The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsMy two wishes for this website:
1. It never gets sold.
2. It never does an IPO.
I've been lurking here since around 2009-ish. I have watched so many websites go to absolute shit when some bigger company buys them or they do an IPO like Reddit.

debm55
(50,718 posts)
USS_Dauntless
(67 posts)
no_hypocrisy
(53,074 posts)But 24 years ago on August 31, an independent (non-franchised) radio station in NYC, WEVD (named after Eugene Victor Debs) went off the air. WEVD ran progressive talk radio, unlike the other stations at the time. Callers ranged from students to senior citizens. The hosts discussed local issues concerning social justice (or lack thereof). Columnists, writers, government representatives, and more appeared as guests. The questions were probing with follow-ups. There was no other radio station like it on the AM dial.
But the station was owned by The Forward. The ABC Corporation offered them a number and The Forward accepted it. The sale was justified by the money could be used to prop up its publication(s).
And of course, ABC didn't want WEVD in its format when it was purchased. ABC wanted to use the frequency to broadcast ESPN as its flagship station. And it did.
At midnight August 31, 2001, a bunch of dedicated listeners were on the sidewalk below, listening to the hosts wish us well, in tears. We knew what we were losing. And there was nothing we could do to stop it.
Recapitulating: DU will not sell out like The Forward. Your post just rejuvenated an ache in my heart, that's all.
USS_Dauntless
(67 posts)Literally and figuratively.
CrispyQ
(40,231 posts)It wasn't me, really! But I literally LOLd when I read that one.
If you're wondering what I'm talking about, go find it! Big board stickies
GreenWave
(11,606 posts)But soon after reading it again from Investopedia, the sandman is coming!!
twodogsbarking
(15,775 posts)FemDemERA
(583 posts)to help keep DU going. Been seeing that note at the top the past couple days and kept saying, "later", LOL.
Wish I was rich and had more money to spread around to all my favorite charities, but I love that DU lets us give what our budget can handle, whether that is $1, $5, $20 or more. Their few fundraisers allow me to give a few dollars here and there throughout the year and still feel like I am contributing - even if it is in a small way - to keeping the site going.
And yes, CrispyQ, that sticky made me laugh too!
Fla Dem
(27,077 posts)


The DU Family led by EarlG,
He's DU's Gabe Newell.
red dog 1
(31,851 posts)
I share your wishes.
LudwigPastorius
(13,399 posts)I don't think this site generates enough money to ever be targeted as a corporate acquisition.
What I do believe, though, is that the site's membership is skewing older and older as young people have generally moved on from this type of discussion board format.
I'm going to relish this place while I can, because the only thing that stays the same is change.