How old were you when you joined AT? Where were you in life? Where are you now?

[Dr. Zaus]

Joined to fan-boy about the k6-3 Yeah!

I was 17 and just got my first computer. My crack-head parents were sacks of shit and I was raising my little brothers while going to the top high-school in Texas.

Today i'm 30 have 3 kids of my own, am studying for a PhD under the top scholar in the sub-sub-sub field i'm interested in, have a 260k house with 60k left on it and my parents came to Christ and cleaned up their shit.

In between this web site gave me the computer know-how I needed to make money to care for myself and when needed my brothers, while allowing me to eventually make it through school. This forum has given me a chance to interact with people regularly and express my self in writing in such a way as my dyslexic ass has gone from incomprehensible to 99th percentile on the GMAT verbal. I can honestly say that a combination of community, faith in Christ, and some awesome mentors and friends, has enabled my life to go from abused child of a drunken drug-addict to proud papa pursuing his Ph.D. in business.

Thank you AnandTech community and thank you Anand.

 

[JimmiG]

Been lurking at and reading AT since the early 00's when I was in high school.

Now I'm 28 and work in IT.

 

[UncleWai]

I was 16 when i was studying in high school in Seattle, was mostly a nerd playing non-stop counterstrike. Now I am a police inspector in Hong Kong and going to be married in one month. Big change huh?

AT forum is a really good community with knowledgeble and friendly peoples.

 

[Zeze]

Joined back in college 10 years ago or so (mods know). Jesus christ. I neffed a LOT back then.

Man, I've come a long way. It's strangely sickening that ATOT has been a bigger part of my life than should be.

I found ATOT through Hotdeals when it was far more active and FW/Slickdeals didn't exist. I still remember RossMan's loss leader pricing thread for Honda Accord for as cheap as $17K. With his help, I got my first car 03 Mazda 6 (first of its kind) for $15.5K, normally $18K.

ATOT was good for few things:
1. Mindless neffing
2. Surprisingly resourceful for asking any common things
3. Collective knowledge of internet forums = good

 

[Lounatik]

Joined in 97, was 32, and just got my first computer. A hunk of shit Packard Hell 90mhz beast! Found this forum after 3dfx went down. Lived in the Hot Deals Forum for several years and I was actually scared to post in the OT, seeing all the attacks. How funny is that you fuckheads? :>)

I was in my house for 6 years, now I'm at 18 years in the same place and almost have it paid off!. I have two beautiful children ages 10 and 7, and I am on the verge of making a massive career change after doing route sales for 20 years. We need a sticky for this so we can update periodically and see how far we've come.

Being on here is really like hanging around a bunch of friends you like to fuck around with. Very comfortable and enjoyable. Do many forums have the longevity of this one, in terms of members being on board for so long? I really only come here for the chatter and nowhere else. Hell, its my homepage on my Ipad, phone and desktop.

I like it here!!!!!


Peace


Lounatik

 

[shortylickens]

Nostalgic children piss me off.

Also I was 23 and happy. Still in the Navy but at a good duty station with just enough responsibility to give me job satisfaction and no stress. No girl but I was somehow still enjoying life.

I dont wanna talk about right now. Makes me mad just thinking about it.

 

[Viper GTS]

Then:

- 17
- lived at home with my parents in the Portland, Oregon area
- politically fairly conservative (pro death penalty)
- just started my first desk job (call center)
- in the early months of a wasted decade relationship
- driving a mid 80s Accord, lusting after vipers

Now:
- just turned 30 (fuck, already?)
- living alone in new jersey
- politically fairly moderate (very anti death penalty)
- just started a new manager position at MLB Network
- finally ditched the bitch for good (but I'm not bitter!)
- bought a viper, lusting after Gallardos

In between:
- moved cross country three times
- had two cornea transplants
- spent a lot of time here

Viper GTS

 

[linuxboy]

Wow, Viper, that finally happened. Glad you're in a good place in life

Me back then: exploiting people through capitalistic shenanigans
Me now: exploiting people through capitalistic shenanigans for their own good

 

[mikegg]

Joined around 13-15 (had a different account)
-In high school
-Never had a GF
-Never kissed anyone
-liked building computers and stuff

Now
-23 years old
-finished college
-working full-time in the marketing field
-living on my own
-have a GF
-no longer interested in building computers

 

[shortylickens]

Joined around 13-15 (had a different account)
-In high school
-Never had a GF
-Never kissed anyone
-liked building computers and stuff

Now
-23 years old
-finished college
-working full-time in the marketing field
-living on my own
-have a GF
-no longer interested in building computers

Enjoy it.
You'd be amazed how quickly things can change. I had to move back home and go to college full time. Luckily I got the GI Bill to help out.

 

[SirStev0]

Just turned 18. First year of College. Engineering Calc was killing me.

