Post by $Visigoth on Apr 14, 2006 2:07:18 GMT
SolidSnakeDesigns: Hello Eternity, tell me, when you first came to SSD what were your thoughts?
Eternity: I was overwhelmed with the amount of activity there was on the forums, loads and loads of people all making different threads. It was so hard to keep up. I was also amazed at how friendly everyone was, everyone was out to help me and that was a nice feeling. I was also in awe about how awesome the v2 template was. I'd never seen anything like it and I remember feeling proud to belong to a forum that looked like that.
SSD: Tell me, do you think that this aura that SSD portrayed in Version 2 continues today?
E: Some what. There isn't the sheer mass of activity there was back then (either that or my ability to cope with the sheer amount of threads has improved) but there is still the same friendliness and urge to help that there was back then. And of course, the pride of belonging to such a great looking board has always remained. Also, SSD is still the one most people point you in the direction of if you need help, which is great.
SSD: I see: there are certain points in SSD's history that really defined what we stood for and our strength as a community. In your opinion what are some of these events which challenged our strength and changed our community as we know it?
E: Its difficult to say. Some events challenged SSD, but to be honest, SSD has overcome them with the help of it's excellent staff and members, obviously having to change as a result, but change is never a bad thing in these situations. Personally, I think the trouble with the image requests board had a huge impact. It wasn't necessarily understood by all why it was decided to remove the board but the change has obviously been for the better. The number of "snatch and grab" members (those who joined, got their requests and left straight after) have decreased, with those who originally were those type of members now sticking around for the community and discussion. SSD isn't a free image/code board anymore, it's much much more, encouraging members to take up coding/graphic arts and helping them to improve, always giving encouragement and support in an effort to make you better. That's the selfless community that we have here, now more than ever. The willingness to help has increased tenfold and SSD is better for it.
SSD: I see you're a SSD patriot, well the point of this interview is to see how you feel about the developement of SSD, and there are certain periods of time which defined SSD. So I will go through certain periods of time and I want you to tell me what you feel shaped our community the most in this time period, starting with the creation of SSD Version 3.
E: Well obviously that was another awesome skin (I think most people believe this is the best version). Other boards were still struggling to match SSD in design at this point though the gap was lowering every day. It set off a series of copycats, everyone trying to make thier board look similar, orbs were all over the proboards community and people were obsessed with wires. The number of members also rocketed at this point, with SSD becoming more and more the pinacle of design and code support. Though it's not always true that the design of a website/message-board makes it what it is, it certainly does help.
SSD: January 2004.
E: Haha, why so specific? Hmm, you'll have to help me out here. E isn't good with dates.
SSD: The Stealth Era in specific.
E: Ahhhh well, I'll try to keep this uncontroversial I know a few people believe he has changed, I however still remain hesitant to trust him after all the trouble he caused. He was a great member in the beginning but I think his desire to please overcame him. He claimed several signatures that he had not made to be his own, and got into a few fights trying to deny this. He was banned but kept returning, only to post vulgar material on the forums which I had to remove before he finally stopped coming back. It was quite an interesting time but I don't think SSD suffered for it. He caused a lot of trouble yes but thats about it. I believe he has changed now, but like I said before, I am hesitant to let my guard down when it comes to Stealth.
SSD: Hmm, I do not mean to get touchy, and if you feel that you do not wish to answer this question you do not have to, but how about the time which you gave up your global moderator spot on SSD.
E: I don't know how that affected SSD really. It left the admins in a tough position and I really regret not talking things over with them to give them time to find a suitable replacement. I was under a lot of stress at the time with the graphics request board and the few individuals that wanted to ruin it for the others. I had run the board on my own for a very long time at this point and the addition of new moderators to help me wasn't relieving that pressure. I just wanted it to end really so felt deleting my account was the only way. I of course realise now that that view was wrong, the staff would've wanted to help me sort out my problems and I was wrong to think I was on my own. I'm just glad and so very happy that Ollie let me have another chance. I do enjoy being a g-mod.
SSD: Very interesting, now I want to know your feelings on most likely the biggest event in SSD history: Ash, Alan, and Peter leaving the forum.
E: I was in shock to be honest. Alan, Ash and Peter were such a huge part of the forum, I never expected them to leave. I guess that was selfish, they of course needed to think about their lives and moved on when they felt the time was right, it would have been wrong to ask them to stay. Many people thought this would be the death of SSD, its founding member, the best known coder on proboards and one of the best designers all leaving within a short time of each other. But the forum was left in the hands of the best, and now SSD is stronger than ever.
SSD: It sure is, and now on more recent terms. Urban Cinderella dropping her administrative spot on the forum.
E: Another great big shock. I have no idea the reasons behind her leaving though I trust very much her decision. She felt it was the right time, and we must all support her in her decision. SSD has lost one of its most caring, trust worthy and loved admins. We should all wish her luck and good fortune, I'm sure you'll all agree that she deserves it.
SSD: And now, a question i'm sure many members are waiting to read. How do you feel life at SSD will change with the release of version 6?
E: Well, the first thing I have to say (without giving anything away of course) is that there will be the same buzz as with the other templates. SSD has always done something new and exciting with their templates and V6 will be no different. I don't think it will change in any major way however, the member count will go up, as will activity. But there will still be the same awesome atmosphere and amazing staff and members that SSD has always had and will always have.
SSD: Eternity, in one word, and only one word, Describe the developement of SSD.
E: "upwards" if that makes any sense.
SSD: Well it was great speaking with you Eternity, thanks for your time.
E: Thank you for the interview. Challenging questions, I hope I answered them well.
