I had been in bad standing with some on the shard too, but I never considered to stop speaking in Gen Char or here on this forum. The day I stop is the day I die or get so sick, I can't play.
it always puts a smile on my face when I log into Siege because gen chat is usually so lively and happy and I love it.
I stopped writing in GC a couple of months ago and reduced posting, too. Very beneficial to my mental health
I was going to make a small PM to try to cheer up Sarg, but I have had enough of Silence so Stratics gets this book instead.
I do not know what happened, Sarg, but there seems to be an epidemic of Silence spreading like a cancer on the shard. With so many away doing fun summer things, it is important that we not lose the few voices we have at the moment.
There are enough silent people, who go about their day without saying a word to anyone outside their own, safe little circle. Siege is not dead, but this is the main reason why it often appears to be. Too many players, entire guilds, discourage the use of public channels.
I try to help newcomers find guilds, only to see them fall absolutely silent once they disappear into the underbrush. I try my very best to encourage public conversation, so that people who come here don't feel alone if they have not found a guild - or do not want to be in one. It is an alien concept to some people, but not everyone wants to be held accountable for the actions of guild mates.
I try to bring a positive energy to GC and Stratics, to offset the bitter, aggressive, sarcastic voices whose sense of humor may not be fully appreciated by everyone. Those voices matter as much as anyone else's, but balance is healthy. Silence is the worst of all, however. Silence is a symptom of a deadly disease.
I was feeling that Siege does not need my one-sided conversations. I have been feeling that Siege does not want my attempts to get groups together. I have felt lately that I am seen as one of those people who just love to hear themselves talk. I have been trying to keep my opinions, discoveries, questions, and gratitude to myself. Both in GC and Stratics. I was all set to board the massive ship of people who rarely say a word.
The cancer found me. When that ship has enough passengers, it will set sail and UO will die.
So.
People can think that I am a loud mouthed, self absorbed attention seeker if they wish. I will say that my primary goal is to point out things that I think will brighten some one's day. I want people to enjoy Siege, because that is what keeps it alive. People can think I am a brown-nosing butt kisser, but I want to encourage people to attend the EM events, and I want our EM to feel that those events are appreciated. People tell me I am crazy because I say where I hunt, and because I attend player and EM events where *gasp* I might get attacked. But I encourage public hunts and public conversations, because not everyone (including myself) is in a nice big guild or alliance.
I am not afraid to lose a bit of gear, and my ego is not so fragile that it cannot stand to wear a deathrobe.
People can put me on ignore if my ramblings are just too much strain on their eyes. I'm sure many already have. I will start labeling my Stratics threads that point out fun new things with a *SPOILER* tag, for those folks who enjoy finding things out on their own. I am by no means in competition with our shard reporter(s) but I will continue to post pics and comments about shard events - on a
public forum.
Freja is correct, Sarg. Please do not allow the voices of a few, or perhaps one, silence yours. Do not let the Silence infect you. And for all you silent people out there who will not reply to this thread, or who watch GC scroll by without comment - your voice is missed.
*BIG HUG*
*Vas An Nox* *In Vas Mani* *Dispiro Malas* *Extermo Vomica*
Chiv Mages are undervalued.
