Staff Changes (II)

[SeeMeInTheShadows]

Okay, unfortunately, our very own Legend has decided to leave the staff of XL to pursue other thing with his time, like saving the world. You may remember back a few months ago when he was appointed our global mod. We'll definitely miss him on the staff.

In other news, our new global mod will be Atlas. Congratulations!

And finally, you all may know what this means. And if you don't, then I shall enlighten you. This means that we are now offiically looking at moderator applications! So, if you think you'd be the right fit for the job, then go and sign yourself up and see what happens! I promise they'll be quicker and more effecient than the last ones! Yay!

[Atlas]

More the merrier when it comes to this.

For those who are not sure, send in an application.
Even if you decide not to do it, it'll help immensely.

[Eilorae]

Also! The person who does become a moderator like me will also have to run the forest sector. I wish the best of luck to all of our applicants.

Spoiler:

[aelitaxwilliam]

I have a message to pass on to Steven from Angel (I really feel like such a messenger today, guys, since I also have a message for Aeon and then the general lovely populace of XL).

"Tell him that I'm gonna find him and kick his ass for quitting. XD"

As for myself, I had this pretty long message typed up, but then I deleted it by accident. The gist of it was that it's pretty bittersweet that you're leaving. Everyone leaves someday, I guess, and the time is never really right. You're not allowed to forget us though.

[Coto524]

Legend, if you forget us, we will hunt you down, bake chocolate brownies and forcefeed them to you.

[Stella Luce 333]

Evn if you can't be as actve as you wold like, you need to at lest drop by evry now & then to say hello...

[Guest]

@Angel: it's not "quitting". Not at all.

I wanted to post this like... a month ago O_O nevertheless, here it is:

---

I have decided to give up my position as global mod and take sometime away from XL to focus on other responsibilities. Like I have told some of you, this year is going to be very decisive. I have a job to take care of, my academic future, the football team and a lot of travelling. Thing is, I have had a job for quite sometime now, I travel a lot and that's an ancient fact and it's not like I wasn't focusing on my studies before. What changed? well, pretty much everything has evolved and requires more time and focus. Another reason may be this feeling of satisfaction. It's very annoying when it hits you because throughout my time on XL, I have always wanted more. During the past couple months, I couldn't feel this motivation and that's when I knew it. So, instead of remaining in a position where I can give less than 100%, I would rather give it up for someone else who can hopefully give 100%. It wouldn't be fair for either me or the forum.

Now enough drama and get ready for... MORE drama. I can't resist so, here is my XL story!

Fast forward watching CL for the first time seven years ago. Fast forward finding FF.net and devouring the CL archive. It's 2008. I will skip the part where I explain how I found the forum because... I can't remember . Anyways, after taking a couple days to browse the old XL1 forum and reading all the randomness posted by the small community back then, I was hooked. You see, despite being part of various forums (mostly gaming ones) XL was a new experience for me. Why? because XL was pretty much the only forum I knew that was "naturally" friendly. 99% of my forum experience was trolling or hardcore flaming and to be honest, I wasn't complaining. I had this idea that "friendly" couldn't exist in a forum so, I adapted like everyone else. So, when I registered for the first time and got welcomed almost instantly by most of the community, I sort of liked the change in attitude. I fit in faster than I thought I would and got to meet and chat with all the great people who I still remember (despite suffering from a horrible memory). Obviously the old crew: Rena, Kitty, John, Snowy and Kiwi and other amazing authors/artists like lunesolei and WeaponFanFic and others (Magus/WereWolfUlrich...etc).

I was thrilled to find a place where I can be creative and helpful while also being fun and entertaining. As time passed, I contributed and participated more. Almost everyone agrees that the people not the place is what truly matters. I agree, but I also think that certain places become symbolic to certain people. This is my case. As I enjoyed the company of some of the greatest people on the internet, I had come to appreciate the place so much. That's why the old forum despite being smaller/less active is one of the best forums I have ever been part of.

Fast forward all the chats, the games, the competitions, the debates and all the craziness. XL2 Stop and Play. Most of the old faces were gone and it was time for a new beginning. We enjoyed high activity during the first few months but it was short lived. The place went inactive for a long time. I still believed XL could get bigger and better, but to voice such thoughts at that time... it was not easy to digest and I couldn't blame anyone. I had many MSN chats with Railen about the situation. I told him my plans to revive the forum, get major events up and reach 100 members. It's fair to say he was skeptical and again, I can't blame him. I remember him saying it was highly unlikely when I told him that I was planning to break the record for most members online at the same time (which was 7 or 9 at the time. Look at it now to appreciate the effort).

Anyways, I started pming CL FF authors (a tradition I have started back on XL1) which Railen also used I believe to get members to join in the first forum when it started. Rumors about a new season were all over the internet at the time so I used that to advertise the revival of XL2. I was delighted to get results. New members were all over the place, records were broken and events were set to start. Back to the chats between Railen and I. Railen had asked me to clean the forum to prepare for the revival. I gladly took the job. I didn’t want it to become a full time thing because mods and admins are limited in terms of participating and I have always wanted to invent and come up with new ideas yet still be there to try it all. Pretty much what I had been doing during all my time on XL1. Nevertheless, it was a more effective way of sharing my vision and helping the forum so I took it. Organizing was a nightmare at first, but it got better with time and effort.

Fast forward to where we're at. I can proudly say that I have been one of (if not the most) consistent member/s of both forums. Have I ever had the most posts? No. have I ever been the most active? No. but if being online the most hours or having a top poster position equals being effective then I apologize to the spammers all over the internet because they deserve their own statues. Ofc I am not saying being a top poster or the most active is a bad thing, but I am sure you guys are smart enough to know what I am talking about.

Anyways, from the day I registered to this day, I have always been consistent with my activity, my contribution, my ideas, my plans, my vision, my participation and my love for XL. When old members left, I was there. When the place went inactive, I was there. I am not being cocky because there are no awards for loving the forum or being consistent. No one probably knows some of the things that happened during the months XL went inactive and that's just fine because I am not asking anyone to care. The only thing I cared and still care about is for XL to get bigger and better.

Before I end this pathetic post, I would like to share my thoughts about a specific topic. The chatbox. It is part of the forum and during the past few months we've had so much activity there and that’s great, the chatbox isn’t XL though and it will never be. I find being registered on the forum and only using the chatbox disrespectful. Yahoo, MSN and other chat apps are for that. Obviously, no one can force you to participate, but you're not doing the forum any good by using the chatbox regularly while posting on the forum once or twice a month. A mod/admin's job is to watch the chatbox for violation of rules and that’s pretty much it. It doesn’t determine your activity because only the forum can do that. If I am not effective and consistent on the forum, then I am not doing my job. Staying on the chatbox to chat with every single member who visits there is not included in the job description.

I am satisfied with my time on both sites. Halfway through the experience my attitude changed from simply enjoying my time and having fun to helping others enjoy and have fun. Maybe I will rediscover my passion in the future, maybe not. The most important thing is: knowing that my username didn’t have to be red or green for me to say that I have helped the forum and gave my all. Because I had been doing it long before that change ever occurred.

Thanks to everyone who was/is part of XL because whether you know it or not, you have made an impact on my experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

[Coto524]

An anthem for Legend, who has been one of the friendliest, most helpful, and yet most sarcastic member - in short, one of the most stereotypically XL members - that I have ever known.

[Railen]

That's why the old forum despite being smaller/less active is one of the best forums I have ever been part of.

Hell yeah.

Ohh I remember how the old(est) crew called you 'our favourite newbie' in the old days. And look at you now! ^^ *sniffs* They grow up so fast--

[Sponsored content]