, 2004

[BluesRunTheGame]

117. 09/01/2001

[Iggo]

119. 9/11/2007

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2020, 11:00 PM - Edit history (1)

12 years, 5 months, 2 weeks, 5 days...or thereabouts.

[Staph]

120. I'm just ahead of you.

I joined 15 years and three weeks ago!

[hamsterjill]

121. I lurked after the 2000 election fiasco

I joined officially in 2004. I needed to know that I wasn't alone.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

122. 3.5 years as a lurker and then

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]

123. I don't remember exactly, but.........

That Sequoia sapling I planted in honor of the day is now 495 feet tall and 60 feet around at the base.................

[applegrove]

124. Don't say it out loud on internet. Trump will give it to big lumber.

[DFW]

125. I don't think Merkel will let him

I live in Germany.

[applegrove]

126. Ha! I'm 36 % German. According to dna. Only been there once. Beautiful. nt

[DFW]

129. I'm Eastern European mongrel

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]

133. My german ancestors were recruited by the British to Nova Scotia because they

were protestant. They settled in and around Lunenburgh, NS, Canada in the late 1700s.

Link to tweet

[David__77]

127. Since 2001.

Through the Iraq war, the recall against Gray Davis and all sorts of eras and events!

[dhol82]

128. Pretty much since the beginning

Got lost in the shuffle after DU 1, but have been a lurker or full member for the duration.

[Throckmorton]

130. About 19 years.

Joined mid-spring 2002

[LakeArenal]

131. Lurking with no computer skills since 2008

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]

132. I found DU somewhere between Occupy Democrats and Media Matters

I'n not sure on how long that I lurked here, but I registered in 2012.

[spicysista]

134. I joined after the site crashed.

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]

135. 8 years!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

136. Since Oct. 26, 2003.

[Skittles]

138. I joined a month before 9/11

yes indeed

[A HERETIC I AM]

140. 6,051 days

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]

145. Since dubya...

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]

146. I've been here since 2001

It's my daily routine. Love it here.

[Doc_Technical]

147. Found it summer of 2001

joined 2 1/2 years later

[yellowdogintexas]

148. November 9 2004 but I lurked for quite a while

before I became official.

[femmocrat]

149. My profile says 2006, but I remember being here during the 2000 selection.

I had a different user name. Can’t remember anymore.

(sorry if I posted this twice)