The Oldest Discussion Thread on eBay: A History

If you've checked out our Community forums, you might know about the One thread. Started on the Miscellaneous discussion board mainly as a diversion, it's been going strong for over six years, with most of the regulars now being referred to as "Onesies." artwall, one of the cornerstones of the thread, shared the history of the One, proving that sometimes a thread isn't just a thread.

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by artwall

On January 23, 2001, abit-of-the-past started a thread on the Miscellaneous discussion board titled One. I opened the thread and so began a love affair with counting [the first post said simply "One (1)"]. Someone had already posted "two". Now who could resist? I added "3-4 shut the door" and away we went. Over 52,000 posts later, we’re still going strong. The thread is the oldest one on eBay. Even more important than the longevity of the thread are the friendships that have been forged along the way.

Little did I know how that single word, One, would result in friendships all across the country, Canada and Japan. At first it was the fun of counting that brought us all together. It was the challenge of using numbers in creative ways brought many new posters - and some of them have never left.

As a result of those friendships, several of us planned the ultimate blind date. We would meet in Orlando to attend eBay Live! back in 2003. Ten of us from the One thread met and had a most amazing time (that's the picture up above).

Two highlights really stand out for me. What a cool experience it was to see beachbadge, one of our own, receive a Community Hall of Fame award. The other event was a dinner that the orginater of the thread gave for us all. He even enticed several Pinks to attend. Did we have fun? Oh yeah.

A Florida Onesie says her best memory by far is walking into the Orlando Convention Center and seeing a whole table full of welcoming friends. My husband and I were with her and I agree, it was a magical moment for all of us.

The following year several Onesies met in New Orleans for eBay Live! We weren’t able to attend and I missed seeing abit-of-the-past (the first Onesie, who's pictured to the right with his wife at eBay Live! in the Big Easy) receive his Hall of Fame award. Judging from the pictures we were sent, more than a good time was had by all.

Scroll ahead to last year and again the Onesies were represented in Las Vegas. And once again, one of ours, b.wind, was given a Hall of Fame award. There must be something about counting that brings out the best in folks. What happens in Boston remains to be seen but the odds are good for a Onesie repeat performance.

Trying to explain what the Onesies are is nearly impossible because it is always changing. It’s been fun to watch the dynamics of the thread change as posters come and go throughout the years. For example, for a long time we were consumed by either hunting or protecting a cyber-cow named Bessie. Her constant adventures kept the thread racing along as she avoided capture. More than one poster had dreams of seeing her end up on his backyard grill. One dark night, a Pink snuck into the thread, loaded up Bessie and moved her down to The Park. Her life is much quieter there and she seems content. Oh, once in a while she posts about her crush on the bull next door but I suspect she and Elfie (another regular character on the eBay boards) spend many happy hours swapping eBay memories.

Not all on the One thread is fun and games. During the years, many of us have turned to our little eBay family for advice and much needed prayers and hugs. We have also shared events, both happy and sad among ourselves. The happy times have included a marriage, a new baby and new grandchildren. On a sadder note, many of us have lost loved ones and been given strength to go on by fellow posters.

As an example, I lost both my mother and mother-in-law in a four month period. Others have had serious health concerns and even the loss of a child. Through it all, we have supported each other in the way that only real friends can.

We still count on every post, or risk earning our dreaded "miskount krown", but that krown is a whole story all by itself! I think just about all of us have worn that krown over the years!

Only a few of us will be attending eBay Live! this year but we will all be there in spirit. Looking back on the thread I see so many names and often wonder where they went and how they are doing. On the other hand, new posters seem to join us on a regular basis and bring new views and personalities.

One regular counting poster compared this group to a jigsaw puzzle. The four corners are the original crew. The edges are the day in and day out posters. The center of the puzzle is always in a state of flux. People come and go and some decide to stay and become a permanent part of the puzzle. A few leave and become missing pieces. Because of our very makeup, the puzzle will never be completed and we have the fun of meeting new people all the time. I suspect, if the puzzle were completed, it would be the eBay logo surrounded by numbers and held together by smiles!

I realize that some of us will probably never meet in person, but anyone who thinks cyber friendship isn’t the real deal should come join our thread on the Miscellaneous Board. We have talked about getting together in the summer and, who knows, it just may happen ONE day.

artwall