Who remembers their "newby" days here?

[LaurenG]

There are three people other than newyawker99 that stand out during those first few months.

DSI helped me with a network problem at work at no charge (I've been in love with him since, with SOteric's approval too!)Lynnesin used to serve tea and give us smilies and MrScorpio explained DU slang to me. ("what dies K&R and nt mean")

Anyone else have good memories as a new du-er?

[LynneSin]

1. Today's tea is a mixture of Plum Harvest Herbal Tea and Blueberry Red Tea

A big pot is brewing right now.

When I started everyone was a bunch of noobies - I'm such an old fart!

[LaurenG]

7. Well you didn't ask me if I wanted 1 lump or 2 yet

but I know that tea has to be ready by now. :7

[LynneSin]

11. Oh you don't put sugar in this tea

The flavoring of Plum and Blueberries - you can drink this stuff straight

[mainegreen]

2. I do. Greenpartyvoter is the first one I remember recognizing from post to post.

Just because she is so friendly.

Really, Greenpartyvoter is one of the friendliest DUers, imho.

[LaurenG]

8. Friendly is good, I like the friendly people!

:hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

51. GreenPartyVoter is the best.

She is a gem.

[DarkTirade]

3. Everything from when I started is kind of a jumble.

Things didn't start sticking in my mind until I started coming to the lounge. :)

[LaurenG]

9. Was it a tough first 1000 posts for you ?

Once I got to 700 I was told I was in the seven hundred club so I'd better get busy posting and get out. It was fun then. People encouraged me to post faster and tried to help me up my post count.

[DarkTirade]

17. Honestly, I think I kind of stalled out at a little over 200

because all the pointless shouting in GD just didn't seem to need any more people adding their opinions to the mix.

I didn't start posting often until I discovered the Lounge and GLBT forums. :)

[malta blue]

4. CrownPrinceBandar was the first person to welcome me to DU

and ThomCat made me feel welcome in the lounge. That was back in the days when he only had 8000 posts or so....

:hi:

[LaurenG]

10. Where did bandar go? And Thom is a beautiful person!

:hi:

[malta blue]

12. Actually saw CPB the other day

And I just LOVE ThomCat :loveya:

[1gobluedem]

5. Someone had a huge problem with me over something I said about Terry Gross

After her interview with Bill O'Reilly. Never mind that I know her and had discussed the interview with her; this guy said I was wrong and accused me of lying; both about the interview and that I know her. THAT was my welcome to DU.

That was almost six years ago. And I still feel like a newbie.

But newyawker99 did send me a nice welcome. And on the positive side, I'm an excellent thread killer.

[LaurenG]

13. You must have been in GD for that argument. I used to feel so overwhelmed

in there but I stuck it out and now I have gd's(gdp's) number. :P

[Zomby Woof]

6. In the dark days following 9/11

I had lurked since the spring of '01, discovering the site through a friend who sent me a link to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots list. But I didn't join until the first week of October, when I was laid off a few weeks before and needed a diversion from endless job searches and my shock (both from 9/11 and the job loss related to it). It was reassuring that I was not alone in my contempt for Bush and his wretched 'leadership' during those grim days. I felt like we were the 10% non-approval club.

CatWoman was the first to welcome me, with a PM. She is my honorary little sister, lol. So many friends have come and gone over the years, but I am happy she is still here.

No matter what issues I have with DU at times, it changed my life. I met my wife through this very forum, and a host of great friends too.

[LaurenG]

14. I am glad you stuck around and yes if I remember correctly you served the best coffee.

I love to read Nini out in GD. She and I agree on most topics, I am frequently sad that I can't rec her posts. :)




In case people are wondering who I am, I was Ohioblues.

[Zomby Woof]

15. OH!

I had NO IDEA you were formerly Ohioblues! You were one of the DUers I was alluding to (and there are many) that I have missed over time. Wow! Glad I don't have to miss you anymore.

Well, I will be sure to let Nini know of your kind words. I know she will appreciate them! :-)

How about some coffee? :donut: :hi:

[LaurenG]

16. Yes I'll take some coffee - thank you!

A little caffiene should help this mid day slump. :hug:

[CatWoman]

25. awwwww

:)

:loveya:

[Zomby Woof]

26. Hehehehe

Your welcoming PM made me feel "official" here. So my advice to the veterans is NOT to be afraid of welcoming new members of DU.

