We’ve had many conversations about the evolution of fan sites such as yours, mine, and jon’s. Ultimately, if you add up all the things that have come out of Murmurs wouldnt it be hard to reconcile any decision but to keep it going?

Besides… (correct me if I’m wrong) didn’t you meet your wife as some indirect result of Murmurs?

Congrats on the 10 years! I will be reaching the same anniversary March of next year with greenplastic.com and can totally relate to how Murmurs has affected your life.

I know it’s taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice on your part and I definitely know that R.E.M. fans around the world value it.

Flash forward 8 years later, and the site has branched way beyond the band it so wonderfully pays tribute to/respects/and has become the number one source for information on. It’s become a hub that has spawned great friendships, strong debates, thought provoking conversations on life, death and everything inbetween. It’s opened people’s minds to new music they probably would have never heard before. It’s created relationships, even marriages, and strong bonds with people across the globe. It’s bore witness to fights and apologies, loves and break-ups, and even the unfortunate passing of someone.

Hell, it’s even bore witness to Kelly A’s nipples.

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this all started as a hobby when you were still in high school. But now, knowing you for as long as I have, and watching how much your life has changed in the past 12 months, you should be proud that what started out as a hobby, was, in essence, the beginning of your life’s work. Because if you hadn’t been bored and anti-social enough during your pubescent years, you probably wouldn’t be sitting at that desk in Burbank that you’re sitting in today.

But Murmurs is only as strong as the people that are involved with it, day in and day out. From the people who spend their time moderating, to the people who just post, the site would not be what it is without that participation. Had you built it and nobody came, would you be where you are today? Just something to think about and reflect on.

Here’s a quote that I think fits…
“I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.” - Helen Keller

Congrats on 10 years of something that means a lot to many people. Including me.

For a trip down memory lane, do you happen to have screen shots off all the different murmurs designs over the years? Talk about the way-back machine…