"Avatar Forums" Partnered With "Tree of Souls"

[caveman]

Originally Posted by 'awve taronyu

it's to bad about the change of AF...

This is what I never understood.

AF never really changed that much. There's ads, there's an ugly skin, but I can move around that and still have some great discussions with some awesome people. I'll admit AF is a little dead right now (there's only so much you can talk about), but I assure you it isn't as bad as people make it up to be.

[Fkeu'itan]

Hmm... I agree, it's not quite as bad as people make out, but there's just something about it - something I can't put my finger on.

Anyway... Kaltxi 'awve taronyu!

[electrosphere11]

Originally Posted by caveman

This is what I never understood.

AF never really changed that much. There's ads, there's an ugly skin, but I can move around that and still have some great discussions with some awesome people. I'll admit AF is a little dead right now (there's only so much you can talk about), but I assure you it isn't as bad as people make it up to be.

Very true Caveman. I don't prefer any one forum over the other. Both have many good people.

[Palulukan_Taronyu]

I am a dedicated AVF member. I love Avatar Forums. I think it is more active then this place but most of my friends are here. This is the only reason I even post here.

[electrosphere11]

Yeah, I've got friends on both sides so I try and stay in contact with all. Though I haven't been on either forum this week until now. Good to be back.

[kaliko]

Just my 2 cents, though I don't know how relevant it is since I am not as active as I know some members are.

I came to all the Avatar forums through the Avatar Forums site, and it has since branched off to ToS and also Navi Forums Artists, though I think the latter is meant for more of the creative minded ones. There are also tons of Avatar groups active on DeviantART.

I feel kind of torn because I'm not sure which one to go to. I think this one looks beautiful and aesthetically and programming-wise it feels the need, but AF is still the old home. I would love to see everyone on one forum but I know there are reasons that can't be so.

EDIT: The turning point for me to probably stick with ToS and abandon AF altogether is because I paid to be a premium "donor" or whatever it was on there, which promised a golden name and no more ads! Well with the layout revamp my name looks the same as everyone else, and there are ads galore! I mean the donation was 30 US, which isn't small considering this is for an entertainment forum. I'm really disappointed!

[Human No More]

I donated to AF too, back in the day... I'm still happy I did in a way, because back then, I really did need AF, it kept me going for a long time before ToS did, about 3 months... I did initially try to still look around AF and see what was going on, but I stopped doing that shortly after, things are just too different there...

Either way, welcome to ToS

[Woodsprite]

I sort of... won my gold name through a photoshop contest.

But yes, welcome full-time on ToS, kaliko.

[TxonTirea]

That sucks kaliko, I donated to AF too, back in the day. Welcome to ToS!

[X.,.Pandora.,.X]

Originally Posted by Palulukan_Taronyu

I am a dedicated AVF member. I love Avatar Forums. I think it is more active then this place but most of my friends are here. This is the only reason I even post here.

^This, its sad that ToS had to come into existance really...

[caveman]

Originally Posted by X.,.Pandora.,.X

^This, its sad that ToS had to come into existance really...

Agreed. I was a huge advocate for re-uniting the forums, but at the time I underestimated the effort that went into making this one.

Looking back (as an active AF member to this day), I don't blame Lon for the changes he made. It's easy for everyone to get angry if things don't go their way or the administrator isn't there all the time. However, it is important to remember that Lon makes a living from these kinds of sites (at least to my understanding). Making AF look flashy and mainstream probably brought him more income. That may sound greedy, but can you really blame the guy?

Also, I had an idea I pitched today on AF. I was talking to a couple original members who were visiting and I thought we should all make a pact, that when Avatar 2 comes out, we all return under one forum to catch up on each other and share out thoughts about the new movie. Like an Avatarforums, 5-year family reunion. A lot of members have come and gone, and it would be cool if we all agreed to come together after the sequel comes out. Honestly, I doubt I'll be here in 5 years. Not to say I don't like this place, I love it. But even the most dedicated of the dedicated have left, and regardless of who's left after 5 years (or whenever it comes out), we all come back. Thoughts?

[X.,.Pandora.,.X]

100% agreed. couldn't of said it better

[Vauktu]

I like to think of this forum as a community for all the hardcore Avatar fans. We've all been around for a few months, and in that time we've gotten to know each other very well. It's like we're family.

If you've ever been on NaviBlue.com, then you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

[electrosphere11]

I tried to register on Naviblue a few months back, but for some reason, I couldn't.

[Eltu]

Originally Posted by X.,.Pandora.,.X

^This, its sad that ToS had to come into existance really...

ToS came into existence as the result of a natural dispute among AF's members when the community had grown too large.

A larger, broader community such as today's AF is the perfect community for some people, and a horrible community for others. ToS was a result of this dislike of what AF was on its way to become.

AF is not "bad", it's simply different, and therefore some members like it and some don't. Likewise, the reasons ToS came into existense are not "sad", they were a part of a natural process.