- Helveck
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- Fabled Mythic Member
But I still am...
I've been a forum-goer for close to five years. I've been a Bungie.net visitor for close to ten... And throughout the years, a lot has changed. I've gone from thirteen to twenty-three, I've gone through High School, College, and now I'm pursuing my career. All throughout I've led two "lives". Obviously some of you might already understand that I'm referring to my personal and "real life", while the other I've made reference to is my life on the Internet.
I have a loving family, a loving girlfriend, amazing friends and a life that I'm very thankful for. I've gone through rough patches throughout my life and I likely will continue to do so as everyone else does as well. But at the end of the day, I'm always thankful for what I have and what I've been given in reality. Though never in my early years, before I found this place, did I ever assume an online Community would have been such a large presence in my life...
But of course, as time goes on things change. And as I've grown older over the years, I've had to drift away from my attachments here, and the frequency of visits as well as my participation. But there is one thing that I believe will never leave my mind, and that is the experience of both events and more importantly the people that I've had the honest pleasure of getting to know and befriend over the years.
Both my real life and my online presence have always been kept separate in many ways. Never have I had a confrontation with someone here, which has caused me to lose sleep at night, or to become enraged in reality, regardless of bitter words exchanged in spite. But somehow, my appreciation for the people, and all of the friendships I made meant a lot to me anywhere I went. Even to the point where the people I met here and formed relationships with, practically spilled over into my personal life in such a seamless manner that those friendships became truly valued, and those people became more than just, "someone on the internet". And I never in a million years would have guessed that would be the case.
I guess when you invest so much time into something, it becomes a part of you. So investing close to ten years of Community participation through Xbox.net, HBO, and B.net, will no doubt cause one to form a true appreciation for both the people, the sites and events that have gone on here throughout the years. And as I've already mentioned... Drifting away really provides perspective on things. Watching the recent ViDoc, and literally recalling, "Oh I was there when that was said/that video was shown/that was announced." to almost everything that was shown really made me realize this.
I suppose this is why I've made this thread. A lot of time has past and I can no longer be the young gamer and Community member I used to be. And while I will do my best to remain a semi-active member, and to maintain contact with the people I know and friends I made... It really makes you look back and appreciate all that's gone on once you realize you can't post or be around and involved as much as you might have used to. And it's all slightly sad and disappointing to admit that I can't maintain all the friendships here that I'd love to. But I can show you all my appreciation, as friends and Community members. So thank you, all of you.
Regardless of how you view me, or anyone else, just remember... Its all about having fun. The internet is not serious business, contrary to popular belief. So I ask, throughout your time here.. What sort of role has B.net played or the Community as a whole in your life? Have you brought friends here, into your personal life? And do you ever think a point will come when you'll leave the online scene in regards to the Community all together? And if so, would it be disappointing? Or are you all together unattached to the positive things that have occurred around here over time?