[html]So I was gonna save this post for something witty and clever, but given the timing of when I've reached it, it seems better to simply do it now and use the opportunity as a reflection on the time I've spent here.<br><br>Way way back in 2002, Sonic Adventure 2 had been out for several months and the Sonic fan community was still abuzz about it, and clamouring for more. At about the same time, the internet was becoming more readily available to people, through libraries and cheaper costs for connection in the home. This would be how I would end up coming across Sonic HQ, and even now I don't actually remember how it happened. All I do remember is wanting to find more info on new releases, or find out more stuff about Sonic Adventure 2, which I had only had for a short while by now. It was probably this that led me to stumble across Carni Isle, and in particular the Sonic Adventure 2 bloopers thread. The whole idea there was coming up with possible outtakes of particular parts of the game, as the name suggests.<br><br>Anyway, it was through that part of the forum that I'd meet a lot of the other creatively minded individuals around the place, such as Diana the Cat, Dash the Hedgehog and a good few others whose names escape me right now. As time went by I began venturing into other parts of the forum, such as the Role Players' Guild, the SPA, Marble Garden and of course MFC itself. I began to learn more about the community as a result, and began to absorb the assorted in-jokes, running gags and little niche things that make the place what it is. I remember being intimidated by the fact that some people had ginormous post counts and seemed to be an integral part of the place, commanding a lot of respect and admiration from other forumers. This was, however, before I started making greater use of IM software and started to chat to the people I'd been apprehensive of - and I soon found out that in actual fact they were pretty nice people and didn't bite.<br><br>I also remember the very first (or at least I think it was?) MoFo Meet-up held here in the UK. A grand total of three people showed up: me, Craig Bayfield and Xagarath Ankor. Nevertheless, a lot of fun was had with that - and it was due to my going down to London and meeting them that I got to know them both better. Some time later another meet-up was called, this time in Bristol at the Comics Expo. This was a more rousing success as more people were able to make it, and I had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people who'd formerly been only screen names to me in person. Bonds were formed and strengthened, and new in-jokes were spawned. This little tradition of ours has kept on more or less as time has gone by, and there've been multiple funny things that've come from it. The paper ezChat comes to mind, as do the moonpants. I will also never forget seeing Sparky's hair tied in bunches by Chibi Becca, or the feeling of satisfaction I had upon winning a copy of Guild Wars: Factions at one of the Expos. I also will not forget the time I had Craig and Cj stay at my place for a week, and we stayed up ridiculously late every other night playing video games and having fun. I still giggle every time I remember the amazing bus backflip, and also "Please burn and die, please burn and die!". That and Cj's despairing look as Craig and I sang Zero Wing Rhapsody along to an LP of the original song it was based on.<br><br>I survived the Great ezHack of... whenever it was. 2006? (This date is missing and cannot be restored) My memory of its actual date is foggy. I remember all kinds of events that shaped the forum as it's gone on through the years. I remember Tergonaut disappearing for a few years to do his mission trip, and then him coming back. I remember the days of active and heated debates in Marble Garden, specially when we still had Cycle and Jimro about. I remember long-running Chat RPs, wide-spread forum madness with evil themes and outbreaks of Sailorness. The crazy skits, the massive kiloposts... it's all of these things I've mentioned above that are why even now I still hang around here.<br><br>And it's all of that'll keep me around for the years to come. By March of next year I'll have actually been a part of the furniture for ten years, which is a pretty impressive amount of time for a site to hold my interest. But for the time being...<br><br>(To be read/sung to the tune of <span style="font-style: italic;">Wild Rover</span>)<br><br><span style="font-style: italic;">I've been a MoFoer<br>for many a year<br>And I've spent all my posting<br>on fun and good cheer.<br><br>But now we are moving<br>where we've not been before<br>And I never will see that ez-error no more!<br><br>And it's no, nay, never<br>No nay never, no more<br>Will we see the ez-errors<br>no never, no more!<br><br>I went to a forum<br>I used to frequent<br>And I saw the folks saying<br>"Our time here is spent"<br><br>I asked them their meaning,<br>saying "Surely you jest?"<br>And they told me<br>"It's passed! An 'eventually' of Vec's!"<br><br>And it's no, nay, never<br>No nay never, no more<br>Will we see the ez-errors<br>No never, no more!<br><br>I looked at our new home<br>with fittings so bright<br>And my MoFoer's eyes<br>opened wide with delight<br><br>I readied my fingers<br>for posts of the best<br>And smiled as the news<br>went quickly east and west<br><br>And it's no, nay, never<br>No nay never, no more<br>Will we see the ez-errors<br>No never, no more!<br><br>And now in our new home<br>of posts filled with fun<br>We'll laugh and we'll play<br>"'til all are one"<br><br>No matter what comes now<br>to darken our door<br>We never will see<br>those ez-errors no more!<br><br>And it's no, nay, never,<br>No nay never, no more<br>Will we see the ez-errors<br>No never, no more!<span style="font-style: italic;"><br><br></span></span>*Takes a bow, exits stage*<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br></span></span>[/html]