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