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Today PB celebrates its 20th birthday – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,685
edited March 21 in General
imageToday PB celebrates its 20th birthday – politicalbetting.com

Today marks the 20th birthday of Politicalbetting and also my retirement from the site.

Read the full story here

«1345

Comments

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    SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,581
    Happy Birthday PB!
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    SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,581
    Glad that your Heir Apparent is still allowing you to enjoy your furniture in peace.

    ALTHOUGH rumor has it, that Smithson the Younger DOES covet that cosy-looking chair . . .
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    SteveSSteveS Posts: 50
    Happy birthday! I’ve been reading the site in one form or another most of those 20 years. I think the first article I read was around US presidential nominees and how many Americans would not vote for an atheist.

    Long time ago now!
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    another_richardanother_richard Posts: 25,091
    Well done to all at PB.

    Including ourselves.

    Perhaps we should all boast of at least one great prediction we made and admit one great mistake.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,626
    Best wishes, Mike, and thank you for giving us this site.
    Many happy returns to PB.
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    GeorgeMikesGeorgeMikes Posts: 7
    Congratulations on the 20th anniversary, it's quite a milestone for the online world. Thanks for creating such an interesting site.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,625
    I remember that in my first ever post I put forward the term Gideonomics.

    Whatever happened to him?
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    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,793
    Oh, my word. Well it had to happen sometime but no less surprising for that. Good luck for the time remaining to you @MikeSmithson , and I hope that the next 20 years match your standard.
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    SirNorfolkPassmoreSirNorfolkPassmore Posts: 6,259
    All the best, Mike. An impressive milestone to bow out on and thanks again for all the enjoyment your posts have brought and the, er, lively debate they have generated.
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    FenmanFenman Posts: 1,047
    Very sorry to hear this. Thanks for all your work.
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    jamesdoylejamesdoyle Posts: 646
    Thanks for everything, Mike, what a thing you did!
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    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 44,426
    Thank you, OGH
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    BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 906
    Good luck.

    Is your son rcs1000 the software engineer?
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    boulayboulay Posts: 3,934
    Thanks Mike and all the best for the future.

    The site has been always been informative, funny, weird, strange and a life saver at times and is always my go-to each day as if something important is happening (not Leon’s holidays) the chances are you will hear about it on this site before any news site.
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    gettingbettergettingbetter Posts: 476
    So sorry to hear of your poor health. Thank so much for this wonderful site which I look at every day. We only met once (at Dirty Dicks) but I much appreciate your work. Best wishes.
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    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,265
    edited March 21
    Happy Birthday to political betting and I’m so sorry about your health @MikeSmithson and to hear of your retirement from the site you founded and ran for so many years.

    This is a brilliant site which is mostly partisan-free. How rare is that online these days?
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    Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 7,542
    Just to add to the thanks. I find this site much more informative, and interesting, than any other single source to discover what's going on in this world, and indeed sometimes other worlds. A great resource.
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    mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,140
    edited March 21
    Happy Birthday to PB. It has been a joy to be lurking around here for ~16 of those 20 years.

    Wishing you all the best with your health, and I hope you know what an amazing thing you created, and that TSE and Robert are continuing in its unique spirit.

    ETA: hang on, did I really join in 2015?!
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    algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 10,541
    Thank you, happy PB birthday, you have done a great job which is much appreciated, and best wishes.
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    maxhmaxh Posts: 825
    A truly impressive achievement Mike, thank you. Also to TSE and Robert.

    Very best wishes for your health.
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    BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 906
    Labour sounds like it is going to do proper planning reform. About time.

    Let's hope for lots of houses, infrastructure, 5G masts, FTTP etc. Vital.
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    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,190
    Happy Birthday PB and best wishes to Mike and family.
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    TazTaz Posts: 11,182
    Happy birthday PB.

    My warmest wishes to you OGH.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,625
    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    Labour sounds like it is going to do proper planning reform. About time.

    Let's hope for lots of houses, infrastructure, 5G masts, FTTP etc. Vital.

    I bloody well hope not.

    A great way to lose the support of eco-socialists.
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    No_Offence_AlanNo_Offence_Alan Posts: 3,819
    Thanks for everything, Mike! And happy birthday, PB!
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    BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 906
    SandyRentool said:

    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    Labour sounds like it is going to do proper planning reform. About time.

    Let's hope for lots of houses, infrastructure, 5G masts, FTTP etc. Vital.

    I bloody well hope not.

    A great way to lose the support of eco-socialists.
    Screw those people. We need to build build build. Taller masts as a start
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    PhilPhil Posts: 1,941
    Best wishes to you & yours Mike. PB has always been something special.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,247
    All the best Mike and many, many thanks for creating and running this site. It has given me countless hours of pleasure and distraction through some dark times in my own life.

