How this place has affected you.

[Bio]

[FONT="Georgia"]I've been away from these boards for a while--over a year, I think. In an attempt to reacquaint myself, I'd like to pose this question to you guys: how has Otakuboards affected you? I'm sure this isn't a novel topic, but it's an interesting one anyway. The fact that I'm even typing this shows that, after a year or so, it's drawing me back.

Otakuboards taught me to write coherently. I first joined when I was either twelve or thirteen, mostly to talk about .hack//SIGN, which was the hot thing back then. I don't think my very first post still exists, but I remember looking at it later in my stay and thinking it was the most idiotic thing I'd ever read. Gradually (and probably to the pain of everyone who had to read my posts) I figured out how to turn my thoughts into something that was understandable--and which thoughts were relevant in the first place. Still, I shudder when I think back to the first few RPs I joined--not to say I was anywhere near perfect by the time I faded from sight; I like to think I've gotten better in the interim. :p

So I guess this thread's just a thank-you thinly veiled as a discussion--and I really am grateful. When I was here before, I was very quiet. If I [I]do[/I] stay, then I'd like it to be different this time.

So, now that that's done with, how has Otakuboards affected [I]you?[/I][/FONT]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]OtakuBoards has affected me in quite a few ways, the biggest of which is probably my writing (which I imagine is going to be a common thing mentioned in this thread). Though I knew (mostly) proper spelling and grammar when I first joined, I didn't use them much—or at least not grammar. If you look back far enough in my posts you'll come to a point where I didn't even capitalize my I's. While reading was another large influence, being on OB and posting nearly every day provided a lot of practical experience in making my writing clear and comprehensible.

Hanging around OB has also helped me learn to debate. I'm much better at seeing logical fallacies and carrying arguments to their logical conclusion to see if they hold up than when I joined, as well as simply presenting arguments clearly. Following (and taking part in a few) debates on OB has definitely played a role in that.

Finally, it made me more open minded. After living thirteen rather sheltered years, home-schooled in a Christian home (not that I find anything wrong with how I was raised, that's just how it was), I began using the internet regularly. Since OB has long been one of my most visited sites on the net it naturally played a large role in introducing me to different points of view that I'd never considered before.[/color]

[Justin]

My story is more or less an exact copy of Des's. I suppose it mainly influenced my communication skills in the context of typing, and writing in general.

I came here for DBZ, much in the way you came here for .hack//SIGN, Bio. And likewise, if my earliest posts were still in existence, you'd find I was quite a laugh back then.

But that was back when Otaku had her innocence. But, as always, innocence is a thing better remembered than retained.

I think, though, my fondest memories are the relationships I've had here. Most of which are dead or severely diminished. That sucks, but it is the way of the world.

It is good to see you, Bio. You were quiet, as I recall, but I [i]do[/i] remember you.

-Justin

[silpheedpilot]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]Well, lets just clear up that I don't remember HOW I got here. I think it had to do with trying to find anime reviews and then I kinda stumbled on over to this portion of theotaku.com and yadda yadda yadda so on so forth.

Yeah, the general consensus is that it's improved everyone's writing, including my own and in fact turned me into a writer. It's one of the things I enjoy doing on a regular basis now.

As well, it has made me cherish online friendship a lot more than before because, well, the people you meet online are in fact real people with real thoughts, real opinions, different backgrounds, religion, and tastes. Before joining these boards I just didn't really care about the people I met online but for the most part anyone I've become friends with off these forums are considered a real friend to me. (Yeah, I know, the internet is a real place. Don't try it, smart *****)[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Korey]

[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]Otakuboards has affected me in the way that it allows me to see how other people think and act in a different multitude of situations. It really is a showcase of minds here. Even though we have a passion for anime and such, we often carry on very interesting and deep conversations about deep subjects and most of us can hold our own weight in an argument. That's what I love about this site, that we all are smarter than the average bear. Most forums you'll go to lack the posting quality and care of this site, rarely will you find someone posting a one liner on here.

