Reflections of a Sunday Night Admin

Global Paw · 03-18-2005, 09:19 PM

I wrote this for a forum dedicated to forum owners...but I thought some of you might like it, as it is about GlobalPaw. There is some technical language here, but the overall effect can be read by anyone...

When I was a user, I looked up to the admins and moderators with revelry, and a respect for their job. They had built something out of a few thousand lines of code that most people had no method of comprehending, yet used nonetheless. Soon, being a user was not good enough for me, and I struck out to build my own castle, so people would have the same respect for me.

I began with nothing but the hope of glory, that one day, my forum would become the last bastion for civilized thought in my genre. I listened to the few independent folks who left the big sites to aid me in my claim, I listened to them talk about how the big-wig admins had corrupted their forum, and that this one was going to be different.

I frequented sites like TAZ (The Admin Zone), asked for reviews of my forums, although my real motivation was to get another link to my forums for Google to salivate over. Most of the established folk looked down at me for using an open source program and a port 81 domain, but I kept telling myself that one day, I was going to be bigger than all the forums of my kind.

And now, after dropping my old weights, shedding everything that once was my forums, I realized I have become what I always hated. I used to detest the forum owners who would strut their fancy programs, complex rules, and customized skins. I used to say with such confidence that I would one day overtake them…that I would be different. Through my ultimate goal of becoming higher than the competition, I have become my own enemy. I look down upon those who are just setting out, I often chuckle at the sight of a 30 member forum, because I’ve forgotten what it was like to have one.

We often forget that our forums, at that size, had some of the best members, are our forums really all that better on a large scale, rather than a smaller one? Granted, of my three forums, two have 150 members or less. But, my original diamond in the rough, is what I speak of today.

I hear people speak of the “good ‘ol days” about real life, and I can see this in application to a forum, too. Mine are the best now then they ever have been…but with each member, it looses nostalgia, it begins to fade. Eventually, it will fall by the wayside as yet another plant for mass-produced nonsense. Everyone will strive to be you, just as you strove to be big once. Few reach their goal, but those who possess the lust to chase after a dream like the one I once held are ultimately doomed to suffer the same consequence of the pattern laid down before you.

You are born, and as you begin to walk, you mature. Growth, life, success…failure…and eventually, death. Not death in conventional terms, but a forum can only hold so much before the original goal dies within it.

Is it impossible to avoid this action? No, I think not…but with each passing day, a challenge becomes exponentially greater to the owner. The weight will toll against the shoulders of the bearer, and he shall fall.

To all of you who have a small forum, who toil daily for another member, who spend hours perfecting something to make your forum unique, I salute you for your effort. The flame you find in your heart to continue is the same we all felt, or still feel.

And, to those who have reached for the moon, and captured it, I also salute you. Yet, do you often look back to the times you began and leapt with joy at the sight of another registration? To you, it was not about getting ad money; it was about cultivating something different. And, in our common ambition, we have all become the same.

DarknessDivine · 03-18-2005, 09:20 PM

always loved this Quincy

Global Paw · 03-18-2005, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarknessDivine

always loved this Quincy

One of my rare moments of inspiration, lol

TinyAlbinoDancer · 03-18-2005, 09:26 PM

*sigh* I'm so depressed now, Quinc. *melodramatic tone* I'm going to ditch all the forums I have and kill the dream now!

*plunges dagger through heart and runs off*

No really... That was well written, and a worthwhile thought, Quincness.

You just always bring out the wierd in me, ya know?

Speaking of the wierd... You do realize I have more rep. points than you, thus, I can claim this glory, right?

Global Paw · 03-18-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyAlbinoDancer

*sigh* I'm so depressed now, Quinc. *melodramatic tone* I'm going to ditch all the forums I have and kill the dream now!

*plunges dagger through heart and runs off*

No really... That was well written, and a worthwhile thought, Quincness.

You just always bring out the wierd in me, ya know?

haha, I'm glad to hear I'm able to stir up some emotion.

DarknessDivine · 03-18-2005, 09:49 PM

I have more then both of you..lol....

Rip's Girl · 03-18-2005, 09:52 PM

That was very well written Quincy, thanks for sharing it.

Very thought provoking....

TinyAlbinoDancer · 03-18-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarknessDivine

I have more then both of you..lol....

So you should be booted so as not to threaten our, ehm, glory! YES!

*evil laugh*

Global Paw · 03-18-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyAlbinoDancer

You do realize I have more rep. points than you, thus, I can claim this glory, right?

Ah, Madam, I hold the ultimate power, the admin giveth, and the admin taketh away. :shiver:

bigdoglover · 03-19-2005, 07:57 AM

That was very well written!! I have reflective moments like that too, brings you back into reality wouldn't ya say?

sheltiepups · 03-19-2005, 08:17 AM

Thats awesome QW... very well written, so that even I can understand it

Muy bien!

RedHotDobe · 03-19-2005, 09:23 AM

Very nice Quincy.

Quote:

Ah, Madam, I hold the ultimate power, the admin giveth, and the admin taketh away.

In trying not to upset the Oh So Great One, I added to your reputation.

Global Paw · 03-19-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHotDobe

Very nice Quincy.

