# When I joined the SDMB...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686>\
**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:** 2

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**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/21 "2010-08-28T02:36:18Z")

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Then: In the same job for 9 years. In fact, I did most of my Doping, including my very first post, at work  
Now: Unemployed for 4 months. ☹

Then: Have some interesting stories and advice, but no one to share it with  
Now: Have teeming millions to share it with!

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**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/22 "2010-08-28T02:59:34Z")

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If reading SD on AOL counts, back when it was a keyword, I was the stay at home mom of a toddler. Now I am the stay at home mom of an unemployed college graduate!

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**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/23 "2010-08-28T03:14:23Z")

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I’m an AOLer, too. Lessee…that woulda been around '97, '98. I was a junior in college. Living alone in a one-bedroom apartment. No significant other, but lots of dates. Worked at a video store part time. No pets except a parakeet.

Now I’m in my thirties. Married for going on eight years. Stay-at-home Mom to two kids under three, and two cats. Live in a three-bedroom house.

Wow.

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/24 "2010-08-28T03:24:10Z")

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When I first joined, my only SDMB access was on library computers.

Now I can read and post from work, one of my two laptops, or on my iPod Touch.

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**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/25 "2010-08-28T04:14:49Z")

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I joined in 2001.

THEN: My username was **Nichol\_storm**  
NOW: Well, look up.

THEN: I was 16 going on 17.  
NOW: I’m 25. I’ve spent almost ten years on the SDMB, my entire young adult life. This place practically raised me. :eek:

THEN: I lived in Jackson, MS.  
NOW: I live in New York City.

THEN: Two dogs and a cat.  
NOW: No pets. ☹ My mother has custody of our two Siamese cats. All the pets from 2001 have long since passed on.

THEN: I had never gone on a date.  
NOW: Had my first serious relationship with a fellow Doper ( **Agent Foxtrot** ) and have dated and had relationships since then. Currently single.

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**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/26 "2010-08-28T04:22:53Z")

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THEN: Was trying to figure it all out, familiarize myself with the frequent posters and their inclinations and find my “spot.”

NOW: Still trying to figure it all out, familiarize myself with the frequent posters and their inclinations and find my “spot.”

Heh.

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**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/27 "2010-08-28T04:46:33Z")

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Joined August 2003

Then: 23  
Now: 30

Then: Engaged  
Now: Still engaged though we did break up for 2 years.

Then: Crappy condo in old military housing.  
Now: 50+ year old log cabin.

Then: Never had surgery.  
Now: Have had 2 surgeries.

Then: About 150 pounds - about 20 pounds overweight.  
Now: About 200 pounds - you can do the math.

Then: Mid-length natural red hair.  
Now: Mid-length natural red hair.

Then: Spilling coffee on electronics and ruining them.  
Now: Spilling tea on electronics and ruining them.

Then: CSR for baseboard heater manufacturer.  
Now: Unemployed. Starting college in 1.5 weeks.

Then: 1993 Geo Metro (god I miss that car).  
Now: Technically no car though my fiancee has a '08 Hyundai Accent and an '87 Jeep Wrangler (just found out today that our mechanic found a motor for it!!!)

Then: Two bunnies.  
Now: Two dogs.

Then: Completely stupid with regards to home repairs.  
Now: In the middle of re-glazing 15 storm windows, by myself.

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**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/28 "2010-08-28T05:18:03Z")

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Then: 1997.  
Now: …now.

Then: 19-year-old college sophomore.  
Now: 32-year-old almostalmostalmost MPP.

Then: Lived in Santa Cruz, California.  
Now: Live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Then: Had only been to one country outside of the US (Mexico).  
Now: Have been to 18 countries outside outside of the US.

Then: Broke as fuck.  
Now: Broke as fuck.

Then: No pets. (I lived in campus housing!)  
Now: One devil cat.

Then: No car.  
Now: No car.

Some things never change, I guess.

