Post by megaman9 on Mar 4, 2018 13:04:24 GMT -5
This is going to be long...
On March 5th, 2013, I started my YouTube channel, JupiHornet, where I uploaded Mega Man videos and some other things. In 2014, I changed my channel to Geometry Dash MegaMan, and began to upload content that surprisingly became popular. I started to gain subscribers and make friends online, some of which I still talk to after nearly 4 years. However, as my YouTube channel turns 5 years old, I think it's time for me to move on from the game, and this includes me stepping down as co-owner of the forums.
If you couldn't tell by my lack of uploads, I've gradually stopped caring about Geometry Dash. It started when my laptop broke and I had to get a new one; however, the new one doesn't run Geometry Dash well at all. My new phone runs it somewhat decently, but I'm not nearly as good on mobile as I used to be. So, I gradually stopped playing the game. I got back into Mega Man games and joined their community during the creation and release of Make a Good Mega Man Level 2, a fangame/level design contest that I judged. I got back into Pokemon after the release of Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. I was also busy with helping out my school's journalism team, as well as an internship at a local TV station. Basically, I'd found so many other things that I liked doing that my interest in Geometry Dash decreased, as well as the fact that I'm going to college next year.
I've been planning this leave for months now, but I wanted to wait until my YouTube channel's 5th anniversary to upload my last video; I thought it would provide some sense of closure for me. Until then, I've honestly had to force myself to act interested in the game at all, and yes, that includes the forums.
Now, this is the part that could be (and probably will be) controversial. I debated about whether or not to talk about it at all, but I decided that there's no point in not being 100% honest on my thoughts about the forums as they stand. So, if you don't want to read my rant about the current state of the forums, don't read what's inside the spoiler.
In other news, I'm going to be passing my position as co-owner down to WillFlame . WillFlame has been a great admin, and I'm confident that his experience and frequent activity will leave him capable of being an even greater co-owner. In addition, @boringcleric7 is now an administrator, and Dragon is now a moderator! Congratulations to them!
As for me...I might lurk around a bit, but I'm probably not going to post very much at all, except in this thread.
I'm also going to be leaving a lot of GD-related Discord servers and unfriending people I barely talk to, just to keep space down. If you were one of my Discord friends and you think I blocked you, I probably just unfriended you because I don't know you well enough to warrant keeping you as a Discord friend.
Lastly...I just want to thank all of the staff and members of this forum for making my time here amazing. You're all great, and despite everything I said in my rant (if you read it) I really do love this place. The community here is incredible; even if it isn't the best community, it's one of the closest. I had a lot of fun here, and I hope that the forums will continue to prosper long after I'm gone. Personally, however...I need to move on and do other things with my life.
Thanks for everything,
~ megaman9
On March 5th, 2013, I started my YouTube channel, JupiHornet, where I uploaded Mega Man videos and some other things. In 2014, I changed my channel to Geometry Dash MegaMan, and began to upload content that surprisingly became popular. I started to gain subscribers and make friends online, some of which I still talk to after nearly 4 years. However, as my YouTube channel turns 5 years old, I think it's time for me to move on from the game, and this includes me stepping down as co-owner of the forums.
If you couldn't tell by my lack of uploads, I've gradually stopped caring about Geometry Dash. It started when my laptop broke and I had to get a new one; however, the new one doesn't run Geometry Dash well at all. My new phone runs it somewhat decently, but I'm not nearly as good on mobile as I used to be. So, I gradually stopped playing the game. I got back into Mega Man games and joined their community during the creation and release of Make a Good Mega Man Level 2, a fangame/level design contest that I judged. I got back into Pokemon after the release of Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. I was also busy with helping out my school's journalism team, as well as an internship at a local TV station. Basically, I'd found so many other things that I liked doing that my interest in Geometry Dash decreased, as well as the fact that I'm going to college next year.
I've been planning this leave for months now, but I wanted to wait until my YouTube channel's 5th anniversary to upload my last video; I thought it would provide some sense of closure for me. Until then, I've honestly had to force myself to act interested in the game at all, and yes, that includes the forums.
