# When I joined the SDMB... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686 "2010-08-27T16:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/1 "2010-08-27T16:46:16Z")
Entirely ripped off from…er, I mean inspired by… \*\*[OpalCat\*\*'s thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=575878). 🙂 I joined the Dope in July 2004. THEN: I was almost 33. NOW: I’m almost 39. THEN: I had a cat. NOW: I have a dog. (The cat died a month after I joined. :() THEN: I was working for a small software company that I _loved_. NOW: I’m working for a large defense contractor that I like well enough I guess. THEN: I’d never had a really serious relationship or lived with a man. NOW: I moved out of my ex’s house a little over a year ago. THEN: I was just about to start grad school. NOW: I’m two years post-MA. THEN: I was jamming with some co-workers, playing one or two corporate events but mainly having no clue what I wanted to do musically. NOW: I’m a jazz singer, poised to start performing locally. Etc., etc. Those are just the big things that come to mind first. How about you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/2 "2010-08-27T16:53:39Z")
Joined May 2003 Then: single, but in a relationship Now: married to the most beautiful woman in the world Then: slept alone Now: sleep with more pussy than you can imagine Then: taught high school Now: still teach high school Then: asshole Now: bigger asshole ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/3 "2010-08-27T17:18:25Z")
Joined August 2002 Then: Working as a puzzle editor Now: About to start a job as content editor for a higher education website Then: One cat, Elvis (R.I.P) Now: Two cats, Zebulon and Jezebel Then: Single Now: Single Then: Just another teeming millionth Now: A jackbooted mod ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/4 "2010-08-27T17:26:28Z")
Let’s just say that dinosaurs ruled the earth. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/5 "2010-08-27T17:51:11Z")
Hmmm. Then: Lived in an apartment. Now: Own a mortgage. Then: One toddler. Now: A first-grader and a perambulating cloud of angst. Then: A pair of compact sedans. Now: A minivan and a compact SUV. Then: Three cats. Now: A cat and two dogs. Then: Consultant. Now: Wage slave. Then: Black hair and beard. Now: More gray than not. Then: Married. Now: Happily married (to the same woman). Then: Clueless jerk. Now: Jerk with a clue. And less patience. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/6 "2010-08-27T18:09:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Then: asshole > Now: bigger asshole Yes, same. 🙂 Then: College sophomore (or possibly junior… too lazy to exit this screen and check my profile) Now: Not a college sophomore. People pay me to show up to an office now, and I have my own place. Flippin’ sweet! Then: Still in CA Now: In flyover country Then: Whined a lot about dating Now: Whine a lot about other things Then: Thought I knew everything Now: Know everything… took a while, but here we are! ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/7 "2010-08-27T18:16:52Z")
Oooh, **Tranquilis** reminded me of a good one: THEN: '02 Nissan Sentra NOW: '08 Mazda RX-8 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/8 "2010-08-27T18:18:02Z")
Then: I’d only been 20 for a month or so. Now: I’ve been 20 for about six months! Then: I had long hair. Now: My hair is maybe a quarter-inch longer. Then: I only had a few hundred posts. Now: I’ve got a few thousand. How the time flies! ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/9 "2010-08-27T18:21:19Z")
When I joined in September 2000: THEN: I was 38 NOW: I am 48 THEN: I had recently started dating my ex-girlfriend NOW: I have been married (not to my ex-girlfriend, but to another woman) for 4 years. THEN: I had no expectations of becoming a parent anytime soon. NOW: I have an eight-month-old son. THEN: I was working for a software company in Silicon Valley NOW: I’m working for the SAME company, under the SAME boss! – for much higher pay, and the company has been a part of two mergers since then. THEN: I was living in a townhouse, and paying a mortgage. NOW: I’m living in the same townhouse, but the mortgage is paid off. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/10 "2010-08-27T18:24:18Z")
Then: 40 Now: 50 Then: 1 wife, 3 cats Now: 1 wife, 3 cats Then: Beverage distributor delivery driver. Now: High school track/cross country coach Then: runner, cyclist Now: handcyclist ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/11 "2010-08-27T18:24:31Z")
Counting the AOL boards… THEN: 19 and in college NOW: 32 and out of law school THEN: Just broke up with a guy named Patrick NOW: Married to him (it took us a while) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/12 "2010-08-27T18:37:22Z")
