Createblog creates an army!, My first topic in like what? Ages! That's what! Options

[Saeglopur]

You might be wondering a couple of things when you opened this topic. A couple of those things might be, "O RLY?" or "Who the f**k is that?" But after a couple of months of me being MIA, I can proudly say that ... Actually, I don't know what I can proudly say. But! I haven't been here in a while... no, I'm kidding. I lurk. That's right, I watch you reply and go from topic to topic.

Anyway, besides that... You might be wondering why I said Createblog creates an army. I've watched the "evolution" of the members here on Createblog. Now don't get your pantyhose all up in a bunch yet. But I've made an observation. Which is probably the most obvious observation I've ever made... that maybe this topic wasn't worth posting it at all. However, here's my observation: (actually, here's a metaphor-esque statement...) The weak that come in get out stronger. Now, you probably don't know what I mean. Because to put it frankly, I don't know either. No, I mean it.

See. When I was on Createblog long ago, what you're reading here was probably not what I would have EVER written. (Did that makes sense? No, okay.) Let's just say I would never write anything like this when I first signed up for Createblog. Then slowly, the longer I stayed on Createblog, the more I was like the vast majority that posted. Now, I'm not saying that it's a bad thing... but see, here on Createblog, we like maturity. Anyone immature is deemed the village idiot. (Mostly) Everyone hates the member that causes ruckus and can't really spell and yells at you that your opinion is "wrong."

My observations show that people on Createblog change drastically to try and be more accepted by the majority of the members here. Thus little by little people change and become who they are now. I know that doesn't make sense but if you've been here long enough, look at your first post and compare it to your latest. Tell me if it seems like the same person. (Also... there ARE exceptions to this observation. There are people who are still who they were... only meaner. Just kidding! People just... stay the same... if not, just changing by a little.)

But that's it. Anyone else have anything to say?

P.S. The Army reference was just you know... the whole "Power of One" and how like everyone in Createblog struggles to be the one mature person... ack, nevermind. I suck at explaining things. If you get it, good for you. If you don't, it's okay.

[Bonobo]

WOW... just wow. This would have to be THE most intelligent post on CreateBlog I have seen in MONTHS. Glad your back!!!

[iDecay]

K1M!!! I bet you don't remember me.

Any you are totally right. I've seen that happened many times. I'm pretty sure that if I never went on here I still still be like.. l0lz lyke c0mment mah new myspace pizszsz ehehkebekbrn.

[*Libertie*]

Wow. I hate saying this when I respond to topics because it seems so generic and EXPECTED, but Kim, that actually really hit home. Especially this part:

but see, here on Createblog, we like maturity. Anyone immature is deemed the village idiot. (Mostly) Everyone hates the member that causes ruckus and can't really spell and yells at you that your opinion is "wrong."

It's always been like this around here and we've always just ignored it for the most part. It's true, though. Look at the people who get voted up the most in superlatives. Look at the people who do and don't get overlooked and ignored, and look at the people who are constantly getting ridiculed for not using correct grammar and spelling.

I can honestly say that in my posting style I haven't made as much of a change I've seen in other people. However, that's not to say that it didn't happen - I have changed. I wasn't always so concerned with fitting in and being well-liked, etc. As a matter of fact, I was never like this at ALL in high school, and I constantly say that CB is the total high school environment. I'm pretty sure I've never talked about this on the forums, so this may or may not seem like a bit of a surprise, but you know what? For the past (almost) two years I've been working like crazy to fit in around here and it never seems like it's enough. I know other people have felt like this, and it makes me wonder, what's so different about CB that makes people act like this? I have no idea. I do know that it's stressful and that since talking to one person in particular a couple of months ago, I've been working on not being so paranoid. Who knows if that's working, though. :P

[*.fire*]

CONFORMITY FTW!

[/spam]

[datass]

I agree with practically everything, I looked back at the posts I made long ago, and I changed a lot. I even put effort to try and spell the words correct and capitalize the i's and etc. Over the past two years, I tried a lot of things to fit in, I even got AIM just to talk to people on chats. Never seemed to work, so I guess it must have been my maturity level, but I never got to change that a lot, except with the basics (spam, double topics, not searching before creating topics, complain a lot, etc). I tried to be more outgoing, less annoying and not so slow and take effort to type more than a few words, which is very different from when I started.

[Saeglopur]

K1M!!! I bet you don't remember me.