Now, this is the part that could be (and probably will be) controversial. I debated about whether or not to talk about it at all, but I decided that there's no point in not being 100% honest on my thoughts about the forums as they stand. So, if you don't want to read my rant about the current state of the forums, don't read what's inside the spoiler.
So you want to read my rant? Don't say I didn't warn you 
Like I said, I tried to act interested in the forums until my leave...but all of the hostility I've seen recently has made that a lot more difficult for me. Specifically, what transpired in the two threads about Levelution.
Now, look. I've been a member of this forum for years, and through three game updates. I've seen my fair share of forum drama, from TriAxis to Level Judges to Buff This. But it was never this bad. The first Levelution thread had some decent arguments, but those were overshadowed by the personal attacks and petty insults being thrown around, which led to the thread being locked.
After the lock of the first thread, people complained about forum censorship. I fully admit that I was being narrow-minded in that thread at first, because there were actually a few solid points made. Because of this, I decided to give the second Levelution thread a chance...but it just devolved into more personal attacks, so now that thread is locked too...and then the same thing happened to the censorship thread, even though I had already reached at least somewhat of an agreement with the thread creator.
Those three threads are the biggest examples, but I see this happening in a lot of other threads too. Most normal threads are fine and operate how they're supposed to. The discussion threads, though? Some of them have become warzones; specifically ones about how the game is being run. Most of this happens in the Debate board, but it has also leaked into General Discussion and even Personal. Some threads, like the one about capping the game at 60 FPS, have actual discussions and pose interesting questions. However, a lot of them have tons of insults and personal attacks. And it's become draining to read over and over. If you want a non-GD example, there was a thread about a person wondering whether their religion would allow them to listen certain music. That thread became an attack on religion, even though both the thread creator and the staff had specifically asked for that not to happen. And that's a problem.
There was a time when I would say that the forums were the best, most friendly place in the Geometry Dash community. But if I'm being completely, totally, 100% honest? I don't know if I can say that anymore. Sure, some parts, like the Lounge and Forum Games section are great fun and people can have a great time there. However, the hostility has become such an issue that, to me, the forums are heading towards the level of "pretty much the same as most of the community, except slightly less bad." However, this can be changed. But of course, it won't if the actions of forum members don't change. There are a few members that are especially bad about what I mentioned above (I'm not naming names) but it can apply to anyone. As I leave the forums, I have a very simple request for all of you:
If you want to make a point in an argument, make it about whatever the other person is arguing about, and not an insult towards the other person.
Pretty much every problem I've stated above is due to people not doing this. It's one thing to point out issues in a person's character, such as saying that a person is being too arrogant or condescending. However, it's another thing to call people stupid and harass them just because you don't agree with them. Sometimes it's better to just agree to disagree. Don't drag out an argument so much that it becomes a shouting match.
This isn't directed towards the people that made actual arguments in threads. I thank those people for willing to be civilized, even if certain other people weren't. It's directed towards those that only attacked others and caused borderline flame wars. To those people...just know that your actions are making the forums a worse place, whether you know it or not. People are becoming hesitant to make threads about certain topics, and some are even considering leaving the forums altogether because of this.
Now, I already know that some person is going to misunderstand everything I just said, so let me be absolutely clear:
This recent forum drama is not the sole reason I'm leaving the forums.
Like I said, I was planning on leaving for months. I was going to be leaving on March 5th no matter what. But, like I also said, all of this drama made it harder for me to keep interest in the forums, as well as the game itself. So, please, at least try to *consider* what I'm saying for the future.
Like I said, I tried to act interested in the forums until my leave...but all of the hostility I've seen recently has made that a lot more difficult for me. Specifically, what transpired in the two threads about Levelution.
Now, look. I've been a member of this forum for years, and through three game updates. I've seen my fair share of forum drama, from TriAxis to Level Judges to Buff This. But it was never this bad. The first Levelution thread had some decent arguments, but those were overshadowed by the personal attacks and petty insults being thrown around, which led to the thread being locked.
