ALRIGHT, EVERYONE, GROUP CUDDLE PUDDLE, NOW! *glomps everyone*


First off I want to say that I love everyone on this page and everyone not on this page. I look up to everyone on this site because all of you are AWESOME. I may not SAY it but I THINK it. Kay?

If I don't comment on art it's because I'm gushing and can't type out something right, mhm. Because really, all the art on here, it's luffleable. <3

I'm sorry if this post seemed snappy, or short, but I LOVE YOU GUYS. D:

And you need to know it. *not letting go until everyone joins in the group cuddle puddle*

This is great

Sometimes, I'm afraid to post because I think I'll get into a fight or something. But this site shows none of that.
This site has helped me with my anxiety, which I have quite some of. Thank you all.

I'm so afraid that one day, someone's going to some here and post something horrible. That this wonderful, and kind website will be turned into a place full of trolls laughing at us. I don' t want that to happen!

But when it did- there was a post recently- you guys handled it so well. I'm so proud of you guys

I can't say I know what it's like to know someone here that had to leave. I'm still kind of new, and younger than most of the people here, I think.... but I know what's it's like to left out. It hurts more than anything.

So from now on, I promise to try and post on more blogs. Here, everybody cares.

And now I'll continue Brooks hug post. MEGAGLOMP.

I love you guys. Three cheers for TEF!

Poppy, I LOVE seeing your posts around! You're ALWAYS just so darned positive. <3

So...I really like this thread, and all of the words said on it. So much love makes me happy ♥

I definitely fall into the category of lurker-ninjas. I love everything shared on this site, whether it's a new character, art, writing, or anything like that...though I'm usually too shy or just plain weird about commenting to say so. It drives me crazy, and I'm trying to step out of my shell little by little. Honestly such a tight-knit community like this is kind of intimidating from the outside, and though I feel better about being part of it I still tend to stick with people I know. Even with said people, sometimes I'll feel like I'm intruding or butting my way into something that's already been established, especially concerning characters or RPs/plots. Especially the ones that have been around for a while.

But...I love you all, I really do. And TEF has helped set free my muse like few other things ever have. Even if I'm horrid at expressing my admiration for the users on this site and come across as weird or awkward or cold, I feel really fortunate to have stumbled across such a wonderful, weird, talented group of people <333

It just seems that lot of us just need to be less afraid of communication...one more thing to relate to each other, I suppose~ :'D

I agree, commenting and interaction is what makes a community work. Commenting more, even just to say, hey this is cool, I like this, is awesome. One of the things I always like about this community was how active and friendly it seemed. I admit I don’t comment as much as I once did, part of it is that I feel many folks likely don’t care to hear from me.

To address what Ravyn said above, I do read every comment I receive and do appreciate the time and effort it took to make. Just not always able to answer.

Guilty.. guilty,guilty.. and another guilty. :'D
I'm scared to post anything anywhere now actually.
Though I have been stalking a few people I meet in the game. When I prance around with them I try to find their bio's and comment. Though I'm not the best at it because I get so jumbled up when everyone clusters in small groups. I wish we had a zoom in on the map.

Choco: I'm the same way... x.x

..................................My friend's nickname is Kit-Kat irl WHAT ARE YOU? D<
ROFL sorry

I'm very glad to hear this <3
I know many admire our things from afar, and it's not just us but anyone here. Manymany people are being silently admired here but the thing is, they wouldn't know if no one told them?
Everyone loves comments and feedback on their things. That's why they post it here in the first place. Every comment is appreciated, it doesn't have to even be any long one to let the person know they're liked here. And in the end, it's an easy way to make a person feel happy and appreciated, it's sad how many people have been feeling lonely and unwanted here.

I'm also happy to see this topic up. I'm sure this will improve things here, make people maybe think and more easily take the step ahead to comment and interact. At least it made me think I should give some of my time here again. 8>

... I get the message. Thanks for posting, cic.


.

I'm new here, but I totally agree with what you said.

People here are really nice, and it's not always the same on other forums or websites ... So why to be shy ? .

I do my best to participate here, and reply to other adorable people <3.

I'm exactly the kind of person that normally wouldn't reply to a post like this. eh. I agree with everything said here.

I'm so glad this is still being discussed.
There's so much I could say to each and every one of you...I'll give that a try once my work is finished. <3 Sadly, it takes precedence right now...


But to Aranyani-
Words really are hard. I can't tell you just how true that is to me. I myself struggled for years until I just gave up and started belting out things. Sure, they didn't turn out pretty or clear. But people stepped in and corrected me, and I improved. Learning can be the most embarrassing thing in the world, but it's worth it. Take your time of course, but don't let that time become a life time. You'll really miss out.

♥

I too would love to be more in one with the community, but also feel highly hindered by the "cliques" here. Some people just seem impossible to be friends with IC and OOC. I'm not demanding people be friends with me but they make me feel very highly unwelcome.

