Before I begin, let it be known I do NOT wish to offend anyone. Merely set something straight.

In not only this "Online Group," whether you wish to call it a Clan, an Academy, a Forum or anything else that fits. But in 99% of these things I've noticed something that really grinds my gears. And that is people getting booty hurt, and hostile towards members who are inactive, or have been inactive.

OBVIOUSLY I have plenty of first hand experience with this. I'm a bit known for spurts of disappearance. However, that does NOT give ANYONE the write to give me the third degree when I return. I've also seen this happen WHILE I was active. In regard to another member whom had been missing.

People like to talk and gossip. So when someone isn't there, that turns into speculation, and then hostility. YOU as a person reading this need to understand this process of missing someone, and check your own emotions before they get out of hand.

Again, I'm not angry, just a bit concerned, and not only for this place but I'm also referring to other sites, which I LEFT and will not join again due to the fact if you were not only every damn day the leader basically shunned you...


Folks. This is the internet. I'm sitting in a chair, and looking at a LCD screen. That's all any of you are to me. sorry, but its the truth. First of all, I'm a visual learner, meaning since I have no real face to associate with you, you people would have a VERY hard time earning my trust compared to a flesh and blood person in real life.

Of course I know you ARE real people. And yes, I love you guys. It's just when given the choice, I will always choose the real world. And I actually believe this is the way you should ALL be.

In conclusion. The anonymous nature of the internet means you cannot (without severely being a creeper and diving into my personal life via satellite camera of something) you CANNOT know why I was gone. Maybe I Wrecked my car recently. (Yep) Or maybe I'm having more family problems, and my step dad threatened to call the cops on me (again, true story) or maybe my internet is just shitty cuz I live in the middle of no where and I just got my computer fixed and a virus and malware protection installed on it.

But regardless of the reason. I am ENTITLED to being able to leave. I realize if I do so I cannot continue to hold any sort of Staff position. But grinding me about where and why I was gone is NOT the way to welcome me back, or get me to want to come back anymore.


SO! The next time you begin to wonder where that missing member went off to? DONT! It's literally none of your business. . Chill out, and offer them a duel when they return! THAT! Is what will make ODA stand above all the rest.

Ja Mata.

Ventriloquist wrote:

Folks. This is the internet. I'm sitting in a chair, and looking at a LCD screen. That's all any of you are to me. sorry, but its the truth.

That. Fully agree.

One thing you need to realize: Most people do not think that way, hence they will behave like they know you personally, like they have a reason to care about you and a reason to ask you for explanations. They cared about you, or at least that is what they tell themselves, maybe they befriended you, even if you didn't realize. If a friend of yours would be gone for quite a while, wouldn't you ask him "where have you been mate?". It is not a wish for justification but much rather a way of implicitly expressing that they wondered where you have been and they somewhat missed you. Sounds very emotional, but I am talking on a way more basic level. If you get used to certain people, you will notice when they suddenly vanish.
Short: Many people here consider you to be more than a screen and when they ask you for your whereabouts, it isn't hostility, it is quite the opposite. Don't expect those guys to welcome you like you were never gone, because you were and to them apparently it matters.
Do I agree with these people? No. Not at all.

As far as Pride's crying about how you have been to other academies: Everyone is free to frequent whatever site he feels like frequenting. If Vent feels more comfortable at XDA, it is not your place to judge or in this case actually ask for justification. It is up to him, not to you and if you get pissed because he prefers another site over the one you prefer, you suck as a person.
Why he should have the need to "fix" anything, I don't understand. It isn't like her personally attacked or offended you. He let the site down a few times, when he vanished in times he was needed, but in the end, it is just another site and he had his "punishment" in form of beeing demoted and beeing treated fairly cold.

Gallows wrote:

Ventriloquist wrote:

Folks. This is the internet. I'm sitting in a chair, and looking at a LCD screen. That's all any of you are to me. sorry, but its the truth.

That. Fully agree.