Eternity is the ideal SSD patriot. She stands for everything we stand for and i'm sure she will be playing a vital role in the changes during the next few months.
Eternity: I was overwhelmed with the amount of activity there was on the forums, loads and loads of people all making different threads. It was so hard to keep up. I was also amazed at how friendly everyone was, everyone was out to help me and that was a nice feeling. I was also in awe about how awesome the v2 template was. I'd never seen anything like it and I remember feeling proud to belong to a forum that looked like that.
SSD: Tell me, do you think that this aura that SSD portrayed in Version 2 continues today?
E: Some what. There isn't the sheer mass of activity there was back then (either that or my ability to cope with the sheer amount of threads has improved) but there is still the same friendliness and urge to help that there was back then. And of course, the pride of belonging to such a great looking board has always remained. Also, SSD is still the one most people point you in the direction of if you need help, which is great.
SSD: I see: there are certain points in SSD's history that really defined what we stood for and our strength as a community. In your opinion what are some of these events which challenged our strength and changed our community as we know it?
E: Its difficult to say. Some events challenged SSD, but to be honest, SSD has overcome them with the help of it's excellent staff and members, obviously having to change as a result, but change is never a bad thing in these situations. Personally, I think the trouble with the image requests board had a huge impact. It wasn't necessarily understood by all why it was decided to remove the board but the change has obviously been for the better. The number of "snatch and grab" members (those who joined, got their requests and left straight after) have decreased, with those who originally were those type of members now sticking around for the community and discussion. SSD isn't a free image/code board anymore, it's much much more, encouraging members to take up coding/graphic arts and helping them to improve, always giving encouragement and support in an effort to make you better. That's the selfless community that we have here, now more than ever. The willingness to help has increased tenfold and SSD is better for it.
SSD: I see you're a SSD patriot, well the point of this interview is to see how you feel about the developement of SSD, and there are certain periods of time which defined SSD. So I will go through certain periods of time and I want you to tell me what you feel shaped our community the most in this time period, starting with the creation of SSD Version 3.
E: Well obviously that was another awesome skin (I think most people believe this is the best version). Other boards were still struggling to match SSD in design at this point though the gap was lowering every day. It set off a series of copycats, everyone trying to make thier board look similar, orbs were all over the proboards community and people were obsessed with wires. The number of members also rocketed at this point, with SSD becoming more and more the pinacle of design and code support. Though it's not always true that the design of a website/message-board makes it what it is, it certainly does help.
SSD: January 2004.
E: Haha, why so specific? Hmm, you'll have to help me out here. E isn't good with dates.
SSD: The Stealth Era in specific.
E: Ahhhh well, I'll try to keep this uncontroversial I know a few people believe he has changed, I however still remain hesitant to trust him after all the trouble he caused. He was a great member in the beginning but I think his desire to please overcame him. He claimed several signatures that he had not made to be his own, and got into a few fights trying to deny this. He was banned but kept returning, only to post vulgar material on the forums which I had to remove before he finally stopped coming back. It was quite an interesting time but I don't think SSD suffered for it. He caused a lot of trouble yes but thats about it. I believe he has changed now, but like I said before, I am hesitant to let my guard down when it comes to Stealth.
SSD: Hmm, I do not mean to get touchy, and if you feel that you do not wish to answer this question you do not have to, but how about the time which you gave up your global moderator spot on SSD.
E: I don't know how that affected SSD really. It left the admins in a tough position and I really regret not talking things over with them to give them time to find a suitable replacement. I was under a lot of stress at the time with the graphics request board and the few individuals that wanted to ruin it for the others. I had run the board on my own for a very long time at this point and the addition of new moderators to help me wasn't relieving that pressure. I just wanted it to end really so felt deleting my account was the only way. I of course realise now that that view was wrong, the staff would've wanted to help me sort out my problems and I was wrong to think I was on my own. I'm just glad and so very happy that Ollie let me have another chance. I do enjoy being a g-mod.
SSD: Very interesting, now I want to know your feelings on most likely the biggest event in SSD history: Ash, Alan, and Peter leaving the forum.
E: I was in shock to be honest. Alan, Ash and Peter were such a huge part of the forum, I never expected them to leave. I guess that was selfish, they of course needed to think about their lives and moved on when they felt the time was right, it would have been wrong to ask them to stay. Many people thought this would be the death of SSD, its founding member, the best known coder on proboards and one of the best designers all leaving within a short time of each other. But the forum was left in the hands of the best, and now SSD is stronger than ever.
SSD: It sure is, and now on more recent terms. Urban Cinderella dropping her administrative spot on the forum.
E: Another great big shock. I have no idea the reasons behind her leaving though I trust very much her decision. She felt it was the right time, and we must all support her in her decision. SSD has lost one of its most caring, trust worthy and loved admins. We should all wish her luck and good fortune, I'm sure you'll all agree that she deserves it.
SSD: And now, a question i'm sure many members are waiting to read. How do you feel life at SSD will change with the release of version 6?
E: Well, the first thing I have to say (without giving anything away of course) is that there will be the same buzz as with the other templates. SSD has always done something new and exciting with their templates and V6 will be no different. I don't think it will change in any major way however, the member count will go up, as will activity. But there will still be the same awesome atmosphere and amazing staff and members that SSD has always had and will always have.
SSD: Eternity, in one word, and only one word, Describe the developement of SSD.
E: "upwards" if that makes any sense.
SSD: Well it was great speaking with you Eternity, thanks for your time.
E: Thank you for the interview. Challenging questions, I hope I answered them well.
Eternity is the ideal SSD patriot. She stands for everything we stand for and i'm sure she will be playing a vital role in the changes during the next few months.
