I joined back in 1996 or 1997. I recall finding something related to gardening and checked out a whole bunch of forums. It probably was back in HGTV days but I cannot recall those details. I never posted much back then (same as now) and I know when Spike went to pay, I didn't pay. I continued as a member and read posts. I never participated in any of the "social" type things since I only had internet at work for many years.

I work on a computer all day so being on one at night is not my idea of a good time.

Glenda, I'm one of the originals too and I remember Tadpole. He lives here in Georgia. I sure miss a lot of people who used to be here who are now deceased like Grandma Bonnie, Nita, Dottie and Marlin.

Anyone remember Fireman's Wife, who took custody of her three nieces and some people didn't believe the stories she was telling and it got into a big debate and she left.

I remember Tadpole,Denny and Tawni . Didn't she turn out to be a fake personality & all her stuff was made up ? I also remember alot of people that were mentioned . I didn't know some people had passed .... that's so sad .

I remember Fireman's Wife, liira.

Tahni was also know as Tony Wright, but would not admit it. Last time I spoke with her, I asked her point blank and her reply was "I'm gone forever" and never spoke with her again.

She and my son (who had recently divorced) had an on going relationship. Even my grandson was fond of her. They never met face to face, as she made it difficult to meet always saying she could not at that time. One Christmas morning, she stayed on the phone, so she could hear us opening Christmas presents. She helped my son with purchasing my first real computer and wanted to hear my surprise when I opened the boxes.

Damon, from Texas, was pretty much involved with her. He and his wife, divorced and he thinks he met her, in California, posing as Tonya Wright.

Kim Haas, died, and her husband came to the KT asking for money to help with her funeral. Spike was alerted, and he pursued to get to the bottom of the issue. Remember he contacted authorities, and found it was all a hoax.

I remember her too and I know several people that left because they were treated unkindly. One, and I am sorry, but her name escapes me now, lost her little dog, because it swallowed a string that somehow got wrapped around a back tooth. You would have thought she did that on purpose. I always liked her and years later I remembered she was a friend of one of my FB friends and I asked about her, and my friend passed a message along from me, but, sadly she was very ill at the time and dying from cancer.

I think the reason Steph left was because her dog died while she was on vacation and some people thought she should have stayed home.

I, too, joined during the time that Spike owned the Gardenweb. Don't recall how many years ago, but it was many years ago. A member of our garden club recommended the site to us; she was a member and advised that there was much good advice to be gleaned about gardening. Then I found additional forums that were interesting. The last ground forum I found was Kitchen Table.

My mom told me about the beauty forum in 1998 or 1999 maybe. I was 16 or so. It used to be more active back then. I found the KT shortly afterwards. I mostly lurked, never paid, and started posting a few years later. I remember following the silly stories and avatars. It was very different back then!

I feel bad about fireman's wife. I was one of the doubters but I never meant to chase her off like that. It's a good lesson.

It was the late 90s for me, like a lot of you it seems.

We'd just moved to a new city (not a great neighborhood) and gotten our first internet connection. Plants and the pets were mostly my life. I think it must have been the pet forum that I found initially, but was also involved on the houseplant and cacti/succulent forums.

Remember how you had a user name and your email addy could be displayed after it? Hard to imagine that now.

Tahni was a mystery for sure. She wrote a long letter to my son (handwritten) encouraging him to do better in life .He was going through hard times. I thought it was nice . I agree - long ago there were some nasty people here. They started on me and I called them "self -righteous beeches" !!! Yikes ! That's totally out of character for me ! Wasn't there a Debi-Webi ,too ? She was a piece of work ....

I remember fireman's wife and her story. I forget the details. How long ago was this and did anyone ever hear from her again? Some parts didn't ring true but I forget what they were.

I was looking online for kitchen ideas, and I ended up here (well, in Kitchen forum, not The Kitchen Table forum). It was very shortly before GW became a part of Houzz. There were a lot of people who helped me make my kitchen a lot more functional than I'd ever imagined. Even if I didn't follow every suggestion, I believe I followed most of them! (Under counter drawers, moving a doorway slightly, blano Silgranite sinks, induction range, a prep sink, Ice-water-stone-fire....)

I did keep the peninsula instead of doing an island, and I'm still very happy with my $70 stand-alone microwave from the old house being on the counter instead of in a cabinet or under the counter.

Although the overall footprint of the house was already off at the log timber cutters, I was also able to modify some interior work (besides the kitchen) when people piped up with good suggestions. I have better bathrooms for it, for instance.

