What number I am.

And joined in August of that year.

What an interesting question!

I am definitely NOT in the 2001 range, although I might have been a lurker. I know I signed up after Kerry lost and was so unused to how chat boards worked, that I was VERY grateful when DU mods allowed a handle name change and I could start posting without my name in the handle.

July 7 2003. I lot of the very active members from those days have passed. Even though I never post I read DU ever day for over 22 years, hours each day!!

I lurked for a year.

have always been Grey or Grey5. I do love it here, the people have been just wonderful. This is my first stop every morning.

My user ID # is 104893. I don't know what that represents as to the first 1,000.

...Skittles & I joined at the very same date & time!
And like you, we're both still here.

Last edited Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:43 PM - Edit history (1)

(many having seen Skinner's sign on TV in the inauguration crowds). I finally gave in and registered on July 2, 2001. Coincidentally, I know that fellow Coloradoan, Kentuck, registered the same day.

Sadly, a lot of us who registered that first year remember several of those who made DU what it is, but have sadly passed. Ask anyone here that first year if they remember the very prolific and eloquent poster, Khephra, and I'd bet it would be 100%. nostamj and Andy_Stephenson are likewise fondly remembered, but there are others.

TRULY a fabulous soul. 5thGenDem, Will Pitt, and too many others have passed and it makes me sad.

Laura

I signed up in 2003 when I was 19. I think I was the youngest member at the time or at least it seemed like it. I miss those days, even Bush seems not as bad compared to Trump.

he was here so long ago, he must be in his 40’s now.

I thought he had maintained some relationship with WillPitt after he left and had hoped he might come and post after William's death. But, he, among many others, seems to be lost to us. sigh...

Hard to believe it's been 23 years!

had to change things because of the 2016 great du hack.

But probably not one of the first 1000

Still here.




Laura

and then check if those folks had posted in @ the last 3 months or so. It would be interesting.

Love this place!

I remember finding the Lounge crew of the time quite hilarious with posters like Matcom, Sniffa, and ZombyWoof.

Bush was elected in 2000 with a 2nd election win in 2004. Not sure what made me finally decide to sign up as I had been following DU since it started in January 2001. It was probably that in his 2nd term run Bush was challenged by John Kerry a Senator from Massachusetts my home state and I wanted to follow his run.

DU was also becoming my place to go for election and most other news, so I finally decided to make it official. DU had been operational a little less than 3 years when I joined. Don't know how many DU'ers were on board then. Never regretted it. Still my "go to site" for almost any information.

But hasn’t posted since 2020.

I came across tkmorris’s profile when doing a search for starpass who had been quoted in a Wall Street Journal article.

Smirking chimp moved away from the discussion format..under another DU name

access to a computer, I didn't keep up.
Then in 2020 disappointed in the political section of a music site for a particular thing I thought I had to find a Democrat/Liberal leaning site.

Would you believe I remembered DU's name all those years later. I didn't think it'd be around but I was happily surprised. Lurked for a very short time, then jumped in!

It disappeared, so went to Buzzflash (think it's now TruthOut) for awhile, then came here. I joined in June 2001 and this has been my go to ever since.

but we were still in the 1500 range when I joined in early 2003. I wish we still showed member numbers instead of post numbers.

"Bitch slap" was a frequent comment and I could not make people understand how offensive it was and still is. Other comments also. I tried hard to find a viable feminist forum and did not.

They day after my thirty-third birthday. The President sucked, my life sucked, everything sucked. DU was a warm, welcoming haven for me. I knew as long as I was here, things were going to be okay. I'm still glad I'm here, and I don't plan on ever leaving.

And can’t imagine there ever being a time I won’t be coming here most every day as long as I’m alive.