My oldest and best friend in this forum is The Forum itself. Copout answer? Perhaps, but hear me out. I've been a mod for the better part of my time here at the dot org and this makes it hard sometimes to keep a close group of friends for reasons of maintaining impartiality. Would that the job only entailed helping folks out with technical issues and behind-the-scenes upgrades and maintenance, then perhaps it would be different, but such is not the case as we all know. The Forum is like a river. The water is ever changing, but the river itself is always there. (Did I just invoke Disney's Pocahontas??) And this is actually a good thing. A river that doesn't flow and change becomes a lake where water goes stale and stagnates. I've seen The Forum meander and change course. I've seen it flow through lands that were treacherous, but eventually it comes back to flow through fertile soil again. That is the nature of any river. So, Forum, my old friend, it is to you that I raise a pint in honor of your steadfast presence, your ever welcoming smile, and your shelter in times of stress and turmoil. You have helped me in my quest to become a better writer. You have given me a place to ponder my words and the words of others without the thunder and clash of the mega-forums where everything is too loud and one is inevitably invisible. I thank you for that.
@EdFromNY Thank you for the honorable mention! Never thought I sprung anything of interest on here. I am also trying to redefine my presence here. Been here since 2011 but been away from the board. I would also like to recognize folks like @KaTrian, @Steerpike, @ auntiebetty, @ peachalulu for your interactions, and several others whose name do not come to mind right now. This is definitely a great place to be and share common interest.
Wow, thanks for the love @jannert and @EdFromNY ! @jannert has definitely been a friend - especially since you've taken the time to actually read my stuff - for which I'm very grateful - you actually managed to answer a lot of questions that my writing group can't help me with because they're moving slower through the book. @EdFromNY is always insightful and I know seeing good stuff when you comment. I don't correspond enough off the boards with too many people - but just from comments I have to give props to the always-insightful (and blunt when necessary) @GingerCoffee. And just in terms of people I don't really correspond with but always love their contributions on threads - @Wreybies, @peachalulu, @Catrin Lewis (the model "Progress Journal" in my opinion), and @KaTrian
Oldest? Banzai. Known each other about 6 years now. Same politics, same writing and reading sensibilities, similar age, even did similar degrees. And we've sort of kept up with each other in real life throughout that time. I subscribe to 2 magazines because he first recommended them. I know he isn't around these days, but there will be many who remember him. Which reminds me, I need to pester him about something Labour related. Current best on the forum is @Lemex - eh, up, mate. Hopefully a few people will remember me from my intermittent postings. One problem of working full time and doing degrees and all sorts at the same time is that I've hardly been on for the last couple of years. Hello to all who remember me. And hello to all who don't. No doubt that @Wreybies is going to mention something to do with fruit, if he remembers...
There are so many great personalities on this forum, and there are a quite few I have friendly relations with but without question Jannert is my bestie. Then there's the 'terp, the Dante fanboy, The American Gentleman, the literary menage a deux, Squirrel Sinatra, the Orator of Exotica, He Who Has a Funny Vid/Emoticon, (for just about everything.) And then there's the only flower I know to have purchased a cuddly...wood louse.* And Mackers, whose life offline has apparently caught up with him. *Having one I can nearly understand but going out of your way to buy one? The mind boggles.
I don't know about oldest and bestest. Everyone has been so friendly, kind and helpful in the almost three? years I've been on here. I wouldn't want to mention names cause I might miss a few. Plus, you never know whose new that's joined up that is going to be a new friend. - I must admit I do look forward to certain peoples comments - for their insight and others just for the laughs. It's my favorite site out of all the writing site's I'm on. I feel like everyone gets a chance to contribute and nobody gets ignored.
Even before I was "modified" by the Dudes in Orange I think @Wreybies was the one I talked to the most outside of normal forum interaction. Currently I'd say that my best friends around here are the other Mods, as we talk pretty regularly.
Did you used to be somebody else on the forum? It's been a while since @jazzabel's been around, hasn't it? (And, yes, she was very interesting. I miss her too!)
Technically, the avatar is Wolverine from the X-Men. I wouldn't want to cross certain species of moles though. Those claws are freaky.
Finally. Someone understands Old Man Logan. I'm a massive Wolverine fan, and I own way too much memorabilia. This is a little random, but have you ever seen a star-nosed mole? They're the most bizarre creatures known to man. It's worth the Google Images search.
