Just noticed that I have a birthday cake. Yep, looks like I’ve been here 24 years today.
In that time, I’ve been contradicted, argued with, agreed with, corrected. I’ve posted silly song lyrics in accordance with events of the day. I’ve played along in many Thread Games, posted my thoughts in IMHO, posted random stuff in MPSIMS, lambasted folks in the BBQ Pit, and even answered a few questions factually in FQ.
I think that should make me a Doper, but I’ll let you be the judges of that. On this, my 24th year of registration, am I a Doper? And are you glad that you’re one too?
Happy Doper Birthday! Doesn’t 24 years mean you’ve been here pretty much since The Beginning? Maybe one year less than the venerable “99ers”? If the Dope were the universe, you’ve been here since the universe was just an opaque plasma! If you don’t qualify as a True Doper, no one does!
I, OTOH, have only been here a little over ten years (will be 11 years in January). I probably spend more time in this amazing place than is good for me, but dammit, the virtual social and intellectual interactions here are addicting!
I’d say my “gladness” varies somewhat over time. Yeah, it is a “community” that gives me pleasure, and I spend way too much time here. You guys are one of my best sources of news - and I love the opportunity to toss ideas/questions up in a semi-anonymous manner and get varying opinions/responses.
Lately, I’m less than enthused by what I perceive as the trend in monitoring re: hijacking and splitting threads, but that’s a pretty minor thing. Just minimally lessens my enthusiasm. And, I don’t know if it is selective memory, but it seems like a smaller number of posters is responsible for a greater percentage of posts. But that likely was always the case. And not sure why GD has become so moribund.
I first got hooked here by a single thread a couple decades ago.
The basic question was “Was mathematics invented, or discovered” An interesting topic. I saw a LOT of very intelligent replies and debates. I was hooked.
Damn, it feels good to be a Doper
A real Doper-ass poster plays his cards right
A real Doper-ass poster never runs his fucking mouth
'Cause real Doper-ass posters don’t start fights
Real Doper-ass posters don’t flex nuts
'Cause real Doper-ass posters know they got 'em
Now, everything is cool in the mind of a Doper
Cause Doper-ass posters think deep
Been posting to the SDMB since 1997. I think it’s been good for me, if not necessarily pleasant, to have the experience of people taking time to listen and consider what I was saying and then telling me I’m full of shit. Before SDMB I was mostly inclined to think that if I had the opportunity to actually communicate, everyone would realize with amazement how totally right I was about damn near everything.
But my 20-year Doperversary was in July, and yes: I’m glad I’m a Doper. This place may not be what it once was, but there’s still nowhere else like it. If I weren’t still glad, I wouldn’t keep hanging out here.
If you don’t qualify as a True Doper, no one does!
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