In a lot of ways, this is a microcosm of my time spent at Hatrack.

I've struggled for nearly a week to come up with something deep to say on this thread; a lot of people have written some very brilliant, moving, and fascinating posts for their traditional "milestone," and I couldn't think of anything to fill those shoes.

Then I realized why.

It's because I don't have anything special to say about myself; everything there is to know about me is ALREADY here, over the last four years. What more could I say, what more could I BE, than what I've been and talked about being here?

Really, the only noteworthy thing about hitting 8000 posts is that, unlike a lot of people who've been around a lot longer on forums that predated this one, I stuck around.

I don't know why so many of the others drifted away. I know some just got too busy. Others felt like they had run out of things to say, or had seen all the arguments and discussions too many times to maintain interest. Some didn't like the new format, or thought the tone of the forum changed in ways they didn't appreciate (especially compared to our idealized memories of the ones that had gone before).

But I DO know why I stayed.

I like you. I like this place.

I'm not the kind of person who dreams about Hatrackers or comes up with imaginary presents. I didn't go to EnderCon. I probably won't ever buy a Hatrack T-shirt.

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But there are people here who mean the world to me

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Not yet sweetie....ohhhhh but I will someday.

*blames her goofiness on Friday..Woo Hoo..it's Friday*

Seriously, it's great to have you on the forum. I always enjoy your contributions.

Congratulations.

You are, after all is said and done, a fun, smart guy. Just very annoying sometimes. And very wrong sometimes, too.

Congratulations.

I started out thinking he was the pompous ass that he has a reputation for. I don't know if he remembers when I attacked him about his Mormon bashing tendencies at ornery.org. I don't even remember what sent me over the edge, but I was definitely in a fuss.

I grew to like the guy as time went on, and have even defended him to other mormons who see him as an insufferable anti-mormon.

Tom is one of the few hatrackers who has particularly influenced me by one of their posts. One was his response to an abortion thread that was getting a lot of action a year or so ago. I won't repeat the story, but it made me understand his POV much clearer than it had before -- in fact, it made me love him for what he had been through and feel for him.

Another time was when I was taking him to task for not believing in God. I actually asked him if he had ever tried to find out if there was a God. His response was stunning to me, and made me rethink how I view those who are athiest/agnostic or whatever he is.

Anyway, he's turned into a good buddy. And he plays a mean game of mafia.

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One was his response to an abortion thread that was getting a lot of action a year or so ago.

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Quite often, Tom's slapping my wrists for going overboard on a topic. Though he doesn't truly rip into me, I take every criticism he gives -- no matter how mild -- to heart. I've never seen him as hateful, let alone near the extremes I, and others here, have reached.

I like Tom.

Of course, she's right. He is a peach.

And here's a present for you. I thought you might like it. If not, you can always pass it on to Bob...

It's a ticket to a gallery (my favorite pic there is called "Halleluja"):

[EDIT: My smilies weren't up to snuff!]

Hobbes

Tom is great. Even on those days when I skim threads rather than read each post carefully, I always pause when I see Tom's name.

<--wonders if, in 7915 posts, she'll become as cool as Tom.