Bringing People Together

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by zongtseng

I said clearly that unity is the ideal outcome, I just see no way it will happen.

Exactly what I've always said. We started ToS because we had no other choice. It was inevitable some people would be lost in the move

Ideally, ToS and AF could both continue, as different forums, with different userbases. Maybe there is a place for AF, having a more mainstream group of fans, as opposed to people who really See. Maybe not, only time will tell.

[caveman]

Originally Posted by zongtseng

I said clearly that unity is the ideal outcome, I just see no way it will happen.

If there's a will, there's a way.

Right now, I'm asking people if they have the will. Right now, I don't care about the way. I'm asking if people are willing "to bring people together". Personnally, I think its a good thing in any scenerio, whether it be bring two cultures together or bring two forums together. I think people are associating the "will" with an instant "way", which would be to force members to one site, or to close a site. The way is what most people have a problem with. I'm not proposing a way. I'm not proposing we "make" others join a forum they don't want to. I'm not proposing we shut down Tree of Souls.

I'm just looking to see how many people here think unity between the members of these two forums is a good thing, regardless of what that would mean.

And you said unity is ideal. Great! I agree. So we have a will, and you know what they say about will...

If there's a will, there's a way.

[zongtseng]

For anyone interested in this topic, I just want to point you to its companion thread over at AF:

http://www.avatar-forums.com/general...-solution.html

[Woodsprite]

Let me just say that since Lon bought AF, everything's been downhill for a lot of people ever since. I miss nzk0 and Nethox. They watched and commented on 95% of the suggestions section as I far as I knew, and actually carried out changes to their own ideas because the majority dictated that they didn't like certain properties they implemented. They listened.

Lon is stubborn and won't listen to anyone who thinks his ideas aren't in the best interest of AF, if he agrees with himself enough. The ToS administrators and moderators listen to its members, and don't force anything on them that they don't agree with. Sure, if it was an absolutely necessary change that wasn't up to the members or, to some extent, even the administrators, then that'd be the only exception. But as far as I've been following ToS, this has been an incredibly open-minded place to reside on. I've dedicated about 90% of my internet Avatar forum time on ToS per day, and I hope someday I'll be able to serve an even more important role here...

...I've seriously gotta donate as soon as I get PayPal...

[Stanley_9875]

^^ that reminds me I need to donate too once I get my next paycheck. But yes, once I saw the results on that thread that zongtseng posted from the AF, it gave me hope. I do believe in unity, and I would love to see unity between the forums, its just that the road isn't clear, or maybe there is no "right road" for that way. And what Woodsprite said about someone buying the AF I seriously didn't know about. Like said I didn't know a lot of what went on with the administrators or moderators and such and what the problems were with that, all I knew was things were changing. And like said also, I think it was a necessity to create this new home for a community, and honestly without either of these I think I would've lost my sanity. I cannot thank either forums enough.

So overall, like stated before, I would love to see unity, but getting there is a bit trickier path to find

[caveman]

Talking about this, I've learned a lot. I totally understand why you guys did what you did. I would might have done the same if I were you. I think everyone here can agree, that what happened, even thought it was necessary, it was a shame. What happened to AF, was a shame, and this forum is just a result of the unfortunate things that took place.

Yes, the road to recovery is not clear. Honestly, I keep pushing for uniting, but I have no plan at all how it would happen. I honestly am starting to really see how difficult this might be for some people (and I knew it would be difficult). Still, I maintain hope, because we all can agree on certain values. I have hope because some force brought everyone together in the beginning, and I believe that force is stronger than the reasons why were seperated.

So I just want to close this post with one thing. All of this talk - me bringing the discussion back, I'm sorry if it bothers anyone. I hope I never came off as rude or insulting or anything. I know it's an uneasy topic, but I want you to know, is that the reason I'm trying so hard to bring everyone together again, is because I love you guys. That might sound crazy, but I mean it. You guys are like family, even though I don't know many of you personally. You helped me get through the darkest days of my life, and I thank you. This thread, and this push for unification is an attempt to bring the family together somehow. Thanks.

[Human No More]

I understand what you want. Really, it's not different to anyone else, but I was just being realistic about the situation.

[Wanderling]

Caveman, I agree. I would love to see the people on both forums united once again. But I agree with everyone's points about the forums having seemingly irreconcilable differences at this point.

I still visit both forums, but I honestly have such a hard time physically looking at the AF style that it takes a lot of the enjoyment away from being there. And I like this community, here, the whole feeling of this place and the warmth of the people. My heart aches to know that what we had will never be as it once was. The two forums are run fundamentally differently now. I feel like I can trust this place. I don't feel that on AF anymore; anything can change at any moment, for any reason.

Aside from the forum differences, though, we *can* be a united community even in two places. It's all about the people. Where there's respect and understanding, we will be united in one community, regardless of where we spend most of our time online. I really feel that way. I think we need to hold that sense of community in our hearts, instead of focusing too much on physical location. Just my thoughts.