This website has been the one and only tab that I have never once closed out of for the entirety of my 4 years and 4 months here. I have seen it at it's grandest, and I have seen it at it's worst; I have not seen it from the beginning, but I will see it through to the end. Every day from here on forth will pass, and I will always remain. However, even though it will be sad to see the eventual day that this community ceases to exist, it needs to happen. I don't want it to happen, but you can't freeze time, and can't hold on to the relics of the past forever.
You can always look back and nobody can take the memories that have been made here, but those memories only apply to those who were involved with them. New members to the community will not know what we have been through. They won't understand the inside jokes, or the bonds we all share. Nostalgia is eternal, and that's fine, but you can't expect everything to remain as time moves forward.
I know this post will be read by some who will understand the message I'm attempting to portray, and read by others who do not share my views, and there are members who will never see this post because the thread doesn't interest them. But that's why this community thrived in the first place. Diversity. Everyone was able to start discussions and enjoy others' company even if it was only through a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. There were friendly rivalries and even some real relationships formed here that last even into the real world. We were all given this wonderful community by one man who did it out of curiosity, generosity, time, effort, and respect for others. Even though he may have lost interest, as everyone does eventually, he still deserves the respect and generosity he showed us.
If he wants to move on, we should respect that. We shouldn't argue and try to hold him back, as he's already given so much for countless people he never got to know, and some that he did get to meet. If he one day decides to revive the community or even create a new one, I will tip my hat to him and I will be there. Same goes for anyone reading this.., If you decide to do something this grand, I will eventually show up and you will have my respect.
This post has gotten longer than I thought it would, but to end it, I will leave two quotes that come from an Anime I recently watched. They aren't exactly about this type of topic, but I believe they convey the same message I'm trying to get across.
Haruyuki Arita (Accel World) said:
It’s natural to want to stay in the game world and hope the game will never end. However, I’ve learned one thing from playing all those online games. There’s nothing lonelier or sadder than the end of a game with no ending. More and more players get bored and move on to other games… And one day, even NPCs like your favorite blacksmith or landlady disappear forever as they smile. I’ve experienced that moment and cried many, many times. That isn’t how games should end. It definitely isn’t! If Brain Burst really does have an ending, then we should be aiming for it!
Haruyuki Arita (Accel World) said:
We all live in the space between one moment and eternity. We meet and part. Everyone lives their lives to the fullest in a world where things change with the passage of time. But I’m sure some things won’t ever change. There are also things that change and can never be gotten back. But we already know. Even if things change, they’ll begin anew. And as long as we have the will, humans will always move on forward.
I feel like I've wasted enough of your time with this long post, so I'll continue to linger in the corner like one of Kagato's farts.