I joined in 2001 myself and I remember the two years between the 99ers and me seemed like an eternity. Like, holy cow, these people have been here since 1999? No matter what I do, I’ll always just be seen as a Johnny-come-lately.
I think I’ve been here 20 years; you’d think I’d remember how to look at my stats, but you’d be wrong. I was looking up something on the internet and ran across one of Cecil’s columns. I ended up reading all his columns, then going to this website and after lurking a bit, decided to sign up.
It’s a daily diversion. I don’t have a lot to contribute any longer, other than perhaps helping out in a couple of areas, but that doesn’t stop me from blathering on and on. I think I had two warnings in the past, probably deserved. Got pitted once, unjustly, and it died quickly. I get along with most of the pixels on this board and I try to avoid those who annoy me. I’ve only put a couple of people on ignore in the past, and I think they both got banned eventually. If I ever STFU, you’ll know I’m dead.
Checking the stats I see that 97.3% of my posts are quality posts, something I am proud of. Yay!
I’ve been here for at least 20 years, (I have no time sense), with a years long hiatus in the middle there somewhere.
I keep coming back because I learn a lot of interesting stuff from you guys, and you keep me humble.
So I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for a while longer.
I’m a newbie, only 22 years. I found the place when someone in talk.origins (the usenet group, not the website) recommended the Dope. Been here ever since.
Much higher level of discourse than most places, and Dopers don’t run away from questions, which is something I’ve seen a lot in the wider internet world.
Only annoyance - nearly every time I’m reading a long thread and come up with an obscure joke about it, someone beats me to it. Dopers are clever!
I joined 10 years ago. That time flew by. I still remember the day I first joined, after having done a Google search for the effect of extreme cold on the human body and one of the top Google hits was a Dope thread. I was impressed by the depth and detail of the responses and thought, “Huh, sounds just like my kind of forum” and signed up.
The Dope has also saved me a lot of money by giving free advice and info.
Yes.
And like @Chefguy , I get along with most pixels.
I joined in 2002, so 22 years. Yes, I am glad to be a Doper.
Someone above mentioned quality posts. What is a quality post and where is this stat tabulated? I just looked at my profile and didn’t see anything like that.
It keeps me off the streets.
Ha! Just found my join date, which was 2003, so 21 years on board.
I’m not only extremely glad to be a doper, but I’d argue that I am who I am because of the SDMB, this board has had an extraordinary influence in the way I think and feel about a lot of things.
It’s been 23 years since I joined, I’d been lurking for a few months IIRC but I joined in September 12th 2001 to discuss the events of the day before.
Shall I observe the obvious? 
(Joined May 12, 2000.)
I am grateful for these few corners of the Internet which largely preserve what it once was. A place for intelligent discussion (“masomenos”) rather than trolling or self-promotion. There are sites with more influence and more people. They command more publicity and are backed by more money. But they aren’t more intelligent or more civil. They don’t have wittier responses or broader knowledge. And the ratio of chaff to wheat is much higher.
Thank you Spoons, and all the other Dopers from every country who have given me much advice, food for thought, perspective, education annd entertainment over decades. Thank you, in particular, to Ed Zotti, and to the many selfless mods who make this place what it is. I wish you all every happiness. May the wind always be at your back. May the Straight Dope live a hundred years more.
Yes, Spoons, I am glad you are a Doper. As another frequent Thread Game participant, I’m glad to have this place to keep me sane.
Dang. I’m still a noob.
Happy Doperversary, @Spoons.
You’re a great Doper and friend.
YES! Love this place. Love @Cecil_Adams.
(Oh, Happy birthday @Czarcasm)
can’t forget Gato, I like keeping him off the streets
Same, except 2008. I actually think that I get the comprehensiveness of my news and current affairs here.
And happy anniversary @Spoons! Congrats!
Almost since the Beginning. If we were still on VBulletin, you’d see my signup number only had four digits. I could have signed up in 1999—I was certainly lurking then—but it wasn’t until 2000 that I stopped lurking and signed up. Kind of a “This is too damn interesting not to be a part of” thing.
Ha! I was at the track today. You must have sent me good wishes, because I saw a profit on my wagers. Thank you!
Gotta love the nitpicking on the Dope. Yes, you are correct; mine is an anniversary cake. Good call; just what I would expect from a Doper!
I feel the same. The SDMB has had an influence on me, and the way I think and feel. A good one, really. The diversity of views here, plus a number of things that may not occur to anybody except that one poster who has something totally different to contribute, has taught me to think about all sides of an issue.
Thanks again, all. Glad to hear that so many of you are proud Dopers. Here’s to the next 24—and more—years!
I’d consider myself a Doper, though it’s more a question of what other people consider me that counts, I suppose.
Whatever title you want to use for ‘member of this message board’, I’m very glad I am one.
More to the point, I’m very glad YOU are a Doper, because I’m not sure how I would have met you otherwise!
A few years back there was a thread for people to suggest names for groups of things that didn’t already have group names. And one of my suggestions was a “nitpickery” of Dopers.
I’ve been here over 24 years (not counting the year I lurked), and I’m happy I’ve been here. Made some great connections here, for one thing, and learned a lot while having (mostly) fun.