Well I guess it's time to finally break my vow of silence. Hi, I'm Akami. You might know me as that guy in the IRC who rarely speaks, but when he does: someone gets violated with tools. I've been a regular chatter on IRC since 1998 and a member of #roleplayerguild since... well... if I remember correctly, I joined sometime late 2008, maybe September? Well, even if I can't remember when, I remember why.
I love IRC. I love chatting with new strange people over the internet and not having to wear the cloak of social norms that I would normally have to when meeting people face to face. It's nice when you meet a new person and a few hours later begin cracking jokes about the Kama Sutra having a lost chapter on gardening, and people just roll with it. I lost that once. Then I lost it again. I reached a point in my life where I shut myself off socially because I couldn't be myself. Then an old friend from one of the first communities where I felt at home reached out to me. She told me she had found a new community, one that I might be interested in. I'll admit I was skeptical at first as the community revolved around something I wasn't well versed in: roleplaying. But my friend assured me that that did not matter, so I decided to give it one more chance.
Those that were around in the early days can attest that when I first joined, I was almost completely silent. This was mostly because I was afraid to feel comfortable, to show everyone the raw nonsense that I found entertaining. Hell, I barely even chatted with my friend who invited me. But little by little, you guys got me to open up, and one by one I started making connections with everyone, and I knew I was in a place where I could enjoy myself without holding back. I had found a place I could love again.
I could list everyone who put up with my nonsense and even egged me on at times but there's too many of you to list in a single forum post, and I don't have that kind of time anyway. I'm thankful to you all for including me in your community, and it has been my pleasure watching the chat grow, getting to know each of you, and even meeting some of you in person.
Thank You.
Intrusively Yours,
Akami
P.S.: I'll still be around in the IRC and in other places. Many of you know my contact information, and if you don't: feel free to message me in the IRC if you want to chat. Even if the IRC disappears completely, I'll be happy to listen to you and offer advice if need be. Just remember: if I don't get back to you right away, just give me some time. I'll be online until the day I die and I enjoy being useful.
