I am omitting anyone already in the thread.
Lemur866 and MGibson, because no one mentioned them yet and they deserve it. John Mace for the same reasons.
And Tamerlane 'cause he knoweth the Middle East and doth not mind sharing his expertise.
I can either stop here, or spend the rest of the afternoon listing.
Regards,
Shodan
I posted this here a couple of weeks ago, but nobody else wanted to play (boo!)…
I’d like to add a link to this thread about David Simmons for those who may have not seen it stickied in MPSIMS. Lots of richly deserved kudos for him there.
Maeglin is a gentleman and a scholar.
The nofair team of lno and elenfair are also gentlefolk and scholars.
GingeroftheNorth and Hamadryad are pretty smart. And nice ladies too. 
Oh gosh, my very first intarweb stalker! I’m all a-twitter! 
Y’ain’t so bad yerself, missy–stick around!
Yup, I’ll second (…third…fourth?) Skald The Rhymer as the instigator of the most creative threads around–always worth a read and usually a post or six.
I think Autolycus and Hostile Dialect are neck and neck for most amusing younger guys with bad habits they don’t mind sharing with all and sundry.
If I were in the hospital I’d be very reassured to have eleanorigby and picunurse taking care of me.
What Exit? When he adopted the name I suggested, I really felt like a member of SDMB. I enjoy reading his posts on baseball, LOTR and politics. I think he’s the nicest guy here.
WordMan has taught me more about guitars and amps than I thought it was possible to learn after 40 years of playing. He’s got well thought out opinions on lots of things I care about, and he’s a hell of a nice guy to boot. Awesome guitar player, too.
Mangetout is the most interesting guy I’ve never met. From the blue tits to the bead men to the food with many eyes to the good ship Snow Pea to Crandall Spondular, his imagination, creativity and wit continually surprise and amuse me.
caprese was gracious and kind about an idiotic response I made to one of her posts.
Sarahfeena often posts things that better-written and kinder versions of things I would like to post.
Miller and elucidator are often funny and always worth reading.
lieu almost always makes me laugh.
There are lots of experts here whose knowledge I appreciate. Qadgop, Colibri, Jodi and Bricker and Stranger come to mind.
CannyDan doesn’t post all that much, but knows what he’s talking about when he posts.
Awww, what the hell.
A particular shout out to all of my really cool LA Dopers I’ve had the privilege of meeting in person over the last few months: anu-la1979, Queen Bruin, The Highwayman, Brad Serum (hard core, all of you!), Shayna & Spiny Norman, Oni No Maggie, Paladud, Antinor01, Darryl Lict and Lucky 13. I never expected you guys to be even half as cool in person as you are on the boards, but you are all a fantastically fun group of people, some of you are excellent bowlers, a few are classy motorcyclists, and a couple are great company for lunch. 
I consider myself very fortunate to have met each of you.
In addition, there are others whose names cause me to stop and read whenever I run across them (in a good way, even!). These include WhyNot, What Exit?, OpalCat, featherlou, Stranger On A Train, Askia, Qagdop, tommndeb, Skald and twickster. Oh, and silenus, whom I could add to my first paragraph if he’d ever bother showing up for a Dopefest (or a Dodger game this year, eh, eh???). I think there are others whom I have forgotten, but they’ll probably leave me off their lists as well, so I’m just getting even in advance!
And, and finally, my gratitude to chowder, who is (as far as I know) the only other man who has been able to bring great joy to my wife from a continent away. 
Bowling with Asimovian, Brad Serum, and anu-la1979 ranks asone of my favorite outings ever.
Shout-out to Cheez_Whia, for giving birth to me 27 years ago as of Friday and putting up with my dumb ass ever since.
When I posted about how bad my financial situation was a little over a year ago, I didn’t expect anything other than a couple “Aww, hope your life gets better” posts or even just a “Wow, X who did Y to you sure was a douchebag” post or two. I swear I didn’t even fathom that someone would read that and want to actually help me out. But Encinitas, entirely unprovoked, up and sent me a significant sum of money (with a nice card, to boot) to help me get back up on my feet. That was really huge for me. And although I wasn’t particularly surprised, when I met her at the San Diego Dopefest last year I found her to be an exceedingly gentle soul and a sincerely kind person.