After the lock of the first thread, people complained about forum censorship. I fully admit that I was being narrow-minded in that thread at first, because there were actually a few solid points made. Because of this, I decided to give the second Levelution thread a chance...but it just devolved into more personal attacks, so now that thread is locked too...and then the same thing happened to the censorship thread, even though I had already reached at least somewhat of an agreement with the thread creator.
Those three threads are the biggest examples, but I see this happening in a lot of other threads too. Most normal threads are fine and operate how they're supposed to. The discussion threads, though? Some of them have become warzones; specifically ones about how the game is being run. Most of this happens in the Debate board, but it has also leaked into General Discussion and even Personal. Some threads, like the one about capping the game at 60 FPS, have actual discussions and pose interesting questions. However, a lot of them have tons of insults and personal attacks. And it's become draining to read over and over. If you want a non-GD example, there was a thread about a person wondering whether their religion would allow them to listen certain music. That thread became an attack on religion, even though both the thread creator and the staff had specifically asked for that not to happen. And that's a problem.
There was a time when I would say that the forums were the best, most friendly place in the Geometry Dash community. But if I'm being completely, totally, 100% honest? I don't know if I can say that anymore. Sure, some parts, like the Lounge and Forum Games section are great fun and people can have a great time there. However, the hostility has become such an issue that, to me, the forums are heading towards the level of "pretty much the same as most of the community, except slightly less bad." However, this can be changed. But of course, it won't if the actions of forum members don't change. There are a few members that are especially bad about what I mentioned above (I'm not naming names) but it can apply to anyone. As I leave the forums, I have a very simple request for all of you:
If you want to make a point in an argument, make it about whatever the other person is arguing about, and not an insult towards the other person.
Pretty much every problem I've stated above is due to people not doing this. It's one thing to point out issues in a person's character, such as saying that a person is being too arrogant or condescending. However, it's another thing to call people stupid and harass them just because you don't agree with them. Sometimes it's better to just agree to disagree. Don't drag out an argument so much that it becomes a shouting match.
This isn't directed towards the people that made actual arguments in threads. I thank those people for willing to be civilized, even if certain other people weren't. It's directed towards those that only attacked others and caused borderline flame wars. To those people...just know that your actions are making the forums a worse place, whether you know it or not. People are becoming hesitant to make threads about certain topics, and some are even considering leaving the forums altogether because of this.
Now, I already know that some person is going to misunderstand everything I just said, so let me be absolutely clear:
This recent forum drama is not the sole reason I'm leaving the forums.
Like I said, I was planning on leaving for months. I was going to be leaving on March 5th no matter what. But, like I also said, all of this drama made it harder for me to keep interest in the forums, as well as the game itself. So, please, at least try to *consider* what I'm saying for the future.
In other news, I'm going to be passing my position as co-owner down to WillFlame . WillFlame has been a great admin, and I'm confident that his experience and frequent activity will leave him capable of being an even greater co-owner. In addition, @boringcleric7 is now an administrator, and Dragon is now a moderator! Congratulations to them!
As for me...I might lurk around a bit, but I'm probably not going to post very much at all, except in this thread.
I'm also going to be leaving a lot of GD-related Discord servers and unfriending people I barely talk to, just to keep space down. If you were one of my Discord friends and you think I blocked you, I probably just unfriended you because I don't know you well enough to warrant keeping you as a Discord friend.
Lastly...I just want to thank all of the staff and members of this forum for making my time here amazing. You're all great, and despite everything I said in my rant (if you read it) I really do love this place. The community here is incredible; even if it isn't the best community, it's one of the closest. I had a lot of fun here, and I hope that the forums will continue to prosper long after I'm gone. Personally, however...I need to move on and do other things with my life.
Thanks for everything,
~ megaman9
![GlaceonGD [IZ] Avatar](http://storage.proboards.com/6138434/avatar/b0PWhwsJtgdpYGsmjWtr.png)
