Seeing bow out is giving me a funny feeling.
Since 2020, this place has, for me and others, become part of the daily routine. Log on, hang out, see what your Insert Credit friends are talking about—and I use “friends” here despite the fact none of us really knows each other and our relationships to one another aren't “real.” It is indeed a different thing from flesh and blood irl relating, but it still matters to me.
Young and impressionable as I am, reading and participating in thoughtful discussion around here has, if only by degrees, affected the way I think—about games, about online interaction, about all you people out there. I see my old posts sometimes and realize that, in almost three years of largely unchanging routine, I've grown! Those degrees matter! And among many others here (the forum is the sum of its parts), played no small role in creating the distinct atmosphere which has effected this change in me.
Insert Credit is a place.
I directly interacted only a handful of times, but that's not necessarily the meat and potatoes of being part of a forum with someone: it's as much about listening and observation as it is a direct exchange. I have Liked many of his posts. I have enjoyed (present perfect, not past tense) seeing Syzygy express his opinions, whether similar to or different from mine; glimpsing a different way of looking at things, a different set of experiences with games, game communities, the Internet, stories.
And I liked talking about Ghost in the Shell wif him & others :'-)
He is a person just like everyone here, but in my head I‘ve built him up to be a demigod of supreme power, one who knows all, how to do everything—or at least he is someone who believes in learning, gives me hope that I can always learn more, do more, be better. He hasn’t complained a whole lot around here. I am emboldened by his demonstrated belief/attitude that most of what Twitter/Youtube/people on Twitter/the news/every loud voice on The Web gripes about is just not worth the worry, and that there are always people out in the wide world doing cool stuff, trying to fix things, and helping each other. His wealth of knowledge about all manner of [history]<(link to deleted samurai ps4 games thread) and languages is inspiring. His recall of narrative details is magnificent.
We have all expressed gratitude to Syzygy as a moderator, but here I want to say:
I appreciate and admire a fellow poster on this forum.
Although the posts have been removed, I look forward to the possible continuation of the 7th Dragon 2020 Let's Play.
Change is life. The forum is alive. The forum must change. Big Changes are occurring in my Real Life right now! I‘m feeling sentimental! And isn’t gone for good. He can come back anytime.
As our friend wickedcestus once said,
Once again,
Thanks