Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to History of The Zone

You will probably get several answers
FrankC — (archived)

I have been here from the beginning so I will give you my version. The whole story covers a 10-11 year span.

Most of the regulars here had been posting on MSNBC space board from the mid to late 90s. The MSNBC board became more and more filled with anomalists referred to as Cydonuts. A regular there named Al formed the first board called something like cydonuts.com as a board to ridicule those posters.

I was one of the first to post on that board and several of the MSNBC regulars joined that board because the cydonuts were banned. The MSNBC board went away shortly after 911 and Al's board continued as a space and political board. Al was a conservative and was very volatile. After a couple of blow-ups he finally announced that he was shutting it down. A young regular named Justin and Robert got together and seamlessly formed HZ sometime in 2002.

From the beginning it was me TB, MA, Fox, Robert, Justin, Dan Spires, Ed, REB, RL, ,SDAI, alcaray, Slick and several others that may or may not have been around from the very beginning. I know I missed some. Lindy has been around for the entire time but did not join HZ until Al departed.

The main departees have been Justin who was a conservative kid and probably outgrew us. Dan Spires who went through some personal turmoil and got angry about several things, Ed who was very conservative and known to be abusive to other posters and Slick who departed somewhat mysteriously.

The board has changed much like the country since 911. Before it was more congenial and less polarized. Other changes have been dramatic. The board was once a conservative stronghold but has evolved to a middle to slightly left leaning site.

I don't have a favorite story but the Slick disappearance was certainly the most bizarre happening. Slick and a sidekick appeared on MSNBC and became popular posters. One day Slick reported the sidekick died sitting at his computer. Slick continued for a few years and finally disappeared in 2002. You can read the story on the album page.

I imagine (and I hope) there will be some interesting and more detailed responses. HZ is a fascinating place and a microcosm of the world we live in. We endure periods of great dissention and great unity.

They say that nothing unifies like a common enemy. Look at the mood following the concensus on Smyth. Absolutely fascinating.

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