I know some of you guys have been posting since the early days of this site. But I noticed a lot of the early members who joined don't post anymore. What happened? As I understand it many have spoken of the 01-04 period where it was something of a golden age? Can any of the vets reflect on this?

People have always come and gone for whatever reason (college, work schedule, being pissed at someone lol, boredom, etc) but yeah, this was some place back in the day. While we had our characters then also, it was a much more mature (for lack of a better word) atmosphere. It's great that some have hung around 11.5 years, and it's always great when someone pops back in to say hello, but I think it boils down to one thing: how many times can the same arguments get rehashed?

There will always be newcomers who find the content "new" and exciting, while others got their fill and move on. I've done the same thing on other forums -- I'd be gungho in the beginning and never leave the site, then after a while something else catches my eye. A decade ago it was still "new" to everyone, and a decade later, it's new to newcomers. The ones who last are typically the ones who've made some true friendships on here. For a while we'd meet at least once/year for a weekend and it was a blast! That slowed down when the bad economy hit.

And I'd be remiss to not state that when Plawrence passed away, it left a hole that's been hard to recover from.

That's my 2c worth...

Thanks for the insight Geoff. I enjoy your site a lot and I've engaged some pretty cool people. Btw something I also gotta ask. It says you were the 2nd member here, who's the first?

The 1st "member" was taken by the software itself, so you have to subtract 1. I was first, SC was second.

Alright cool. I was always confused by that. It's funny when you look back on it, 2001 was a different time period than it is now. A lot's happened since then. Hell I was only in middle school at the time. 13 years is a long time for a website.

The good old days, i was the last of that era to join..

Yes, some of the older members are no longer around. Of course, this is the Gangster BB.

Lol shouldve said 11 years. Not 13

Do you mean 12 years 2001-13.

Geoff said 11.5 so that's probably it

I have met some great people here. I am very proud to count SC, DMC, JG and TIS among some of my closest friends. Over the many years, realize all of the things that we've shared - births, deaths, graduations, illnesses - and I'm always amazed at how I've come to count on these friendships. Although it's been many years since we all got together (I guess NJ was the last), I did get to have dinner with JG, TIS and Beth in NY a couple of years ago. And we do talk as often as our busy lives allow.

JG is right, though. Plaw's death was a terrible blow to those of us who loved him, and pretty much everybody loved him.

I just noticed that when you said about that, i joined almost exactly a month before you, that's insane.

Like i said,the last of a great bunch.

Didn't the UBB software have our BB seniority # under the avatar at one time?

Time DOES fly. I can't believe it'll be 11 years for me next month. It started with my very first home computer (desktop). Being a fan of the movie, I did a GF search, clicked on the site, browsed a bit and joined soon after. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly AND I liked that it was well moderated.

Made a lot of good friends, some I've met and many more that I haven't met (yet). Tho, there are times we run out of GF talk, we still come here and feel at home. Still, this has to be one of the most informative, well-managed sites (the best anyway) attributed to GF movies in all of the cyber world.

Kudos to the Mods!!

TIS

Here here TIS..

Agree with this: Plawrence was/is a massive loss - I remember being absolutely gutted, in a way I've never had a chance yet to feel with family, at his passing away. And Don Colletti, who I was just getting to know and about to meet up with, when he too died...

I actually just began to list pals I've made on here, then added a "no particular order" disclaimer, before realising I'd be missing too many people off... I'll mention Turi here, who I've had the fortune to meet up with, and consider a real pal. And JG and SC, with whom I almost met up during a trip to Manhattan three and a bit years ago, and who down the years have extended 'public' fairness to me as well as private guidance, for which I'm genuine grateful.

Among my pals I now count GBB members svsg, Omar Suarez (who I've also met), Blibbleblabble, long_lost_corleone, Family Honour, Frankie 5-angels, Michael Corleone 14, Saladbar.

