I know how you feel, man. This wasn't the first online community I've join, but it's certainly the one I've enjoyed being a part of the most. What you said about the diversity, I completely agree. It's like out of all the chaos, there's somehow order.
When I got here, I posted some dumbass, 10 second intro, not even sure if I was gonna stick around and I didn't feel a need to, but when I came back and saw the thread I posted, I was surprized to find that people actually replied and that there was some discussion going on. Some random ass discussion, but it was there nonetheless.
I also feel like I've matured here. Looking back at some of my old things, I was a fuckin' retarded kid. hahah It's actually upsetting to know that I was like that at one point, but that's life... And, by the way, I literally laughed out loud when I read "Probably the guy I've gotten along with the best... you showing up and writing one of the worst stories ever." Haha, it certainly was bad.
I've gotten along fairly well with most everyone here, despite many of our huge debates and fights. But I honestly think that both JJJ and Anubis need a very honorable mention, because they are some of my favorite people. I've been on both ends of an argument with JJJ, with and against, and I remember the first time I was getting into it with you, everybody said, "You really don't wanna do that" haha But we got over those things pretty quickly, like they never happened, and it's been really good. We seem to have a lot of common ground and perspective on things, so it'd be really hard not to get along with you so damn well. A serious inspiration to better my writing and all around thinking - also, you're a funny funny man. haha
When I first came here, like three people sent me messages asking me if I was actually Anubis, and I was like "Who the fuck is this guy!?" haha He eventually showed up again, I thought I could kinda see why there was the confusion. Probably the reason we got along so well was because we were so similar, (as I saw it) in that he was always light and unserious until there was a topic that sparked intellectual inspiration to write maturely and to minimize the jokes. But, fuck... When that guy got started, he wrote pages in a single post. I've only done that a handful of times, but it seemed like it was everytime with him. (I feel like I'm speaking at his funeral, haha) But yeah, bad mofuka right here.
I do wish it was like the old days, with 6-8 people online at once, with a constant flow of ideas and opinions coursing through the forums. But like that one person wrote in that one place, "nothing can stay gold." Still, I'm certainly not leaving this place any time soon, and even going to college won't change that (unless they find out that I'm downloading things illegally, in which case, they'll turn off my internet and thus have done something to change that). ;p
You people are like a family to me. A distant family that I don't have to visit and don't have so much resentment towards. A family of assholes and peacemakers and talents.
