I usually don't make posts like this. But I have been thinking and wanted share some of my thoughts and feelings with you. I guess in a way I am an "old timer," if by old timer you mean someone who was posting back in the days of the "blue board." Granted I have not been around as long as some people here, but I have been around for a while.

How did I find Ironworks? Simple, doing a search for sites for Baldur's Gate----I had questions. But what I found here was unexpected. Everything was lumped together on the old blue board, nothing was separated. You would see something in the subject, "Off Topic"--it was these posts in particular that intigued me. In those posts, I saw people who knew each other, they acted like friends. I saw genuine caring and concern for the peole they have gotten to know on the board. What was this? Wasn't this just a board for asking questions about the game we all played? I found so much more when I came to Ironworks. I began reading more of the off topic posts than anything else. (I confess that I lurked for a long time.)

After probably about three months of lurking, I decided that I wanted to become a part of this community and made my first post-----which just happened to be an "off topic" post. Have I recieved help with the games I play? Of course. When I have needed help I have posted a question and received help right away. One of the first problems I had, I remember Tobbin and Hellfire answered it right away. In fact, Hellfire said he had thought about my problem all evening to try to come up with a solution.

I'll confess, I have played BG1, ToSC, IWD, and BG2 only one time each. I have HoW and ToB and have not even started those yet. Although I love gaming, I think you can tell that I am not here because that is my primary concern. No, I have found a community. That is how I think of IW as a community. I have been fortunate to make some very close and special friends here. You know who you are, the ones I am in regular contact with "off the board." I never imagined that through something like this, I would get to know so many people from all over the world and have the privilege of getting to know them and for them to allow me to be a friend and share in their lives. I could go on and on about people on the board.

Everyone on this board is important in their own way. We all are what makes up this unique community that we call Ironworks. I am closer to some of you and know some of you far better than others. But, everyone here is important to Ironworks and to me. I hate to lose people---for any reason. I can understand when personal lives and real lives necessitate people leaving or having to be away for a while. When people leave permanently, I find this disturbing and when the reason is something that has happened on the board, I find it particularly distressing.

I won't pretend that I understand what has being going on here lately. I have tried to stay away from any controversies and I have had alot going on in my own life that has prevented me from being as around and available as I would like.

I just want to leave this one thought. Ironworks is---for better or worse---a community. To me, a very special community. Everyone is important, I do not find any member expendable. I have seen Ironworks come through some rough patches before. I trust that is the case now. Has Ironworks changed? Of course, it is an ever evolving thing. But change and growth can be good---though at times painful. Maybe we are going through some growing pains at the moment. But in time, I believe that is will pass, and Ironworks will be a stronger and better community because of it.

Take care everyone,
Reeka

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Order of the Holy Flame
Member of Clan HADB
Laughing Hyena
Clan Illuminati
Clan Liaison, IW Peace Keeping Force
Official Scribe, Clan TLFB

http://publish.hometown.aol.com/tobb...ages/reeka.jpg

<font color="white">Thank you for posting this, Reeka.
I am aware of all the changes that have taken place, yet I try to stay away from the troublesome areas. Recently, I have been so involved with the story of our One-eyed wolf clan are writing, I have not really read any other posts, other than answering questions on the game forums.</font>

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3rd Member of the Ancient OHF
Diamond Ranger of the ALSB (secretarial position & Ambassador)
Father of the wicked but cute child known as MaryBeth
http://sc.communities.msn.com/tn/02/...Site/1/190.jpg
Padre de una niña bien traviosa pero guapa
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Aisukuríimu ga tabetái desu.

Well I will say that as a "newbie" I think you hit it right on the head Reeka http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

Cheers http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

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Disintigration is easy, If you really want to impress me, ReIntegrate it.

Reeka, thank you so much for that heartfelt, insightful, and thoughtful post. I think we all need a reminder of that from time to time...that Ironworks is, first and foremost, a community. Granted, a community centered around gaming, but still a community.

Larry, et al, I greatly appreciate reading your mutual story. There is a LOT of talent here at IW, and the story-writing aspect was what attracted me to GD way back in March of this past year. I was impressed with all the stories that had been written back then, and I'm so glad to see that the tradition is continuing.

Cheers,



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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/saz1.gif
Patience, my BUTT...I'm going to KILL something!!!