:loveya: back at ya little sister!

[mzteris]

18. Lynnsin thought I was a troll . . .

Crazy Guggenheim and Wetzelbill were the first to "welcome" me. GOPSUX and RETROLOUNGE were the first to flirt with me. (of course - they flirted with EVERYBODY!

[LaurenG]

28. Gopsux and Retro were a part of "The Flirty Dozen"

I know there were others I just can't think of who right now. :hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

52. And you thought that LostinVA and I were fighting all the time

[mzteris]

61. uh - yeah -

gawd i can't believe i thought you two were really fighting!

:blush:


that's why I stay out of the "lounge drama" anymore. I don't know what's "for real" and what's "for fun". . .

[MrScorpio]

19. I always love the Noobies

Hey, I've only got one shot to make a good first impression, right?

[LaurenG]

29. Thanks for being helpful!

:hi:

[plcdude]

20. 2002

Too long ago to remember.

[LaurenG]

30. Yeah I guess you were one of the first people here.

I know I felt out of my league when I first got here, there were so many very smart people here who taught me a ton about politics.

[joshcryer]

49. Same.

I don't think I posted very much in those days.

[MineralMan]

21. Are they ever really over?

[LaurenG]

32. Yep, one day you just realize that you've been here long enough to

qualify as a mod and after a turn in the tub you know you aren't new anymore because your post count will expand exponentially.

[tabbycat31]

22. my newbie days were not that long ago

I only heard of DU after the election, otherwise I would have joined sooner.

Within the first 2 weeks of my membership, I received a star.

[LaurenG]

33. I love DUers! They have of the biggest hearts and give out stars very

selflessly. :hi:

[tabbycat31]

42. I agree

I can't afford to donate right now, but when I do I will pay it forward

[mtnester]

23. Sadly, many who helped me in my early days are deceased or unaccounted for

several epidemics, pick one.

I appreciated every single one of their bits pf advice. But I lurked for about a year before I felt comfortable enough with the board dynamics to post.

[LaurenG]

34. DU was quite intimidating when I first joined. I didn't know there was a lounge

and made my way by the skin of my teeth in GD for the first few months. :hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

24. Joan_Alpern and xmas1974

were among the first I talked with quite a bit. I had the luxury to meet Joani in RL, xmas not yet. I hope so one day.

I also remember that MrScorpio was very nice to me from the beginning.

[LaurenG]

35. I'm glad you started the "morning" thread now.

I wonder what happened to Clintmax?

[MissHoneychurch]

54. I guess he moved on

I know that the main reason for him to stop posting his morning threads was that his working schedule changed. After that :shrug:

I miss his morning threads. I met a lot nice people there. People that became dear friends to me.

[BlueIris]

27. The Kerry supporters found me right away. Thanks, guys.

In case I never said.

[LaurenG]

36. Is that where you hung out as a newbie?

:hug: :hi:

[BlueIris]

37. That's why I came here.

And most of the reason why I stayed.

[leftyclimber]

31. Oh, geez. First I lurked forever, then I got so het up about an OP

that I signed up to respond. :rofl:

... and then I took a really awful statistics class in a computer lab, and racked up a couple hundred posts in a couple of nights. And so on. Although I'm still kind of "streaky." Some times I'm pretty yappy, but most of the time I just sit back and watch the show.

u4ic was one of the first people to welcome me to the site, although I'm sure there were others I'm not remembering. I never got jumped on or accused of freepitude or anything, so I guess I did OK.

edit: THEN. Geez, self.

[LaurenG]

38. DU does suck you in like that.

:rofl: It makes you want to respond! I'm glad you weren't accused of freepitude, I think I was suspect, though the only thing that happened was I was told to keep politics out of the lounge by some really mad person. It made me feel so bad I stayed in GD for months. :rofl:

BTW I haven't seen U4ic in ages.

