5000 posts -- A camel lord's thoughts

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Beirut & BKS: I hope you'll forgive me for not putting this in the post celebration thread, but I felt this post might (ironically) derail it otherwise.

Wow.


Six years ago, I'd have never imagined that I'd be here, typing my 5000th post and reflecting on my time here at the Org. What's even more remarkable to me is the position in which I'm doing so: Moderator in the Citadel & Main Hall, recipient of 3 HoF awards, and apparently (although it's still hard for me to believe sometimes) one of the more respected members in this place. It boggles my mind. :dizzy2:

If anyone had told me back when I joined in March 2002 that I was going to be where I am now, I would've thought they were nuts (or at least pulling my leg). When I first signed up here, I was just another newbie -- in every sense of the word. Not only was I still learning how to play Shogun Total War, but this was the first message board I'd ever been part of as well! I didn't know anything. I was a complete neophyte.

I'm a fairly gregarious & outgoing person in real life, but for some reason I felt strangely shy here....like a kid on his first day at a new school where he doesn't know anyone. (Indeed, I was such an introvert online that I hung around the Org for nearly a year before finally deciding to register as a member. :blush:) To my inexperienced eyes, people like Gregoshi, Kukrikahn, Mithrandir, Papewaio, Puzz3D, Ser Clegane, and solypsist were the "cool kids" everyone looked up to; they were gods in this place. I was intimidated by how they (and almost everyone else here) seemed so knowledgeable about the TW games and the historical periods that they covered. (I've always been an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to history, but nothing more.) I somehow felt....almost unworthy in comparison, and subsequently I didn't say or post a whole lot my first couple years here.

In late 2003, however, something happened that changed all that. I was playing a Viking Invasion campaign (as Wessex, I think), and I was having difficulties figuring out how to cross the North Sea and conquer the Viking homelands. I eventually grew frustrated enough with the issue that I finally did what I was so reluctant to do: I posted my problem in the Main Hall. I very much dreaded being frowned upon for asking such a horribly n00b-ish question (especially since I was sure the same question had been asked 100 times already ~:rolleyes:), but that's not what happened. Instead, around 10-12 members immediately leaped to answer my question and help me out, all the while reassuring me that I wasn't a fool for asking about it.

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I should note that among those people that came to my rescue that day were Mithrandir & Gregoshi. So please allow me to issue a heartfelt (albeit extremely belated) "thank you" -- you guys did more good than you knew. :bow:

After that, I had a radically changed perception of the Org and the people who inhabited it. I discovered the members here were not only quite knowledgeable, but that they were actually friendly and personable as well. Suddenly, I realized I belonged here -- indeed, I had all along, but I simply hadn't been able to recognize that fact. I also quickly began to understand that the best way for me to repay the kindness everyone had shown me was to "pay it forward", and to help out other new members in turn. So that's precisely what I began to do. I started greeting new members, answering questions (at least the ones where I felt I knew what I was talking about ~D), I became more active in the other areas of the forum (including the Frontroom), etc.

....And now here I am: The Total War-playing, Star Trek-loving goofball from Minnesota you've all come to know and love (or at least pity). ~;p It's been an awfully fun ride these last six years, and I sincerely hope I'm still around when another six have passed. You folks have made the Org what it is, and the reason I enjoy it as much as I do. While it's impractical for me to give a shout-out to every single person who's had a positive impact on my experience here (the list would contain literally hundreds of names!), I hope you all know who you are....and just as importantly, the esteem in which you're held by this mild-mannered camel afficionado.



Thank you, my fellow Orgahs. For everything. :bow:

You deserve your positions and your awards Martok, now you are one of the Gods that everyone looks up to :2thumbsup:

Always pay respect to the old skool guys. ~D

Congrats. ~:cheers:

~:cheers:

Nice 5000th post Martok. :thumbsup: Congratulations on reaching that milestone, but more importantly, how you reached it. You've "paid it forward" many times over and the Org is a better place for it. Thanks for taking that chance back in 2003. :bow:

Congratulations Martok - as said, your awards and positions certainly are well deserved.

:bow:

Congrats Martok! :balloon2:

Your position is well merited. :bow: Don't let all that power get to your head though. ~;)

hmmm... I'm still introverted. :laugh4: Congrats Martok! To another 5000 posts!

~:cheers:

Congrats Martok ~:cheers: :balloon:

We love you too :sweetheart:

:bow:

In before thread closure. ;)
In any case, congrats Martok - hope you waste enjoy another six years here at the Org.

:balloon2: ~:cheers:

5000 meaningful posts, it boggles the mind. :dizzy2:

:smitten: <3 Martok.

Good job man

Congrats, Martok!

:medievalcheers:

With all these meaningful posts you make us spammers look even worse in comparison!

Congrats on the big 5K, the awards and the position also, a friendly, helpful and chilled out kind of guy, .org is better for having you...

