I’m aware that this could possibly seem overly geeky and schmaltzy, but ah, heck with it.
I can’t remember the specific day that I discovered the SDMB, but I do know for a fact that it was in early October, so I’m going to just go ahead and celebrate my seventh year as a Doper now.
Yup, seven years. I’ve leaned a lot from the SDMB in that time, but more than anything it’s taught me to be a much more critical thinker and to own up to my mistakes and misconceptions gracefully (it happens so often!).
I’ve made so many great friends through the SDMB. And not just people I email or IM with - I count the BADs, the MichiDopers, and the ChiDopers as some of my best friends (this is what happens when you move a lot - you get to hang out with the Dopers everywhere you go!). They are really a wonderful group and I am so grateful for the magic of the internet, which has allowed me to meet people I otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to know.
Anyway, welcome to the newbies who’ve just recently stumbled onto this great message board. I hope your experience here is just as positive as mine has been.