History of LAWNSITE for Old and New!!!

[MOW ED]

This is my 1000'th post and after I submit it I will look to see if I have become an "ADDICT". With that being stated I have been sitting back contemplating all of the history of this site since I joined on Jan 31, of 2000 (for a while they had me at Feb 2000) and I will be a little nostalgic and enter some of my memories and thoughts of Lawnsite.

I do this to get the old members thinking of how far this site has come and also for the new members that have no idea of some of the history.

I'd ask the older members to insert their own recollections of the history of this site and again I want to personally thank Chuck Keough for having the persistance to keep moving this site forward. On with the show.

I'll do this in question form so if you know these answers you are an old timer like me.

1. Who was the first registered member?
2. What is the name of one of the original moderators who hasn't posted to this site since last December yet remains as one of the top 10 posters to the site?
3. What media proclaimed "bad boy" of the lawn care industry had a nickname of Larry Flynt on another site?
4. What was the original- original name of this site when born?
5. What was the name after that?
6. Who has a nervous condition and mows lawn to relax?
7. Name 2 lawn care industry consultants that used to be regular contributors to this board.
8. Name the reason one of them got a little upset and left.
9. Name that gentlemans "automated response system".
10. For a period of time in the past a strange thing would happen to certain words in all the threads. They would be typed in one way but the site mysteriously converted them to something else. What was the deal with that?
11. What member had the 21.95 a month mowing deal?
12. What post about bodily functions prompted nearly 100 responses?

Guys and girls, feel free to answer these questions. Also please submit your own as a little history lesson and reminder of the past to all.

Thanks for being here and making this site -THE BEST LAWNSITE- on the web bar none!

[SLS]

This ought to be GREAT! :D

C'mon you "oldtimers"...fill us in!

[Finecut]

Who was the person they ragged upon for hacking up Mrs. Smith's bushes? (Hint! this goes back to May 1999)


Mow Ed...the bad boy had that name here, was banded, and returned with another name.

13. Who else has been thrown off this board and come back as someone else? Who are they now?

[awm]

aint to shore this isa goodthang

[Eric ELM]

Congrats on 1000 Ed. I do know the answers, but I will let some of the others fill in the blanks and I will answer the unanswered ones later. I wish we would of had a quiz like this when I was in school, (a quiz I know the answers to). :laugh:

[lawnman_scott]

I wasnt here so i dont know the awnsers, but i want to.

[gusbuster]

I'll answer some question, but not completely. Make people search for the answers.
1. Who was the first registered member? I would assume Chuck or EricElm
7. Name 2 lawn care industry consultants that used to be regular contributors to this board. I think one is Phil Nilsson the other one I don't remember.
11. What member had the 21.95 a month mowing deal? Grasboy
12. What post about bodily functions prompted nearly 100 responses? Peein in the bushes

Well I tried. Let's see some others

John

[Guido]

1. First member was, I don't know. I'll throw a few names though, and hopefully one of them is right (Dino, Lawnguy, Eric Elm, Chuck Smith, pineisland). Not 100% on this one though. I know Eric was #5, not really sure who was first though)

2. What is Lazer?

3. Lawrence Stone I think

4. Original name was hall of fourums, right? Or was there one before that? Ahhha! Lawnicure

5. Oooops I guess there was, this one will be hall of forums

6. Most of us? :) Not Sure on this one either

7. Bill Phagan and Phil Nillson

8. Phil used to get picked on too much, don't remeber a particular incident. I think the collection for Chuck's cruise put the end to him though

9. A-1 Auto Response. AHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHA Good Memmories!

10. gr***, B***, *** Took out the famous three letter word every time you wrote about grass!

11. I wanna say grassboy, or maybe lawnboy (the original) I remember the AOL like setup he wanted to try, 24.95 a month for on call service 24-7! ;)

12. Peein in the bushes

[Eric ELM]

If you still want to post the answers, don't read this one, if you want the answers, read this one. Some wanted to know right away. :)

1. Who was the first registered member? Chuck Keough
2. What is the name of one of the original moderators who hasn't posted to this site since last December yet remains as one of the top 10 posters to the site? Carl (Lazer)
3. What media proclaimed "bad boy" of the lawn care industry had a nickname of Larry Flynt on another site? Lawrence Stone
4. What was the original- original name of this site when born? Lawnicure
5. What was the name after that? Hall of Forums
6. Who has a nervous condition and mows lawn to relax? Lawnranger(Mn.)
7. Name 2 lawn care industry consultants that used to be regular contributors to this board. Phil and Bill
8. Name the reason one of them got a little upset and left. Do I have to answer that?
9. Name that gentlemans "automated response system". A-1
10. For a period of time in the past a strange thing would happen to certain words in all the threads. They would be typed in one way but the site mysteriously converted them to something else. What was the deal with that? The automated censor was turned on and Grass came out Gr***
11. What member had the 21.95 a month mowing deal? Grassboy
12. What post about bodily functions prompted nearly 100 responses? Pee'in in the bushes