 

[AreaCode707]

I joined as a shy 18 year old girl who'd never said a cussword in my entire life and was going through college alone and practically crippled from rheumatoid arthritis, as an English/Communications major with no idea what I wanted to do.

Now I'm 28, married to the smartest man I've ever met (thanks to Anandtech) with some amazing best friends (thanks to Anandtech), running a product line for a SaaS company and in the process of building my dream home. We're into food, wine, friends and the good life, and I'm very fucking grateful to all you for being part of the life experience who made me who I am today.

 

[RossMAN]

I joined as a shy 18 year old girl who'd never said a cussword in my entire life and was going through college alone and practically crippled from rheumatoid arthritis, as an English/Communications major with no idea what I wanted to do.

I remember those days, where has the time gone?

Now I'm 28, married to the smartest man I've ever met (thanks to Anandtech) with some amazing best friends (thanks to Anandtech), running a product line for a SaaS company and in the process of building my dream home. We're into food, wine, friends and the good life, and I'm very fucking grateful to all you for being part of the life experience who made me who I am today.

How many other couples found wedded bliss via ATOT? So far I only know of two, you and hzl eyed grl.

 

[Miramonti]

I joined at literally the worst stage of my life, and now that things are much better, I'm here to help usher new members into the worst stage of their lives.

 

[Cuda1447]

I was 17ish and came to these forums looking for some networking help. I stayed for OT. Now I'm 27 and married. Living in Florida instead of Michigan. My interest in working on computers has disappeared and I rarely go to any of the actual computer related sub-forums.

It's funny how long I've been a member of these forums. But whats crazier is I can't see it ever changing. I think I'll probably post here until this site doesn't exist anymore. Its part of my daily routine. Wake up in the morning. Eat breakfast. Browse Anandtech.

 

[Cuda1447]

holy shit, just realized this month is my 10 year anniversary! woot woot

 

[lokiju]

According to my joined date I've been on here since shortly after I turned 23 years old. I'm now 32 years old, living in a different state, married and going on 6 years and have a 3 year old son.

Wow!

I actually started coming to the forums a good year before I even joined as I was building a over the top (at the time) gaming rig and came here after reading about Anand in CPU magazine and looking for some reviews on some parts.

Wound of finding the forums off the main site and the rest is history I guess.

I've learned that my 23 year old self was pretty immature at times when I look back at some of my early post. It's actually kind of embarrassing

I also to shit way to serious for it being the interwebs and got caught up at times with some lengthy PM's between members.


But I'll still always remember RossMan sending me a PM shortly after I joined giving a heads up about a post I made that would of risked getting me a ban.

I was young and dumb and had no concept of that at the time and actually appreciated his advice on the matter.l

 

[sixone]

But I'll still always remember RossMan sending me a PM shortly after I joined giving a heads up about a post I made that would of risked getting me a ban.

I was young and dumb and had no concept of that at the time and actually appreciated his advice on the matter.l

Ross does give good advice. He gave me one little tidbit that I followed, but his prediction came true another way, unfortunately.

 

[clamum]

13. I had just recently discovered how to fap, was in a fuck-you-all-I've-got-this phase, didn't give a shit about my faults, and generally much more argumentative. I was also getting entries to FundiesSayTheDarndestThings.com with my average forum post. Now I'm a year away from my Bachelor's in biochemistry, have no confidence, and mostly hate my life.

lol. I do remember you being pretty right-wing, blunt, and kinda argumentative. I guess I remember because I was pretty liberal leaning when I joined and thought "this guy is a fucking prick". Now I'm fairly centrist/libertarianish. Anyway, to echo other's comments, old posts are fairly embarrassing.

"Mostly hate my life"... lol, it can't be that bad, right?

 

[Chiropteran]

I joined Anandtech Forums for the express purpose of posting in this thread.

I knew that in 8 years, 7 months, and 22 days it would be time for me to finally make this post.

Everything up until now has been preparation.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I joined Anandtech Forums for the express purpose of posting in this thread.

I knew that in 8 years, 7 months, and 22 days it would be time for me to finally make this post.

Everything up until now has been preparation.

You'd think that in all that intervening time you'd think of something more to say...

 

[Chiropteran]

You'd think that in all that intervening time you'd think of something more to say...

Whoops, you are correct, I missed my chance.

 

[Mo0o]

Coming up on 11 years. I think I was a sophmore in high school. I've since graduated high school, college, med school and now married. Time flies.

ATOT was a pretty cool way for a high schooler to interact with people from all ages an walks of life.

 

[AreaCode707]

I remember those days, where has the time gone?



How many other couples found wedded bliss via ATOT? So far I only know of two, you and hzl eyed grl.

Someone earlier in the thread said they met here, and Red Dawn and baffled2/GeekBabe.

 

[RossMAN]

Someone earlier in the thread said they met here, and Red Dawn and baffled2/GeekBabe.

That's right Jean/Mike met through AT, wow quite a few relationships from this tech site.

Very cool