What happened to the asker of the first GA question? Why does
this asker not have a -ga? Will we ever know?

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Clarification of Question by artqs-ga on 23 Jul 2006 22:33 PDT

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=2

(To view the first question)

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Birdie was accidentally
shot whilst flying over Camp David. After a brave fight, she later
died from her wounds.

A White House spokesman (in a strictly off-the-record statement) said
that the fullest investigation had been made but it had proved
impossible to identify the gunman.

Birdie was buried at Arlington Cemetary with a 499-gun salute provided
by all the GARs except Pinkfreud who, at the time, had not then earned
her Researcher's Diploma.

Birdie's -GA suffix was buried with her, setting a tradition that will
be respected if any further Questioners get accidentally bumped off
when flying over Camp David.

I think that Birdie was actually a GA Honcho who tested the first ever
question here on GA.

Well, that my thoughts and I'm sticking to 'em :)

Steph53

I think Steph is probably correct. I believe that, in the earliest
days of GA, questions were both asked and answered by Google employees
while the site was being tweaked and debugged.

I do not think this question can be answered in an authoritative
manner, however, since Google Answers Researchers are not employees of
Google. We lack the insider knowledge that folks sometimes attribute
to us.

Actually, it wasn't Birdie who asked the first question, it was me.

Hers was merely #2.

My first question #1 (which was removed by the Editors for
'inappropriate content') was:

'How can I meet up with Steph53 and Pinkfreud'.

I never did get an answer.

Bryan....

Since I didn't join Google Answers until June 2002, I wonder who that
other Steph53-ga could be????

The REAL Steph53

Well, the only thing that rivals the mystery of birdie, is the mystery
of probonopublico-ga's status. I never even realized you were not an
"official" researcher until I read a comment on another question.

Go figure.....I guess neither the "probono" part of your name nor the
fact that your name isnt a link to previous questions didnt clue me
in. Shocking, but I'm impressed with your probono comments.

artqs-ga ...

You are more than kind. Thanks!

steph53-ga ...

The Editors axed Question #1 because I had asked about meeting you and
pinkfreud under your REAL names and they said that this was strictly
taboo.

Of course, I now know better!

Sleep soundly, Stephen King, the secret of your identity is safe with me.

Bryan