    Hopefully we can all still behave without your guiding OGH presence!!
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,311
    edited March 21
    A Very Happy 20th Birthday to PB!

    Congrats and thanks to OGH and the team!
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,031
    Best wishes Mike, and happy birthday to PB. Thanks to everyone who comments, and especially those behind the scenes who keep everything functioning. And of course thanks to Mike, for creating it and keeping it running for so long.
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    TimSTimS Posts: 9,632
    edited March 21
    williamglenn said:

    Building a community with the feeling of a virtual 'pub' was an incredible achievement, and maintaining the same ethos throughout the rise of social media has been an even bigger one. Thanks Mike.

    I’m newer to this site than many but I couldn’t agree more. It remains a virtual pub.

    Best wishes and thanks.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 18,567
    edited March 21
    I'm immensely appreciative for the forum you have provided over the many years, Mike, and go back as a reader to 2007 even though I only joined a few years later.

    Wishing you all the best in retirement.

    (I won't even hold against you that I have just been de-threaded - AGAIN, by this announcement. PB should clearly have been started one day earlier. My "get the last post" skills seem to be better than my "get the first comment" skills at present.)
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    TazTaz Posts: 11,182
    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,775
    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
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    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,458
    Happy Birthday PB, and thanks Mr. Smithson for posting.
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    BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 906
    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    Sean by a country mile.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 18,567
    edited March 21
    SandyRentool said:

    I remember that in my first ever post I put forward the term Gideonomics.

    Whatever happened to him?

    Sir Gideon of Gosborne transferred to environs-of-Salisbury with a private vineyard in the garden, and several hundred thousand of cancelled-for-COVID-stamp-duty-holiday taxes in his pocket iirc :smile: .
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,657
    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Or Smithson Junior?
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    carnforthcarnforth Posts: 3,209
    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
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    CookieCookie Posts: 11,449
    Many, many congratulations Mike. You have created something original that has given a lot of people a lot of enjoyment.
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,031
    carnforth said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
    I still remember my email/user account from QMW, over thirty years ago. es2062 . My initials are not 'es', so I always assumed they stood for 'engineering student'.
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,775
    Taz said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    So only 4 for you but Luckyguy1983 has been banned around twice each week the site has been open !
    Bit harsh really, but you have to admire the persistance.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,009
    Happy 20th birthday PB and thanks OGH for founding it and best wishes on your retirement from the running of the site
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    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 15,269
    Happy Birthday to PB. And all the best to OGH Emeritus.
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    stodgestodge Posts: 12,855
    edited March 21
    Evening Mike :)

    Sad to hear the news about your health but as one of the "old guard" on here, it's been a pleasure to be a small part of PB and thinking back to the very early days before the 2005 election, the site and the world were very different places.

    Thank you for having the inspiration to take this on and take it forward - the BBQ on the terrace of the National Liberal Club a real highlight. Gladstone was perhaps yet again the hope of the "stern unbending (PB)Tories" that evening.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,625
    JosiasJessop said:

    carnforth said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
    I still remember my email/user account from QMW, over thirty years ago. es2062 . My initials are not 'es', so I always assumed they stood for 'engineering student'.
    My wife used to have a log in id "Member of Staff".
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    MattWMattW Posts: 18,567
    kle4 said:

    PB is full of dangerously unhinged lunatics, also know as political anoraks, an OBE at the least is surely warranted for building an effective trap to keep such people contained from the good people of the internet.

    Old Buffer of England.

    Hmmm.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,358
    All the very best, Mike. You are an amazing and wonderful person, and this site has changed my life - for the better.

    Thank you for everything, and please stay well and look after yourself.
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    CookieCookie Posts: 11,449
    Northern_Al said:

    Just to add to the thanks. I find this site much more informative, and interesting, than any other single source to discover what's going on in this world, and indeed sometimes other worlds. A great resource.

    One of tge things I like about this site is that any story is instantly fact checked by an army of intelligent people, sone of whom are experts. And this is done before the broadcast media even get a chance to get it wrong.
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    GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,079
    All the best OGH
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    EmptyNesterEmptyNester Posts: 91
    Delurking briefly to say a heartfelt thank you and best wishes to Mike.
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    Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 13,320
    Thank you Mike for starting and running this remarkable forum. There are many reasons for its success but none more important than your guiding hand. We will all miss you.

    Good luck in your retirement and may your health allow you to enjoy it. You deserve no less.
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,001
    carnforth said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
    That is correct: back in 1992, I got my first access to the Internet as rcs1000@phx.cam.ac.uk

    From then on, rcs1000 has been my Internet id.
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    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 15,269
    For old time's sake an interesting subsample from today's YouGov poll.