[Guido]

And of course Chuck was the first member, but who was the first member that didn't own the deal?? :) That was a trick question! ;)

[thelawnguy]

I was number 8. Still registered ahead of me is Pineisland (2) mick (5) dballard (6) I think Lazer is an original who hasnt posted in a while.

Larry Flynt was Larry's original handle here until he was banned then he re-upped as Stone and has remained ever since.

I think the Round Table was the beginning of the end to A-Hole...er, A-1 (j/k)

All other questions are academic.

Looking forward to the A-1's of the future.

[Toroguy]

Some grasboy history...The grasboy with one "s" has only one post remaining, the others were eliminated? The post that remains is "the unbeatable pricing plan". The grassboy, actually points out that there is another "grasboy" in an early post of his.

Some of my favorite posts are Stones. "Shark Attack" and "what a bunch of lamers". These were closed threads and cannot be brought back up, but do exist. Must reading for the new members.

[Eric ELM]

MowEd, the first question, did you mean when we got the new software during the Hall of forum days or the first member in Lawnicure days? I considered the first member as in the beginning. It had to be Chuck since there wasn't an administrator or moderator back then. Chuck wore all the hats. :laugh:

I didn't join until July of 1999 back in Lawnicure days, back when if there were 20 posts a week, we got excited. ;)

This past winter, I saw over 700 in one day here. That is a lot of reading. :D

BTW, it does show me as member 10 now, but when I joined it showed me as number 5, so that means if you are now number 8, you were 3 I guess. Not sure what happened to the numbering system. I just put in number 1 as the id number and it shows PLSoucy, and he didn't join until 8-3-2000.

[jason2]

Thinking about the roundtable, remember Retro? Started his own forum, which I believe isn't faring well.

[paul]

Haven't been here as long as Eric but I joined Lawnicure in August of 1999. Guess that makes me one of the real old timers. Back then if we had 10 people on line we were doing good.

[JJ Lawn]

Why did one of them quit??? Anyone remember this....

Nilsson: I disconnected with LawnSite because the posts were getting out of hand. A post about "Peein in the bushes"? Give me a break. I don't want my name on a chat board that allows low life activity. I don't want to be seen to condone that kind of behavior. I also resent that LawnSite started a used equipment thing. Was that necessary? I think Turfquip dot com has been helpful to Chuck, and what does he get in return? The double cross. Since Chuck has always claimed that he doesn't profit from the site, why prevent others from doing so? Some people just hate to see you make a buck. It's the opposite of the live and let live doctrine. It ticks me off because I like to see everybody at the dinner table with something to eat. Take food out of someones mouth because you can't have it? It's like going out of your way to step on an ant. Fringes on being a hateful response

[Guido]

I rememberthe round table, are there any records of that around still?

[Evan528]

I joined december of '99! It was 2 days after I bought my z master with a 25hp kohlor! I remember emidiatly reading posts about how much trouble people were having with this engine! considering I had just spent 7500 dolars on that mower it wasnt a good feeling...... now i have lawnsite to "check with" beofore I make a purchase.

[HOMER]

And how has the 25 Kohler held up????????????????

I joined in Dec. 99 originally then changed my name to Homer. It now lists me as a member since jan. 2000. I don't know where I'm listed in regards to seniority..........how do I find out?

Whatever happened to Brandy? Did she get upset about the Ferris ribbing?

Is Grassboy, Grasboy still around?

Peein' in the bushes was a good post..........it relates to everyday lawn life in my opinion.

I think we just had a recent name change didn't we???????;)

Been a lot of good reading here, lots of good folks too. Still waiting for the day we can all get together and shoot the sh//////////////bull!

[JJ Lawn]

Originally posted by guido
I rememberthe round table, are there any records of that around still?

