Anyone care to take a crack at sharing the story of this forum?

How, why and by whom was it started? After it was started, how did it develop? Where is the server and administration located?

Thanks!

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), February 27, 2004

Answers

Thanks again!

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), February 27, 2004.

How about it Frank? Let all the "newbies" in on how this forum came to be and who has gotten us to the present day?

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), February 27, 2004.

Ed,

There are others who could give a longer perspective than I, and I'm afraid it would just end up in another war-thread. I think I'll pass, but thanks.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), February 27, 2004.

The first posts here started in the spring of 1998 as I recall. I think Enrique Ortiz and I are the earliest posters still around. I started posting sometime in the summer/fall of 1999 under the name (David@matt633). Unfortunately, it wasn't early enough to learn about the origins of the forum and the first moderator. I don't recall ever reading anything about either the origins or the moderator until he recently suffered heart difficulties and needed to turn the reigns over to others - I pray he's recovering well these days. I'm not even sure if he was the original moderator.

At that time, the two main posters were quite accomplished Catholic apologists - Chris Butler and David Palm - 2 converts to Catholicism. With their extensive knowledge of the Catholic faith, eloquent writing skills, patience and gentle spirits, they were a true pleasure to communicate with. The tragedy is that many of those early posts are now deleted along with most of the evidence of their participation, so there's no way to go back and learn from their wisdom. Chris stopped participating for a while to concentrate on writing a book and David Palm left shortly after Y2K changeover to concentrate on his growing family and responsibilities at home/work. Defending the faith the way they did was quite time consuming. Chris later returned to post for a few years, but left again - that's more recent history.

I'm not sure whether it was 2000 or 2001 that John Gecik first started participating. He pretty much picked up the reigns from Chris and David in terms of accepting the responsibility to address most of the questions and defend the faith and did so for several years - of course, John still posts occasionally.

In late 2002 and early 2003 I think, Chris returned to his role here so the forum had both Chris and John actively answering questions and taking responsibility to research the difficult issues - each from their own particular style which was very different. Both have now stepped back from those roles and Paul M has quite skillfully stepped into the role of both moderator and chief defender of the faith.

Along the way, there have been many strong contributors worthy of note who assisted in the defender of the faith duties on a less frequent or consistent basis (such as Frank), but if I attempt to name them, I wind up leaving out many, so I won't.

Hope this helps.

Dave

(note: my email address will be anonymous for all future postings due to unwelcome spamming that I suspect comes from folks seeing my address on this forum)

-- non-Catholic Christian (no@address.com), February 28, 2004.

Great post Dave! Well done!

The first record I can see of any post being made here on the Catholic forum is dated January 6, 1998. I came to the forum in the year 2000 I believe, and John Gecik was here then.

If I were to add anything to your comments it would be that I think we need to give more credit for any success this forum has enjoyed to date to John Gecik for the work he's done here over the years in explaining and defending our Catholic faith. John's efforts in this forum have been monumental. He has single-handedly and for extended periods of time defended the faith tirelessly and for that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. [John, I am not sucking up here, I am merely stating the obvious.:)]

Dave, you have rightfully mentioned some of the others who have contributed greatly in the past such as Chris Butler, David Palm and Frank. I agree with you that were we to attempt to mention all of the others, justice might not be served for having omitted someone out of oversight.

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), February 28, 2004.

Ed,

I just want to throw my buddy Mateo into that mix. He doesn't post to much anymore, but when he does I usually learn something from what he writes.

He's one of the most knowledgable Catholics to ever post in forum that will share his knowledge to anyone that asks.

May God bless Mateo and his family, during this Lenten season and keep his baby healty and safe.

And Gino works his but off trying to help people(or beat them up) for years.

-- - (David@excite.com), February 28, 2004.

Did the forum start as an empty slot on the Greenspun.com server, or was there some sort of introduction from them?

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), March 02, 2004.

No, early on anyone who wanted to could start a forum here on anything. Richard who started this one also started the Anarchy forum, I believe, but don't think that's still public. Too many people started bizarre forums, or lots of forums with one letter difference, etc., now that option doesn't exist any more.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), March 02, 2004.