Post by Lizzie on Apr 12, 2018 15:39:11 GMT -5
I am going to try and post this as close to 4:39pm, EST as possible - that’s the exact minute I joined the NTWF, ten years ago today.
It’s amazing how long it has been. I’m surprised I didn’t give into joining before then, but honestly, I was 11, and I was worried. COPPA still scared me at that point (lol).
The NTWF has been through so many changes since 2008, but it still has the same close knit feeling it had back then. I still find myself talking to the same people I was talking to in elementary and middle school and high school and now in college. You all have saved me from others and from myself, so much of my life drama is embedded in these forums, but so much joy is as well. A NTWF member was the first person I called when my sister passed away. It was the first place I went when I was bullied in school. It was there for good times too. I’ve dated a few of you. (Whether they still post here or not). You’ve shaped me. You gave me consistency and solace when nothing else did. And I am so grateful.
From my “*glompsqueeeeeeees* XDDDD” phase where I went by a different name, through my role playing messes, to all the times I’ve tried and failed to write and draw, you all have shown unending patience and care. Even when I was as dramatic as a 12 year old could get, or an intolerant teen. Even through all my awkward phases. I don’t know what I would have done without all of you. Without the NTWF, I likely would not have any of the same interests, any of the same friends. Through joining the NTWF, I joined tumblr, which has given me most of my online friends because through tumblr, I met some friends of friends of NTWFers, who showed me so many things I’m now interested in that brought me to other things I’m now interested in. I wouldn’t have that without all of you. Every single one of you.
So thank you. Thank you all for the hours of voice calls, the hurried roleplay collabs in the middle of the night. Killing ‘Bloids (and getting married in the process), and making peace in the Icy Taco. Helping me to figure out my gender and sexuality from a younger age than I would have, and accepting it even though I hadn’t been accepting in the past. Helping me to understand that I was depressed even though I didn’t know what depressed was before this. And thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has ever met up with me or tried. Thank you all for making an obnoxious little girl into a still slightly obnoxious (but far better) nonbinary college student. I would not have made it through my life had it not been for you all - I didn’t plan on it, not ever, but somehow, you all have kept me here.
Thank you, NTWF. Even though we have mostly parted ways on the actual forum, you’ll never be far away from my heart.
I love you.
Love, Lizzie.
It’s amazing how long it has been. I’m surprised I didn’t give into joining before then, but honestly, I was 11, and I was worried. COPPA still scared me at that point (lol).
The NTWF has been through so many changes since 2008, but it still has the same close knit feeling it had back then. I still find myself talking to the same people I was talking to in elementary and middle school and high school and now in college. You all have saved me from others and from myself, so much of my life drama is embedded in these forums, but so much joy is as well. A NTWF member was the first person I called when my sister passed away. It was the first place I went when I was bullied in school. It was there for good times too. I’ve dated a few of you. (Whether they still post here or not). You’ve shaped me. You gave me consistency and solace when nothing else did. And I am so grateful.
From my “*glompsqueeeeeeees* XDDDD” phase where I went by a different name, through my role playing messes, to all the times I’ve tried and failed to write and draw, you all have shown unending patience and care. Even when I was as dramatic as a 12 year old could get, or an intolerant teen. Even through all my awkward phases. I don’t know what I would have done without all of you. Without the NTWF, I likely would not have any of the same interests, any of the same friends. Through joining the NTWF, I joined tumblr, which has given me most of my online friends because through tumblr, I met some friends of friends of NTWFers, who showed me so many things I’m now interested in that brought me to other things I’m now interested in. I wouldn’t have that without all of you. Every single one of you.
So thank you. Thank you all for the hours of voice calls, the hurried roleplay collabs in the middle of the night. Killing ‘Bloids (and getting married in the process), and making peace in the Icy Taco. Helping me to figure out my gender and sexuality from a younger age than I would have, and accepting it even though I hadn’t been accepting in the past. Helping me to understand that I was depressed even though I didn’t know what depressed was before this. And thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has ever met up with me or tried. Thank you all for making an obnoxious little girl into a still slightly obnoxious (but far better) nonbinary college student. I would not have made it through my life had it not been for you all - I didn’t plan on it, not ever, but somehow, you all have kept me here.
Thank you, NTWF. Even though we have mostly parted ways on the actual forum, you’ll never be far away from my heart.
I love you.
Love, Lizzie.