I still have a copy of some of session 1. Lot of mud slinging from some of our favorite members. :)

Jim

[turfquip]

Thanks for reminding me. I just pulled up the Roundtable from deep within the annals of turfquip.com for a nostalgic relook at some of the funniest, most provocative discussions I can recall on topics like forums, consultants and half crazed webmasters. I must say, I had a grin from ear to ear. Here is an excerpt from Nilsson's closing statement:

"And because of Wagner's poor judgement ... I'm going to help GrassMaster continue to develop the good site that he has, and ignore Ed as punitive damages. Wings and a cold BASS? No class. Ed still doesn't know me. I don't rub elbows with people like Ed ... especially over dinner. Guys like Ed .. ...... well you give him a paper plate, let him use the back entrance, sit on the back stairs and "chaw down" ... (without) the good silverware .. just like anybody else from the wrong side of the tracks. I say let em eat cake!"

And, hehe, who could forget the exclusive interview with Lawrence Stone? Another turfquip.com exclusive. Some were amused...others outraged. Hell, even mild mannered Guido went ballistic over portions of it's content.

Possibly the most entertaining post ever made to LawnSite was Nilsson's 'critique' of the Stone Interview. It was classic reading in a style that tells me that Nilsson, despite his political rants and occasional silliness is a brilliant writer and a really smart guy. Forget about lawncare, crunching numbers or selling books...when you can get him off track and writing creatively it's guaranteed damn good reading. Regrettably, some members expressed outrage at Nilsson's apparent 'endorsement' of Stone's Interview that he withdrew the post.

Oh and hey, anyone remember GrassMaster breaking in with a new thread announcing that he had 'hacked' my site, located the interview before it was to be released and would 'leak' the URL to LawnSite members? That was good stuff.

Yeah...the good old days

[Keith]

Ah yes, the roundtable. I don't think that was ever suposed to be seen by the Lawnsite users since it was on Ed's site. Nilsson said some pretty rough stuff about the members and I believe it really showed what he was about.

I found Lawnicure in August of 99 I think. I got lost in the move to Hall of Forums and didn't find it right away, took me about 5 days :)

[turfquip]

"Is a forum going to turn an idiot into a skilled contractor of any type? Probably not. However, an intuitive person like myself and many others I have "met" can separate fact from fiction. A book tells one way to do something, a forum will tell many ways. If I don't like one member's idea, I can try another. A book lacks this flexibility."

[turfquip]

"Meanwhile, over at Retro forum, it has been said that any disagreement with the host ends up in immediate dismissal. And so I ask...are we truly seeing a free flow of information in these forums or some other version ....watered down perhaps.....politically correct adjustment setting and family filter "on". Do viewers have the stomach to see and read it all...or is this the global village espoused by the political left....big brotherism by the radical right?"

[turfquip]

"after ten years in the garden center & nursery business, i see all kinds of yahoos rising around in pick-ups with two brooms and a shovel, calling themselves "experts", ruining everything they touch and ripping people off. this leaves a bad taste in the public's mouth and transfers to the real experts and specialists who do high-end work.
i've testified as an expert witness for the prosecution in several fraud cases involving scumbags who've ripped off all kinds of people in both the lawn and garden and landscaping areas. i was most pleased to see them get jail time"

[Guido]

I just got finished re-reading bits and pieces of the first session of the round table. It brought back some good laughs, and its hillarious how much people have changed, and people that despised each other than, work together now, and people that didn't get along are now friends in one sort or another. I think it would be funny to have another one with the same people and even some new faces who have seen this "generation" of online lawn care through from the start till now.

Heck, I'm still waiting for ed to fork over the stone interview to see what I got so bothered about. I don't even remember it, it will probobly be a good laugh now though, especially considering stone a friend of mine now. ;)

So Ed, you up for another round? :)

[AB Lawn Care]

I knew all of the answers except for 2.Weird how you can be on the forum for 2 years and you are considered an old timer.

That A-1 auto thing was pretty funny!What was that all about anyways??????

[turfquip]

I dunno Guido. Raisin' hell on the boards is best done in the Winter.

If you want the Stone® Interview you will have to ask Mr. Stone® if he would mind. It's pretty heady stuff. Stone® has mellowed over time..lost his edginess. He's more sensitive and caring now than before.

[Guido]

Will do! I should be able to get it out of him! :)

[Lanelle]

Thanks for the reminders of the round table and interview. I do remember the sneak preview of Stone's interview. Some of the early threads were almost as wild too. Guys argued for days over how to measure a lawn for an estimate.

Hey, Chuck -- How about posting the evolution of the banner logo -- so people can see how much it has changed.

[Toroguy]

Lanelle,
I looked at a print out on trimmers from March 2000. The logo was yellow, LAWNSITE printed in black. It had a green guy with a tail or a cape driving a red car to the left of the print.

I dont recall how it changed after that or what it looked like before.

