It’s truly hard to believe that it has been that long! My membership started June 7th, 2004 according to my profile. I recall that my first comment was something regarding Cheney and I kept on going from there. The site was a bit klunky in those days but still drew some of the best commentary and discussion to be found anywhere. Prior to discovering DK, I had been fairly active at places like Smirking Chimp and Democratic Underground and others that have long since dissapeared.
Working in technology, I was no stranger to the Internet long before “blogs” began to appear. Often, professional writers and journalists were posting under pseudonyms in order to protect themselves from retribution from their day job publications or employers. Kos, along with the others I’ve already mentioned, provided an opportunity to participate in budding communities offering original content rather than simple posting of commentary on already published stories primarily from news outlets.
I recently participated in a survey posted here asking “How do you use Daily Kos?” After 20 years, it’s actually hard for me to quantify all the ways I’ve used this place. In so many ways it has been instrumental in forming and refining my world view. It has also encouraged me to get off my ass and try to do some things in the world— “News you can do something about”
So Daily Kos has actually used me in a sense-- Inspiring me to participate in protests, to phone bank, to seek and become an elected precinct committeeman, to canvass and debate, become a registrar to get out the vote for Democrats, and register people to vote regardless of party affiliation.
Life has changed for me a lot in these past 20 years, just as it has for most of you taking the time to read this. My kids have grown up and moved away. My marriage ended and relationships have come and gone. But some things have remained constant, like visiting this place and considering it home.
It’s been a privilege being here.
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On update. This was fun, I started digging around and found the first “thread” (complete with hidden troll rated entries) that I commented on back in 2004: Cheney ignores reality. Again. By Kos