The main game page says "Although not goal-oriented, there are several activities that you can engage in. Nothing very demanding or violent. Just fun things to do in a nice environment. "

Seeing some of the stuff on here I feel some users are making this information to be highly mis-leading. Being a new fawn in the woods and coming across a deer that tries to "kill" you just because they hate fawns or see them as threatening (HOW?) and not understanding that because the new user has no idea there's a community yet, no idea that there's violence in a game that says it's not very violent, I would turn on my heels and run. I'm thinking this is a big reason why this game doesn't have more users and therefore no need for too many updates and expanding.

I am trying my best to learn how everyone works, what each person thinks, but for just wanting to come here to relax and zen out it's a lot of hastle to make sure you don't tick someone off or rub their fur the wrong way or don't go in a certain area or near a certain deer. That's why Valeska left and that's why I'm re-thinking every decision I've ever made. I'm not against a violent RP involving deer but I feel some people are making the message of this place a false advertisement. It's not kid-friendly or equal in any sense of the word. I see people god-modding like mad....and if I know anything about roleplaying, god-modding is against the universal RP rules....at least with true serious roleplayers.



So there's my bit on the lack of communication and why people want to leave. I'm not attacking anyone.....just saying how I view things and what problems I see that contribute to people leaving. I know it won't change anything.

And I hope there never will be any trolls -_-

EDIT: My original post was...basically the short form of this...to an extent.
I can't really remember what my original post said(probably a ramble about something similar) but now that I mulled it over a few times, I figured out how to get my voice across here.

I get it. I mean, I understand how a lot of you older members feel. I don't join too many sites, and when I do I tend to actually make it worth while and stick around for a few years at best. A lot of you guys have been here from the beginning or near the beginning, and since this isn't an age oriented site, you guys are free to stick around for as long as you want. Age has nothing to do with anything, just some meaningless ramble. Anywho, back on a tangent. You guys are so established in your circle/your characters/ and whatnot, that the newbs who are joining tend to be....well overwhelming. You ignore them, stick to what you know and whatnot, just because you can't really or don't really want to handle the change. At least, that's my personal take on it, cause I'm feeling/felt the same thing on a different website.
That place I was around actively for three years. I established friends and people I associated with, and generally ignored a lot of those newer people. When I did talk to them, a year or two later, they said they feared talking to me, for the same reason I feel now. You feel intimidated, awed almost when you're around someone who's been lurking around the site for four, five, six years. It's like your talking to a God. You feel honored to even be noticed by them, it seems. It's even harder when you guys are such awesome artists, traditional, digital, you name it. I didn't get the drawer part of the creatively(do I doodle...sure. It's a pathetic attempt to make myself into an artist that I'm not because I'm tired relying on other people to draw my characters for me. I can't draw people, so I focus on my animal ones) gene...hell I barely got the writing one.
Where was my point to this...oh yes. When I first joined, I didn't even bother running around the community until months later(I'll be a year some time this August...whoo!) and I tried my best to not act like a pathetic newbie(didn't work out so hot). Only a couple people even bothered to say 'Hi' to me at the time(Ha, couldn't scare me away, could you?! ), and that sort of started the whole thing of feeling unwelcome, for me(For awhile there I was considering if this place was even really worth it. You guys seemed so nice but so unwilling to spread that niceness outside your cliques...it's getting better, I must say). I did everything I could think of. I posted in all the right places, made my character's bio(without CSS or some fancy bio picture. I don't understand CSS-never learned it ever-), gave him sort of a basic personality(I didn't know what was acceptable at the time) and hoped someone would come along and like him. When that didn't work, I realized you guys were tougher than I thought, so I started to post on everyone else's bios, pictures/drawings, writing. Basically anything.

So yeah, I get why you're scared, Oldies. I get why you're sort of overwhelmed and don't want to come out of your comfort zone. But you need to realize that to a person who's never been here before that that unintentional cold shoulder can give a bad first impression. You guys say you're shy, and I can kind of see why(one wrong thing said will cause a world of hurt) but honestly how hard is it to just give a positive remark and make someone's day?(I think I'll always remember my first track. That made my day)

^ @ sicily this this so much.

I know how you feel on this. There are alot of great artists and characters I'd love my character to meet and interact with but am a little shy to come up to them. I hope I never make anyone feel left out...:C please let me know if I do

I've made so many friends here on TEF that when I hear of those who I have made friends with speak of leaving due to these reasons it makes me sad. I love you guys and would not want to see anyone leave. Though I could probably still chat with you all by other means (email etc).

Despite the bad others see in this place TEF is still my ZEN garden. My other world. I love you all, even those of you I have yet to meet. ^_^

080731140586


'feel highly hindered by the "cliques" here'.

