Why do we exist?

I'm with Borla

I'm an extremely new member of the site in the grand scheme of things, but I find myself on here more often than most of my other sites, because I know that what I write will be seen, read, sometimes responded to, so on. I've never felt left out or belittled or attacked, even when I have differing opinions on polarizing subject matter. I feel safe to share my opinions, which isn't even something I can say about the Book of Faces. I'm happy here.

 

Because all roads lead to home and The TFP is my home on the Internet.

 

There's something special about TFP. I can't quite put my finger on it, but for whatever reason, for the most part, the site attracts some kickass people. I've seen quite a few new members say something along the lines of "wow, you guys are a really tight-knit group." And we are, but not in an exclusive, clique-y kind of way.

I think one of the things I like best about TFP is the intelligence factor. I don't know how many of you spend time on other message boards (or even just comment sections), but it's scary out there.

When I first joined TFP, I liked that I could get advice on stuff I wouldn't dare ask "real life" friends. And it was good advice, although not always what I wanted to hear. I left for a while, but when I came back, it was still the open-minded, welcoming, slightly twisted place I remembered and loved.

And now, years later, I consider so many members my friends, even the ones I haven't met face-to-face. I wrote a blog a couple years ago and I remember saying something like, "I've laughed with you guys, cried with you guys, and stayed up all night with you guys." Y'all have helped me through some tough times.

So, why? I think TFP is a kind of refuge for a lot of us.

 

For me the Internet is entertainment. TFP is quite entertaining. There's more but that's a lot of it for me. A respectful mix of interesting viewpoints. And Plan9.

 

I'm really new here, so I really don't have much of an answer....

It seems like a friendly place though.

I always look at the internet like a virtual world. Forums are places similar to school or work or a bar. (Closest to the bar I think.) This is a nice bar and I like coming back here. It's comfortable.

 

<Cue familiar theme music>
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
</Cue familiar theme music>

Who is Rebecca on here and who is Norm though?

 

One more thing, people here care. We really care about each other. That alone is reason enough to exist.

 

I have no idea why we keep coming back to this tilted joint.
We don't even have a mustache forum, gosh!

I won't speculate on why you guys keep coming back, but one of the main reasons I come back is y'all let me be goofy as I want to be.
Real life is too serious so I unwind here.

Thanks, guys.

 

I vote Fremen for Norm.

 

I'm ok with that, but with a dash of Cliffy. I like useful/less trivia.

 

Then Cliff you are!

 

I really like the people here. I think that's a big factor for me, maybe the biggest. Too many forums (fora?) online are full of real dicks and stick-up-the-ass control freaks and whatnot. TFP may have some on-the-ball crowd control, but overall, it's a peaceful, easy forum: people are chill, and fun, and mostly pretty damn intelligent, and tolerant, and are interesting in good conversation, friendly debate, considerable mutual amusement and a wholesome smidge of mutual flirtation and titillation, and the giving of thoughtful and sound advice as needed. And there are spots for a lot of different interests here, and the differences live healthily alongside one another, not competitively or judgmentally. TFP is really unique, in my experience. I regularly post to several forums of various sorts, but this is the one where I feel most comfortable in just being me.

My guess is that my perceptions of this place are not unique to me. In fact, seeing some of the previous posts, I know so.

Whatever originally motivated you, cynthetiq, Hal, the_jazz, and all the rest of you folks who started and currently maintain this little oasis of decent human interaction on the interwebs, the existence of TFP is no mystery to me-- or, I think, to most of us here: it's our hangout spot. It's our clubhouse.

 

For me, it's more than any mere 'message board'. I've seen other message boards. Some are okay, some are just teeming with stoopids. This is the only place that I think of as a community. It is a place which we can all peacefully inhabit with low risk of being antagonized for being who we are. Even those of us with less intelligence, wisdom, self-esteem, or experience with various aspects of life, can feel welcome and valued.

Also, I love the fact that TFP is dedicated to exploring all facets of existence. This is a place where I can comfortably offer my input on what few topics I know anything about, where I'm safe to be who I am, and at the same time learn more about myself. I've grown, matured, learned, and--according to one supporter from my now-favourite thread--I've managed to improve my writing skills.

So, I guess I should have said this a long time ago, but I'm saying it now. Thank you for creating The TFP. To the administration for conceptualizing it and getting it up and running, and to all the community for continuing to create it every day as it evolves and expands with every new thread, every new comment, and every new member.

 

No matter how long i stay away from here, i always come back to TFP.

TFP is like a marriage, you can go and look at as many menus as you want online, but you always come back and eat at home.

Ive sampled some boards out there, but there's nothing out there quite like TFP.

 

I quote that letter by letter