From the TT Bureaucracy thread on the day after we got the news that TT was going to be for pay...

ita - 04:40 pm PDT - Jul 25, 2001 - #3711 of 4429

I had a thought, spurred by Tom, I think.

*If* one were to design a web discussion forum, what would one want? I'm not thinking for the moment of a highly reconfigurable one, I'm thinking of what would rock the hardest, Buffista-style? What strikes me first is that I'd like better user information screens -- ability to maintain your own little links page, show your pic, plus descriptive text, without any HTML knowledge required. I also like a little "edited on ...." for edited posts.

*If* we were to design one, what would it look like?

From tiny acorns do great oaks grow.

For all the poo-pooing people do towards online relationships, we have a record of our interactions that you just can't get otherwise. We're not just recollecting these conversations, we can relive them over and over and over.

DX, that gave me shivers.

Tiny acorns indeed. That's very cool, DX.

Crying at my desk. I never met her in person, but I had a few email exchanges with her after I stopped posting here and kept up with her on Tumblr and i09. I pretty much idolized her. Was in awe of her and kinda scared of her too.

I just finished reading through all the ita posts.

My god, you Buffistas are all still so amazing. So glad to have once been a part of it all.

Also glad to see so many from the original Old School Salon TT days still around and checking in.

Thanks for finding that Mary Sue thing, msbelle.

I'll try to do another thread tonight.

Everyone. It is so good to see everyone.

So nice to see people delurking here as well.

And all the familiar names, stirring up the memories. Seeing JohnSweden at - I think - the DC F2F. Going with Emily S. and Jon B. to get the PA system in Chicago. Picking up Jilli and Pete at the airport for the SF2F. SA and Kate P. always seeming to be landing on my doorstep after world travels and hanging out for a week. Meeting up with all the Chicagoistas when I did my book tour and reading at Quimby's. Going to the Hideout in Chicago with Knut. Taking Fay out to lunch in the Mission in SF. Meeting up with Nutty in Boston for lunch. Couch surfing at meara's in DC. Ple driving 16 hours so Matilda and Lilly could have a playdate.

So entwined.

For all the poo-pooing people do towards online relationships, we have a record of our interactions that you just can't get otherwise. We're not just recollecting these conversations, we can relive them over and over and over.

I've been thinking about that too. This board shapes our interaction. There's a record of people's lives over more than a decade. Not just the bare facts, but how they were lived, how other people connected through them. I've often just gone back and grabbed an early Natter or Bitches thread, threadsucked it and read through to relive that period.

Then there's the COMM thread. It's funny, sure, but it's also a unique record of this place. I mentioned before, to me ita's COMM'd posts kind of distill something of her essence. There's Supernatural references, the abiding loathing of Carrot Top, the appreciation of Legolas. Killing people with her pinky. ita's links. So much of her is saved in that one place. And not just her, but the other board residents too. How many other internet homes have something like that?

Another little thing, with all the people who've come back to pay respects (hi everyone, it's good to see you again), Every time someone posts I have a look at their profile id number. I like seeing the low numbers of people who were here at the start, and I like seeing the high numbers, a reminder of just how many people have made this place their home at one time or another.

It's a side point really, but I like the way the board's design influences the way we meet each other here.

Hec, not just the DC F2F when you and JZ flew in like rock stars from your NOLA honeymoon to join us (that was so cool), but that time I had a family trip to SF and you and a young(er) Emmett took the time to show me your neighbourhood. That was a casual stroll of a day that I still treasure.