    The shares for men put the Tories in third:
    CON 17%
    LAB 41%
    LDM 10%
    GRN 7%
    RFM 19%

    The Tories are saved by the shares from women, which are:
    CON 21%
    LAB 46%
    LDM 9%
    GRN 8%
    RFM 12%
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    isamisam Posts: 40,930
    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I would back myself at 1.01
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,009
    LostPassword said:

    For old time's sake an interesting subsample from today's YouGov poll.

    The shares for men put the Tories in third:
    CON 17%
    LAB 41%
    LDM 10%
    GRN 7%
    RFM 19%

    The Tories are saved by the shares from women, which are:
    CON 21%
    LAB 46%
    LDM 9%
    GRN 8%
    RFM 12%

    Well they don't call him 'Dishy Rishi' for nothing!
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    CiceroCicero Posts: 2,224
    rcs1000 said:

    carnforth said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
    That is correct: back in 1992, I got my first access to the Internet as rcs1000@phx.cam.ac.uk

    From then on, rcs1000 has been my Internet id.
    I can't remember my janet login from Edinburgh University library, but that would be 1990.
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    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,793
    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
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    CiceroCicero Posts: 2,224
    Also thanks and congratulations to OGH. Still hope he will drop in with a few well chosen bon mots from time to time. All the best.
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,249
    Cicero said:

    rcs1000 said:

    carnforth said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
    That is correct: back in 1992, I got my first access to the Internet as rcs1000@phx.cam.ac.uk

    From then on, rcs1000 has been my Internet id.
    I can't remember my janet login from Edinburgh University library, but that would be 1990.
    Mine was hcc1.

    So I must have been top dog.

    (Not really. Aber had a system - last number of the year for undergrads, last two numbers for postgrads, initials only for staff. As I was all of them in turn, I therefore added and subtracted numbers like a mathematician on crack.)
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    Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 2,755
    Cicero said:

    rcs1000 said:

    carnforth said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    I wonder, in the 20 years, who the most banned and returned poster is.

    Leon
    Horse
    Ishmael

    Any other contenders ?

    I assumed people's handles indicated the number of times they've been banned, and therefore tlg86 is surely up there.
    Tlg86 and rcs1000 are both plausible crsids:

    https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/accounts-passwords/your-crsid
    That is correct: back in 1992, I got my first access to the Internet as rcs1000@phx.cam.ac.uk

    From then on, rcs1000 has been my Internet id.
    I can't remember my janet login from Edinburgh University library, but that would be 1990.
    I dabbled with Telecom Gold in 1988. The Internet might have ended right there but for the web.
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,283
    edited March 21
    Wales 1: Finland 0 after less than three minutes
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    CatManCatMan Posts: 2,771
    IanB2 said:

    Wales 1: Finland 0 after less than three minutes

    I'm watching it in Welsh (which I don't speak). At least you can get English subtitles!
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    stodgestodge Posts: 12,855
    Back to polling for a moment.

    The trusty old Lab/LD/Green vs Con/Ref measure is 61-34 with YouGov, 59-36 with More In Common this evening and 57-37 with the latest Savanta.

    More In Common has the Conservatives at 25%, their lowest rating ever. There have been eight polls since the previous More In Common, two have had the Conservatives at 26% (Savanta and Survation), all the others have been 25% or lower.
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,679
    All best wishes Mike, thanks you for setting up PB.com - it's a great site!
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,951
    viewcode said:

    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
    I would add Socrates to that first list. Really liked my discussions with him back in the day. Much missed. Also of course we cannot miss Tim (the original) off that list, nor the American Tims.
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    BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 906
    viewcode said:

    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
    Great shame that @MrEd was banned. I enjoyed conversing with him and he was supportive to me during my earlier struggles with mental health. Wishing him well wherever he is.
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,283
    CatMan said:

    IanB2 said:

    Wales 1: Finland 0 after less than three minutes

    I'm watching it in Welsh (which I don't speak). At least you can get English subtitles!
    Cymru un: Ffindir dim
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    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,793
    Richard_Tyndall said:

    viewcode said:

    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
    I would add Socrates to that first list. Really liked my discussions with him back in the day. Much missed. Also of course we cannot miss Tim (the original) off that list, nor the American Tims.
    Damn, yes of course. Incidentally @Andy_JS and @CarlottaVance are still AWOL, although it's been suggested the former has changed to another ID, which is plausible but I'm not convinced.
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    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 15,269
    edited March 21
    I'm trying to find the Guardian article I read in 2004 that mentioned political betting, and sent me here for the first time, but I can't seem to find it.

