If you'd be so kind to indulge in a bit of navel gazing...
Today I voted in my first election, the MN primary (absentee, in person)! I'm wearing my "I voted" sticker, and I'm just as proud as a peacock.
If someone had told me four years ago that I would care who won a primary in CT, that I would know who my Congressman is and what committees he's on, or that I'd spend hours wasting away reading politics on a liberal blog called Dailykos, I would have laughed in your face.
But here I am, and I just voted for the first time today.
Four years ago, I was doing a paper about personal expression and the internet, and my brother recommended that I check this site out. My reaction was immediate; I thought, "what a bunch of dorks," and began reading with a disgusted fascination. Who would spend so much time talking about politics? But as I read, my interest grew. I tried to pretend I read only for voyeuristic amusement, but pretty soon I realized I was lurking all the time. Even meta diaries were interesting to me! Finally I broke down, got a UID, and, well, the rest is history.
Now, I'm a political junkie and a politics major, and I voted for the first time in my life. I wouldn't have done any of this if it weren't for Dailykos, MyDD, Glenn Greenwald, Atrios, and the host of other blogs and sites that I've come to love, as they changed my from a mocking observer to a full-on political geek.
I just wanted to say that because of this site, my life is completely different, and better, I think.
You guys have accomplished a lot: when the liberal blogosphere speaks, the leaders of the Democratic party sit up and listen; Senator Lieberman might be dethroned because of you; the right raves hysterically at the mere mention of Kos; but to me, by far the most important accomplishment of the netroots is that it has changed my life for the better.
I voted for the first time in my life today.
Thanks guys,
Shef
P.S. I'm curious, how has Dailykos changed your life? Is there anyone else out there who's politically active because of blogs?
P.P.S. This was originally a comment in the mid-day open thread, but it was recommended that I turn it into a diary, so I lengthened it, and here it is. If this doesn't fit the specs, and people think it should be deleted, just let me know.