Two years of Oppo, a retrospective

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
11/06/2020 at 11:02 • Filed to: And the crazy thing is I didn't get all the way back through my history, jeep

My first Oppo pic, something I added at the last minute to my first post because I realized it would be really stupid not to include a photo.

Reshar ing here, at the end of times. May your roads ever be bumpy (or smooth, if you’re into that sort of thing).

Let me not bury the lede: thank you, everyone, for being an awesome community. I’ve given up Facebook, and Twitter, and rarely frequent the several Jeep forums I’m a member of, but Oppo keeps pulling me back in.

I know I haven’t been around very long relative to most of you: July 2018 was my introduction to Oppositelock, and I signed up for my first comment on Jalopnik in February of 2017, so most of the commentary here discussing the good old days is completely foreign to me.

(Incidentally, I never got a useful answer to my first Kinja comment; does anyone happen to know?)

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I’ve been trying to make up for lost time, although my writing is probably a bit repetitious, since frankly I still don’t know much about automotive technology, or car history, or sports cars, or racing, or...well, hell, anything except some Jeep history and a vague notion of how four wheel drive works.

I’ve only owned seven vehicles in my nearly-50-year life, if that tells you how not-a-Jalop I am.

So, I post a bunch of road trip photos, some not-quite-shitposts about cool content I find, and hope no one notices I don’t actually know anything.

So, without further ado, here’s my celebration of two years on Oppo. There are also one or two !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! posts buried in here; if you haven’t checked those sites out, I’d recommend doing so. Quiet but good content.

(It’s really hard to believe it’s only been two years since I started on Oppo; partly because the last few months have felt like forever , and partly because holy hell there are a lot of posts here .)

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Just Jeepin’s fave pieces, non-Jeep edition

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Norman Rockwell and race relations

This one is particularly timely; I posted it three months too early.

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The minimalist

I continue to be annoyed that Torch hasn’t yet interviewed this jalop (they both live in North Carolina), but I’ve given up trying to get his attention.

Despite my utter cluelessness, I’d like to think this is worth a read. The guy is fascinating.

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Peak Box

I had some fun celebrating boxy SUVs. Jeeps have completely changed the way I look at automobiles.

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A Road Trip to Toledo

The photographs I took one evening last year still make me smile, both because I made a family of strangers happy, and because, well, it was a stunning evening at Summit Lake, one of my favorite sunset spots.

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Indianapolis industrial history

This was a deep rabbit hole spurred entirely by a wart on an M38 for sale.

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Farewell to a friend

Despite the high volume of noise I make here, I don’t talk a lot about my non-Jeep life. Since Oppo is effectively my only social media, I made an exception when I discovered that one of my favorite people had passed unexpectedly.

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In which I get a bit ranty, but at least I won’t bore you with the several stories I’ve posted about chasing people with bad brake lights.

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Car shows

I don’t know shit about cars, but I’ll usually stop long enough to take some photos for the people here who do, but unless there’s a Jeep owner I’m unlikely to stop to chat.

And, sadly, there are almost never Jeeps at these things. We do live in a dark timeline.

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Slow boat to the coast

Chuckles helped me immensely with my long, slow trip from Indiana through Appalachia to the Outer Banks, which I narrated here, and which resulted in my post !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I referenced above. You can see some of his great pics in comments on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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Southern Indiana

I spend a lot of time driving the hills and dales of southern Indiana, and a fair few photos get shared here.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but I needed to set Oppo aside for a bit and so I canceled it before it got any momentum. Surely the world will regain some sanity soon and we can try again; hopefully you’ll agree if you skim the pics below that it’s a beautiful part of the country.

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Mobile radios

The only substantive piece I’ve written for Overland. Sorry Hhfp.

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Indiana State Fair

In honor of the state fair that won’t happen this year (2020, you suck ) here are some vehicular and food photos.

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Miscellany

Mostly these are short pointers to much more interesting content elsewhere.

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Amazing how many weird stories have simply vanished because 2020 just keeps spitting more and more craziness at us. This was a particularly weird week.

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Just Jeepin’s fave pieces, World Wars edition

There’s a fair bit of overlap between the WWII content and my Jeep content, for obvious reasons.

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Just Jeepin’s fave content, Jeep edition

Finally, the Jeeps.

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The Jeep Experience

This is where it all started. My very first Oppo post.

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Jeep Truck series

I’m not a truck guy, although now that I’ve been around Jeeps for a few years I definitely wouldn’t mind owning a classic Jeep truck.