I promised myself that I would try not to embarrass her on the Boards, but Encinitas doesn’t get much attention here, and now that my financial picture is better I’ve realized that it’s easy to see someone with less money than you and shrug your shoulders, but very few people are actually kind enough and trusting enough to step in and help a Doper out without even being asked to. Encinitas is truly a mensch of the highest order. I don’t have enough money to do something like what she did, but it’s inspired me to do what I can (namely, keeping non-perishable food in my car for the homeless people I see when I drive through Mission Valley and Point Loma).
I’m afraid to ask. But I will anyway.
Inter-Doper-family phone sex?
WhyNot is the mama I want to be some day.
I also dig the hell out of Hostile Dialect, Lobstermobster, and Nzinga, Seated.
TokyoPlayer constantly reminds me, through his funny, poignant posts, that this board isn’t me interacting with my computer, but a community of real, live people.
Cervaise always cracks me the hell up. I would buy him a beer any time.
<Doper name removed> is the only Doper I’m aware of who would leave me stuttering in real life based on her beauty.
Der Trihs is great to interact with as long as I avoid Great Debates. I think the same would hold true in real life.
…those are just a few off of the top of my head. I could easily sit down and rattle off 50.
Had I intended to explain, I would have mentioned it in my first post. But so as not to spoil chowder’s good name, I will do so anyway. After my wife visited London this past summer and fell in love with a delicacy there (I’ve forgotten what it was), chowder was kind enough to ship some to us from the UK so that she could continue to enjoy it.
Sweet! Thanks for the shoutout! I really dig reading your posts, too–I love your perspective on the topics of discussion here, and I’m often secretly jealous of your experiences, wishing I were a piece of furniture in your weird life. (That’s a good thing, BTW, as you’ll know if you’ve seen Juno.) It warmed the cackles of my heart to see that the feeling is mutual.
Thanks to the rest of you who listed me, too! I honestly didn’t expect to see my name pop up a couple of times in this thread. Thanks for your kind words and for letting me know you’re out there.
I’ll have to say that I really enjoyed spending time with all of the Dopers I met at the last SD Dopefest (Encinitas, scout1222, Taber, and Astroboy14 plus his non-Doper wife), who all brought totally different things to the table and complemented each other well to make the evening interesting and enjoyable. I’ve already mentioned Encinitas. scout1222 reminds me of a much less annoying and less condescending Elaine Benes in her prime, with a sharp wit, a willingness to participate in any topic of conversation, and the ability to subtly keep a conversation going at full steam without drawing attention to herself. Taber is pretty quiet, but it doesn’t take long to realize that he’s one smart cookie, and he’s an all-around likeable guy even though I don’t think any of us knows much about him. Astroboy14’s quirky humor and jovial spirit shines through even more IRL than on the SDMB, and his smile is contagious–his wife’s even more so. Og forbid they both start spontaneously smiling in a public place! Dennis Quaid’s head may explode.
I’ll stop here before I get TLDR.
I already mentioned Sampiro, and I know there are countless others, but I’m trying to find a response for each one I remember so I can say something specific about them.
After reading another thread, I realised another one: WhyNot. She’s the kind of person I’d like to hang out with for a day. I really look up to her; she says a lot of things I am too afraid to say, or discuss, and she says them seemingly with ease and confidence. I love that. She seems so approachable and kind, without excess syrupy-ness, if that makes sense. You know, she’s not so much motherly as much as she seems elder-sisterly. She’s adventurous and honest, and I strive to be like-minded in my daily life. Since my time on the Dope, reading her posts have opened my mind inch by inch to things I would have been totally horrified about years ago. I owe at least a part of my personal happiness to her, and I’ve never told her that, nor do I think I’ve let on in any way that she has. So WhyNot, if you’re reading… a hearty and sincere thank you!
I know I’m late in the chorus here, but someday I hope to be half the mom that WhyNot is.
I find myself agreeing more and more with DiogenesTheCynic (well, minus that part about the Patriots), and almost all of his posts make me think.
A big shout out to Revenant Threshold, without whom I would not be back posting here. I have a stupid amount of fun playing Mafia.
Speaking of Mafia, Hal Briston sent me a PM hooking me up with a message board his wife posts on, where I also post semi-frequently now. And I totally dig his wife and think he has the cutest kid on the face of the earth. dnooman also sent me a few nice PMs as well–he’s a very generous soul.
And of course all my SDMB friends on LJ, too numerous to list, but especially Gingy, who has been an inspiration, and a friend to me when I most needed it, whether that involved kind words or a kick in the tush. I wish you were closer.