I also think the boards has dealt me a new hand in the friends department. I don't have many people on here that I consider friends, but for the select few friends I do have ( I can count them on one hand), our relationships have spilled onto numerous websites across theotaku's network. We're even to the point where we consider each other siblings more than just friends. I think that the boards has affected a lot of us that way. We have very close friends that we don't even know in real life, per se....but we do know a lot about them. I think that's the coolest part about sites like this. You can have a great relationship with people you haven't even seen face to face. I'd like to meet certain people from this site and just talk about all the stuff we've done over the years on the boards.

Enough of this sappy stuff, I'm starting to be overwhelmed with nostalgia.[/FONT]

[Allamorph]

[FONT=Arial]After a year of residency here, I find that the OB is a constant reminder that there are intelligent people existing somewhere else in the world, and I can find them. I'd say about a third of them live here. (I'm an optimist. Otherwise the fraction would be larger. :p)

This forum has not improved my writing, I don't think. I'm still just as horrible as I was when I came here.[/FONT]

[Horendithas]

[COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Arial]This forum has not improved my writing, I don't think. I'm still just as horrible as I was when I came here.[/FONT][/QUOTE]Same here. After spend hours re-writing papers for school, making them more polished, etc. I have no interest in doing the same here. Other than to give it a quick glance for obvious mistakes and so forth.

Anyway, probably the biggest thing would be finding out that there are online communities where there are intelligent people, you can have an opinion without getting flamed and you can pick up addition friends in real life that you met here first. Some have experienced that in a more [I]profound[/I] manner... you know who you are. :p

Now for the dark side... OB has turned me into a stalker as well... [/COLOR]

[BlueYoshi]

[color=darkred]Otakuboards hasn't really affected me as such. As far as posting and stuff goes, I've always used proper sentences and grammar, but only because I'm way OCD and when I do something I like I like to do it properly (and no, I don't proof-read my posts). I guess I have gained some experience points from it though; I learn a lot reading random threads and The Lounge sometimes brings up current event topics that I never knew were happening, and I can type very quickly now... in fact, if it wasn't for OB I wouldn't have much reason to type on a computer at all. Plus, being a staff member gives you responsibility -- it's not a big job, but you still have to give it your best.

So yeah, these here OtakuBoards can be a real eye opener.[/color]

[2010DigitalBoy]

[COLOR="DarkOrange"]Otakuboards taught me how to type.[/COLOR]

[Odin M Yggdrasi]

I came here to talk to a friend of a friend, and also for a break from the constant drama and chaos of the forum that I had frequented for over a year and a half. Really a slower-paced forum with much nicer people I think, and the RP section is quite good.

Really it hasn't changed me much, in fact the 7 years or so I have actively posted to forums I haven't really changed because of them. My first forum was a metalworking board, and due to the nature of it I was typing exactly the same way I am now in order to participate in the research involved in setting up and operating home foundry devices.

[Andrew]

[size=1]Otakuboards taught me that you should never accept anything at face value. Generally it taught me that everyone is a liar and that as a board gets more rules, better formatted and a larger member-base that it gets right up its own arse.[/size]

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR="goldenrod"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][quote name='indifference'][COLOR="Indigo"]Now for the dark side... OB has turned me into a stalker as well... [/COLOR][/QUOTE]Hahaha, you're not the only one. >_> But hey, stalking is fun! Depending on the target that is. :p[/FONT][/COLOR]

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think the one big lesson I've learned here is that there will always be someone who has a problem or a disagreement. You can never be in the business of trying to please everyone, because if that is your goal, you will always fail.

All you can do is your best and hope that it pans out. It may seem like a simple lesson, but I think it can be a difficult one to learn depending on the type of person you are.

Other than that, I think the simple fact that the site has survived and continued to be relevant for nearly a decade in various forms is noteworthy. That affects me, because sometimes it's kind of weird to think that I have been involved with a single site for so long. When I actually reach the ten year mark, I'm sure that I will be able to comfortably say that OB has been a major part of my life for beter or worse, lol.[/font]

[Rachmaninoff]

[QUOTE][COLOR="Indigo"] Some have experienced that in a more [I]profound[/I] manner... you know who you are. :p[/COLOR][/QUOTE]Haha, cute Crystia, real cute.

Anyway, I suppose the thing that affected me the most was that it sort of dragged me into being more active online since before myOtaku and OtakuBoards, other than to browse a bit I never was into being part of any online community. But then some of the other sites I visited just didn't have anything that really attracted me to the place, where OB already had a strong point in it's favor. A best friend from real life already being here and new friends I had made since joining myOtaku.

