Need a history lesson from long-time DUers. Why exactly was DU founded?

[moggie12]

I remember a DU poster saying it was founded after the 2000 election.

Was it primarily meant to be a place where information is shared, especially info not available in the mainstream media?

Was there an intent for it to be a place where "anti-Bush/RW" political activities could be discussed and coordinated?? I just replied to something in another thread where I said I thought "underground" had an activist spirit to it: Kind of like the French underground in WWII, but instead of blowing up bridges we're signing petitions, DUing media polls, e-mailing politicians, etc. (perhaps I watched too many WWII movies as a kid)

One last question -- Which came first: DU or FreeRepublic?

Thanks to anybody that can fill me in.

[Auntie Bush]

1. Ask Skinner.

[moggie12]

2. In Adminstrator Forum? n/t

[blondeatlast]

3. There's a link somewhere where it's discussed, but damned if I

can find it now. I'll post it if I can find it.

[KoKo]

8. Poster #7 answered ......but here's what I remember when I joined

or lurked about 6 months after the "Selection."

BTW: at one time there were only maybe 10 posters and the same posts would stay up for DAYS! But Bob Boudelang and Auntie Pinko and Top Ten Conservatives were here (I might be a little off in the sequence of those features addition, though) but the interface was similar to today, when I started lurking about 6 months after the Selection. Just there were very few posters and then it GREW!!! More Features, additions of Forums...more graphics, etc.

[Gman]

4. DU was a place to come together after the 2000 RW revolution

There was no other place on the Internet where Democrats could come together after the atrocities of the 2000 election.

[NMDemDist2]

5. i have read about the start up and I believe it's posted in Demopedia

skinner and EarlG (i think) held up a banner with "http://democraticunderground.com" at the first inaugural that was caught on camera for a few seconds and so it began....

i can't help you with the freeper site

[BoristheBewildered]

6. January 2001 - after the first election theft.

[dweller]

7. here's your history lesson

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/01/01/010127_7days.html

Enjoy,

dp

[theresistance]

10. Thanks for that!

[moggie12]

11. Thank you so much for finding that

I had absolutely no idea MSNBC had once done something useful -- wonders never cease. That was one of the funniest history lessons ever -- the intern alone was well worth the read.... Thanks again.

[Adelante]

12. That was great

I never saw that. Thank you.

[Hissyspit]

9. I've Been Reading DU For Two Years

...but I only started posting about two months ago. But I wouldn't apply the term lurking to what I was doing. I came here after finding "Top Ten Conservative Idiots" in a google search (what I was google-ing for, I don't remember), and have come here to read it and the headlines, so I don't really think of it as lurking. I donated, too. Guess it depends on how you define 'lurking.'

[Eloriel]

13. Lurking is typically understood as

reading or otherwise observing but not participating by posting yourself. IOW: yes, you've been lurking. :-)