# 20th anniversary of SDMB! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 1, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388 "2019-03-01T17:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/1 "2019-03-01T17:52:00Z")
Happy 20th anniversary everyone! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/2 "2019-03-01T18:07:33Z")
This totally fucking rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/3 "2019-03-01T18:10:29Z")
So, which message boards of former prominence have we outlasted? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/4 "2019-03-01T18:18:07Z")
Happy Anniversary! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/5 "2019-03-01T18:30:04Z")
I am torn between sadness that I missed about a decade of Doperdom, and relief that elements of my early-20s-idiocy have not been preserved with my screen name on it for all eternity… in any case, congrats to the Dope! My favorite place on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/6 "2019-03-01T19:00:02Z")
Twentieth anniversary is traditionally China. Watch out, Xi Jinping!! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/7 "2019-03-01T19:45:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So, which message boards of former prominence have we outlasted? All of them? I can’t think of one I participated in from before us, or around the same time, that is still active. Maybe one of the porn ones somewhere but I never visited any of them much. And to think 20 years ------- next year we can buy it a drink! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/8 "2019-03-01T19:53:55Z")
Considering all the people that have said we are doing it wrong, might I suggest a new slogan? _“Failing” Since 1998-It’s Taking Longer Than We Thought_ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/9 "2019-03-01T19:54:20Z")
Any bets on whether it makes it to 21? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/10 "2019-03-01T20:03:57Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Any bets on whether it makes it to 21? Any reason it wouldn’t? Is it failing that badly? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/11 "2019-03-01T20:07:07Z")
Happy Dopeday! Edit: dang, I’ve been here for over half the board’s life now. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/12 "2019-03-01T20:07:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Any reason it wouldn’t? Is it failing that badly? Traffic seems way down…I used to post several times a day…now I go days without even checking the site and find the last thread I posted in still on the front page of the forum. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/13 "2019-03-01T20:57:35Z")
Wow, I was 24 when I started posting here. All because of a short lived TV show. Now I feel old. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/14 "2019-03-01T21:00:58Z")
I received the Compendium of Human Knowledge as a gift in 1984. I started reading the Straightdope column in the Chicago Reader in 1989, and I’m embarrassed to say it took a while to realize the book and column were by the same author. I got my first internet connected computer in 1997 - a little late to the party, I know, which was odd because I had been computer literate since the late 70’s, but for some reason never felt compelled to “log on” Got my AOL acct that same year (still have it!), and alto I did frequent Usenet I was unaware of the SDMB. In 2004, I found the SD website and became a regular visitor, but only ocassionally visiting the MB. I miss Weird Earl!. Around 2010 I started lurking on the MB with more regularity, but never found impetus to actually join. Finally, in 2016 I officially joined the conversation, and have enjoyed my time immensely! So, to those of you who have been here since the beginning, thank you for keeping the lights on til I could get here! Mike Curtis ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/15 "2019-03-01T21:03:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So, which message boards of former prominence have we outlasted? I thought GameFAQs message boards came first, but apparently they started in November 1999 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/16 "2019-03-01T21:14:41Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > Wow, I was 24 when I started posting here. All because of a short lived TV show. > > Now I feel old. I was 21 and am now 40. :eek: > [@Oakminster](#): > > Traffic seems way down…I used to post several times a day…now I go days without even checking the site and find the last thread I posted in still on the front page of the forum. True. I hope it stays around. That alternative ending to Big thread is the only thing anyone will remember of me in 100 years. 😃 > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I thought GameFAQs message boards came first, but apparently they started in November 1999 Wow, I would have agreed entirely. I do see that I only registered there in 2001 while I have been here since 2000. I was also on the SDMB on AOL, though. That does count, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/17 "2019-03-01T21:29:31Z")
I was such a babe in the woods. (Well maybe not exactly a babe;)). But I was a youngun. Thanks for letting me play in the sandbox with you guys. It’s been hilarious fun. Love me some Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Garak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Garak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garak)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/18 "2019-03-01T21:42:44Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I thought GameFAQs message boards came first, but apparently they started in November 1999 GameFAQs was around with the FAQs a few years before they had the message boards too ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/19 "2019-03-01T21:46:16Z")
> [@Garak](#): > > GameFAQs was around with the FAQs a few years before they had the message boards too That’s nice, but if you want to talk about origins, check out that masthead at the top of this page. 1973. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388/20 "2019-03-01T22:24:04Z")
Wasn’t there an AOL group or something before there was a SDMB? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20th-anniversary-of-sdmb/830388.md?page=2)