THEN: 22. NOW: 32. THEN: No pets NOW: A dog and 4 guinea pigs. THEN: Working as a Junior Programmer NOW: Working as a Senior Programmer THEN: I’d never had a really serious relationship or lived with a woman NOW: Married for seven years now. THEN: No sons (obviously, see above). NOW: Six year old boy THEN: Thin. NOW: Fat. THEN: Hair beginning to fall. NOW: Bald. THEN: Ate with utensils. NOW: STILL eat with utensils. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/13 "2010-08-27T20:10:00Z")
Join date: April 1999. **Then and now:** same spouse, same employer (different responsibilities, though), same house. Probably within a few pounds of the same weight, too. Same hair, a little grayer than it used to be. I’m probably about as annoying, irritating, and pedantic as I was back then, too. **Then:** no kids. **Now:** the Firebug just turned 3. **Then:** beard was dark brown with red highlights. **Now:** beard is mostly gray. **Then:** one 16 year old cat. **Now:** three cats between the ages of 10 and 12. **Then:** 45. **Now:** 56. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/14 "2010-08-27T20:31:42Z")
Then: 34 Now: 44 Then: Condo I could easily afford Now: House with a killer mortgage (see below - needed the room) Then: One 3 YO Now: A teenager and 5 YO twins Then: Married to a nutcase Now: Same but I cope better Then: New Honda Civic Now: 10 YO Volvo (got my wifes hand-me down) Then: DBA - nice low stess position Now: Projecrt Manager - slowly killing me Then: In really good shape Now: One foot in the grave Then: 90 min drive to work Now: 40 min door to door via the “L” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/15 "2010-08-27T21:14:40Z")
First posted to the AOL SDMB board almost exactly 13 years ago: August 31, 1997. (Don’t ask me how I know that, but I do). THEN: Age 38 NOW: Age 51 THEN: In the final weeks of my 1st and last stint as a professional social worker NOW: FileMaker developer for 12 years (currently consulting) THEN: Recently broken up with Sue, on my own again NOW: Recently broken up with Dot, on my own again THEN: Running System 7.6 on my 80 MHz 7100 NOW: Running OSX 10.4.11 on my 1.67 GHz PoweBook 17" THEN: Netscape Navigator 3.0 NOW: At the moment, Opera 10.10 THEN: Arguing theology with **HpstrDufuz** NOW: Arguing theology with **Diogenes the Cynic** THEN: Arguing abortion rights with **RevJimTull** NOW: Arguing abortion rights with **Curtis LeMay** THEN: **MattBernst** NOW: **Carol Stream** ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/16 "2010-08-27T21:41:36Z")
I don’t remember exactly when I joined the AOL board… early 1997 at least, but maybe 1996? Anyway it was while Dominic was still a baby and he was born in 1995. Then: stay at home new mom Now: freelancer and mother of a teenager Then: in my early 20s Now: almost 40 (38) Then: married to UndeadDude Now: married to JugglerDan Then: psychologically extremely unstable Now: well treated with proper medication and thus more or less sane Then: 1987 Toyota Camry Now: 2000 Toyota Camry Then: 4 cats and some rats Now: 3 different cats ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/17 "2010-08-27T22:37:51Z")
I joined in April of 2002. THEN: Age 38 NOW: Age 46 THEN: Married, no kids NOW: Divorced, two kids, not seeing anyone THEN: Owned a house in Outer Suburbia NOW: Rent an apartment in San Francisco THEN: In my 7th year with the same employer NOW: In my 3rd year of under-/unemployment THEN: Averaging 4 posts per day NOW: Averaging 2 posts per day, including the above. THEN: Nobody on my ignore list NOW: Seven people on my ignore list THEN: Feelin’ on top of the world NOW: Feelin’ on the bottom of Og’s loafers ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/18 "2010-08-28T00:19:13Z")
Joined in June 2003. I had zero posts. Now I have 14,000+. I’ve wasted so many people’s time. Then: 56 Now: 63 Then: worked for a public housing agency. Now: retired. Then: lived in Alaska in a condo Now: live in Portland in a Craftsman bungalow Then: had an 11-year old cat Now: have an 18-year old cat Then: had a 21-foot RV Now: have a 27-foot RV Then: drove a Jeep Wrangler Now: drive a Saturn Vue ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/19 "2010-08-28T00:33:26Z")
About 6 months/220 posts ago: Same house, child, spouse, friends, car, cat, and job. I have a new cutaway tenor ukulele with shadow electronics. My mother died last month. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/20 "2010-08-28T00:38:08Z")
Well, on here or AOL? On AOL, I was D8thGuest and it was 1997 or so. Then: 19 and just out of high school Now: 32 and married with one daughter Then: No internet worth much; AOL was supreme Now: AOL??? Internet is far supreme. Then: Young and foolish Now: Older and, well, foolish still. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686.md?page=2)