Mainly I wrote these because the Gladiator was coming, and who doesn’t want more eyeballs?

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And a great resource for people who actually understand trucks better than me:

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Plus the day I saw an honest-to-heaven CJ-10.

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My Jeepversary

July 8th was my first Oppo post. July 10th is my Jeepversary. July in general is one of my favorite months because there are usually no shortage of hot days when I can drop the windshield.

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Toledo Jeep Fest

I have yet to miss an event, but the virus forced the Toledo Jeep Fest off the calendar this year, like so many other things. Here are some of my more pic-heavy Jeep Fest posts.

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Jeep Grilles

Still a one-off. I’ll get back to the series eventually.

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A Jeepy Halloween

I had fun with Halloween last year.

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Jeep miscellany

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Not a Jeep, but a kindred spirit.

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And a good way to end it, at the beginning, before Jeep was Jeep.

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DISCUSSION (65)

vondon302 > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 08:44

Congrats!

Damn you wrote all that in 2 years? Your way ahead of me.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 08:49

That sure is a lot of content and I’d dare say that more of it has to do with the automotive world than mine does. But that’s why Oppo was created in the first place - it’s an off-topic forum for sharing things that may or may not be automotive related.

Glad to have you around!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 08:58

I made it to the bottom, which is a great in and of itself. I did something similar but that was a two month in review of why I like Oppo mixed in with what I've been up to. I also love how posts here are almost like a scrapbook of the year gone by. What you did, where you did it, how you did it, and what you saw along the way. I've often looked back over my own posts if I'm feeling really down and I usually feel a little better for it. Thank you for sharing.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:02

Hey I just wanted to say thanks for sticking around Oppo and being part of what makes O ppo great!

Just Jeepin' > TheRealBicycleBuck
06/19/2020 at 09:14

Thanks. Some of us definitely embrace the “off-topic” part; I think I’m about to hit post #1000.

Just Jeepin' > vondon302
06/19/2020 at 09:14

Well, in fairness, I have no life. That helps a lot.

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/19/2020 at 09:15

Thanks. I like having a few people around who are even less familiar with Oppo’s history than me, but on the other hand the fact that you’re insanely young just fills me with bitter envy, so, you know, mixed bag.

Just Jeepin' > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back
06/19/2020 at 09:16

Thanks. It’s been a wild ride, I’m just glad I have some outlet to dump metric tons of southern Indiana photos.

E90M3 > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:17

You’ve wrote a lot more quality stuff than I have, and apart from my 2013-2016 hiatus, I’ve been here since 2009.

vondon302 > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:18

Lol, not according to your posts.

Keep em coming!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:20

I'm not insanely young, but people always seemed to peg me as being much older, probably because of my writing style, so I sometimes correct them. Don't be too envious now, you wouldn't want to change places with me exactly. I'm not convinced there is anyone someone would actually want to change places with since we are peculiarly adapted to deal with our own problems and not someone else's.

Just Jeepin' > E90M3
06/19/2020 at 09:21

I suspect if you dug back through your history you’d be surprised. I didn’t expect to find nearly as much as I did (and if you eliminated all of the road trip photo dumps, that’s at least half of the ones I picked out for this ).

Shane Moore > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:27

Whoa... To answer your question about the tow hook, my SS tow hook license plate threads were different than my Cayenne tow hook threads. S o from my limited exposure I’m going to say not all are equal.

Brickman > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:28

You cook up some damn good Oppo content :)

E90M3 > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 09:50

Unfortunately , all the stuff before June 2012 is lost.

Just Jeepin' > Shane Moore
06/19/2020 at 10:03

Thanks, I suspected that would be the case, although I’m curious why in the world something like that wouldn’t be standardized.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 10:03

Thanks for helping to make OPPO excellent!

Just Jeepin' > E90M3
06/19/2020 at 10:11

Well, that sucks. I vaguely remember some change around that time when I was helping prepare data backup scripts last year, when we thought Herb was likely to shut down Oppo, but I didn’t realize the content was entirely gone.

Just Jeepin' > Brickman
06/19/2020 at 10:11

Grazi.

XJDano > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 10:23

I didn’t know you wrote so many articles. It’s neat that this place is a small appreciated slice of the internet a few people can come together and enjoy.

To say I’ve been here for a while, and I haven’t really written anything long form. Mostly some experiences, DOTS, Craigslist craziness...