Tina, right?! If I'm wrong, I'm apologizing profusely already.

For the past (almost) two years I've been working like crazy to fit in around here and it never seems like it's enough. I know other people have felt like this, and it makes me wonder, what's so different about CB that makes people act like this? I have no idea. I do know that it's stressful and that since talking to one person in particular a couple of months ago, I've been working on not being so paranoid. Who knows if that's working, though. :P

That's quite funny actually. I always thought everyone (well, mostly everyone) in Createblog looked up to you. Maybe I'm making too big of a generalization... but I really thought since you were one of the older members. (Ahem.) They kind of had respect for you. But then again, I don't know.

CONFORMITY FTW!

[/spam]

Funny. I had a small section about that before I posted the topic... but I thought it wasn't necessary.

[angelrevelation]

Createblog probably changes people, but... If you compare first to most recent posts, it usually means that people have belonged to Cb for awhile. But also, their lives outside of the forum would have changed them too. they just bring it back to here. People are bound to change a lot in two years, especially since the majority of members are teenagers.

[*mona lisa*]

I have definitely become a stronger person with all that I've dealt with on CB. It's not that I was immature but I guess I've become more aware of myself (and my surroundings) as my posts on the forums are the main way a CBer can get to know me. Choosing your words carefully can make a big difference. I'm not sure how many people have been so affected but if it's for the better, great, though I know I'd be a lot less stressed. XD My typing has changed a bit, but I don't think it was solely because I felt I would be more accepted if I typed correctly.

[Saeglopur]

Createblog probably changes people, but... If you compare first to most recent posts, it usually means that people have belonged to Cb for awhile. But also, their lives outside of the forum would have changed them too. they just bring it back to here. People are bound to change a lot in two years, especially since the majority of members are teenagers.

I'm not saying that the change people go through was solely dependent on being on Createblog for so long. But I'm pretty sure there are instances where people can change drastically in a week. But then again, it also depends on how easily influenced you are.

[clarity]

I most definitely agree with you here. I'll admit, now I don't type like a complete fool who trys to type correctly. Plus, I post much stronger stuff then before. And I've cut off on ranting like a complete idot and thinking people agree.

[*TRIBAL*]

hi Kimrobot.(get it? kidrobot, kimrobot) 8^)

I don't know if I ever was like this, but lately I've just been trying to keep it real. A certain somebody keeps saying "You're so mean now" lol. If I'm mean, so be it. Like I said I'm just trying to be real.

[Gigi]

Actually, I don't feel that I've changed at all. If you check my old posts, I'm pretty similar.

I guess the big thing is that I'm not trying to please as many people now. Actually, a more accurate description would be that I don't even care about what people on here think about me. And yes, I lurk too, haha.

[*Uronacid*]

This is true. I have changed a lot. This is a benefit, but it's also a curse.

[*Libertie*]

That's quite funny actually. I always thought everyone (well, mostly everyone) in Createblog looked up to you. Maybe I'm making too big of a generalization... but I really thought since you were one of the older members. (Ahem.) They kind of had respect for you. But then again, I don't know.

I seriously figured I'd post in here and you wouldn't really know who I was. I dunno, though, I've only been on staff for a little over a year so I'm not exactly an older member (especially in comparison to you! :P). I think my biggest thing was that even if I felt like a lot of people liked/respected me, there was still that standard that I was supposed to be living up to and there was always something I should be doing differently. I mean, sure there is, but when you put it that way it just seems so much more stressful to be working towards that "standard"! In any case, I should have been grateful that I had grounded myself so well in the community at that time, because now I feel severely out of touch. >_>

Like I said, though, I'm looking at things differently now (thanks Michael who will more than likely never see this) and I think I've gotten over my cB-related paranoia, sad as that may seem. :P

[HakunaMatata]

Looking at my posting style, I haven't changed all that much, but I've definitely gone through the phases. For the longest time (and really, it continues even know), I've tried to fit in to cB. I get really particular with my words, I think about the implications, and there were times when I'd go through all of my posts with a fine-tooth comb just so nobody would get the wrong idea.

For the most part, I've gotten over that. I'm a lot more care free about that, and that totally is because of Createblog. It's the offensive stuff, the things that someone might react to badly, that I still hesitate to post. Sometimes I water it down, sometimes I don't post it all, or sometimes I rack up the reasonability to just frigging post it.