[leftyclimber]

56. I haven't seen u4ic either. I'm assuming it was just a "wandered off" scenario.

I got sucked into the Lounge pretty early in my DU tenure, though. It gets weird on occasion (cf. flvegan), but there are a lot of smart, funny people here. Can't ask for a lot more than that.

[Rising Phoenix]

39. I remember my 700 club

pissed through that in one night with a drinking game......lol....good times

[LaurenG]

40. That's the only way to do it - quickly and drunk.

:hi:

[Rising Phoenix]

41. indeed

Everybody was really nice to me when I first joined. I had an "in" so to speak. I had already been to a meetup or two, as well.

[Sigh Sister]

43. Hello Lounge!

I'm a newbie now and hope to have good memories. I've lurked for a long time and recently decided to just jump in. One thing I've found out about myself is that I'm a thread killer, so I hope I don't curse this thread.:)

[bigwillq]

44. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Sigh Sister]

45. Thank you!

I'd wave back but I can't get the cool smilies to work for some reason.:)

[I Have A Dream]

69. You would do the hi smiley like this...

:hi:

(Welcome to DU, Sigh Sister.)

[Sigh Sister]

80. Thanks for the welcome and help with the smiley!

:hi:

[LaurenG]

46. Welcome Sigh Sister.

:hi:

[Sigh Sister]

47. Thanks LaurenG!

Good to be here. Some really smart, funny people!

[Zomby Woof]

50. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[I Have A Dream]

70. Sigh Sister, this one would be...

:toast:

[Sigh Sister]

81. Cheers! Thanks!

[Dr. Strange]

48. Welcome to the DU!

:hi:

[Sigh Sister]

82. Thanks Dr.Strange!

:hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

53. Don't worry about that Sigh. I've already entered the thread.

See sig below. ;-)

[Sigh Sister]

83. Love the Sig line! Some of us just have that magic touch.

:hi:

[quakerboy]

55. I dont believe I was ever welcomed

My introduction was being accused by someone of being some sort of disruptor, who would be gone before long. It was primaries time.

I'm trying to remember who said that. I think he may be a moderator now. Perhaps I should be laying low.

[LaurenG]

63. Heh - welcome to DU! I think most of us are at least suspect until

we prove which side we're on, and I wish it wasn't like this but I'm glad you stuck it out. :hi:

[quakerboy]

91. No worries

I had been lurking a long time, and had no doubt it would happen. Thanks for the welcome.

[nini]

57. I lurked for a long time and was always amused by the photoshop threads....

of GOPisevil, Matcom and Zombywoof.


thanks for the kind words above :hi:

[LaurenG]

64. You are a good person Nini-

Thanks for standing up for what you believe in out there. :hi:

[BarenakedLady]

58. I don't remember all that much.

I was quiet for a long time. But I'm still good friends with those who made me feel welcome back then.

[LaurenG]

65. Seems to me you have a username that makes you unforgettable

DU is lucky to have you! :7 :hi:

edit spelling

[Sky Masterson]

88. I remember when you would only post a body part

lord knows why 'cause you sure are a cutie.
I remember it like it was yesterday my friend.
Thank you for coming here :hug: :loveya:

[Fleshdancer]

59. My newbie days weren't great

My sad attempt at humor didn't go over too well back in my low post count days. I still remember a few loungers who were not welcoming, but that was years ago and those posters are much nicer now. :)

[LaurenG]

66. I thought I was funny too - though no one beat me up for it, I think they

felt sorry for me. There is no place on earth like DU! :hi:

[ornotna]

60. AnnabelLee was the first person to respond to me

I believe it was in a thread about the loss of her cat.

I don't know if she is still around though. :shrug:

[LaurenG]

67. I don't think I remember seeing AnnabelLee

Yeah - DU has a huge number of cat lovers, that in itself makes it easy to talk to people. :hi:

[AllenVanAllen]

62. I am very new to posting as well

and everyone has been very friendly and welcoming!
I really appreciate all the intelligent and witty people here!
You guys have made it a lot of fun!:hi:

[LaurenG]

68. Welcome AllenVanAllen

I have to say that I have spent hours laughing at the cleverness of people here. :hi:

[AllenVanAllen]

84. Thank you !

I've laughed out loud many times myself!

