But we’re younger and prettier, that has to count for something! 
Hey, I’ve found my role here, too! 
Cat Whisperer, you’re on my list simply by virtue of liking cats. anyone that does is ok by me. 
Plus, you’re pretty cool. I think I dumped on you once, and I’m really sorry about that.
**Flatlined **and **purplehorseshoe ** for their kindness. **Monstro **for her insightfulness. DSeid for nutrition/fitness knowledge and willingness to share it. Skald for interesting questions. Astro for the same reason, although he tends to piss me off so his name doesn’t get bold. 
I’m not really answering the original question about “institutions”, I know. Please grant me some newbie slack! These are all posters who have made an impression on me. A few more: Rhiannon8404 for loving and helping dogs, **Chimera ** for being a puddle of mush about his cat, and lavenderblue for the best weather rants EVER. There are many more.
In short, everyone’s valuable, even the jerks, and it’s a great place. Thanks for having me. 
You did? I don’t even remember, so we’re good. 
Honorable mention, at the least, to cervaise, if only for this classic thread. (Regulars here will know exactly which one that is without even looking.)
<stage whisper>psst..that was ftg’s 9999th post.</stage whisper>
In case anyone is curious, this is number 10,000.
what about ones that were banned without good cause to the determent of the Board?
Yes, I do believe I’m old enough to be an “institution” by any standards.
And let us not forget the late Polycarp. 
of course, Poly. :smack:
Right now, I choose the institute (or face) of the board to be Monstro. For some reason, her point of view and advice seem to be the most spot on in anything I read here, so she’s my pick. However, I’m sure I have more runner-ups than I’d have time to list.
It depends on which threads do you hang out in. I cannot imagine a WWII thread without **Dissonance **and Sailboat, with whom I generally agree, and Little Nemo with whom I disagree more often than not.
Someone else who I very much disagree with, but certainly is an institute would be Stoid.
I miss fellow Japanophile Autolycus, R.I.P.
CalMeachem is a good sh*t.
My favorite super-intelligent response giver who has not been mentioned yet is Half Man Half Wit. Not the most frequent poster, but man, such a high signal-to-noise ratio there!
Yeah, same here. Oh well, at least it seems I’ve never pissed anyone off enough to become notorious.
Real institutions who come to mind include:
elucidator, Sampiro, Nzinga, Seated, Clothahump, Mean Old Lady, Der Trihs, GusNSpot, Qadgop the Mercotan, Stranger on a Train, Snowboarder Bo, adaher, Shodan and Magiver.
Signed,
El_Kabong
Elder Statesman
Missed edit window before I could include:
Johnny LA, Vinyl Turnip, Skald the Rhymer, Broomstick and Bricker.
But mostly AClockworkMelon.
These threads are always so cruel.
But I’ll throw in a vote for Una and pretty much anybody else on the SDMAB (did I get that right?). They do a lot of the heavy lifting on providing factual information about important topics (like what happens when you put a hot gun down your panties).
I enjoy** samclem**'s posts on word origins.
Here’s to all the old group of Trek Dopers! ::raises virtual glass of something green::
You know who you are. You sure made the boards fun.