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General / Re: EVE No Longer Supported/Staff Change
« on: March 17, 2014, 05:15:45 pm »
After having a few days to really think all this through, I’d like to say a few more things and hopefully explain myself a bit better. Some of this feels redundant, but I need to get it out there for my own peace of mind. Then I’ll be on my way.
I am sorry that I made some of you angry, or worse, disappointed. Likwidtek especially. Likwid, I have to disagree with some of your comments, but I have the utmost respect for you and I hope you know that.
I like you guys. Some of you have been known to drive me up the wall a bit, but you’re all genuinely good people. While it’s no secret that I have been unhappy with the state of FA for a long time now, some part of me would always hold out hope that things would get better. Unfortunately that part of me has gotten smaller and smaller as the years went on.
I thought things would get better with Darkfall, but they didn’t.
I thought things would get better with The Agency, but they didn’t. (Or didn’t have the chance to.)
I thought things would get better with APB, but they didn’t.
I thought things would get better with The Old Republic, but they didn’t.
I thought things would get better with The Secret World, but they didn’t.
I thought I could make things better with EVE, but I couldn't.
It was year after year after year of seeing hope and anticipation crushed by disappointment. It was exhausting. Clearly many of you are better equipped at dealing with that than I am. Now there is a lot of hope and anticipation surrounding the Oculus Rift. But if history is any indication, I have little reason to believe that the Rift will truly re-ignite this community into something that I could have had real pride in being part of.
And that’s really all I’ve ever wanted. Pride in whatever community I was part of. I was proud to call myself a Furious Angel back when we were rocking the face of The Matrix Online, but I simply have not felt the same way since. And I know that I am not alone in this.
I know from many private conversations over the last few years that there are a number of people here, veterans and non-veterans alike, who feel similar to how I’ve felt. That the “Furious Angels” name carries little weight anymore outside of an historical context, and the social structure of this community is built in such a way that makes it very difficult to enact any needed change. There are multiple reasons for this, and no one person in particular is to blame. But there are FA members here right now who are absolutely not happy with the way things are. And they are hesitant to openly voice their concerns or their ideas for change because they know from history that, though leadership may listen to those concerns and ideas, leadership will not adequately act on those concerns and ideas.
To those of you who are happy, or are at least content with the way things have been and the way they are going, by all means, stay the course. I don’t think FA will see the surge of new recruitment and activity on the level that Tbone is expecting upon the launch of the Rift. But if that is to happen it will require the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of everyone here, and it needs to start sooner rather than later.
To any new members who might be reading this weeks, months, or even years down the line, don’t let these words deter you from being here. It’s entirely possible that The Furious Angels has since become a major pillar of the VR community, in which case you are in good hands.
And to those of you who I’ve spoken with who are not happy with the state of FA, make the simple decision to either stay or leave. Leaving doesn’t have to mean severing the friendships you’ve made here, because we live in a world where the internet exists. There is absolutely nothing keeping Angels and former-Angels from gaming together, except for maybe ego. At any rate, don’t wait for the situation to improve. Take whatever steps you feel are necessary to improve it.
I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time. Even my wife has said she’s noticed a distinct improvement in my attitude since I was removed from FA, and we’re having better sex than we’ve had in weeks. Seriously, this has been good for me. And I think it will prove to be good for this community as well. So thank you.
Maybe look me up in EVE: Valkyrie when it launches. I’d be honored to be on the receiving end of the FA Pain Train for once.![Smiley :)](http://www.thefuriousangels.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
If anyone would like to keep in touch: manicv@gmail.com
Take care.
I am sorry that I made some of you angry, or worse, disappointed. Likwidtek especially. Likwid, I have to disagree with some of your comments, but I have the utmost respect for you and I hope you know that.
I like you guys. Some of you have been known to drive me up the wall a bit, but you’re all genuinely good people. While it’s no secret that I have been unhappy with the state of FA for a long time now, some part of me would always hold out hope that things would get better. Unfortunately that part of me has gotten smaller and smaller as the years went on.
I thought things would get better with Darkfall, but they didn’t.
I thought things would get better with The Agency, but they didn’t. (Or didn’t have the chance to.)
I thought things would get better with APB, but they didn’t.
I thought things would get better with The Old Republic, but they didn’t.
I thought things would get better with The Secret World, but they didn’t.
I thought I could make things better with EVE, but I couldn't.
It was year after year after year of seeing hope and anticipation crushed by disappointment. It was exhausting. Clearly many of you are better equipped at dealing with that than I am. Now there is a lot of hope and anticipation surrounding the Oculus Rift. But if history is any indication, I have little reason to believe that the Rift will truly re-ignite this community into something that I could have had real pride in being part of.
And that’s really all I’ve ever wanted. Pride in whatever community I was part of. I was proud to call myself a Furious Angel back when we were rocking the face of The Matrix Online, but I simply have not felt the same way since. And I know that I am not alone in this.
I know from many private conversations over the last few years that there are a number of people here, veterans and non-veterans alike, who feel similar to how I’ve felt. That the “Furious Angels” name carries little weight anymore outside of an historical context, and the social structure of this community is built in such a way that makes it very difficult to enact any needed change. There are multiple reasons for this, and no one person in particular is to blame. But there are FA members here right now who are absolutely not happy with the way things are. And they are hesitant to openly voice their concerns or their ideas for change because they know from history that, though leadership may listen to those concerns and ideas, leadership will not adequately act on those concerns and ideas.
To those of you who are happy, or are at least content with the way things have been and the way they are going, by all means, stay the course. I don’t think FA will see the surge of new recruitment and activity on the level that Tbone is expecting upon the launch of the Rift. But if that is to happen it will require the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of everyone here, and it needs to start sooner rather than later.
To any new members who might be reading this weeks, months, or even years down the line, don’t let these words deter you from being here. It’s entirely possible that The Furious Angels has since become a major pillar of the VR community, in which case you are in good hands.
And to those of you who I’ve spoken with who are not happy with the state of FA, make the simple decision to either stay or leave. Leaving doesn’t have to mean severing the friendships you’ve made here, because we live in a world where the internet exists. There is absolutely nothing keeping Angels and former-Angels from gaming together, except for maybe ego. At any rate, don’t wait for the situation to improve. Take whatever steps you feel are necessary to improve it.
I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time. Even my wife has said she’s noticed a distinct improvement in my attitude since I was removed from FA, and we’re having better sex than we’ve had in weeks. Seriously, this has been good for me. And I think it will prove to be good for this community as well. So thank you.
Maybe look me up in EVE: Valkyrie when it launches. I’d be honored to be on the receiving end of the FA Pain Train for once.
![Smiley :)](http://www.thefuriousangels.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
If anyone would like to keep in touch: manicv@gmail.com
Take care.