[femmocrat]

73. Welcome to DU, AllenVanAllen.

Nice to meet you! :hi:

Cool name!

[AllenVanAllen]

85. Thanks!

It's great to meet you too!

[I Have A Dream]

71. Yes, it wasn't until I found the ASAH group that I really felt like a part...

of the community.

You were one of the first people to make me feel welcome. :loveya:

[LaurenG]

74. Aww -

you are a beautiful person. What an awesome thing to say! :loveya: :hug:

[femmocrat]

72. I was lucky enough to join when we still had the Morning Crew.

Nice, friendly members there. :) :hi:

I remember that Airmen's Mom was the first one to actually talk to me! :hug:

[NewJeffCT]

75. Here in the Lounge, or DU in general?

I avoided the Lounge my first year or so here, and frankly don't remember my first posts in the Lounge.

I remember somebody accused me of being a Freeper in the first actual thread I started - I had asked for help debunking some anti-Clinton stuff back in late 2003, and somebody didn't read my whole post before jumping on me as a Freeper. I'm sure that was the only time in DU history that somebody didn't read the whole post before responding, though.

[Forkboy]

76. JitterbugPerfume and Catwoman were both super nice to me.

Of course, they're pretty much super nice to everyone. :)

[Zomby Woof]

78. True!

I am glad they are both still around. :-)

[skooooo]

77. Yep, I do...

I announced I was going to New York for the Republican National Convention. I thought it was understood that I was going to protest, so I didn't add that part. Needless to say, I was questioned as to "why" I was going.

:rofl:

[libodem]

79. Yes, I do

I showed up, in a blue funk, after Kerry had lost the election. I was and still am a newbie to the computer (to some extent still am) and posting in general, as well, to DU. The names that stick out to me are Bouncy Ball and Jimmy Jazz. There was almost a frantic/manic intensity to the posting. I believed shit like "Skinner said he likes me best" when it was posted. There were funny threads like, 'add Kleeb to the title of any song', and 'You Kleeb up my Life' still stands out in my mind, as funny. Matcom and DS1 were often around trading funny comments and goofy diatribe. There were Zombies like ZombyNixon and ZombyWoof. I typed poorly, often without punctuation, and often in ellipticals, and it was meant to indicate a running train of thought. In other words I came off as a dumbass, and was suspect as a Freeper. I never quite knew when to jump into an ongoing conversation and didn't get the politics of who knew who, and that relationships had been nurtured and were long standing. I've never quite been as able as I am in real life to establish a hook-up with a buddy on DU, to make me feel like I really fit in.
I'm sure the problem is I'm waiting for someone to notice that I'm smart, pretty, well read, love music, and am politically savvy.
I learned in real life a long time ago that to make a friend you have to be one. I find that hard to to with a computer screen.
I do love you guys from afar, however.

[Left Is Write]

86. Honestly, I really don't.

I have no specific memories of my early days here.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

87. I'm a real oldie--February 2001

Most of the people who were around when I joined aren't here anymore.

[Sky Masterson]

89. Let me see

When I came here as a newbie (the first time) duers like miss_american_pie and Left Is Write were pretty nice to me.
They must have been because they were the first two duers to make my buddy list.
Several duers were pretty nice to me. That,s why I'm still here. :)
The second time I came back people were assholes. :hide:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

90. 2002

Maeve and ZenLefty were the Lounge moderators at the time and they did so much to make me feel welcome, valued and special. And too many people to name who were there at the time and who are either no longer posting or who have sadly passed away made me feel right at home and so welcome with their kindness, generosity and friendship. And then there are many who are thankfully still here -I won't go into names because there are too many to name and I don't want to leave anyone out -who had the same effect on me

I miss those times

[Evoman]

92. Yeah...for a while nobody gave a shit who I was. And then I went to the religious forum and wrote a

play that was well received.....


Didn't venture much out of RT forum for awhile, but now I barely post there and post a lot more in GD. Of course, GD is a big ocean, and I'm a little fish, and as far as anyone is concerned, I'm a nobody. Same goes with this forum hehe.

[geomon666]

93. I'm still a n00b.

Even after 8 years. I just don't socialize on here so I miss out on all of the in jokes.