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**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/29 "2010-08-28T05:45:00Z")

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Join Date: March 2002

Then: 28  
Now: 36

Then: single for the past several years  
Now: dating someone long-distance for almost a year

Then: postdoc in a government lab  
Now: government employee overseeing lab work

Then: 1 dog less than 4 years old  
Now: that same dog, who is a bit crankier now in her near-dotage.

Then: 2003 Toyota Matrix  
Now: 2010 Chevy Equinox

Then: unknown on this board.  
Now: still unknown. My lurk to type ratio is high.

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**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/30 "2010-08-28T05:48:03Z")

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Then: 44  
Now: 47

Then: Learning the rules of the SDMB (i.e. no post-count parties).  
Now: Wondering if this isn’t a sneaky way (for some) of getting in a post-count party.

Then: More ignorant.  
Now: Less ignorant.

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**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/31 "2010-08-28T06:04:37Z")

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Joined: Feb. 2001 (age 25)  
Now: age 34

Then: Far right-winger  
Now: Centrist

Then: college failure  
Now: college graduate

Then: single  
Now: married to **MsRobyn** with an 8-year-old son

Then: hopelessly mired in the present  
Now: Technical Sergeant in the Air Force (Master eligible)

Those are merely the tip of the iceberg. Let’s just say that the person I was back then is nothing like the person I am now. I used to be nearly universally reviled here. I dare say that that is not the case now, although I am still living down what I was to some extent. Such is life.

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**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/32 "2010-08-28T06:22:36Z")

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I joined the SDMB in September, 2000.

Then: Newly married  
Now: Separated, divorce pending

Then: Two cats  
Now: Seven cats (including one from the original two)

Then: 1990 Jeep  
Now: 2000 Chevy

Then: Ontario  
Now: Alberta

Then: Technical writer  
Now: Lawyer

Then: Long hair, clean shaven  
Now: Long hair, beard

Then: Middle-aged  
Now: Older

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/33 "2010-08-28T07:03:07Z")

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Then: Didn’t know I was ill  
Now: Almost recovered

Then: Bored, looking for something to read  
Now: Bored, writing posts

Then: Arrogant, immature  
Now: Arrogant, immature, older

Then: No animal companions  
Now: The best dog ever

Then: Flip phone  
Now: Droid

Then: Hated iPods  
Now: Hate iPods, iPhones, and iPads

Then: Thought George Bush was a moron  
Now: Think George Bush and Sarah Palin are morons

Then: Low def  
Now: High def

Then: Only Vodka  
Now: Sometimes Rum

Then: Stick welder  
Now: Mig welder

Then: 32 bit  
Now: 64 bit

Then: Couldn’t believe the Philles would ever win the Series again  
Now: Can’t believe the Phillies will ever win the Series again

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**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/34 "2010-08-28T20:24:08Z")

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Joined May 09

Then: engaged.  
Now: married.

Then: working for a bank.  
Now: unemployed.

Then: renting.  
Now: homeowner.

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**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/35 "2010-08-28T21:34:55Z")

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Joined Usenet alt.straightdope (or whatever it was called) in mid-1997.

Then: 23  
Now: Ugh.

Then: D.Phil candidate at Oxford.  
Now: Teaching/working at a small university in the northeast US

Then: engaged to another D.Phil candidate, from England  
Now: married to **tygre** , who actually knew me from my posts as early as 2000, but we didn’t meet for another four years

Then: living in a run-down house in north Oxford, but spending almost all of my time at my fiancee’s dorm  
Now: living in a house in a quiet suburb, paying the mortgage down

Then: very shy, really hoping my relationship with my fiancee, the first one I’d ever had, would work  
Now: realize I knew from the beginning it wouldn’t. But I don’t care because I’m very happy with **tygre**

Then: deeply devoted to my family, especially my mother and grandmother  
Now: Both my mother and grandmother are gone. Rebuilding every day I can with my dad (we never were estranged but we were distant before my mother passed away)

Then: debuted for the first XI of my college cricket side with almost zero experience after a stellar tryout, became cricket mad  
Now: still cricket mad but only read and write about it now