[Charles]

Nowadays when a thread gets a little heated or someone gets the least bit offended and/or it is not politically correct it is closed. No wonder the kids have took over because we are treated like kids. It just takes a hell of alot to offend me and most of the older gizmos. Longing for the good ole days

[Fareway Lawncare]

Who was the First Sponsor ?

Which Sponsors have Come & Gone ?

How many Forum Off-Shoots have there been from Lawnsite ? ie Members getting too Big for their Britches & starting their own Forum based solely on connections made on Lawnsite ?

Who's been Banned More than 30 Times ?

[cantoo]

Charles = newbie

[Gruneich Lawn Care, Inc.]

I remember when it used to be hall-of-forums.com then it used to be lawnicure.com, that was along time ago.....

[John Gamba]

Who was the First Sponsor ?


Who's been Banned More than 30 Times ?


YOU!! :waving:

[MOW ED]

I figured that it was a matter of time before someone got to diggin in the archives. This seems like a long time ago and reading Eric ELMS response made me think that he was still here with us. Now I have slightly over 3000 posts and Eric still has me by a longshot.
Thanks for the memories!

[65hoss]

I figured that it was a matter of time before someone got to diggin in the archives. This seems like a long time ago and reading Eric ELMS response made me think that he was still here with us. Now I have slightly over 3000 posts and Eric still has me by a longshot.
Thanks for the memories!
That thread was when we had probably 3000 members. Seems like yesterday. Time seems to be flying by.

[Fareway Lawncare]

YOU!! :waving:

Gamba, We All Know You used to Post here as lawrence stone and you used to run Belt Drive Toro Walks before buying a Brand New 44" Toro Belt Lemon that Toro wouldn't fix....You're Busted !

[John Gamba]

Gamba, We All Know You used to Post here as lawrence stone and you used to run Belt Drive Toro Walks before buying a Brand New 44" Toro Belt Lemon that Toro wouldn't fix....You're Busted !


LOLOLOLOL :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[lawnworker]

Phil Nielsons A-1 response system was about the funniest thing I had ever seen on Lawn-site. It ranked up there with the doctored up pictures of Lawrence stone's motor home. It had free Muhamia on the side and some other funny things. The old timers will know what I mean- the good old days of lawn-site.

[Acute Cut]

Wow, it has been a while. So many have come and gone.

[HOMER]

I'm still here :waving:

Time has flown by for sure........I've been through three computers since finding this site!

Need to get together again somewhere, somehow.

[John Gamba]

I'm still here :waving:

Time has flown by for sure........I've been through three computers since finding this site!

Need to get together again somewhere, somehow.


I'll Secound that!! What time do you want to get together??
John

[HOMER]

Name it........I'll see ya in an hour

[John Gamba]

How about Five after Noon?????? lolol

John

[SkookumToo]

Read this thread and could not stop laughing, thinking about all those old posts and some of those old names that use to cause so much discussion on here.

I have not been active in a few years. Had a dark time in my life due to a divorce. Main reason she left was she was messed up in the head from meds, She thought for sure I was having an affair and that it partly was online or I was looking at porn all the time. I never had time for porn or an affair, I was too busy on here waiting for the next "peeing in the bushes" episode. I was addicted.

Thanks to you all for helping make my ex leave and all the info and for heavens sakes, all the laughs!!!!! :D

[MOW ED]

Holy Krap WELCOME back. I saw the "Too" after your name when I did a search and sure enough you are back.
I am sorry you had to have a rough time but it sounds like you are back in the suspension seat again. Good to hear from you. Did your old tag get de-activated, hence the "Too" because I know you registered in Sept of 2000 and qualify as one of the old farts here. New beginnings are good "Too".
Either way I am glad you are back. There have been a couple thousand additions since you have posted last. :waving:

Are you still running Toro's down there in West Lafayette?

[Skookum]

Mow Ed,

Thanks for the welcome back! And thanks to Jodi she helped me get my tag back. Yep, still using Toro's.

I'll bet I have missed a few thousand laughs :D

There is a ton of info here, but several tons of entertainment also!

[John Gamba]

Read this thread and could not stop laughing, thinking about all those old posts and some of those old names that use to cause so much discussion on here.

I have not been active in a few years. Had a dark time in my life due to a divorce. Main reason she left was she was messed up in the head from meds, She thought for sure I was having an affair and that it partly was online or I was looking at porn all the time. I never had time for porn or an affair, I was too busy on here waiting for the next "peeing in the bushes" episode. I was addicted.

Thanks to you all for helping make my ex leave and all the info and for heavens sakes, all the laughs!!!!! :D


:waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: :waving:
John