In the late 90s I was looking up all things gardening as my desire to know everything about plants had grown beyond the books I had. Plus I was looking for some like minded green thumbed people.

Eventually as I learned what I needed what I wanted to learn plus more I began to grow an interest in the people in general. I spent time on the perennials conversations forum and then went to the home decorating conversations and kitchen table forums. I also visited kitchens frequently and home decorating.

Nowadays I look here and at the home decorating conversations forum and sometimes at regular home decorating and regularly at the perennials forum as well. I visit fairly infrequently at kitchens but still enjoy when the experts talk about how to do a proper kitchen.

I found GW in 2001 while searching for recipes, and I participated mainly in the cooking forum. A few years later, I visited The Kitchen Forum and was met with hostility for having the nerve to post at all, and so I left and never came back until just recently after having been told that it was tamer now. I've met a lot of people through the cooking forum, but none from the California gardening forum, which I also visit and sometimes get help. I did enjoy some stories from The Home Disaster forum in the early days - especially "Help! Cat threw up in the washing machine." That thread was hilarious.

Wow, re "Help! Cat threw up in the washing machine" !!! I missed that one!

Had a cat crawl into the dryer and fall asleep. I'd just put a load in there, but decided to run another load through the washer and combining both loads in the dryer, so I didn't turn it on. Fortunately!

When I came back down to the basement to put the new batch of wet laundry into the dryer and turn it on... out walked my cat!

I did have a "Cat ruptured an abcess I didn't know he had (he was long haired) when jumping down from basement stairs on top of freshly-cleaned laundry atop the dryer" situation. Stuff splattered everywhere but I had to get him to the vet first.

Hmmm. Same cat.

PS, I tried HT about a year ago. I recently left that forum and am NOT looking back.

I didn't read the Help! The Cat when it was first posted, but someone gave a link a few months ago and I thought I would never stop laughing.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2359444/cat-threw-up-in-washing-machine#n=138

artemis_ma, I don't like Hot Topics either. I'm glad it is there, everyone that does like it, can keep it there and NOT anywhere else.

I need to start cooking... read half of it... still need to start cooking... but laughing too hard, thanks Sherry (I think!)

Reminds me of the family cat, Kat. She started to upchuck, and Dad wasn't going to have any of that. Chased that cat through seven rooms. The cat was heaving through all of them. (If he'd left the situation alone, it would have meant just one localized situation in one room for cleanup.)

We have a cat that hates to throw up and so screeches as she is about to do so. We run to her to make sure that she isn't on an area rug but she doesn't run away as we pick her up because she likes to have her back rubbed as she throws up.

I joined in 2001 (I think) when a search for "lawn forum" only got you a handful of hits. I soon found out I knew nothing about lawn care even though I thought I knew everything.

Spike was the best! People deserved to get sent to Disneyland. He was great.

OMG ---- that thread was hilarious !!!!

To be honest, I don't really remember how I got started here, or when. Garden Junk was the first forum I read, and thoroughly enjoyed. From there I found the cooking forum and the Stained Glass & Mosaics forums. And the Texas Gardening forum. I've never had to pay a membership or anything. For quite a while I just lurked, then signed up when I finally got brave enough to post. It was shortly after Spike's time, I remember reading about people who got sent to ride the teacups. But it was always in the past mode.

I've only relatively lately found the Kitchen Table, and now I'm here more than any of the other forums, I like the wide variety of subjects covered and the friendliness of everybody. I still check the other forums now and then, my other favorite, Garden Junk, has been pretty inactive. I guess that's a phase that has passed. I've read Reader's Paradise a few times, as I love to read. but a number of the people there seem rather 'snooty', Knit and Crochet could be fun and interesting, but there just isn't much activity there. I checked out Hot Topics after seeing it mentioned a time or two. I won't make that mistake again!

So most of my 'forum time' is spent right here, on the KT. I'm here once a day for sure, and often, several times a day.

Rusty

Fireman’s wife got custody of her 3 nieces, whose names all started with T. The youngest was under 1 year old. Lots of people on this forum offered to send books, toys, clothes etc, but she declined all gifts. Then someone questioned her on how she was able to legally adopt the girls so quickly, and that’s when the arguments started. That’s what I remember.