I found Ironworks in the same way as Reeka, though that was after the change to the brown and gold board, I remember heading directly for the BG2 forum and keeping away from all those other scary and unknown areas, then, at one time, someone on the BG2 board posted a link to a poll in the Polls forum, I was intrigued, since it seemed that this board had more to offer than advice on games, I didn't migrate off the BG2 board yet though, I stayed, and I RPed on the BG2 Bar and, after seeing that the people here were incredible social and knew each other well, I decided to move to the GD forum, which is now my "home" here on IW, I can remember that I was surprised by IW since it was so unlike the only other forum I had ever visited, which was plagued by flaming and a lot of hatred, even though it seemed as though it used to be a peaceful place, on IW, there was no flaming, there was no hatred, it was a peaceful place where I could rest, where I could chat, where I could have fun, the worst thing that I had ever encountered here prior to this War, was when Blademaster was angry at being called a munchkin player for some posts in the BG2 Bar, but that's changed, ever since the War began, I've seen flames, I've seen dislike, I've seen people leave because of this, and it saddens me, but one thing that Reeka posted here has made me think that, perhaps, IW will come through this:

I hope that Reeka is right, and I believe that she is.




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Wielder of the ancient Lawyer spells.
Member of the HADB clan.

http://imagehosting.bidbay.com/image.php3?imgID=637925
Ally of the Fluffy Queen and the Dreaded Red Fluffy
General of the highest class and Leader of in the IW Peacekeeping Force.
ORT member, Official Demander of Stuff.
Sorcerer of Lady Lioness's Court.

Resident IW saint.
The sorcerer/assasin who says: Ecky-Ecky-Ecky-Ptang-Zoom-Boing.
Guardian of a Secret that noone else knows of.
A not quite as hopeless romantic as Dragonmage.

"If Silence is golden, why does everyone talk so much?"

Our MagiK? A newbie???? http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/eek7.gif not possible!
http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif
I might say that I feel just the same way about IW. I came here, BG1 addicted after just having finished the game. I posted a bit on the BG1 forum. However, because of time difference, no one was ever on as the same time as me. So I eventually migrated to IW, where I saw people who had never met each other in RL greet each other in a friendly way, inquire about their family, laugh and cry together... ever since then I wanted to become part of this community. I am glad to have managed and sad to think of IW changing from what it was. Yet everything changes...

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http://imagehosting.bidbay.com/image.php3?imgID=614236 http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/hero2.gif

Sapphire Dragoness of ALSB
Waitress at Cloudy's Cafe
Magess of Lady Lioness' Court
Saint of the SoS
Historian of IW
Most Illustrious Arch-Magess of the Illuminati
Lux omnis est
Once Upon A Paper Writer's Forum

[This message has been edited by Kaz (edited 10-23-2001).]

me too Reeka! I started BG1 in March and got stuck so I came too IW for help and joined up to this lovely place.....

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<UL TYPE=SQUARE> <LI>Creator and Diamond Bladesinger of ALSB
<LI> Body Guard of Lioness
<LI>Spam Sentinel
<LI>Saint of Ironworks
<LI> Winner of EPSRC 2000 Science Website is @
http://www.epsrc-sciencerace.net/schools2000/534121/
<LI> My own Forgotten Realms Website is @
http://www.forgottenrealms.main-page.com[/list] http://www.asnsoup.com/a.jpg

There is the contreversial issue that the internet can "dominate" your life, and especially in the sense of parenting and child relationships.

What they are not realising, is that they have never been optimistic enough about the internet's strength to ALSO, provide these things.

Interaction, friendship, socialising - we don't automatically become someone else just because we're on the "internet".

I have also thought about this a long time too............

We just do.http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif It's us, as human beings to be socially interactive or not. We have characteristics believe it ot not. And we don't just "do" things because we want to - consciously. No of course not. We do it because that's they way we are as human beings.

And if that means having a good chat where ever, however, then's then question of a net friendship shouldn't be an issue should it? http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...les/ponder.gif

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http://www.gis.net/~yos/lichwah.gif http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/mygreetings01.gif http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/myname001.gif http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/finalarch.gif

<marquee><h1>BOO!!http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...les/tongue.gif</h1></marquee>

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http://www.gis.net/~yos/lichwah.gif http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/mygreetings01.gif http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/myname001.gif http://www.btinternet.com/~GWah2/finalarch.gif

[This message has been edited by Wah (edited 10-23-2001).]

It was in this place and some of the ORIGINAL telnet talkers I learned to be more relaxed with people, I would never have dared to let the softer side of me out in the real world, untill I realized everyone had one http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif (that came from spending too many years in very nast situations) The net is just another tool, how we use it decides wether it is a good thing or a bad thing. I would also state, that anything can be obssessed over, and that can be a bad thing.

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Disintigration is easy, If you really want to impress me, ReIntegrate it.