What separates us from other animals? Is it speech? Is it the understanding of life and death? Or is it the strive to conquer and control that which is around us? I believe there is much more to the separation of the human from the rest of the animal world.
Take a simple idea--a game where one is the avatar of a stag--and toss in the human element. At first, the novelty of it is grand, and to some it remains a grand design in the simplest of forms. However, this human element needs to socialize on a more human level.
Enter speech. With a game void of human speech, the players seek an outlet, the community forum. It is another simple idea to a simple game. On the other hand, there are some who will never tread on these forums, seeing the novelty of a human-free area as their haven. But there are those who need this human interaction, myself included.
Now enter the human element.
The innocent forum, the community and refuge for those yearning to communicate on this human level, became the perfect outlet. It wasn’t needed to fully experience the Forest, but it was a welcomed addition for a different experience.
Friends were made and characters were forged. It was, in a way, a brand new level to the Forest. Regardless of good intentions, the popularity and growth soon became its downfall.
Age also plays a part. As teenagers, the strive for individuality is great, so great that unwanted behavior may spring forth. But it is a need for attention, positive or negative, which sets in motion the reactions of others. Not one person in our human world, Earth, will have the exact opinions as the next. There will always be some particle of conflict, some existence of the human element. It is in our nature to communicate, to express our ideas and beliefs, to find our kindred spirits and coexist. But to those who have ideas which are completely opposite of your own, the conflict will begin.
But there is another word within the human element, a word all pray for on some level: Peace. We strive for a conflict free world, but why is this even unattainable on a small, internet community, a place meant for peace, fun, and an escape from life’s troubles? Maybe by nature humans are bored as well, and this need for conflict makes the days exciting.
I wish I could say we won this war, to go against the grain of the human element, but the battles are far from over. We have to stop this. It matters not if one person disagrees with another, or if this person is receiving more attention than their neighbor, or if this person can’t stand someone else. It does not matter. As a community, we gain our strength from each other. Weaken even one link and the rest is doomed to falter.
As for the future of the community, that responsibility will be placed on our shoulders and not the administrators or moderators. We need to exercise what it means to be responsible, considerate, and mature. Do not let the human element win. Prove me wrong. Prove this article wrong.

Thank you for reading.

-Ghost