Its because of the poeple i stick around this place, barely any of my posts are to do with total war

Nice post, may you last another 6 years and continue making more useful posts than me. :dizzy2: ~;)

Congratulations Martok! I hope to see another 5000 helpful and friendly posts - you're a model citizen indeed. There is just this slightly sticky issue of the camel connection we have to work on. ~:)

Live long and prosper.

Congrats Martok, may you be around to reach 50,000 :grin2:

A link to your first post on the ORG perhaps?

Thanks everyone. I have to say, it's an especial joy to see that virtually everyone who's responded thus far are among those who've contributed to my experience here. Fortunate am I! ~:cheers:

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Originally Posted by Gregoshi

Nice 5000th post Martok. :thumbsup: Congratulations on reaching that milestone, but more importantly, how you reached it. You've "paid it forward" many times over and the Org is a better place for it. Thanks for taking that chance back in 2003. :bow:

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And thank *you* for being one of those good-hearted souls that first helped show me what this place was all about. I'm glad I've done you proud. :bow:

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Originally Posted by drone

Don't let all that power get to your head though. ~;)

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Should that happen, may I live a thousand years and never ride camels again. :egypt:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Bonus points if you get the reference!)

In any case, though, I'm quite confident that won't happen. I have you guys to keep me humble, after all. ~:)

Congrats Martok. As a relatively new comer I could certainly say that you are a revered figure among all the new orgahs, and one of the most respected members in the Guild.

They say "Words should be weighed, not counted" and I guess the same applies to posts, and your posts weigh in as a substantial contribution to the collective known as the Org -- you have been assimilated :laugh4:

What I like about the Org most of all is the friendly, co-operative atmosphere, free of "leetspeak" and newb-bashing. Long may it continue, and long may your contributions to it continue as well :bow:

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If anyone had told me back when I joined in March 2002 that I was going to be where I am now, I would've thought they were nuts

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I fully empathise with that. I started coming here when I didn't know my "hold formation" from my "fire at will", but learnt a lot about the game from the old hands. Almost everything I know about history has been learnt after the game sparked my dormant interest. Now I have a series of mods - again built on the experience of those who came before - and my own little corner of the forum I can rule with an iron rod (well, more like a wet sponge, everyone's well-behaved there :beam:) Like you, I try to "pay forward" the benefits, help, advice and welcome I've received through the site, because it does feel more like an "online community" than "any old place you can post stuff".

And, cor blimey, my 2000th is fast approaching, better get thinking about something positive to say with it :clown:

Too late for me, just realised I went passed 2000, it was a post in Mafia VIII trying to figure out why everyone wants me dead :laugh4:

Martok, all I can add here is - thank you.

I think you know why. :bow:

You're very welcome, BG. ~:cheers:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Long live the Cumans! :charge:

Hurray for camels! And three hurrays for their undisputed master! :balloon2:

I became a member after you and didn't see your first posts, but your 5000th post is a perfect illustration of why you are such a beloved and respected member of the .Org, Martok. :bow:

You camel people...

What a bunch of dromedarians. :gathering:

Camels are merely a result of our thinking, and are non existen in the real world. It's jus product of our mind.

Though I can't say I know you and I am not gonna post some rubbish which I don't mean - as I, er, don't know you - I can say that your post hit a lot of the right chords with me and many others, I am sure. It took me a while before I registered here and started posting. I registered, what in earlish 2001, but was a frequent visitor here at the end of 2000. It was because of the feeling I got when reading some of the real knowledgable people around here, back then, which did make me and clearly others, feel somewhat inadequate. I am not sure that same feeling still exists now - which is probably a good thing, ha - but it was definately there. Not to say it was a spiteful thing, it was just a thing you sensed.

I now don't post on anything total war related, I stopped playing online after S:TW - man, they were the best times :'( - and now I only hang out in the backroom on occasion, but it is the people and the sense of community which continues in this place, which makes it a great board and one to hold on to. Long may it continue.

S:TW - man, they were the best times

Yes, the best fun i have ever had online...

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Originally Posted by LittleGrizzly

Its because of the poeple i stick around this place, barely any of my posts are to do with total war

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My situation as well. I started out in the Main Hall with a similar experience of friendly welcome and acceptance (including by Martok of course ~:)), but now stay almost exclusively in the tavern. The people here make the .org a community worth being in.

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Originally Posted by Martok

Should that happen, may I live a thousand years and never ride camels again.

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Princess Bride 4 life!! ~;p

Ajax

~:thumb:

Again, thanks to everyone for the congrats and warm fuzzy feelings; may I continue to be worthy of them. :bow: It's good to see that my words resonate with so many here (to the point that even old veterans like JAG feel compelled to respond and add their own thoughts). It's truly humbling. :medievalcheers:

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Originally Posted by ajaxfetish

Princess Bride 4 life!! ~;p

Ajax

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A cigar for the Utahn! I knew you'd get the reference for sure. :thumbsup:

Five thousand.
Good folks.
Good times.
Ain't it cool?
Congrats.
Keep coming back.