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Aug 15, 2003, 1:34am

Two years ago, I wrote an edition of StVMP for AWNews where I described
my first experience in AW. I described how I was filled with awe as I
watched scenes download around me, and felt compelled to explore this
new frontier whenever possible. It was this feeling that drove me to do
whatever I could to try and help solve AW's problems, so other people
wouldn't have to worry about them and be as I was: someone cheerfully
lost in a virtual world.

I then ended that opinion piece with the following paragraph:
"There are days where I think of trying to go back to those days of
wandering: Abandon UTN, abandon AWNews, abandon the hoards of telegrams
and contacts, leave behind all the rhetoric and flames of the
newsgroups, get a new account, and simply wander off into the sunset.rwx
in search of my next big adventure. That, I think, would be a very
fitting ending indeed..."

Well, folks, that day has finally arrived. After two years, I've made it
painfully obvious to myself that there's really nothing I can do to help
stave off AW's problems. The only person who can do that is Rick Noll,
and he has made it painfully obvious that he isn't able, or willing, to
do what it takes to fix said problems.

As for me, I'm just tired. Tired of feeling forced to help a community
that apparently has no interest in helping itself. Tired of depending on
undependable people. Tired of watching people who are more interested in
destroying each other than helping each other. And most of all, I'm
tired of myself making empty promises that I know I can't keep.

And so, today it all ends. Universal Town Network will be dropping off
the face of the Net as Computerizer (UTN's host) wipes his web space in
the coming weeks. The HQs will remain open, but will no longer be
updated. The AWNews.org domain will expire on Sept. 19th, and the AWNews
webspace will be shut down shortly thereafter. If anyone really wants to
take on these projects in my place, feel free to contact me in AW (don't
bother contacting me through the NGs, as I won't be reading them
anymore), but considering the current demeanor of the community, I doubt
I will find any serious takers.

And as for me, I'm going to get back to what I should have been doing
since I got here way back in 1996: building, exploring, and enjoying
other people's hard work. After all, I know all too well the toils of a
thankless job, so it's time I started thanking others for theirs.

Farewell, AW Community. It was fun while it lasted.

--
Goober King

Aug 15, 2003, 3:13am

Oh Goobs, even if I have pissed you off in the past, I do fully understand
:) Mine stopped this week. I'm just waiting on some confirmations before I
walk the long walk. There is a lot more that goes on in the community behind
the scenes that folks don't see that actually should be posted so everybody
understands. I do have to admit you gave it your full best and are highly
respected to the utmost in my books. Here is some Golddust for your Good
Luck.
Job Well Done Goober King!
Weebo

[View Quote]

Aug 15, 2003, 4:15am

I've always said the reason so many "old timers" are jaded to AW because
they are no longer 'playing' aw, they become so wrapped up in so many
little groups, comitties, event teams and so forth that they have no time or
energy to do what aw is ment for. Building.. chatting.. exploring. Yeah
it's nice to spend a bit of time now and then helping put together a fun
little event, or maybe writing a little news paper now and again, but when
you become SO wrapped up in such things AW loses its charm.

I've been here since ooo about late 95 or so, can't remember, not one of
those people who uses years in AW as an answer to arguments, and every now
and then I'll lose interest for a month or two, maybe even short of year,
but I've never had this feeling of impending doom, of death. When I came to
AW I built in alpha, quickly moving onto one of the first batches of
private worlds I was in awe of what could be done when not limited by a
static path. I then gave world owning a shot, learnt modeling and have
been refining that for the last 2 years. I always have a feeling there is
something new to do, something new to build or model, some new level I can
take my skills of creative impression.

Never stop creating, its what AW is for. I've noticed the people out there
trying new stuff and growing are the ones optimistic about AW, and the ones
wrapped up in silly organisations or have refused to move on from alpha
world since they first became a citizen are often the nay sayers. I know
I'm often quite negative and snarky in AW, but ever day when I come in here
I always feel like I'm just scratching the surface, like I'm still exploring
something new.

My advise to anyone feeling like goob is, or just bored with aw in general,
do the following.



If you've been building mainly only in Alpha for more than a year or two.
Move onto a new public build world, and even if they are available, try not
to use any of the alpha world objects you are familiar with. Learn a whole
new path! I'd recomend the Beans, an excelent public build world that
doesn't look like flat shit.