    I did find this one about JackW's retirement from the site - in 2007!

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/oct/24/1
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    BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 906
    Richard_Tyndall said:

    I don't remember when I first joined PB but I think it was a couple of years after it had started. It remains the only place worth visiting to get both informed opinion and often the first hint of breaking news. It has become such a part of my online life that I can't imagine the internet without it. So huge thanks to OGH for widening my horizons and introducing me to such a fascinating bunch of characters.

    I've enjoyed having exposure to views that I don't often get in my daily life and I have enjoyed the political compass tilting such that for a while I felt very isolated and now feel "part of the herd". I like mostly everyone here whatever their views which is probably a mark of how good this site is.
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,283
    edited March 21
    MikeL said:

    I've read PB literally most days for the last 19 years and posted fairly regularly.

    I just want to say the most enormous thank you to Mike for creating and running PB which has provided so much interest and enjoyment. There's no need to ever be bored again - you can always check what's being said on PB.

    Very best wishes for your retirement.

    Congratulations and thanks to OGH, for sure. And to his little helpers.

    Meanwhile we pedants can wonder what “literally most” actually means….
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,358
    viewcode said:

    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
    @URS

    All great losses and Plato was particularly sad as it was well before her time and she just disappeared down an extreme rabbit hole - didn't get medical help when she needed it.
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    CookieCookie Posts: 11,449
    viewcode said:

    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
    How do we know?
    I often wonder about this. It seems frankly improbable after 20 years that more of us haven't died. And in most cases, people will just occasionally think, huh, poster x hasn't posted in a while - I wonder if he's still with us? And that will be that.

    Is Jack W still with us? Or Alastair Matlock?
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,283
    Breaking: Our Brexit passports are produced by a Franco-Dutch company in Poland using Italian software to print Spanish ink on to Finnish paper.
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    LeonLeon Posts: 47,235
    Now I feel melancholy
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,283
    Casino_Royale said:

    viewcode said:

    SandyRentool said:

    Reflecting back over the years, RIP to those former posters who were a significant part of the site, but, sadly, are not with us to mark the 20 year milestone.

    I remember when you were Yanis Varoufakis. Anyhoo...

    Left whilst still alive

    @RodCrosby (Holocaust remarks)
    @isam (argued with hosts, since returned)
    @antifrank aka @AlistairMeeks (argued with others, now blog author)
    @Charles (argued with others),
    @TissuePrice (works in a big shed somewhere)
    @SeanT (left, never to return)
    @IshmaelZ (argued with others)
    @MrEd (argued with hosts, thought to have returned)
    @CorrectHorseBattery (argued with others, thought to have returned)

    Left on death

    @SBS (died 2009)
    @PLATO (died 2017estimated)
    @MARKSENIOR (died 2017)
    @CALUM (died 2019)
    @NICHOMAR (died 2021)

    There have been others which I can't recall, and I know that at least one other has died, so if anybody can add more names I would be grateful.
    @URS

    All great losses and Plato was particularly sad as it was well before her time and she just disappeared down an extreme rabbit hole - didn't get medical help when she needed it.
    At least our Leon has been good enough to go down there looking for her…
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    carnforthcarnforth Posts: 3,209
    Leon said:

    Well this is both sad and touching. Thank-you, Our Most Genial of Hosts, I hope your health somehow allows you to return, occasionally

    It’s been a privilege to comment on this site these past 15, sorry 9, sorry 4, sorry 2 and a half, sorry 2 years. It really is like a pub except the locals wear terrifying masks and Hitler occasionally plays the piano

    Its also kept me sane and prevented me dying of loneliness on long foreign trips - such as this one right now

    Cheers to all of us, mods and commenters, anarchists and atheists, kippers and Communists, lurkers, lefties, LadyGs and lunatics, from the hot and cloudy jungles of Colombia






    They couldn’t come up with anything better than a wine so popular it’s in every Tesco in Britain? Is there any Colombian wine?
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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,951
    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    Richard_Tyndall said:

    I don't remember when I first joined PB but I think it was a couple of years after it had started. It remains the only place worth visiting to get both informed opinion and often the first hint of breaking news. It has become such a part of my online life that I can't imagine the internet without it. So huge thanks to OGH for widening my horizons and introducing me to such a fascinating bunch of characters.

    I've enjoyed having exposure to views that I don't often get in my daily life and I have enjoyed the political compass tilting such that for a while I felt very isolated and now feel "part of the herd". I like mostly everyone here whatever their views which is probably a mark of how good this site is.
    I agree and also think that there are some areas where I have genuinely changed my mind as a result of informed (and occasionally ill informed :) ) discussion on PB. It has proved a far more reliable source of news and information than most of the mainstream press.
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