Reading the first version of this thread, I didn't notice the fact that it was a thread from 2003, then came across Rick Fielding's post. My first reaction was that someone was posting as Rick, and then I saw the date. I enjoyed reading his comment, and smiled because what Rick said still is just as appropriate now as it was then, and in some way, I felt like he was reminding us.
I also realized that Rick will always be with us through the gentle, friendly, funny, insightful, helpful posts that he gave us. An then I realizied that what is said here, stays here for a long, long time. We'll remember Rick with warmth and affection whenever we come across on of his posts.
How will your posts be remembered? What will people think of you 5 or 10 years from now when they stumble on an old post from Amos, or MMario, or Martin Gibson? Will they see you as a worthwhile person who shared in a special time here, or an angry and malicious troll? Maybe it doesn't matter to you. But it matters to me.

If someone comes across an old post from LEJ 30 years from now, I'd like to think they caused even a small percentage of the admiration and warm feeling that Rick's post gave me.