So it's had a positive affect in how I enjoy coming here and in how I've since gained friends in real life that I met here first. It's also made me realize just how easily a place can keep dragging you back. But then it's fun so I don't mind too much. :catgirl:

[Vicky]

[size=1]It made me the opposite of Peter Pan.

I grew up (also I'm a girl, but OB didn't make that).

Yeah. The whole writing thing as well. I met new people here, new ideas and even learnt a bit about culture. Mostly, though, I grew up, somewhere in the first year and it really has affected my life insanely. I get people telling me (teachers and whatnot) that they can talk to me like an adult, and whilst still being stupid and fun with my friends I think I can... be a grown-up.

Obviously it would have happened at some point, just OB made me grow up quicker.

Oh, and I'm terrified and some types of people thanks to OB >_>;; it's complicated.[/SIZE]

[Starwind]

I suppose the OB is what really got me involved in the online world. To be perfetcly honest I had almost nothing ot do with computers and tried to avoid using them if I could since I usually had issues with them, like when my modem caught fire one day (It wasn't even raining or anything, it just burst into flames on me.) The one day, while I was moving to new house, I went next door to borrow a neighbors computer to try and entertain myself since we didn't have cable in the house yet and I happend to Find the OB by chance. I was skeptical at first, but after a week of just guest visits, I officially signed up.

Since then I've gotten alot more involved in the online world. I even signed up for MyO as well, though I haven't used it in quite some time now. But still, If I hadn't found the OB I don't think I would use the computer nearly as much as I do now. And guess what? The computer hasn't blown up since then either. Maybe the OB is my lucky charm.

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[QUOTE][COLOR="Indigo"] Some have experienced that in a more [I]profound[/I] manner... you know who you are. :p [/COLOR][/QUOTE]Personally, provided I'm correct in my assumption as to who you are referring to... I think those two are cute. :catgirl:

Now as for myself, you wouldn't think that being at a place like this would improve my writing, but it did. After all I haven't had an English or writing class since before most of the people here were born. So my skills in that respect were rather rusty and still are really. Though I do read a lot, I just never had a need to do much in the way of writing and it's painfully obvious to me just how much my grammar and spelling skills have atrophied over the years.

As for the other thing that affected me, as a parent who was use to only hearing the horror stories of what kids run into online, being a member here helped to reverse that negative image. Especially since I've picked up friends since I've joined and met people who are no different than I am. I certainly don't mind having my mistaken belief that online people were dangerous disproved. I'm positive that negative people online do exist, but I'm also positive that there are a lot of good people as well.

[Allamorph]

[quote name='indifference][COLOR="Indigo"']Same here.[/COLOR][/quote]
[FONT=Arial]Apparently I have miles to go on my deadpan delivery.

That's what I get for having a passive-aggressive ego. :p[/FONT]

[Horendithas]

[COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Arial]Apparently I have miles to go on my deadpan delivery.

That's what I get for having a passive-aggressive ego. :p[/FONT][/QUOTE]No, you just have miles to go on recognizing when others do the same... attempt to use deadpan humor. So we can both be horrible at it together. :p[/COLOR]

[Japan]

[SIZE="1"]When I look back, I realize that over the years this place has effected me in a negatively in a way. Do not get me wrong. I do not regret it. However, all these years I spent a lot of time online when I could be studying or bettering myself. But what's done is done. Besides these things there are some positive as well. My grammar is better and I have a lot of great and close friendships because of being here.[/SIZE]

[pooperson]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"]OB got me into a car accident.

Really.

Mr. Maul & I decided we wanted to meet each other, & since he lives about 20 minutes away, I drove to his house, picked him up, & we were driving somewhere. Well, we pulled into a parking lot, & I hit a parked car... which happened to belong to a [B]deaf man.[/B] We interrupted the Madison County Deaf Club's picnic. Oh God. So basically, the deaf guy filed a claim, & now I pay more car insurance, thanks to OB.

But the moral of the story -- Mr. Maul is really funny when he hasn't gotten much sleep.[/COLOR][/SIZE]