You may be aware that we are going to be moving into new software very soon -- probably tonight. And on that software, the community is going to be moderated very differently than DU has been moderated over the last decade. Our reasons for making this change are many. But I want to make clear that the change should not in any way be interpreted as some sort of statement about the people who have served as moderators on Democratic Underground over the last 10 years.

Probably hundreds of different people have served as moderators on DU over the years, and I feel privileged to have had the chance to work with all of them. Being a DU moderator is an extremely difficult, and usually thankless job -- and over the last three years that we have had a Democratic president, the job has become even more difficult and thankless. And yet, through it all, the DU moderators did the job with the highest level of integrity and decency. I only wish that all the members of DU could know the DU moderators the way I know them. They are smart, generous, thoughtful, and funny. They care deeply about this community. Together we have been through some of the highest highs, and some of the most gut-wrenching lows. But they have never, EVER let me down. And despite some of the hurtful falsehoods that have been said about them -- they never let you, the members of DU, down either.

Thanks to their heroic efforts, this community continues to thrive. I am deeply grateful for their help. I cannot possibly ever repay them for what they have given to me.

As a small token of my appreciation, to the DU Moderators: I offer you this... The Golden Hot Tub.



Use it well. And don't forget to turn off the lights in the Mod forum when we're all done. Take whatever you like from the Drinks Cabinet. You've earned it.

Tearfully,

Skinner