This place wouldn't have been worth sticking around at without: Turnbull (whose name alone tells us he's watched The Godfather Trilogy too many times), Don Cardi, MaryCas, TIS, Sicilian Babe, La Dolce Vita, whisper, Klydon1, dontomasso, Mignon, afsaneh77, ronnierocketAGO, DonMichaelCorleone, Lavinia from Italy, Longneck, Don Andrew, Fame, bogey, ginaitaliangirl, Ice, Liz_85, Letizia B., Nice Guy Eddie, Wiseguy_1872, Don Sonny Corleone, MistaMista Tom Hagen, Patrick, Signor Vitelli, joltinjoe05, Antoin the Penguin, thug, Lilo, Don Vercetti, Danito, silviodante77, XDCX, Don Marco, goodfellaoggie, BAM_233, JustMe goombah, Just Lou, Enzo Scifo, MobbingForMoney, raggingbull2003... and then there's Pherdy, Double J, AppleOnYa, CamillusDon, Don Palentino, Mike Sullivan, Don Smitty, fathersson, Partagas, Anthony Lombardi, Don Corpuzzi, The Iceman, Hollywood Hagan, Don Giorgio Gambino, Don Sicilia, Snake, Irishman12, De Niro and of course Yogi Barrabbas--who lives within walking distance of my house, and who I've still never met!

(Many more, too, to whom I extend apologies for not mentioning.)

The Internet's been a large part of my formative years, of my education in fact. I've picked fights on here and defended those who haven't, and have been an arsehole at other times.

Thanks for having me.

Funniest experience on here was when cyber-life and real-life converged during an IT lesson at school... I spent every lesson on this site, and a pal (who remains a good pal to this day) was so intrigued he signed up under the name "intellegence". I don't remember now who pointed out his misspelled name: it was either me, JG or AppleOnYa. He was so embarrassed, and asked to have his name corrected. Needless to say, he took a good ribbin' from me. (I also remember me saying someone had "mispelled" something, and JG saying I'd misspelled "mispelled".)

Mick (as I used to sign every post)

Good round-up, Mick! I still regret meeting you that time you were in NYC. I still run into a couple of them on Facebook now and then. Besides your always intellectual movie posts, why do I keep remembering that "at attention" pic you posted, tho? lol

I concur with JG, great post Mick. I've been fortunate to have joined these amazing people, thanks to XDC who introduced me to this place.

The debates here changed my views for the better. And Plawrence was always ready for a good debate. I remember Patrick posting many threads, his volumes of thoughts that would start many debates and Plaw was always there to make sure the debates were interesting. I remember he even once PMed me to say there's a debate that I might be interested. He would do funny break down posts in congratulation threads and would write fake articles under an assumed name, it's still in SB's signature.

Good times, good memories. Thanks to everyone for making that happen.

Ahh, Patrick... "Tupac vs Shakespeare"...

You and Yogi, should really meet up.. And i'll always be gratful to you for sending me the burned copy of the last season of The Sopranos..

I to have met some wonderful people on here. It has been an honor getting to meet Geoff, SC, Don Cardi, Plaw, TIS, DMC, SV, Don Smitty in person. I have good memories of the BB weekends they were alot of fun. Even though I left for a bit due to some people I've enjoyed being a part of the BB for 10 years.

We will meet...eventually

On a serious note, i joined possibly just after the "golden era" and i absolutely love it. Met lots of folks who even though i have never actually met i would consider friends and this place obviously does need me as i am a giant of the fantasy sports division

Geoff,

Can you give us a synopsis of the first few months? How did SC become number 2? Were you friends before or he just happen to find the site?

"The Making of the Gangster BB", starring Tom Hanks as J Geoff Malta, Joe Pesci as SC, ......

I told Geoff I was smaht. I told him I could handle things.

He believed me.

In the late '90s there was a different forum attached to the Godfather Trilogy site, one that shared it's black background and allowed people to post anonymously. SC and some other old-old-timers took to it, but I never really got into it because it was kind of a mess (that's what total anonymity gets you).

In 2000 I started working at Marvel Comics in NYC and was in charge of setting up their forums (among other things). Since I wanted to be able to "test" the software 24/7, I "borrowed" the $1000 package and installed it for us. (When the price dropped down to $100 I bought my own license). It just took off from there....

I remember SC not liking it at first because it was on a white background.

Incidentally, before even the original forum, there was the listserv mailing list, originally hosted by a fan in the Czech Republic. My original consigliere of the email group, Nathan, is still alive and well there (as are others) but they never took to this format (Appleonya was part of that group). It's since been a Yahoo group, and while posts still come through now and then by the regulars, it's not nearly as active as this is now -- but it used to be!

Hey, a guy can take this a couple of ways.

How about 2nd member.

Now, that can also be taken a couple of different ways!

Lucky SC - most of us mere mortals have to make do with just one.


Signor V.