Well, He is still around. How do i know? I am him :P
Long story short on the name change. I live near a city known for its violence, and the numbers in my username are my postal code. I had someone basically track me down down to my old address... more accurately, my best friend's address. Now, i don't mind people but i dont need them bugging my friend as a result of SM :P So, i changed to BlackMage -- my other identity. My friend has since moved and more people know me as metallica48423, so for familiarity, i have changed back.
I don't normally blog but i figure I should probably start for a few reasons. Firstly and primarily, I have been out of the public eye a lot since I was appointed a Lead by the team. Secondly, I've had a lot of stress with work and college in the last few months, and lastly, i've had some personal and family drama robbing me of my time.
I feel it is important for the leadership to get out there in the public. And to a point, i've not been able to follow through with that. :(
The personal side of things, long story short is -- i had a job that was very unhealthy with the amount of stress and the way i was being run down. Basically, from the last week i've gone from a squeaky clean record to being fired as a result of a new boss. So i've been busy arranging things in my real life. With SMF, we stress strongly personal relations over volunteering at SMF, so i've taken time to deal with my life. Fortunately, i will be having more time for things like SMF as, i've decided to take the route of tending to my education :). For those who don't talk to me a lot, I am majoring currently in computer science (web design) but will be switching to networking next semester.
One thing i would really like to say is that I have noticed the tightness in some members of the community lately. We have many people helping others out as well as forming bonds and friendships with others. While i generally see this in the charter members i have noticed this coming down into the general membership as well and to be honest, that is exciting to me! These are the ideals with which SMF was founded on and it is great to see them continuing to this day. If you are contributing to helping SMF or others out, don't be surprised if you get a PM from me thanking you for your efforts. I have stepped up sending correspondence to people on this!! But i will say thanks to all who contribute because, it makes SMF what it is! It is also one of the qualities we look for in selecting new team members, actually. As you can imagine, we are a pretty tight knit group.
I can do no more than say that i'd like to see people continue to help others, to interact with others, including team members, more. While we cant discuss specifics of things regarding SMF until it is appropriate to do so, many of us enjoy ingeracting with the members, the most important group of all of us! I'd like to encourage people to interact more with others! Whether it be talking, helping them out, or anything like that.
We do have an IRC channel that we use, that many of the team also hangs out in. For more information on that, see the chit chat board, theres a topic there specifically for it :). I would like to note that we do not do support directly in the chat channel (you will be directed to the board ;)). Not because we don't want to, but rather because when posted on the forum, it lets us establish a database of support. This helps you get your issue solved, the team track your issue (and get more people exposed to it) and it also helps someone who might be having your same issue! it benefits all when support is done on the boards.
Lastly, I encourage any and all of you to please not shy from contacting me if there is a question, concern, or general comment regarding support. I also don't mind if someone just wants to say hi ;).
Anyways, this is a long blog even though i dislike blogging so, until next time (probably next year :P)
<3 metallica48423
Quote<3 metallica48423
Lol thats so gay. It made me smile :D.
I'm glad things are finally looking up for you :D.
QuoteLong story short on the name change. I live near a city known for its violence, and the numbers in my username are my postal code. I had someone basically track me down down to my old address... more accurately, my best friend's address. Now, i don't
Can you please update the number at the end of your username?
J/k ;)
Quote from: Panzer- on February 24, 2008, 10:36:56 PM
QuoteLong story short on the name change. I live near a city known for its violence, and the numbers in my username are my postal code. I had someone basically track me down down to my old address... more accurately, my best friend's address. Now, i don't
Can you please update the number at the end of your username?
J/k ;)
LOL that was a good one. Made me laugh.
Haha hey Blackmage long time no see. I enjoyed reading that greatly, and I must say that you have helped me out so much here. i have a new site with a fresh smf install and have just been customizing the new one hehe and I am excited to say that smf and the whole community here was on my mind for the past months I have not been here. And phew does it feel good to be back and enjoying the support, having fun, and trying to be a help lol. I'll see you around and have a great day :].
Yay for switching majors! I'll probably do that once or twice when I've finished this last semester of high school and my General Ed in college...
Good to hear that you're focusing on education, though. Too many people get caught up with work and life, and never quite finish what they started :)
QuoteOne thing i would really like to say is that I have noticed the tightness in some members of the community lately. We have many people helping others out as well as forming bonds and friendships with others. While i generally see this in the charter members i have noticed this coming down into the general membership as well and to be honest, that is exciting to me! These are the ideals with which SMF was founded on and it is great to see them continuing to this day. If you are contributing to helping SMF or others out, don't be surprised if you get a PM from me thanking you for your efforts. I have stepped up sending correspondence to people on this!! But i will say thanks to all who contribute because, it makes SMF what it is! It is also one of the qualities we look for in selecting new team members, actually. As you can imagine, we are a pretty tight knit group.
Too much bonds being made in the community can also cause groups being created which might result in flamewars and disturption of peace (speaking from past experience around here). So keeping things at a professional level might be better :)
I don't think so. If things like that break out the moderators will be there asap, and bans will happen ;). We have a good (and able) team here :D.
lol, when i got a email from
[email protected] i was woundering if that was a old name