Quote Posted by MrDuck
In less than a month, if I don't die first, I shall have been by july 13th 10 years since I've entered (lurking doesn't count) TTLG as an active member.
10 years.
Hell of a long time to be in "some forums".
But then, TTLG ain't just "some forums".
Sure, it has its flaws like any other place, some good people have gone away, some bad people have come along, and it's not always the best of places to hang about (srsly, sometimes it isn't). Had my fair share bad-to-lousy moments TTLG induced (directly or indirectly), but I've also had a lot of good-to-hotshit-great moments too.
Like most, I found the place thanks to my love for old LGS classic games such as Thief and System Shock. Stuck around those forums a lot, chatted and lolled my way about games with people from all over the world. Tasted the FMs, loved'em. I had a ball. The came Comm Chat which was more about the people and sillynes and seriousness all in one. Always something to talk about, even if some people booed or hissed, it was great, still is even if I don't peep much as I used to.
And lets not get started on the Starchat Channels....sheesh.
Anyone still remember the great Mexico-wide ban that kept me out there for sometime?
Thanks to some dedicated forum members I wormed myself back into IRC server and had some lolling times :)
Lots of things have been going on the forums, some actually affected my life.
Heck, I found, in a matter of speaking (virtually, heh....), love for the first time thanks to TTLG (or one of the spin-off channels at Starchat: #Thief), those were some intense, painful, but also gratifying 2 1/2 years in particular through my TTLG history.
And here's a man who doesn't do/believe much love-from-afar, specially if it's virtual-only. So, go figure...
I even posted pics of my real self many times over (still remember the first batch ;)).
Many were surprised that I rarely smiled in'em, more were surprised that I wasn't brown (ololol...stereotypes ;)).
People I met on the forums died in real life (R.I.P. to all of them...) and felt sorrow for their passing, yet they've never strayed too far from my thoughts, and In many a tangible ways, their memory lives on in here. I hope when my time comes, the forums remembers both my virtues and flaws, but remember me fondly.
Unlike a great deal of TTLGers I've always been pretty quiet about the real me, emotionally speaking. Sure, I'll gladly talk about some of my problems and quirks like any decent person who isn't ashamed to talk about themselves, but I truly do keep a good 98% to myself.
Though I did recently-ish opened up strongly, to my terms, to the community, something I never thought I'd do.
Another irony, since I've opened up quite well to my closest real friends, of which, thank God, I have more than one. And in the forums, I do think v. fondly of many of you, I honestly don't feel that level of trust, not by a long shot, and yet, here I was spilling my guts some time ago.
Funny how life gently shuts us up once in a while to show a new leaf to it, eh?
Well, I don't regret doing so.
It's been a blast, ups and downs, but it's been worth it.
TTLG is not in amy measure my life or an epicenter of it, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit it's a part of it
I look back at many things with nostalgia, sometimes a bit of sorrow, sometimes a bit of joy. I look at it currently and still find both feelings in spades.
Yet I still feel a part of it, maybe not as present as in times of yore, but certainly still feel enough TTLG-love to stick around and kick it in the old bucket once in a while.
It's been 10 long, but fun-interesting-infuriating-crazy-sexy-frustrating-gaga-loco-kickass-sad-happy years. And I wouldn't trade'em for any other forums in the Net.
So, what's your story?, then and now.
Hope you found mine interesting enough to read from beggining to end, and mind you, it's still going strong, God willing. :)
For all the good and bad times at TTLG, I raise my cup, for those gone-but-not-forgotten, for those absent, for those present and for those that will come.
Cheers TTLG.
Oh, and one more thing...
Wee wee...;)
Don't feel bad Mr Duck, I got so pissed off at one point I said the website really fucking sucks but I still came back. Squiggly black lines- can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