In trying not to upset the Oh So Great One, I added to your reputation.

And I, you.

Crossfire Bulldogs · 03-19-2005, 09:24 AM

What a wonderful article, so well written and I must say I'm just about speechless Q! Great work!

calgal · 03-19-2005, 09:39 AM

It's nice one can have some power and yet be grounded. I like that. Think I'll just copy that and anytime I'm on overload I'll sit down and have my tonic by reading it. Thanks

03-18-2005, 09:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Global Paw Information Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 129	Reflections of a Sunday Night Admin I wrote this for a forum dedicated to forum owners...but I thought some of you might like it, as it is about GlobalPaw. There is some technical language here, but the overall effect can be read by anyone... When I was a user, I looked up to the admins and moderators with revelry, and a respect for their job. They had built something out of a few thousand lines of code that most people had no method of comprehending, yet used nonetheless. Soon, being a user was not good enough for me, and I struck out to build my own castle, so people would have the same respect for me. I began with nothing but the hope of glory, that one day, my forum would become the last bastion for civilized thought in my genre. I listened to the few independent folks who left the big sites to aid me in my claim, I listened to them talk about how the big-wig admins had corrupted their forum, and that this one was going to be different. I frequented sites like TAZ (The Admin Zone), asked for reviews of my forums, although my real motivation was to get another link to my forums for Google to salivate over. Most of the established folk looked down at me for using an open source program and a port 81 domain, but I kept telling myself that one day, I was going to be bigger than all the forums of my kind. And now, after dropping my old weights, shedding everything that once was my forums, I realized I have become what I always hated. I used to detest the forum owners who would strut their fancy programs, complex rules, and customized skins. I used to say with such confidence that I would one day overtake them…that I would be different. Through my ultimate goal of becoming higher than the competition, I have become my own enemy. I look down upon those who are just setting out, I often chuckle at the sight of a 30 member forum, because I’ve forgotten what it was like to have one. We often forget that our forums, at that size, had some of the best members, are our forums really all that better on a large scale, rather than a smaller one? Granted, of my three forums, two have 150 members or less. But, my original diamond in the rough, is what I speak of today. I hear people speak of the “good ‘ol days” about real life, and I can see this in application to a forum, too. Mine are the best now then they ever have been…but with each member, it looses nostalgia, it begins to fade. Eventually, it will fall by the wayside as yet another plant for mass-produced nonsense. Everyone will strive to be you, just as you strove to be big once. Few reach their goal, but those who possess the lust to chase after a dream like the one I once held are ultimately doomed to suffer the same consequence of the pattern laid down before you. You are born, and as you begin to walk, you mature. Growth, life, success…failure…and eventually, death. Not death in conventional terms, but a forum can only hold so much before the original goal dies within it. Is it impossible to avoid this action? No, I think not…but with each passing day, a challenge becomes exponentially greater to the owner. The weight will toll against the shoulders of the bearer, and he shall fall. To all of you who have a small forum, who toil daily for another member, who spend hours perfecting something to make your forum unique, I salute you for your effort. The flame you find in your heart to continue is the same we all felt, or still feel. And, to those who have reached for the moon, and captured it, I also salute you. Yet, do you often look back to the times you began and leapt with joy at the sight of another registration? To you, it was not about getting ad money; it was about cultivating something different. And, in our common ambition, we have all become the same.

03-18-2005, 09:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
DarknessDivine Boxer Mom Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 1,239 Rep Power: 103	always loved this Quincy
	__________________ Boxer Talk

03-18-2005, 09:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,579 Rep Power: 166	sigh I'm so depressed now, Quinc. melodramatic tone I'm going to ditch all the forums I have and kill the dream now! plunges dagger through heart and runs off No really... That was well written, and a worthwhile thought, Quincness. You just always bring out the wierd in me, ya know? Speaking of the wierd... You do realize I have more rep. points than you, thus, I can claim this glory, right?
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

03-18-2005, 09:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
DarknessDivine Boxer Mom Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 1,239 Rep Power: 103	I have more then both of you..lol....
	__________________ Boxer Talk

03-18-2005, 09:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rip's Girl Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 142	That was very well written Quincy, thanks for sharing it. Very thought provoking....
	__________________

03-19-2005, 07:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
bigdoglover Giant Schnauzers Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West-Central Illinois Posts: 3,624 Rep Power: 177	That was very well written!! I have reflective moments like that too, brings you back into reality wouldn't ya say?

03-19-2005, 08:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
sheltiepups Semper Fidelis - Marines Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere Posts: 2,438 Rep Power: 130	Thats awesome QW... very well written, so that even I can understand it Muy bien!
	__________________ Breezy & her shelties Thank you Dawn, for a wonderful siggy :) 2cutepups

03-19-2005, 09:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
Crossfire Bulldogs Sourmug Mom Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Snuggled Between The Snorts & Snores. Posts: 7,844 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 285	What a wonderful article, so well written and I must say I'm just about speechless Q! Great work!
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. ~ Gerry Spence As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

03-19-2005, 09:39 AM	#15 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 229	It's nice one can have some power and yet be grounded. I like that. Think I'll just copy that and anytime I'm on overload I'll sit down and have my tonic by reading it. Thanks

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