The thread defending me in the Idiots section really got me thinking. To focus on the negative is human nature, so the occasional "Thank you, Divine!" thread aside, most of the energy that goes into the forums comes out in the form of gripes of one type or another. The air just gets charged with all this negativity, and we take it out on each other rather shamelessly.

It was great in the middle of it all to suddenly see a thread that existed for no other reason than to say, "Exarius isn't such a bad guy as all that." And I got to wondering, would people actually post to it if we had a counterpoint to the Idiots section of the boards, sort of a "Year Book" section, where we just start threads about specific Lusternian friends that we appreciate deeply, and let the "good jobs" and the "thank you"-s accumulate?

Rather than waiting around to see if anything comes of that thought, though, I'm just going to jump in and start. If an actual section seems justified just for it, then this thread could always be moved later.

As the name implies, I'm starting with Isluna.



I have so many great friends here, but Isluna marks a turning point in my life on Lusternia. She was the first real friend I made here after Celaki (who as mentioned elsewhere, had been such a rock for me) left the internet cold turkey and without warning.

As it so happens, that seemed to be a time when everyone I was close to was leaving Lusternia, victims to the holiday curse that causes so much attrition on MUDs in December. Even Ibaesha had dropped suddenly out of contact, and Rhosyn seemed to have disappeared off the face of the basin. I needed a fresh start, and Isluna gave that to me.

She quickly earned my respect through her displays of maturity and wisdom, and she put the fun back into working on my manse and my clothing designs by turning them into a real team effort.

We've had our share of rocky times over the last eight months, mostly thanks to outside pressures, but we always overcome them, determined not to let silly misunderstandings stand between us.

She's a lot of fun and a lot of friend and I'm very glad she's here.

Anyone want to second that?

Um. Not sure I agree with the purpose of the thread.

Isluna was nice to have around as a Talnara though.

We can run through the whole playerbase and suck up to it! Quick, someone make a thread about me!

Or at least, someone I know. Never talked to Isluna.

What? You think bad and controversial things are the only ones worth publicly saying about each other?

I second that Exarius

Then you're welcome not to comment. Geez. Isn't this the exact sort of negativity I was talking about?

They have a whole section devoted to player "affirmations" in the Aetolia forums... and it's odd and unsettling. Yes, people deserve to hear how great they are - privately, from their friends, not as a public display attracting people who feel obligated to chip in. Dunno Isluna, I'm sure she's great.

What negativity?

If you want to comment on just the process, PLEASE start your own thread.

If you want to say you don't know Isluna, PLEASE stifle the urge.

This is just silly.

I don't know Isluna all that well, but when I've interacted with her she's seemed nice.

I wholeheartedly agree that it would be nice to have a counter to the Idiots board. I don't like that there's a whole board for complaining but none for exaulting all the good things. I felt bad complaining all the time in the random rants thread on Idiots cause there are so many great things about the game and here I was only harping on the annoying ones. So I started following each rant with a positive.

I suppose it could be done in General, but then again, couldn't the ranting? If ranting gets its own board, why not this too?

And it doesn't necessarily have to be about certain people all the time.

Er... you commented on how the forums are full of negativity. We're replying to you. This is not a derail.

You... brought up the process in *this* thread. This seems like the best place to discuss it.

Fine. I give up. You missed the point and you want to miss the point.

Lusternia just wants hatred. Go for it.

Not at all. I understand the point. It doesn't seem like TOO bad an idea, but if you're going to discuss a new concept in a thread, expect people to respond to that concept as well as to what you decide to do because of that concept. Thus... if you want people to discuss the concept elsewhere, *make the thread yourself* and move your concept there instead of telling them to do it.

I don't personally know Isluna at all, which makes it hard to have a comment good or bad, but I can say that I'm sorry for Incabulos' behaviour.

I'm sure he was just using it as introductory comments and didn't expect a thread titled "Spotlight on Isluna" to turn into a belittling on the whole idea of shining a spotlight on a friend.

If he had just thrown the thread up about how he think's Isulna's been a good friend and an asset to the game without explaining why, I wonder how many people would have responded along the general lines of "WTF?"

In hindsight, I'm sure he's wishing he'd done it as two threads, but since he didn't, could we stop raining on an innocent by-stander's (i.e., Isluna's) parade and either say something supportive of her or not respond at all?

In that vein, I think Isluna is a cool person and I love going on aetherspace hunts and blowing up beasties with her.

Plus, she's got a wicked sense of humor.



Rhosyn

QFT.

Also, please stop spaming general with all these threads just because more people look at general. If a thread belongs in idiots, put it there, if it belongs in real world, ect.. just place things accordingly not where they'll get the most sound bites.

This...doesn't seem to fit anywhere else than general.

I don't know Isluna, but she sounds lovely.

I have to admit though that I don't like threads centred around one person, for good or bad. A thread that pays homage to a number of different people, each person extolling the good points of who they think deserves it, that would be fine, and maybe a section on Idols (to go with Idiots) would be nice.

I just think that threads targetting one person which have no aim but complimenting them alone accomplish very little but the filling of one's ego. I think if you want to say something nice about another, do so. Opening a whole thread devoted to that one person, with the explicit aim of inviting random opinions from the whole playerbase... it seems both excessive and a little silly.

The intent is entirely a good one though, and its a nice, public, gesture.

Awwww. I am going to say thank you for this sweetness.
Verithrax we have talked, long time ago, when I took trademaster from you, then you left the serenwilde. After a very interesting spit-through-the-teeth congrats from you at that too.

Avaer maybe my painting of Jasper in a dress in your manse/shop will refresh your memory. Isluna still wants that back!

Nejii - was good times there.

Noola your a sweet person, really didn't have a lot of interaction with you true, but eh, I liked you.

Rhosyn I don't know about the wicked sense of humor part, you got me beat there. I don't think I know anyone else as blood thirsty, besides Thernial...

Xenthos-thanks hun. Thanks also for going along with the IG follow through. I was moving my rear after reading Shayle's post, you all just beat me.

And last but not least, Exarius, warm fuzzy hun, the thought matters most here. Most kind, of you my friend.

Turgies -

disturbing