If you've been mainly building in a public build world other than alpha,
try moving onto a private build world. There are SO many new creative
opportunities when the owner will upload new things for your request and you
don't have to worry about object registries and the building inspector.

If you've done that, get your own world. But do NOT use the alpha world
path, megapath at the least, or if you can get your own. Once again, move
away from objects you are familiar with. Learn something new.

If you've got quite a few building sets under your belt and your own world.
Learn to model. It takes some time, I strongly recomend knowing how to
atleast make the basics in notepad, then if you want use a modeling
program.. but know what is going on "under the hood". Make some of your own
objects to add to your path.

Once you've got enough experiance, this is when AW gets REALLY creative.
Wipe your path, and make your own pretty much from scratch. Borrow here
and there from fellow modelers, the odd free site, but try to avoid any
public or common objects. Do something new, creative.

Then what? Do it again! Wipe your path, use your experiance and make an
even better one! Now maybe learn how to program bots and such. Perhaps
undertake a small game. Do something creative, not just another
"paintball" or bland fantasy rpg.

Next? Keep going! Find something you don't know how to do and refine it!


Many people I know in AW that have been here for 4-5+ years are still stuck
on the first step. They complain AW is boring.. dying.. not as exciting as
they used to be, but if anyone sugests they move on from alpha? They freak
out saying you can be just as creative in alpha as any other world blagh
blagh denial BS. No one in Active worlds has the right to nay say and rant
about how there's nothing to do and it's boring untill they've been up down
the lader atleast twice. I'm barely at the 2nd from last stage on the list
and every time I log in I'm overwealmed with a feeling of freeshness,
growth, energy. Maybe so many of you people's problem isn't with AW but
with doing the same damn thing too long, or being wrapped up in so much
useless comitee garbage you can't even do stage one!!

If you are reading this, you have more patience that me.

Aug 15, 2003, 6:07am

So when're you moving to making bots? ;)

--
--Bowen--

No of SETI units returned: 69
Processing time: 57 days, 10 hours.
(Total hours: 1378)
www.setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu

Aug 15, 2003, 2:45pm

I totally agree with you Baro. AW should be a place for never ending
creativity and self improvement. We have enough committees and politics in
RL. AW has sooooooo many wonderful builds in every world, but there is
always someone coming along who creates something different and amazing. For
years I've wanted to learn how to model but lack the time in RL to learn it
and practice it. I hope somebody reading your post gets the inspiration to
learn modeling and create more exciting things or at least provide those new
models for others to create fantastic builds. Weebo, if you're reading this,
you have a terrific imagination and I believe you'd do great at modeling.
You have the foresight and the creative juices to amaze all of us. I think
you should hold onto your world and let your dreams flow. The hell with
problem solving. ;-"D


[View Quote]

Aug 15, 2003, 3:36pm

One of these days. I know a bit of the ol VB, I tried learning ita couple
years ago. When I went back I didn't remember a thing. If I had bots under
my belt (or even knew how to make anything other than a preston LOGIN) look
out aw!

[View Quote]

Aug 15, 2003, 3:48pm

[View Quote] When your fingers landed on the two keys V and B to form an acronym... I
cried.

--
--Bowen--

No of SETI units returned: 69
Processing time: 57 days, 10 hours.
(Total hours: 1378)
www.setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu

Aug 15, 2003, 5:41pm

I have been modeling since modeling classes were offered to the general
public.
I have also been programming since the late 70's. In my day, it was hard to
find a modeler that could program using lisp. As I told somebody in an
email, I have been building computers also since the first high speed data
aquisition device. See if you can find anybody that knows how to "wire a
chip".
Have a nice day.
Weebo
[View Quote]

Aug 15, 2003, 6:02pm

BB raises his hand....I still got my wirewrap tool...:) though I much prefer my current breadboard...:)

Leo :)


[View Quote]

Aug 15, 2003, 8:24pm

I always thought that was the best article you've ever wrote, i myself feel
the same. I remember my days being a new tourist and citizen, this place was
so amazing. But not it's a different feeling, it doesnt excite me as it did
then.

Goober King AW will be a much lesser place without you. Best of luck to you
in the future, on whatever you may do.

--
Brock - Just lost another person to look up to.


