I arrived right when Munch's Oddysee was released in the United States. I remember the old Ultimate Bulletin Board (UBB) that was running instead of vBulletin (vB), and the styles in place that were excellent. Sydney and Abe Babe were the only Moderators of General Discussion, Off-Topic Discussion, Employee Lounge and Necrum Burial Grounds. Lampion owned Oddworld Help, and I mean owned! Pilot was shortly made the Moderator of the newly created Spoiler Forum and General Discussion. Dragadon was in charge of Fan Corner and Rettick the Slig was moderator of Oddworld RPG. However, Dragadon was shortly made the Moderator of Oddworld RPG in place of Rettick the Slig. As far as Elum is concerned, I think he was removed from Fan Corner just before I joined.
My first posts were shocking. I spammed, I demanded, and I typed in the most incoherent babble imaginable. As it turns out, I joined the day before my birthday. After being set on the right track by Dark Hood, I decided to open my own Oddworld fansite, and be a generally good member. Back then, I remember that the sense of community was a lot stronger. Over time, for some reason, it has been lost, and I do hope, and am trying, to regain what we once had.
Some trying times were the controversial back and forth arguments members like Rettick the Slig, Pink Mudokon CWR and Statikk HDM. Then there was the split, that occured nearly a year and a half ago. Since then it's been dubbed the OWF / TGA Split. We've all made mistakes, and both Abe Babe and I firmly believe we made a mistake.
Then there was the great time I spent with Abe Babe and Pilot, during the OddTour. It was then that they told me I was going to be made the Moderator of Oddworld Help, to replace Lampion, he had recently stepped down due to lack of time. Shortly after, I was appointed the position of General Discussion Moderator as well. Then, after the OWF / TGA Split, I was made a Super Moderator, where I have stayed since.
During that time, we decided to give the members more freedom and choice. We opened the Forum Suggestions & Help forum, although it was originally titled Forum Suggestions & Feedback. As you can see, before then the forums were strictly run by the Administrators, although their were occasionally some suggestions from staff and members. In some ways, I believe this was a better system of management, as it kept the Oddworld in the Oddworld Forums, more so than now. I think the members of today take for granted their gracious right of freedom and choice, and forget that at one stage it wasn't in effect. I've really tried to keep the Oddworld in the Oddworld Forums, as has Abe Babe, it just seems that the members would rather turn the forums into an all purpose forums. So from time to time, arguments will arise. Which I'll say once again, is another priviledge.
Today, my online time has dropped from the usual all-day stunts. As time goes by, I can only expect that my online time will decline. Why? All the usual reasons
Alcar...