I got started in the late 90's in what was Gardenweb by a friend who recommended THS because of a wildly hilarious exploding toilet story. I checked the other forums and spent some time on Antique Roses mostly. I tried out a few others. I love to tile but learned you weren't allowed a comment let alone an opinion there. Mostly I lurked here and there and checked out Hot Topics where I do spend time. It is a depressing place these days but that too will pass I am sure. I had a lot of time on my hands this past year and went looking. You all have a reputation as a friendly place. I read here more than I post.

I can remember people mentioning paying, I thought it was only if you didn't want ads? Spike created Gardenweb and he was very opinionated about civility. There is much to recommend that point of view. I was never even warned. When IVillage bought him out things went down hill somewhat but Houzz doesn't seem to care much as long as no one gets killed. So it goes.

I came here in I believe in 1999. Might have even been 1998. So many good times! There were even some group chats at one time. I was trying to remember the name of Grandma Bonnie’s grandson. I remember sending him a Talking Little T boy doll that came with tools and he told jokes. He really liked it! I also sent Tahni a big box of kids books for something or other. She did spend a lot of time helping me learn how to post GIFs. That was a big thing back then! It’s too bad she wasn’t as she seemed. I had tadpoles salsa recipe at one time. I’m going to see if I still have it. We have a big jalapeño pepper plant this year. Someone hosted a daily 10 question trivia quiz. That was fun! Weren’t we timed too? And of course the bday threads. There were many KT reunions back then. I’ve only met Nita. I almost met Glenda once when she was driving thru GA I think to visit PJR in the army? Something happened and it wasn’t meant to be. We’ve all laughed and cried and even fought at times. I paid the $15. It’s was well worth it IMO. It was only a year or maybe two. There was a spin off group called The Meeting House. I never went there. Is it still around? I remember how busy the KTwas and if you missed a day there was a lot to catch up on! Miss that.

Have had the past in my mind since I first noticed and posted on this thread. :)

Remember a Joy? She posted some neat visuals for us. On Fridays, I think?

Like Lars.....when I returned to this site a couple of years ago, I was told by

a poster, that I needed to get to know people and how things were done...that

was what "newbies" did. (I joined in the late 90's...didn't really consider myself

a "newbie". I think she had elected her self SGT at Arms. ;)

The Meeting House moved to Facebook.

Tadpole's Salsa

28.8 oz can whole tomatoes
6 oz. can pickled jalapenos, seeded (or about 6 large)
1 or 2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

Puree garlic in food processor until minced. Follow with the remainder of the ingredients and process until fairly smooth. That's it!!!

I had to add 1/2 tsp sugar to cool it down. The salsa is delicious!

" ...Hot Topics where I do spend time. It is a depressing place these days..."

There was a time when HT wasn't depressing? I don't remember that! ;)

These posts are jogging my memory with those names of long ago!

Uptown Gal, I remember when that happened but don't remember who said it.

What is "The Meeting House"? I can't find it here or on Facebook. The only thing I can find on Facebook is a church.

I've been here since mid-to-late 90's, and I traveled from HGTV. I can't remember what my "name" was then. I must have behaved well, because I never took a trip to Disney. I also never paid. Remember the lady who used to take tissue paper and mod-podge it to glass and make art work that resembled stained glass? I think there was a lady from OH named Tami, and her mother, who kept things interesting. We all were very much a part of the lady in CA (Was that Steph?) as she had her two babies after some difficulty. I didn't join the Tadpole fan group. He seemed to be a little full of himself.

I remember Bear and Tami -- didn't they moderate Our Humble Home ? There was a Kitchen Table 2 that I was a member of for a long time , but they went to facebook. I do remember HGTV decorating forum ,my online name was Lassie . I never had so much fun in my life with the gals & guys there. That was my first "forum" experience.

Funny - I can't remember what I did a week ago - but some of these names and forums pop right back into my mind !

I don't really remember, but I think it was way back when I got my first computer about 20 years ago, and I was probably looking up a recipe. This was pre-Google, so I think I used Yahoo for a search engine. I do believe that's how I found this place. There was another forum I used to go to as well, I got sent to "Disneyland" once for spelling a word wrong (Spike ran it), I miss that board. I think it shut down.

Spike didn't just run Gardenweb, he owned it. He created it, it was his child. When you factor in that reality you can understand why he could set the rules. It could seem arbitrary and he was famous for not explaining and when he was being peevish you could get sent to the tea cups for asking what happened. I did keep my mouth shut until I learned the rules and I try to be polite although that might not always have been enough back then. It was good training for how to act on a public forum. Sort of like having a strict Nanny as a child. It is a pity more people who post on line didn't have a Spike in their life.

