Is there a way you can access a numerical list of Freepers? It would be fun to see who the first ones were and see if I remember them. I'd like to see what number my original screen name was. I changed it in December 1997 but I was here pretty much from Day one. I remember getting a call from Jim Robinson to check it out the day it went live.
I don't know of any way to access a numerical list, but I have to believe that John Robinson could if he wanted to.
One way to check (tedious, yes) is to simply clock this URL up or down in a browser window:
http://freerepublic.com/perl/profile?u=400
Just change the 400 to any other number and view the page that comes up.
Scroll down to the bottom to get a post from 2/5/97
Jim was #1, of course. Then I didn't recognize anyone until Billie at #96. There were several "no current freeper"s. I began lurking in '98 though. (Eric was #2, he's the first non-Robinson...:^)...).