I’ll admit that I am somewhat of a newcomer to the whole real life super hero concept and online have been fairly passive about it. I’ve joined every rlsh website I’ve encountered.From good places like rlsh.net places I’m not sure of yet likeHeroes Network to my first experience with the world super hero registry. I mainly lurk, absorbing more information then I give, but trying to be productive in such communities when I think something I know may be useful to somebody.
For the most part I have met amazing people, people who honestly have the greater good in mind and want to generally help out. There are a few trolls who discredit the movement, but that can be said of anything on the internet.
During my time mainly observeing not really getting involved with some things I’ve determined that the biggest threat to the rlsh community is the community itself. There is a ridiculous ammount of in-fighting and forum vs forum bullshit. It seems to me if we all just want to help change the world around us for the better shouldn’t we all work together instead of fighting with eachother? Why can’t we all have one forum and work together instead of many forums with in fighting between them? I’m gonna say people egos most likely. People who run places can’t get a long with people who run other places.
Damn shame, so much more could be accomplished without effort being wasted fighting with eachother. Damn shame.
Sakujo,
I’ve seen you say things about me on forums that you could’ve just said straight to me and I wouldn’t have held it against you. Except for the part about how my name is spelled “Tothian” and no other way – just as I will show you that same respect to spell your name the way you choose to spell it. But I’m nowhere near being a perfect person and I do get very angry sometimes when antagonized, but I don’t hold grudges against anyone, and leave the door of friendship open to just about anyone who is willing to be my friend.
With that being said, I agree with a lot of what you’re saying here. It would be good to see people at least try to put some type of effort into letting the past stay in the past, and try to get along, if anything. I have seen it happen many times before, and it can happen again.
-Tothian
I want to let you know that this post has nothing to do with you and the people who you seem to piss off. I personally have the upmost respect for how you stick to the ideals you believe in no matter what others say. Even how you insist on uniform instead of costume with absolute persistance.
And if I have spelled your name wrong in the past you have my apologies.
Sakujo,
Well, I do remember reading on theRLSH.net forum that you thought for those reasons that I shouldn’t be part of the community, because of those ideals that I had. Of course I could understand how it might be annoying that I repeat myself all the time. But one of my pet peeves is ignorance (on my Facebook, I discussed some theories about how that’s the root of all evil in the world) so I do get a little annoyed when I have to repeat such simple things some times. I can assure you that there is a much more important reason I say these things and it’s not for ego, but rather because everything represents something else beyond what is seen on the surface. Like,
When people say “costume” – the definition refers to someone wearing something to pretend to be something they’re not. Like actors and trick-or-treaters, for example. Although, many people in this community really see their true selves as the personas they create for themselves, rather than their birth names or civilian identities. Plus, when one focuses on a “costume” they rely on the external factors such as “image” to define them, rather than rely on the functionality of their suit, and the actions that define one as a hero or super-hero. I believe it sets a more effective tone. It’s the ripple effect. Just by a seemingly small and unimportant detail like that, always leads to larger things in the future.
Kind of like, you take a Point A and Point B. The longer the line between the two, then the slightest turn one makes during the destination, the farther off they’ll be, the farther down the line it goes.
People may hate me for being a persistent dick, but I do believe that my advice will make people more effective out on the streets, and will also probably save their lives.
As for the people I piss off, I can mention one person without even saying that person’s name, who has been a great friend over the years. But, every few months, he’d be one of my best friends. Then for months at a time he would try to be one of my worst enemies, and on off as a continuous cycle over the years. Even though back then I’ve never once said or done anything to him, and always tried to be his friend and instantly forgave him every time. Then, late last year/early this year, came a time when it became more consistent. One day being my best friend, next day being my worst enemy and making up false things about me or twisting things around to make them sound worse than they actually are – doing that while I’ve already been having a bad year. About 5 months ago, I was already having to deal with people turning against me, making threats against me, while losing a girlfriend and a few days later a very close family member dies, while the very next day after that, I deal with more harrassment, I snapped. I could’ve went fully overboard but even with a ton of rage inside of me, I held back and tried to calm myself down by ranting to someone about what I was mad about and what I was feeling tempted to do – but didn’t want to do it – which was the whole reason I was even ranting about it in the first place. So that person finds out about it, and has never once let it go. I even publicly apologized to that person. That person acted as though they forgave me, and decided we would just forget about it and pretend it never happened. So okay, cool. But then after not too long, this person says “You leave me alone, I’ll leave you alone” – I left that person alone, but that person still constantly harrasses me on a daily basis, and makes up shit about me all the time. And just because he is a big name with a bald head and shiny car, people seem to fall for it every time.
-Tothian
Sorry if my rant took this a bit off topic. I just felt that I’ve been silent about this for too long.
The only mention I made about not liking one of your ideals was how off putting it can be for new people to immediately be being scrutinized for how they choose to word things.
I think your reason for avoiding the word costume has a legit reason behind it, I just don’t think its that big of a deal.
Isn’t it possible for me to respect your absolute dedication to your ideals even if I don’t completely agree with some of them?
As for when you were going through a hard time and were venting and one thing led to another. We’ve all had that happen at some point or another. I now only really know one side to the story, but overall either way I choose to distance myself from such rivalries and stay out of it. I don’t hold any of the stuff people said on rlsh.net or HN on the subject against you.
Overall I think you’ve made great contributions to the RLSH community but just get under some people’s skin. Which is fine with me, we can’t get along with everyone.
And no worries about your rant. I make a point to let all points and opinions through. Plus it isn’t that off topic.