Then: gamer, but the only one I knew  
Now: gamer, but less of a gamer than most of my friends

Then: thought I was a completely boring guy who was dead lucky to have attracted any woman, and my now-ex was the best I could do  
Now: realize I could have done so much better than my ex all along, and **tygre** is the proof 😉

Then: thought my career path lay in being a quiet archivist, supporting my supernova of a scholar ex  
Now: doing so well as a fundraiser I’m already teaching one course in it and will probably be teaching more soon

Then: 6’2"  
Now: 6’3". I’m not sure how that happened either.

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**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/36 "2010-08-28T21:42:10Z")

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> [@Duke](#):
>
> Then: 6’2"  
> Now: 6’3". I’m not sure how that happened either.

I always measure as taller (nearly 5’3"!) when I’m feeling happy and healthy. Maybe you were always slouching in 1997 but now you stand more erect because you’re in a happy place.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/37 "2010-08-30T03:58:29Z")

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Joined Oct 2000:

Then: Worked as Engineer, in a job I hated.  
Now: Barely making a small living, but much happier, trying to make it to age 55 when I can start collecting a pension from 25 years on the job. (5 yrs away)

Then: Dating my neighbor  
Now: Now longer dating my neighbor, but we are best friends

Then: Two Dogs, one cat  
Now: One Dog (and she won’t live too much longer :()

Then: Avid golfer, 1 handicap, played 4-5 times per week  
Now: Barely golf anymore, can’t afford it (about 5 times a year)

Then: Living in a small house  
now: Living in the same house

Then: Driving a new SUV and small car for my long commute  
Now: Driving a 8 year old car

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/38 "2010-08-30T12:17:01Z")

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I joined the Dope in April 2000.

THEN: I was 33.  
NOW: I am 43.

THEN: I had a six cats and two rescued Greyhounds.  
NOW: I have three cats (all different) and two non-rescued Italian Greyhounds.

THEN: I was working for a political publisher.  
NOW: I’m work or myself.

THEN: I’d been married almost 7 years.  
NOW: I’ve been married more than 17 years.

THEN: I was commuting 3+ hours per day in Virginia.  
NOW: I’m don’t commute at all in Ohio.

THEN: I was vaguely political in a smart-ass way.  
NOW: I’m running for office on the democratic ticket.

THEN: Nervous expectant parent with less than two weeks to go.  
NOW: The oldest is 10 and just started fifth grade.

THEN: I drove an old Explorer in the Blue Ridge.  
NOW: I drive a little Aveo on brick streets.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 30, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/39 "2010-08-30T15:01:21Z")

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[QUOTE=AHunter3]  
THEN: **MattBernst**  
NOW: **Carol Stream**  
[/QUOTE]  
People you want to throw things at? Your only friends? Your sock puppets? 😕

[QUOTE=Mahaloth]  
Well, on here or AOL?  
[/QUOTE]  
However you choose to define “joining the SDMB.” 🙂

[QUOTE=Spoons]  
Then: Technical writer  
Now: Lawyer  
[/QUOTE]  
I’m a tech writer, and can’t imagine becoming a lawyer – not _being_ a lawyer, mind you, just doing the schooling and all of the work to _become_ one. I will stay a writer/editor for as long as I can, but I have a feeling that project management is in my future.

Hmm, maybe becoming a lawyer wouldn’t be that bad…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-joined-the-sdmb/551686/40 "2010-08-30T15:16:14Z")

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> [@congodwarf](#):
>
> > [@Duke](#):
> >
> > Then: 6’2"  
> > Now: 6’3". I’m not sure how that happened either.
> 
> I always measure as taller (nearly 5’3"!) when I’m feeling happy and healthy. Maybe you were always slouching in 1997 but now you stand more erect because you’re in a happy place.

That is so very kind of you to say. I’ve been having a rough patch from time to time and it reminds me that actually I am so much happier now…and I can prove it!

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