I also don’t know a lot about cars, just enough to do some repairs & keep my beaters alive.

Just Jeepin' > XJDano
06/19/2020 at 10:43

Honestly long-form content isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I don’t remember which article off-hand, but I spent hours on one that got somewhere around 100 views.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 11:25

I can't remember the last time I posted something truly on topic haha. Although granted im not really sure what on topic is anyways. With the virus going around, I've been stuck local anyways for what has felt like an eternity. So anything exciting has just been getting out in nature. I always wonder if people think "oh great another not a car post"

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 11:28

Keep it going! I recognize usernames only due to enjoyable posts I've read. And yours certainly sticks out. It's funny being able to scroll through this list and remembering most of the posts. Means I spend too much time on here I guess haha. But anyways, thank you for the content.

Just Jeepin' > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/19/2020 at 11:37

I barely remember some of these myself , so yea h, you definitely spend too much time here!

E90M3 > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 12:19

They made some changes mid-2012, mainly removing stars, which you probably have no idea what those are. I found this post via the wayback machine:

Kinja'd!!!

If you wanted to see what it used to look like.

jeepoftheseus > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 13:29

Always happy to see your stuff pop up in the feed. I began to favor Oppo over the FP at some point in 2016. Was a FP regular back when Oppo would get crossposted. It was only until this year that I actually made an account and got involved. For quite some time I was a real lurker’s lurker around here. Some of your posts were one of the many reasons that I finally felt the need to get involved because they are good content and good content deserves a save/star !

This reminds me: when I asked for rights here I promised tractor content and have not delivered... I guess it’s never to late.

Just Jeepin' > jeepoftheseus
06/19/2020 at 14:54

Definitely not too late.

Glad I could influence you to fully embrace the dark side.

CB > E90M3
06/19/2020 at 15:08

Remember heartclicks?

AestheticsInMotion > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 15:08

I love that first shot. Hell of a start!

VincentMalamute-Kim > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 15:10

I know a bit about wrenching but I like the variety of non-car related posts on Oppo. I learn things I didn’t know I needed to know.

You’re closer to my age than most here. I went to high school in Valparaiso. Although that part of the state doesn’t have much relation to southern Indiana.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/19/2020 at 15:11

I like the non-car posts. Often stuff I never would have thought about.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 15:24

Honestly I can’t remember when I started frequenting Oppo. It was definitely during the time when COD would earn you a star on your avatar and before Nibbles was so rudely evicted for this pile of shit Kinja.

Glad you post what you do as I enjoy reading it.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 15:26

Nice thing about Oppo—it welcomes all levels of hobbyists. Know every single nut and bolt of your car? Great. Just want to enjoy driving and other related events ? Great.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > VincentMalamute-Kim
06/19/2020 at 15:36

It's good to hear, I do find that my food posts often get the most attention of anything lol.

Just Jeepin' > VincentMalamute-Kim
06/19/2020 at 15:37

I have to admit, I’ll do my best to avoid driving to northern Indiana. So flat.

Although I do love visiting Jasper-Pulaski when the Sandhills fly through. Haven’t done that in years.

Just Jeepin' > AestheticsInMotion
06/19/2020 at 15:39

Thanks, definitely one of my fave Jeep shots. I think everyone recognizes one of t hese s hots by now, I keep finding excuses to use them.

Kinja'd!!!

Just Jeepin' > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/19/2020 at 15:39

I’ m grateful, because until I have a second vehicle I’m never going to feel comfortable taking apart mine to learn that much about it..and probably not even then.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 15:44

That’s.....a horrifyingly impressive amount of high quality c ontent for only two years. I take my hat off to you, sir.

Just Jeepin' > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
06/19/2020 at 16:04

Glad you enjoy reading it. The ego beast needs fed.

Just Jeepin' > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
06/19/2020 at 16:04

I’m not sure I’ve accomplished anything other than Oppo in 2 years, but having fun here. Thanks.

E90M3 > CB
06/19/2020 at 16:07

You know I do!

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 17:09

Take all the stars. Fantastic work sir. I have those Jeep history pieces saved in my bookmarks. Actually a few more of these as well.

Just Jeepin' > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
06/19/2020 at 17:20

Thanks. I think I’ve made Oppo and Just Jeepin’ such an integral part of my life that it would be hard to ever go without a Jeep. Tail wagging the dog.

