LogFAQs > #956959823

Has it really been over ten years?

I cant remember how long ago it was when I reserved this topic. Heck, I typed this up weeks before 2499 finished. I wasnt sure what I wanted to make of it, but I think Ill be a little selfish here and talk about myself.

It was July of 2010 when I first went down the rabbit hole. I remember talking about it online with a different friend group on this site. I remember discreetly watching episodes on my iPod touch, or getting up early enough to watch reruns before anyone else was up. I cant describe how I felt back then, but it was a mixture of curiosity, nervousness, and excitement. I quickly found my favorite character to be Pinkie Pie for many reasons, but the most important reason was her dedication to keeping her friends happy.

A few months later, I heard of the topics here on CE. Having never heard of this board beforehand, I started lurking but gradually joined in the discussion. Over time I became a regular in the Generals, and thats when things really started changing quickly. Through my interactions here and with the show, I began a huge introspective journey that completely changed my outlook on many things. I opened myself up to new experiences and relationships that I never imagined would happen. My values and beliefs changed to be much more accepting of others. I faced my own mental health problems and overcame them.

Some of those experiences and relationships were a big part of me understanding my own sexuality, and eventually I had built up enough courage to come out to some people as bisexual. Even now Im still not fully out and Im still asking questions about who I am, but I would have never started asking if it wasnt for this community.

Granted, this wasnt without conflict. I had some pretty toxic traits that stemmed from personal baggage. I was bridging the gap between adolescence and adulthood at this point, so big changes in my personal life occasionally carried over to my demeanor here. And in hindsight most of it was pretty pointless and filled with cringe; But Ive learned to laugh at that and use it as a reminder to myself that I am better than I was.

I still have not seen an episode of MLP or EQG post Season 3 (minus the premiere of S4). I have enough context from pictures and gifs and clips to kind of know what happens from there, but I couldnt tell you much detail. By that point I had gone through my character arc. I made a lot of really good friends, and I learned and changed a lot about myself. Things were starting to wane, especially as my college studies grew more and more prominent in my life. My activity has since dwindled to lurking, mostly engaging on CE at large, but sometimes I pine for the days where we would burn through 3-4 topics in a single day, sometimes more if a new episode aired. We were the talk of this board with how fast things were moving. .

That being said, I think what Ill remember the most here was the sheer number of people who have engaged with the community. The regulars, the lurkers, and the roleplayers alike all brought their own piece to these topics, and made it all special. With almost everyone having moved on since those days, I sometimes wonder how theyre all doing. And, despite any past disagreements or conflicts, I hope theyre all doing well and fulfilling their own dreams and goals. Of course, that goes without saying that SSBBSB/The_Dogfather/John is now gone, and I still grieve for him sometimes. He was a good friend to me, and I sometimes wonder if I was a good enough friend to him. Id like to hope so, but all I can do now is continue to be better for his sake.

Like I said, its been over ten years now. I was a 10th grader in high school, and now Im a grown ass adult. A teacher, at that. And the impact this show and community have had on me now play a big role in how I carry that mantle. I have strong positive relationships with my students, and I use my experiences to help them with their own struggles. Im certain that the kind of person I am would not have developed without the years of being part of this whole phenomenon called My Little Pony.

Thank you for making it this far. It was hard to find the right words, what to say, and what to leave out. I could have gone on for essays worth, but I didnt want to give any one aspect of my time here more than any other. Theres a lot that I can say about the people Ive come to know, the things Ive learned, and what Ive been doing over the past decade, but so much of it is hazy that I might be telling an incomplete story to a bored audience, so Ill let those memories settle.

After all that, is this goodbye? A farewell, perhaps? No, not really. Its a retrospective and not a postmortem after all. Ill still mostly be browsing CE with the occasional lurk in this topic. Theres not much for me to offer here anymore otherwise. Im glad that Ive been a part of this community; And when that day comes where I click on these topics for the last time, itll be like saying goodbye to an old friend.


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Rainbow Dashing: "it's just star wars"
AutumnEspirit: *kissu*