Hi, i made it out of ten-post probation...

[ActRaiser]

So as the DU bot recommended, I am introducing myself in the Lounge.

I've been reading this site since 2001. I found it while taking a web design course at the Empire State Building back in that summer before the towers fell, and it has since become my go-to for news. I figured I'd finally sign up for it- a mere 23 year delay between inception and execution. Just not a joiner, I guess!

I needed to do this now, since it might become verboten if Trump manages to ooze his way back into power and enact his little idiot dictatorship. My wife and I also joined the League of Women Voters last week and already registered a bunch of kids to vote at our daughter's high school, with a couple more events coming up. A little engagement has made me feel less hopeless.

Anyway, that's a thumbnail sketch of why I'm here. Feels odd to finally be a member after watching this place from afar for so long, but I'm glad I joined!

[KarenS]

1. Welcome!

Some of us read more than we post
been here off and on forever (it seems)

I hope your fears are not realized.

[Conjuay]

2. welcome, friend

[2naSalit]

3. Welcome...

To the other side!

[True Dough]

4. We might get along just fine

Both Dem supporters.

Both born in '73.

Both possess a strange sense of humor.

I like our chances.




WELCOME!

[ActRaiser]

9. Thanks all

And if you happen to be an OG Dungeons & Dragons player, you have an extra "in" with me!

[True Dough]

20. Oops! I draw the line at D&D

I enjoyed tabletop games when I was a teen, but more of the war variety: Axis and Allies, Samurai, Risk and there was one with no dice involved but I cannot remember the name of it offhand. Oh, and chess. Played a fair bit of chess.

[ActRaiser]

23. I loved Axis & Allies

I had that whole series of games - Axis and Allies, Fortress America, Broadsides and Boarding Parties, the Roman one and the Japanese one. I sold them all to a hobby store when I was 18 for next to nothing - chalk it up to dumb things one does as a kid!

[True Dough]

25. Yes, Fortress America was another one that we played!

I went searching via Google and found the name of the no dice strategy game that I mentioned earlier: Diplomacy.

[ActRaiser]

34. I'm glad to know

I wasn't alone in enjoying those old board games.

[ActRaiser]

36. Fun fact about Fortess America...

I had the original one that came out in like 1986 or so. On the cover, one of the bad guys depicted looked exactly like Saddam Hussein. In later releases of the game, the artwork changed and that figure was given a beard and dark sunglasses. Go figure, right?

[IbogaProject]

39. Diplomacy?

That was a dice free game, more of a sneaking around and plotting and scheming than overt strategy.

[True Dough]

50. Yes, that's it. Thanks.

I Googled the parameters and found the name. Posted it above at 9:46 a.m., so I'm not blowing smoke!

[IbogaProject]

53. I've been meaning to set up a "postal" diplomacy

We summer in a small cottage community and there would be just enough youth to let them loose with that turning in moves three days a week. We did it in High School and it was quite fun. While I'm normally peaceable, accepting and accommodating in real life I was a maniac any time we played that either around a table or postal style. It seems like the only other game played by mail other than chess.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)

Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959.[1] Its main distinctions from most board wargames are its negotiation phases (players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances with other players and forming beneficial strategies)[2] and the absence of dice and other game elements that produce random effects. Set in Europe in the years leading to the First World War, Diplomacy is played by two to seven players,[3] each controlling the armed forces of a major European power (or, with fewer players, multiple powers). Each player aims to move their few starting units and defeat those of others to win possession of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map; these supply centers allow players who control them to produce more units. Following each round of player negotiations, each player can issue attack and support orders, which are then executed during the movement phase. A player takes control of a province when the number of provinces that are given orders to support the attacking province exceeds the number of provinces given orders to support the defending province.

Diplomacy was the first commercially published game to be played by mail (PBM); only chess, which is in the public domain, saw significant postal play earlier. Diplomacy was also the first commercially published game to generate an active hobby scene with amateur fanzines; only science-fiction, fantasy and comics fandom saw fanzines earlier. Competitive face-to-face Diplomacy tournaments have been held since the 1970s. Play of Diplomacy by e-mail (PBEM) has been widespread since the late 1980s.[4]

[True Dough]

64. My buddies and I actually started a game of Diplomacy throught the mail

We certainly never finished it. Can't remember how many turns we each took before it lost momentum. Several.

[Beartracks]

69. "chess, which is in the public domain"

Wow, I never thought of chess as "being in the public domain." I always just thought of it as... well, chess.

==================

[Niagara]

15. Rec'd.

[WheelWalker]

5. The time for a thing is when it happens. It is sometimes said that "timing is everything"...

"Am I too early? Am I too late?" In any event, it is when it is.

Welcome aboard.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Welcome!

And thank you and your wife for the work you are doing to get out the vote.

[magicarpet]

7. Welcome. We need more people to beat back the creeping Fascist Theocracy that seeks to decimate American Democracy.

The more truly patriotic foot soldiers who join the cause the better our chances to put this monster to rest.