Spoon II > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 17:38

You’ve created a lot of awesome stuff! Thanks for gathering it all up (and giving me something to read while the outside world is shutdown)

Just Jeepin' > Spoon II
06/19/2020 at 17:47

There’ll be a quiz in two weeks. Don’t slack off.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 18:14

I think you’ve written more that’s worthy of being read in the 2 years here than I have in 6 or so.

Just Jeepin' > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
06/19/2020 at 18:45

If true, it’s only because I spit out way more content.

The reason I have photos I like to show off is because I take 100 pics for every one I’m not embarrassed to display.

After 1000 posts I should have a few worth calling out. Just because you have better things to do with your time...

A nyway, thanks, I appreciate the compliment.

Urambo Tauro > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 19:30

Happy Oppoversary!

Say, speaking of Jeep forums... I’m looking for a good one (or two) to join, as I may be getting a TJ soon. Do you have any recommendations?

Just Jeepin' > Urambo Tauro
06/19/2020 at 19:55

Ooooh, must share pics!

I’d suggest checking out wrangler forum.com and wranglertjforum.com. I haven’t used the latter at all and haven’t been active on the former in years so I don’t know how useful they are. Sadly FB has swallowed the world.

Urambo Tauro > Just Jeepin'
06/19/2020 at 20:04

Yeah I’ve noticed that as well on the Mustang and Chevy truck forums. I don’t Facebook, I refuse to Facebook , and I insist that forums are a better format for this kind of thing anyway.

No pics to share yet... still on the hunt.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus
06/20/2020 at 00:33

Step one: profile picture of said Seu s and his Jeep.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin'
06/20/2020 at 00:39

Same here. The higher quality the content, the less views it gets. I do this for fun but I still want people to appreciate it.

I think people have wised up that my DOTS posts are too long.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin'
06/20/2020 at 00:40

I also take so so many photos and still my photo dumps of DOTS posts don't use all of them. That's the trick.

jeepoftheseus > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/20/2020 at 11:58

That’s step two ... step one is to make a non burner account as I forgot my password and only have the login saved on my phone, d’oh! But wait! I have one apparently so now step one is to gain authorship privileges for that one on Oppo. Are there fast ways to make this happen or just wait until Party-vi checks the club openings post? Then, my internet friend, shall the #content occur.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus
06/20/2020 at 12:26

I came quite close to making the same mistake. It’s worth it to have a full account here because I’m logged in on my computer and phone.

Fastest way would be to say, “I have no commenting history on this account but you g ave authorship to my list account.” Party Vi did check back recently so perhaps you might not have to wait long.

jeepoftheseus > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/20/2020 at 12:48

Yeah that’s what I ended up doing. I guess I made an account two years ago and then forgot about it. I went to create one and my email was already set up with it. I even have three followers that want to “meet up” and “send pics”... not sure how to make those go away.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus
06/20/2020 at 12:54

You can dismiss them. FP guys? Weird that they want to meet up in person. Send pics of what? The Seus or the Jeep? Very strange. I don’t even know what the follow function is supposed to do since it doesn’t have a separate panel for “subscribed to” content.

Mine is also set up through me email, making it real easy.

I still haven’t done an in person Oppo meet but hopefully that will be a thing soon. There are quite a few ATL Oppos.

vondon302 > Just Jeepin'
11/06/2020 at 11:18

Happy trails!

I’ll always miss your content.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Just Jeepin'
11/06/2020 at 11:19

It’s been great reading your stuff. I really do anticipate getting a jeep... eventually

Just Jeepin' > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
11/06/2020 at 11:22

You can’t resist the siren call forever.

Just Jeepin' > vondon302
11/06/2020 at 11:22

Thanks. I have to hope the site will linger in read-only mode, but that may be overly optimistic.

Stef Schrader > Just Jeepin'
11/07/2020 at 03:56

Dang, that’s an impressive list of good Kinja. :( I really hope they can let us migrate posts elsewhere somehow.

Stef Schrader > Just Jeepin'
11/07/2020 at 03:57

I mentioned that to Rory—the blogs are already up, and some of Oppo’s posts are front page shares anyway. That seems like the best way to do it, but then again, that makes too much sense. (Almost as much sense as leaving us the hell alone to continue posting away, free of herbtervention .)

Just Jeepin' > Stef Schrader
11/07/2020 at 08:03

Thanks.

The web is fragile; good content disappears all the time. But thanks for reminding me to submit URLs to web.archive.org.

Stef Schrader > Just Jeepin'
11/07/2020 at 12:33

Yes! Please do.

It’s sad how much content is lost over the years.