There are too many for me to list accurately. No matter how long I make my list, I’ll always leave someone out. I hope those lucky people will be forgiving this time.
Kytheria, just so much fun to read. I almost always smile after reading her posts.
Sampiro, another who is great fun to read. Even if his post makes one want to weep, too.
Anaamika, a poster whom I like reading, and who brings a different perspective to the Dope, which I hope she won’t leave us without for too long. (hint, hint, hint)
Darth Nader, a great guy, and generous.
Otto, a gentleman who, in the midst of his own grief reached out to me to offer his good wishes for my own father - which really touched me.
For that matter, everyone who has posted or contacted me about my father’s health conditions over these past several months: Thank you all. Your support has done a lot to help me to deal with these stresses.
The people I think of as the Rochester gang: Exapno Mapcase, tdn, Cal Meacham, Nzinga, Seated, saoirse and all the rest - very cool to see you all here on the Dope. Even if some of you have escaped from Rottenchester by now.
Elendil’s Heir, for starting a great game thead that’s going now after how many pages, and how many months?
The various answer people on the Dope: Qadgop, Stranger on a Train, Jodi, Una Persson, Bricker, Colibri and so many others.
And everyone else who posts, making the Dope so much fun and so interesting, even if I can’t recall your names at the moment.
Oh my goodness, you guys…I’m literally crying. Seriously. I saw the thread title and almost didn’t come in, but I’m so glad I did! The idea that anything I do or say has any impact on anyone at all is just…ridiculous! Ridiculous and shocking and touching and…wow. The thing is, I don’t feel like I’ve got anything figured out. It’s you guys who have taught me how to think, how to be sensitive to other people and how to speak in a way that is heard, not dismissed. God, my original posts here are terrifying in their absurdity and naiveté!
As for my own list of treasured Dopers, of course it’s impossible to mention everyone who’s touched my life and heart.
Every single person who ever posted to my long-ass thread about my preemie daughter with your kind words and prayers, of course.
Friar Ted, for caring enough to ask for an update on the baby a year later.
What Exit? for being so much like my dad, but more available.
Ginger of the North, for being my unofficial Weight Watcher’s mentor and general cheerleader. A lot of that’s by email, so y’all don’t have any idea how wonderful she really is.
Diosabellisima, for being my co-conspiratorial younger sis. I live the wild and free 20’s I never had vicariously through her.
Sampiro, for making me laugh so hard that I get to count it as Activity Points on my Weight Watcher’s plan. That’s a workout!
HazelNutCoffee and Blue Kangaroo and Millit the Frail and MikeG and **Sarahfeena **and all the other Chicago Dopers for convincing me that I can have flesh and blood friends again!
Rubystreak, **Contrapuntal **and **Diogenes **for being truly formidable debate opponents - we don’t always agree, but we always have lively conversations!
**Kytheria **and **Anaamika **and **Anastasaeon **and uh, uh, uh, damn…18" double headed ice blue jelly dildo woman, does SCA and is married to Stonebow… argh! Anyhow, there’s a coterie of delightful young women that I adore, and you’re all part of that. You’re definitely a big part of my retraining to trust women again.
Dinsdale, who I think is one of the best FATHERS on the Dope, and from whom I’ve learned a lot about parenting.
Alright, I’m going to quit now, but I don’t mean, by any means, that these are the only Dopers who have an impact on my life, okay?!
ETA: FAERIEBETH! (I think.)
I think I would hate** WhyNot **in real life because she makes me rethink my long and deeply held opinions. That shit sucks. Plus she knows an 18" double headed ice blue jelly dildo woman. I am one jealous bitch.
John Mace and Miller do the same opinion challenging thing, but they’re dudes, so it’s cool.
I always read what Liberal, Priceguy, FinnAgain, Darwin’s Finch, Stranger on a Train, Chronos, Q.E.D, G.Factor, Rick and countless others post. Such knowledge! And at such a fair price!
There really are too many Dopers to mention. This is a special place.
jsgoddess, for always being there as backup when I need it and for being humorous in a subtle way.
Miller, for always taking up battles that I easily give up on.
John Mace, for being the fairest and most balanced conservative on the board. We don’t agree on most things, but I always feel vindicated somehow when we do.
Zoe, who may not believe that I still like her. She reminds me of all the strong larger-than-life women I’ve encountered through my life.
BrainGlutton, for doing his part to get discussions going in GD. I know he goes over board with threads, but the board would be dead without him.