[Phoenix61]

8. Welcome!😀

[Silver Gaia]

10. Welcome!

Glad you're here! DU helps me stay sane, and it's the BEST go-to for news out there!

[BigmanPigman]

13. Ditto!

[MiHale]

11. Welcome Home!...

Took me a while to join also and a bit to start commenting but as I waded deeper, it became more comfortable.
Glad to have you aboard.

[lark]

12. Welcome aboard!

This is a great place to find and discuss news, music, health, photography and many other topics.

[Niagara]

14. Welcome home, ActRaiser

[DoBW]

16. cool beans

[Rhiannon12866]

17. Welcome to DU, we're glad to (finally) have you with us!

And thanks for all you do getting the kids registered!

[LuvLoogie]

18. Welcome!

[SergeStorms]

19. Glad you're emerging from lurking mode..

and joining in the conversations.

Welcome.

[marked50]

21. Valkommen.

[Bluethroughu]

22. Excellent work!

Welcome to the conversations, and glad to know we have more than trolls outside looking in!

[hlthe2b]

24. 'Glad you are here and are posting! Welcome!

[KS Toronado]

26. Welcome to DU!

I too visited for years before joining, if you enjoy editorial cartoons subscribe to the humor forum for smiles.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/119811487

[malaise]

27. Welcome

[Hope22]

28. Nice work!

Welcome!😊💗

[appleannie1]

29. Welcome

[Joinfortmill]

30. Welcome!

[niyad]

31. Welcome, friend. So glad you FINALLY decided to come in from the cold!

And many kudis to you and your wife for becoming even more involved. We all hope our fears will be proven wrong, but we must be prepared in every possible way.

Looking foward to seeing more of your posts and OP's!

[markie]

32. Welcome!!

[Ohio Joe]

33. Welcome

If I might… I suggest visiting the gaming group:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1211

I don’t post there as much as I used to but… There have been more pressing matters. Still… I keep an eyeball on it and I suspect you would be a welcome addition there.

Joe

[PatSeg]

35. 23 years lurking?

Wow, I lurked for almost 3 years before I became a member. Better late than never. Welcome!

[Mr. Evil]

40. That has to be a record!

[ActRaiser]

41. Lol I know!

I always was a bit of a wallflower.

[Mr. Evil]

44. Well,

you've gone and done it now! So, start typing!

And welcome aboard.

[PatSeg]

46. And now you see what a great bunch we are

It is much nicer to interact!

[PatSeg]

45. Seriously

I couldn't have bit my tongue for THAT long! Incredible restraint.

[blm]

48. Lololololol

[yankee87]

37. Congrats

Need to keep up the pressure on the Orange Messiah

[Wednesdays]

38. Hi! Welcome!

[Not Heidi]

42. Hi, ActRaiser

I hope you're well!

[Fla Dem]

43. Welcome aboard. Don't have to tell you what a great site this is.

So many long term members and new ones joining all the time. Glad you finally made the plunge.

[blm]

47. Hiya. I lurked for over a year before I joined.

That was 22 years ago. Happy to have another GOTV activist.

[ActRaiser]

49. I wasn't up for it then

There was a lot of personality-driven cliqueishness with which I didn't want to involve myself. It's a lot better now. Plus the state of the world feels even more dire now than it did under GWB, if that is possible. Stepping up, even in a tiny way, feels necessary to me.

[CousinIT]

51. Welcome to DU!

I've been here since 2001 when the USSC putched Shrub into office (used different usernames though). I don't know what the hell I'd do without DU!!

Glad you're here!

[OldBaldy1701E]

52. Greetings and Welcome ActRaiser! (n/t)

[AllyCat]

54. welcome!

[liberalla]

55. Welcome!

[Permanut]

56. Navy vet here .

Welcome aboard.

[Scruffy1]

57. Welcome to a great web site.

I don't actually post here, but have been a member since 2008. It's been my daily go to all that time. I've learned a lot here.

[calimary]

58. YAY!!! Welcome, ActRaiser!

Glad you're stepping up! I look forward to reading your posts. Glad you're here.

[et tu]

59. me too

i found du by my tree hugging son several years ago
but have just recently joined because i wanted the old view
[skinner] and i never thought confident enough to want to post.
now i do now and then~ welcome!

[Emile]

60. Welcome aboard!

[debm55]

61. Welcome

[TeamProg]

62. Cheers!

[ShazzieB]

63. Welcome!

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

65. Welcome and I agree with you, this is a good site for news.

And there are lots of interesting forums here besides political discourse.

[soldierant]

66. *-*-*

?si=bBU3j5YrJbuoEQyH&t=9

[FakeNoose]

67. Welcome ... It's about time you joined our party!

This is such a great group here, and I'm sure you'll fit right in.

[proud patriot]

68. Welcome Underground

[Beartracks]

70. Congratulations, welcome, and glad you joined, too!

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[Grumpy Old Guy]

71. Welcome!

I lurked for twenty years too.