09-23-2023, 03:07 PM
^ I remember working very hard to try and keep the bar for entry very low. We would occasionally have rules gradually creeping in an attempt to regulate away problems that emerged. From time to time when I'd be out exploring other communities I'd come across places with a tightly regulated character and story approval process. If that's what they wanted then fine, but that kind of community was not for me.
.........
In the past decade a narrative about TGC has seemed to emerge that paints our entire history in a negative light. I tend to think this narrative grew pervasive because a number of people who are still actively part of star wars role playing were in fact the ones creating the negativity in the time of TGC's decline. But my memory of TGC is different. Sure, we had some rough patches, even in our "golden era." But TGC memories are overwhelmingly positive.
I loved the lighthearted fun, the fast pace, and the 'sense of place.' TGC, and the factions, were little more than code on a computer. But they felt real, and with the proper application of colors, banners, avatars, signatures and a little imagination they became 'real.' In my head, TGC always looks like Naboo and Otoh Gunga.
The internet is so different today. The technology has lead to a lot of great things, but the increased population and the rise of cookie cutter social platforms/profiles makes it all feel a bit less personal. The level of anger, hate, snark and trolling is off the charts. I know that some people still manage to create thriving communities around their sites/groups/channels... but it also feels like you have to be "cool" to have success. When I set up TGC I was a teenager with a lot of free time and a desire to work hard. It eventually lead to success. It just doesn't feel like that works very often anymore. I have a youtube channel with nearly 4,000 subscribers, and yet a community has never developed around it.
.........
In the past decade a narrative about TGC has seemed to emerge that paints our entire history in a negative light. I tend to think this narrative grew pervasive because a number of people who are still actively part of star wars role playing were in fact the ones creating the negativity in the time of TGC's decline. But my memory of TGC is different. Sure, we had some rough patches, even in our "golden era." But TGC memories are overwhelmingly positive.
I loved the lighthearted fun, the fast pace, and the 'sense of place.' TGC, and the factions, were little more than code on a computer. But they felt real, and with the proper application of colors, banners, avatars, signatures and a little imagination they became 'real.' In my head, TGC always looks like Naboo and Otoh Gunga.
The internet is so different today. The technology has lead to a lot of great things, but the increased population and the rise of cookie cutter social platforms/profiles makes it all feel a bit less personal. The level of anger, hate, snark and trolling is off the charts. I know that some people still manage to create thriving communities around their sites/groups/channels... but it also feels like you have to be "cool" to have success. When I set up TGC I was a teenager with a lot of free time and a desire to work hard. It eventually lead to success. It just doesn't feel like that works very often anymore. I have a youtube channel with nearly 4,000 subscribers, and yet a community has never developed around it.