[View Quote]

Aug 16, 2003, 3:11am

Goober,

Sorry to hear you are stopping your contributions to what is left of
the community. I myself continue with my bot. Not because of the AW
developpers staff, which since Roland and Nelson left, have not
deigned to have a decent dialog with external programmers like me...
but because, being unmarried and childless, my bot is my way of
seeding fruit. A fruit I hope others enjoy.

I, as many others, am deeply disappointed in the AW staff. Their
perception of what they owe to the virtual community is deep below
zero. In financial and moral sense. But there are many things you
can still enjoy here, and I hope you will.

Wish you luck,
Alex


On 14 Aug 2003 23:34:51 -0400, "goober king" <awnews at awnews.org>
[View Quote] >Two years ago, I wrote an edition of StVMP for AWNews where I described
>my first experience in AW. I described how I was filled with awe as I
>watched scenes download around me, and felt compelled to explore this
>new frontier whenever possible. It was this feeling that drove me to do
>whatever I could to try and help solve AW's problems, so other people
>wouldn't have to worry about them and be as I was: someone cheerfully
>lost in a virtual world.
>
>I then ended that opinion piece with the following paragraph:
>"There are days where I think of trying to go back to those days of
>wandering: Abandon UTN, abandon AWNews, abandon the hoards of telegrams
>and contacts, leave behind all the rhetoric and flames of the
>newsgroups, get a new account, and simply wander off into the sunset.rwx
>in search of my next big adventure. That, I think, would be a very
>fitting ending indeed..."
>
>Well, folks, that day has finally arrived. After two years, I've made it
>painfully obvious to myself that there's really nothing I can do to help
>stave off AW's problems. The only person who can do that is Rick Noll,
>and he has made it painfully obvious that he isn't able, or willing, to
>do what it takes to fix said problems.
>
>As for me, I'm just tired. Tired of feeling forced to help a community
>that apparently has no interest in helping itself. Tired of depending on
>undependable people. Tired of watching people who are more interested in
>destroying each other than helping each other. And most of all, I'm
>tired of myself making empty promises that I know I can't keep.
>
>And so, today it all ends. Universal Town Network will be dropping off
>the face of the Net as Computerizer (UTN's host) wipes his web space in
>the coming weeks. The HQs will remain open, but will no longer be
>updated. The AWNews.org domain will expire on Sept. 19th, and the AWNews
>webspace will be shut down shortly thereafter. If anyone really wants to
>take on these projects in my place, feel free to contact me in AW (don't
>bother contacting me through the NGs, as I won't be reading them
>anymore), but considering the current demeanor of the community, I doubt
>I will find any serious takers.
>
>And as for me, I'm going to get back to what I should have been doing
>since I got here way back in 1996: building, exploring, and enjoying
>other people's hard work. After all, I know all too well the toils of a
>thankless job, so it's time I started thanking others for theirs.
>
>Farewell, AW Community. It was fun while it lasted.

Aug 16, 2003, 9:43am

Where are these "modeling classes" ... I've been trying to find a mentor I
can torment .... errrrr, learn from .... I would love to learn modeling and
make my own avs. Can anyone point me to these "classes" or anyone want a
student?

LNH



[View Quote]

Aug 16, 2003, 9:49am

Agreed there, at least for the most part.
[View Quote]

Aug 17, 2003, 4:16am

"can be just as creative in alpha as any other world blagh blagh denial BS"

Creativity is ideas, not what you're given to work with. :) If people want
to do something other than AW, more power to em, but I find that I can be
just as creative in AW as well as in any other world. The only difference
is just what you're given to work with and the type of creativity involved.
You can make your own creativity by building your own world, and that would
be the next step above AW in my humble opinion. And I think that's what
you're ultimately trying to say. Bravo.

Chris


[View Quote]

Aug 17, 2003, 4:24am

Looking forward to actually seeing you "in world" now. :)

Chris

[View Quote]

Aug 24, 2003, 6:31pm

i know this is a bit late of a response, but good job GK

I abandoned my posts as well (other then AWDebate, but i just go there to
chat now, heh, the bot pretty much does the rest of the work for me)

and aside from realizing how terribly coordinated a lot of the organizations
are, and how harassing some of the cits can be, and how they like to team up
on people, where within their group harassment is alllowed, but outside of
their group, they all freak out on people for rebutle. but anyway - AW is a
lot more enjoyable when it's on your own time and not someone elses.

[View Quote]

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