I found Gardenweb and the Caregiver's Forum in 1999. My sister and I had to take over my uncle's care when he had a stroke. I got a lot of information from that forum, and just progressed to other forums on Gardenweb after that. I don't post often, but I read posts every day. I enjoy these forums for the information and ideas that I never would have gotten otherwise.

Nah, I don't buy it, patriciae. Every website is owned by someone or some company. Any of them if run with rules like Marine Corps basic training or a BDSM session would have an exodus of users and I'm sure this one did at that time too. Sounds like the guy had head issues?

And his name was Spike? Too funny to be true.

I had a penpal back then and she sent it to me.

I miss Dottie and her humor and I can only imagine what Marlen would have to say to some of the posters on Hot Topics . She was so proud to be an American. A truly patriotic naturalized citizen.

I don't post much anymore. But I do lurk. I came to GW back in 1997/8. I was heavily into roses and found GardenWeb searching for info. After roses, I looked around and found the Garden Party. Lots of fun people there. We would be partnered up and did gift exchanges. I still have the 3 bird and flower plates displayed on my hall wall from one of the gift exchanges from my partner. I lady from Ohio. Sorry can't remember her name. I also remember the Beer Garden. You could cut loose there. It was fun. But it got out of hand and the forum was closed down. I remember Spike too. Not the best of people. He had his favorites they could do no wrong. He was petty also. Though I was never sent to Disney, many I knew were. He was rude and mean in the emails he sent to people. He even had a alter ego and would post on the forums as a different person. I never paid to be on the forums. I do remember the lady here that faked her death just to get money. She was something. Along with a few others that thought of themselves and their bf/husbands more then their children and were told so. So they left after a while. You have to take the bad with the good I guess. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

i found GW back in 2012 when we were gutting our kitchen and dining room. kitchen forum and appliance forum were a treasure trove of advice and i credit them for so many smart decisions we made! best advice ever!!

then i poked around and found KT been here ever since :)

Elmer, I have been told his real name was Robert Hernandez. I don't know if that is true or not. At one time someone posted a picture of him and his wife when they attended some get together. He was and I expect is real. He sold his company to IVillage. He did have staff but He took a particular interest in the rose forums for instance. His online name was Spike. We have become accustomed to rudeness and vulgarity but he was having none of it. Back in the late 90's there just weren't so many options on line and this forum worked so much better than most of them. You take its structure for granted but he did a good job. People would push the limits so that when he finally had enough it could seem arbitrary. I never had any problems.

I stumbled across GW about 17 years ago when building a house and looking for information on just about everything related to the process. I found some valuable information about electrical and plumbing, decor and appliances. I learned about the Tapmaster which we LOVE! Hot water recirculation was introduced to me on GW and installed in our second build as well. as the first. While researching gas cooktops, I learned about induction....no words to describe how much we love it. I never would have learned about these things and more without the GW forums.

"Nah, I don't buy it, patriciae. Every website is owned by someone or some company."

Don't buy it all you like, Elmer, but it is true. The GardenWeb forums were created, owned and moderated by Robert Stewart (screen name Spike Hernandez) in the mid to late 90's (95 or 96?). And he ran the site with an iron fist but it was extremely popular and became the largest group of discussion forums online....and with the largest membership.

Spike sold the site to iVillage in 2004.

Miss Spike! He was tough, but was able to weed out permanently some that caused unpleasantness. Remember we always knew when there was a full moon, back then. Can't remember who, but one person enjoyed that time to cause rumbles amongst the KT.

Elmer, if I misunderstood your intent, I apologize. However, when I go back to reread your comment, I do not come away with any clearer impression of what you were attempting to say. Your remarks read with the same, very familiar, condescending dismissal of another poster's comments as many of your other posts do.

Perhaps it is your communication style.......i would love to gve you the benefit of the doubt that the remarks that you make that frequently raise so many hackles and cause unnecessary conflict are being misinterpreted due to lack of clarity or awkward wording.

Well, reading back several posts there is a comment about Spike and him having "head Issues". My comment to that poster is, "Elmer, it takes one to know one!"

"Maybe better to tone back the personal reprimands you seem to like issuing and restrict your words to the discussion matter."

LOL! Pot, kettle, black.

Maybe you don't know the difference. That's fine.