I’m a former GQ moderator from the late 1990s — known back then as Nickrz. I moderated General Questions for about a year during the early era of the SDMB.
I’m reaching out because I recently rediscovered a set of photographs from the moderators’ summit at Starved Rock (Illinois), which included several mods and staff members — and yes, Ed Zotti was present.
Before I publish anything or write about that period, I want to handle this with care and respect. If you were there — TubaDiva, Jill Gatwood, Lynn Bodoni, Ed Zotti, or anyone else — I would appreciate hearing from you so I may:
Confirm your comfort level
Ask permission to use your image or nickname
Share the material privately if you’d like to see it first
My intention is to create a small time-capsule account of the early internet and the unique culture of the Straight Dope community during that formative period. Nothing sensational — just an honest historical record by someone who lived it.
If you’d prefer not to be included, please say so and I will, of course, respect that fully.
Welcome back, @Nickrz2 ! The first thing that you should know is that, unfortunately, @TubaDiva and @Lynn_Bodoni have both passed away.
To be clear, was this from when the Dope was still on AOL? The SDMB per se started in 1999 (and has gone through some major changes since then, of course, but there’s still some sort of continuity to then).
Cafe Society, Politics & Elections, The Game Room, Thread Games, Marketplace, and The Quarantine Zone were all created after I joined in December 2000.
And General Questions (GQ) was renamed Factual Questions (FQ).
Finally, Cecil’s Columns and Staff Reports were combined.
You are all correct, thank you. Going back through old posts I was active from early 1999 to at least October of that year. The Summit was probably late 1999. Sorry - these threads have lain dormant since those heady days of SSDMB.
I shall. I am hoping to obtain permission first and I must respect all Chicago reader and Straight Dope copyrights. I hope Ed or someone can give me permission to snippet a few threads from back in the day.
Grieving for my TubaDiva, did not know she had shuffled off to buffalo. or. as she once said about me “he went out back and the hogs ate him.” She was an awesome gal and a great writer and humanitarian. She mentored me and many others about the boards and the SMDB owes a great debt of gratitude to her. The great equalizer, enforcer, and cajoler of trolls, she stands head and shoulders above this board and all it means.
Not to shortchange the other mods, Jillgat, Lynn B. CK_Dexter_Haven, et all. And Ed. The man behind the mask. lol. Thank you for your welcome back oh ye great unwashed.
Bruce aka Nickrz