Before they delete us

It was summer 2004 and much too hot. I'd just signed up a few months before on this website called imdb, because of its extensive database with cool message boards; even with one for every TV show and movie, amazing. The year before there had been the Iraq invasion and in 2004 there was going to be a presidential election in the US in November. Everyone everywhere was talking about it. Would the Americans re-elect President Bush? A new film was out from Bowling from Columbine director Michael Moore, very scathing, and the buzz was immense.

I went to see the film and later checked out the message board. It was an incredible hive of activity, and I was soon addicted to reading and posting there. People from all walks of life and political persuasions, men and women, mostly Americans but plenty of other nationalities too, parents and teens, everybody. Discussing, debating, arguing, sourcing and challenging, negating and shouting. It was great, and there I got my first taste of geopolitics - and was hooked.

I remember many people, and can still remember some details. I remember Helen Wheels, and Autumn Leaves from Connecticut. I remember Lamont Smith from New York and Froggie from French Canada, Aussie Atheist, antboy, and AC/DC Chick. I remember Poisoned Dragon (with a Goya quote?) and Number One Alcove from Oregon, a Marine on a ship in Japan whose nick I don't recall, Catlin from New Jersey, a British ex-army officer (the Brigadier, or Grenadier?), a black American lady who was going to join the peace corps, and a French expert of science history. I remember staunch Conservatives, Brian from Canada with his 'shock 'em' threads, and a conservative from New York with a Finnish wife and a new son. I remember so many others, whose nics or features escape me in this moment. I remember lots of great American people, whose posts reached out and stimulated me.

In the end Bush won and many were sorely disappointed. In the meantime, he has gone, there have been a whole 8 years of Obama, and now we have Monsieur Trump. Those happy days posting on this board sometimes seem like yesterday, even though so much time has gone by. Now these boards are to be completely discontinued, finally terminated in a couple of weeks. Soon all of this will definitively become just memories. So a good moment to thank all those who once upon a time in 2004/5 made this board such fun, such a learning experience, and all the best to you all wherever you are. They were really good times! And nobody can delete those.

Cheers, 
BV (then SM)




member of imdb community since 2004, can't believe it'll soon be over 