The GI Joe Group

They came from AOL and from web searches for "GI Joe", looking for a place to trade, to chat, to share, to play. In 1996, some of the first few that found their way to "alt.toys.gi-joe" decided to stay and start posting more often, replying to topics, becoming involved in discussions, eventually becoming known as "regulars". They were no longer anonymous names on a newsgroup, they were becoming a community of G.I. Joe fans. It was sometimes referred to as the "Joe NG" or "the GI Joe group" or any variation thereof, but no-one had come up with a nickname that really defined the group or gave it a personality.

It was around October 30, 1996, that a post about the banning of Action Man toys in certain store chains in the UK sparked a rather heated discussion about gun control. Among the scores of messages posted to the topic spanning several days were a few pleas for peace. On November 9, 1996, the following post appeared in the thread:

"Okay fellow Joe Heads...enough please!

All of you come out and do a virtual handshake and say you're sorry and get back in the sandbox so we can ALL have our GI Joe reenactment of the invasion [of] Britian. ;-) <--Look I'm smiling. 8-D

If ya'll (my Southern slang) agree...please post your name to this thread...Thanks

THOR"

According to the Google archives, this is the first occurrence of the term "sandbox" used in reference to the newsgroup.

Not much later, a post about someone asking for the dimensions of the Vietnam Memorial degraded into an argument over Clinton and blind obedience to political leaders. Once again, there were calls for a truce and calm. On Nov. 23, 1996, the following was posted:

"Now lets have fun in the sand box. I bet my Panzer Kaptain can take out your AT: Land Adventurer with his Tiger Tank. CHARGE!!!!

THOR"

By the way, of the legend of THOR, I'll write later.

There were additional references to a sandbox at various times throughout December of 1996.

"Now get in the sand box so we can kick your newbie a** and take your Joes away. ;-)
THOR"

"You bring your Joes and I'll bring mine and I'll stomp your little a** into the sandpile. 8-D OK Joe Heads let's have a sand box war.
THOR"

"I have said my piece can I get back in the sand box now?
Trip63"

"Besides if Brian can't stand the heat of a good Joe flame thrower, let him play in some other sandbox. Just kidding Brian, we don't want to loose a Joe fan.
Wolfman"

But when did it become "official"? More on that in the next article.