So. Here's the deal, if anyone who used to know me is even active now, and, let alone, rembers who I am. Heh, I feel like such an old-timer, and it hasn't even been all that long...
Anyway. I'm leaving RAF. I left a few months ago in hopes of returning to find that things had changed here and gone back to the way they were before. I left in the first place because I didn't know anybody. I used to have some good friends here, but then, one by one, they started to disappear or slowly fade into the background, as I have now. Some of them have returned. Some, however, have not. And even with those who've returned, it's just not the same without everyone. The distance between all of those people I knew and I has grown so much that I just don't see the point in staying here any longer.
Things have greatly changed here, for better or worse, I cannot be certain. Everything changes and goes through many phases. That's just nature, and RAF is no exception. Things grow old and eventually die, and are replaced with new life and experiences. I've noticed many newer members arriving, and judging by some posts I've skimmed, it looks like not all of them aren't getting along so well. Everything will fall into place eventually, though. I have no doubt in my mind that it will. But I am afraid that I, now apparently an older member, just don't fit into the new forum that RAF has begun to transform into. I could try to, but won't, simply because I don't have the patience, time, or motivation to. I would have to start over.
The thing that brought me to all of you, as odd as it sounds, was the chat. The chat allowed me to converse with you quickly, without the restrictions of having to stay on topic and always contribute--one of the benefits of having a chatroom on a forum, I think. And at first, the chat, along with MSN and other instant messengers, were what allowed us to truly see each other as people, not just as members of an online community. Then stickam came along, and then skype, and suddenly, it's like the only way you could get to know anyone here was through other social networking sites. Don't get me wrong, those few times I got on stickam were fun, but suddenly, it got to the point where if you didn't have any of those, you were a lurker and a loner. It's not that I wouldn't be willing to try those things, but I'm afraid I can't at this point in time, for the simple fact that I have had to start using my father's computer for the internet because my own has many problems, and my mother is overprotective when it comes to the internet. If she found out that I had been showing my face on the internet, giving out any personal info (even tiny things like age and first name), interacting privately with adults, etc., she'd flip out and ground me from the internet for good. Not something I'm willing to risk anymore, even for RAF.
Basically, I feel that it's time for me to move on. My RAFlife may have been short-lived, mostly taking place last summer and up until winter, but damn, that was one of the best six months or so of my life, because I had RAF. When all of my friends were out having fun on vacations, and I was left behind with nothing to do and no one to talk to, there was always somebody to chat with here. Now it's summer again, a year later, and I've got other plans. I'm going to a new school next year, may as well be going into a new universe. I'm going to be busy next year, so maybe it's good that I'm leaving now. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to miss this place very much. Not a day goes by that RAF doesn't appear in my thoughts, but everyone has to move on eventually, and my time has come now. So thank you, even to those of you who I didn't know all that well, Rachel, Rachel2, Ken, Anna, Faerie, Claire, Mike, Russell, Richard, estrid, Este, Cody, Duff, morfowt, goom, Hunter, Liz, Anidragon, Dameg, Truth, Azguard, Blue, Slushie, Adam, Jen, Tyler, Rob, Shanker, Xan, Terenia, venomwiththelongnam e, and anyone whose name I may have forgotten (please do not be offended if you weren't mentioned, I only wrote down the names of people who I honestly remember being around) for all of the laughter, jokes, games, conversations, and memories. To all of you new RAFians, best of wishes to you, and I hope you enjoy yourselves here. Don't be afraid to speak up and introduce yourself. Even if some people are rude to you, there are plenty of awesome RAFians here who will surely welcome you into the community if you give them the chance. I may come back every so often to lurk, see how things are going. I may come back and start over later on. Who knows? Until them, goodbye, everyone.