You know when it boils down to it all, it's hard to actually see a group that is 'clique', and I think I mostly say that because in my opinion, I personally have not seen a person or particular groups simply go about rejecting someone or their deer for no reason. Like everyone, there is usually a reason, and in most cases, from what I have seen, these reasons make sense. I mean people do tend to make friends and form groups, but I don't really view them as cliques at all, because it can be incredibly easy to interact with these peoples characters in-forest. I think a lot of people over think this type of thing.


'Seeing some of the stuff on here I feel some users are making this information to be highly mis-leading.'

It's also a game without rules. Really it's however you want to see it. If some deer rears at your deer you don't have to take it as something violent, you don't have to take what is usually fighting as violent. A lot of people actually thought what emotes are used for fighting could easily be something used for 'playing'. As far as biographies are concerned people are usually courteous enough to add warnings or disclaimers of sorts. If the violence thing isn't your thing it is usually fairly easy to avoid.


'threatening (HOW?)'

Well, a lot of people do tend to give their characters humanistic traits. Not every person IRL is going to like children, not every deer is going to like fawns. Doesn't necessarily mean they're threatened by said child or fawn, just means it's how they tick. People are usually good at giving a reason as to why, if one reads through the biography. Of course, there are always going to be those characters lacking such details, but if someone asked them why, I'm sure they'd give the person a reason. Really, it's only natural, IRL and in the forest. Things like this(And things far worse than this), can not be escaped.


''

It certainly is not for everyone, that is for sure.


'I am trying my best to learn how everyone works, what each person thinks, but for just wanting to come here to relax and zen out it's a lot of hastle to make sure you don't tick someone off or rub their fur the wrong way or don't go in a certain area or near a certain deer. '

You can still do that. Just meet people that are more into thinking like you do with the game, and visit those people/deer more. The thing with some characters claiming territory and stuff, unfortunately you have to learn to adapt to things like that. Animals IRL have a tendency to be territorial(Heck, even a lot of people are this way), so naturally there are going to be things like this.

--

Think my point boils down to the fact that some things are simply unavoidable. You make the forest what you want to make of it, kind of thing.

Also not attacking you, just wanted to touch on some things. People here are generally friendly, I personally don't see these cliques, and yeah. In any case TEF is far more tame than most places, if not by character standards than the people at least(But imo, characters even here are tame). Seem to be far more open minded and friendly than your average community. We are only people though, no place is ever going to be able to filter out the 'bad egg ruining it for everyone else', because they don't fit into someones mental image of how things should be.

Anyways, I still think this whole thing is a good idea, though I guess with that comes compromise and meeting everyone else half way.

but if a deer attacks and you don't take it that way and try to be nice anyhow they see you as a troll.

If a deer attacks you and you look at their bio, get confused of where all the hate and violence comes from and ask about, then be accused of demanding friendship and being a troll and just completely put down when all you were trying to do was ask a question about how something works.

When a particular deer threatens everyone away just because they are a hateful personality and you ask them why and they put you down.



you see nothing wrong with this?

My deer has been viewed as a troll on so many occasions, lol. Then again probably the best word to describe said deer is a troll, she is a troll within herself. That is just how the character works though, so I guess I'm not so bothered by such a thing anymore. Either she's viewed as a troll or a good character. I've received far more good feedback than bad, so I guess it's easy to overlook the troll bit.

'If a deer attacks you and you look at their bio, get confused of where all the hate and violence comes from and ask about, then be accused of demanding friendship and being a troll and just completely put down when all you were trying to do was ask a question about how something works.

Oh, have you personally experienced this particular scenario here?


If they put YOU down, if I am reading this right, not just giving an explanation pertaining to their deer's IC personality, then I do see something wrong there. However, if said person is taking the other persons characters actions personally and the character is made for IC purposes, then I do believe it is the person actually taking offense that is creating the problem.

Doesn't sound like it was very nice of that user.

Anyways, onward to a tidbit about characters like that.
I actually think that deer's ability to be like that and yet make some friends is actually a good balance. It's neither good nor bad, but in my eyes seems to be providing some good stability for said character. As small as it seems, is providing a certain amount depth. That's just how I view it though.

That aside, probably shouldn't have gotten so worked up over it, but I guess it leads back to a point I made earlier, not everything can be escaped. Anyways, for every person you do not get along with there will surely be people to rise up that you do get along with. Try not to focus or dwell on the bad things, is all I can say.

They are not lies. It is how I saw it happening. You see it happening differently than I do. You don't see my POV. That's all. Neither is right nor wrong. The truth is how one personally perceives it. Not my fault others see things differently than I do, doesn't make them any more right or wrong than me.

I refuse to e-mail someone who will only put me down and bitch me out for being curious and wording things wrong like noobs usually do.

Wish we had a block button on here....that would clear up a lot of this too.

damn this thread has gotten way off topic.

I saw no apology.





And I am sorry as well. Cicadia. Thought people would like to knwo that just as new people need to be careful of how the older players work, the older players also need to be open to the new players as well in the same way.


And why do we have to be the ones accommodating to others when they don't show the same for us?