I'll echo Brandon's sentiment about this being a home. I've been visiting this website since halfway through my twelfth year, about eight years now, and more than a third of my life.
This place is one of my pillars, and you all are a part of that. From the contentious, to the fair, to the friendly, to the creative, the discussions and the back-and-forth here have helped to socialize me, beyond what I would have attained on my own as a socially awkward Aspergic with few-to-no strong IRL friends until halfway through highschool. You guys have helped me and, on the occasions where frustrations arise and I put my foot in my mouth or just out-and-out insult somebody- I can recall at least one occasion of both- you guys are quick to forgive even when most people might rightfully not be.
I've only ever been to like, two birthday parties as a kid, and I don't recall ever throwing one of my own that others attended- that's the kind of social life I'm talking about, for reference.
I have to give first mention to the typically-absentee, ever-missed Flisch, since he's the reason I joined this forum- Spore: The Game was one of many similar forum games I found while searching for such during those periods just before Spore came out, and was what brought me here. He's a pretty cool dude and very occasionally we chat on Steam, though that hasn't happened in a while.
Pat you're like a... I don't want to say "a big brother" because that's kind of an odd thing to say to someone you've never met, and doesn't capture it exactly besides, but I'll go so far as "wacky uncle-like older friend". You're pretty cool, and you have a way of bringing odd and interesting things into a discussion that nobody realized were missing.
GD I don't mention it much, but I identify with some of your struggles. Fighting against the **** inside your own head just to get through what you have to do is an exhausting, toiling experience. The personal perseverance you show in the face of it honestly inspires me. I wish I were more like you. Also, you're a complete cutie.
Slinky I envy your artistic ability. I really like the way you draw people and also that you can just sort of smoosh biological shapes around until you get hilarious things, like Uncle Skrotor and Cousin Joe. It's dope. You're dope.
Gauph I envy your artistic ability for a different reason. I'll say it again, verbatim: I really dig your outline-ambivalent, pixel-pencil style. I especially liked the comic you made a few pages of throughout the March daily-draw, the one about those two chumps going into an old technocastle. Pretty cool.
Marty I kind of missed the bandwagon for this by a mile but holy crap you actually are, like, a professional gameman. Dude. DUDE. It's so wicked awesome, I really cannot overstate this.
To everyone on this forum: For attending to my loneliness better than reality ever did, thank you all. For being such fantastic individuals as to make this group so great, thank you all. I'll remember you all on my deathbad, wherever and whenever in the future that may be. You've made a true impact on my life, for the better. Without this place I would assuredly be doing worse. Sorry if I didn't name you, but it took me like an hour to write this, I am not very good with compliments. Know that I do appreciate you.