One thing you need to realize: Most people do not think that way, hence they will behave like they know you personally, like they have a reason to care about you and a reason to ask you for explanations. They cared about you, or at least that is what they tell themselves, maybe they befriended you, even if you didn't realize. If a friend of yours would be gone for quite a while, wouldn't you ask him "where have you been mate?". It is not a wish for justification but much rather a way of implicitly expressing that they wondered where you have been and they somewhat missed you. Sounds very emotional, but I am talking on a way more basic level. If you get used to certain people, you will notice when they suddenly vanish.
Short: Many people here consider you to be more than a screen and when they ask you for your whereabouts, it isn't hostility, it is quite the opposite. Don't expect those guys to welcome you like you were never gone, because you were and to them apparently it matters.
Do I agree with these people? No. Not at all.

As far as Pride's crying about how you have been to other academies: Everyone is free to frequent whatever site he feels like frequenting. If Vent feels more comfortable at XDA, it is not your place to judge or in this case actually ask for justification. It is up to him, not to you and if you get pissed because he prefers another site over the one you prefer, you suck as a person.
Why he should have the need to "fix" anything, I don't understand. It isn't like her personally attacked or offended you. He let the site down a few times, when he vanished in times he was needed, but in the end, it is just another site and he had his "punishment" in form of beeing demoted and beeing treated fairly cold.

+1. Brah, I agree 100%

Ok ok, let me reiterate. I am NOT trying to offend. Rather, educate.

Gallows, thanks for pointing out the fact that indeed most people DO become attached to one another online. I suppose, when thinking about all this I DO need to take into account their views as well as my own.

Personally, I might have been a bit extreme in what I said earlier. Because honestly, OF COURSE I have feeling for most of you. They might range from respecting you as a duelist and/or writer, to actually thinking to myself. "Hey, that guy is really cool, and I would love to know him IRL and hang out." It is at this point most people, like Gallows said, form a friendship or bond.


I will admit to having these feelings for a few people. And that's one reason I Love this site.

Finally, let me finish by talking on 2 points.

1. I haven't been on XDA in a long time either, and even if I stopped by, I do NOT have any recent activity as far as posting or participating in any events. There WAS a time when I was active there, and not here. But that came down to the simple fact XDA had a few activities I wanted to participate in whilst ODA was slow. In my mind, I fully intended to divide my time BETWEEN the two academies, but as many good plans go. It did not work out that way.


2. Now, secondly I'm not acting booty hurt over this. Or even being really emotional. Im also not gripping at people who ask how I have been, or even where I have been. I should have made that more obvious in my original post. So lets set this straight shall we?

The thing that annoys me is a blatant and OBVIOUS attitude of annoyiance TOWARDS me JUST BECAUSE IVE BEEN BUSY! Rather than get a "Vent? Where you been man?" I get this.... a lot. " Oh... Hi Vent. See you decided to show up /sigh/"

See the difference? One, is concerned, and excited even to see me. The other, seems to have ... forgotten me might be a good word.

No I have a better description.


Let the record show. IF YOU ACT LIKE MY EX GIRL FRIEND (or anyone's ex for that matter) JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN GONE.... Like Gallows said then that makes you a terrible person.



In closing. If I have hurt anyone's feelings. Either with my absence, or with these rants. I have this to say.

I am, honestly sorry. I do try, and I will continue to do so. Just, guys. Im 23. Not 12. Not 16. Im not in highschool. I am at a crossroads in life and things get HARD on a daily basis when your trying to map out the rest of your life. Please be understanding in the future, and if you cannot. If you cannot help but get booty hurt, and act awkward when I come around. Then, you are OBVIOUSLY not my friend. And you WILL continue to be NOTHING but a screen to me. So, either get over it and lets be mates. Or else Leave. Me. Alone.


Nuff Said.

Ja Mata.

Babe you hurt me. But my undying love for you gets me through the tough times. I'm here for you always. And i swear, by the moon and the stars in the sky, I'll be there......

Lolz.

Honestly, why even talk about all of this in the first place? It is just simple things that should be known and are requirements to "make and keep friends". Just don't talk about each other behind their backs. End of story.