Welcome 
Think of this as your final exam from Tithus: Have you learned to read the goddamned stickies and FAQs?
This blog is only sporadically updated, so something I put up the last time I had a flood of fresh meat is still valid and on the front page. Well, the blog is now four years old, not 3.5, but the suggestion on what to read before you post is still valid. The LinkedIn link is still helpful for anyone who wants to explain to me that I don’t have enough experience.
Trust me, at this point? If I’m wrong, it’s because I’m just wrong, not naive.
Here are some thoughts that were too long or too inappropriate for my farewell post on the board:
- I was so madly in love with you censored expurgated unprintables, I couldn’t seem to walk away. As I said, I got some “better” jobs over the last year, and every time push came to shove, I rearranged things to keep modding for TERA. In fact, when I got the offer for the upcoming gig, I initially tried to negotiate the contract such that I could keep the Tithus gig. The technical diagnosis for that mental process is “holy hell, I am a delusional bag of stupid who needs to be clubbed like a baby seal.” Seriously, only infatuation and possibly lust would cloud my brain to such an extent that I thought I could do a full time director job (even on a much smaller game) and keep a PVP forum clean “on the side.”
- I owe all of you a lot. My career had become something that was just a paycheck, with a big scoop of “why bother” melting off at the side. You all have reminded me what I really love and why. I’m heading to a startup for a small game with no budget where I’ll need to do three jobs, where the faith of the community will be the line between life and death, and I’m not sure I could have worked up the nerve to do it again if I hadn’t had this year with you.
- (To the seven regulars: Yeah, “again.” I’ve got DAOC flashbacks like crazy.)
- You do not know how lucky you are with your community director. Seriously. One of the reasons I was on my way out of the industry was because too many community people were marketing sock puppets with the spine of chocolate soft serve. You like that euphemism? I’ve grown older and wiser and I try not to talk about feces so much. Anyway. I fully admit that when I realized what BroMags… and now I have to call him Jason, which is so weird after a year of calling him BroMags… anyway, when I realized what Jason’s background was, I kinda braced for the worst. I expected spin and gladhanding. But I was totally wrong. He’s a gem. He cares about you. He’s straight with you even when it costs him something. He’s got a big picture view but he’s always got time for the small stuff. Frankly, he’s one of the top three community people I’ve worked with, and if I were advising a global AAA title on personnel, he’d be my top choice.
I personally was very lucky to work with both Jason and Evan. Outsourced mods are usually treated as… disposable. They didn’t treat me like that at all, and as it became apparent that I was attaching myself to their community like I was a cross between a barnacle and ten year old duct tape goo, they made more room for me. It was an act of generosity I won’t forget. Oh, sure, when you have a director level person as your board monkey, it does save a bit of time and money all around, so it’s not like this was about altruism. But there was never any kind of “putting me in my place” thing. We worked together very smoothly, and I’ll miss that a lot.
I didn’t say any of that in my board post because I didn’t want to listen to three pages of “OMG, what a brown noser.” WTF is it with the confusion between brown nosing and affection on the internet? I’ve been wondering about that since 1997 and I’m no closer to figuring it out other than a broad spectrum “some people are asshats.”
- I said once I don’t remember the names of the people I edit and suspend. That was quite true. But I do remember the names of “my” regulars, and I sincerely, truly, madly hope we all meet again.
You will be missed, Tithus. I made a thread when I came back to the TERA forums after being away for a few months and in that thread I listed you as the reason I came back. That was only partially a joke. You made that forum a unique place to hang out and its not going to be the same with out you. I mean that.
I’m going to be late for my plans this evening because I’m posting this. Tithus, you re-established my faith in moderation, after countless titles where moderators were kids amongst adults. You understood what happened between the lines and took it into account, something that so many people with your task refuse to do because of the added reading and comprehension required.
I’ve long stated that one of my reasons for being so supportive of EME is that they were able to bring on people who ‘got it’ for their community team. That definitely includes you.
Your snark, your charm, your jokes that passed over the heads of so many people, they will all be missed. However, they will not be missed as greatly as your evenhanded approach, your willingness to accept feedback or take a second glance, and your ability to filter out what needed moderation and what needed to breathe. I can only hope that whichever individual -attempts- to fill your shoes can manage half of what you’ve done.
I wish you the best of luck in your future, and hope that the new chapter in your life is as fruitful as you feel the past has been.
Email is required to post, feel free to drop me a message.
PS. You totally understood who I was talking about when I made those posts referencing the terrible community liaison from the WAR betas. I can’t recall who took over in the interim, but it was likely you, and you were awesome back then as well.
PPS. You’ll never get your coke I owed you now!
PPPS.
OMG BROWN NOSER
“WTF is it with the confusion between brown nosing and affection on the internet?”
It’s the images that you find on Google when you search for ‘affection’ that does it.
Well damn. You got me feeling sad over a random person on the internet that I’ve never met. Isnt that internet taboo #1?
In all seriousness though, you were the best mod I’ve seen to date. I’ve always been drawn into how animated and likable the TERA community team (of which I most certainly considered you to be a part of regardless of the outsourced/forum jockey status). It made the forums enjoyable in a way that no other gaming forum has done for me. And while BroMags and Scapes are great in their own right, you were definitely the face of the forums to me. The snarky comments, the sarcasm, and the humor will be missed greatly.
I sincerely wish you the best in both your career and life.
I remember the pre- http://www.tera-europe.com era on http://www.tera-online.com. Lot of fun and reports… I think you have a lot of patient.
You will be missed Tithus!
I can’t say much that others have not said before me. I will share a couple thoughts.
It’s nice to come here and see you for the first time not wearing your moderator hat. You can kick off your shoes and speak freely. It’s a pleasant change.
This is the part where I know I am supposed to say “I wish you all the best” but what I really want to say is “tell us the name of your new company so we can all visit you, get you fired, and then you will have to come back to us”.
In all seriousness, it was really great having you with us. Not everyone realized how you went above and beyond for the community. Those of us who did know they can hire another person to do your job, but you simply cannot be replaced.
-Ryan (True on the official forums)
Best of luck in your future endeavors. Thanks for being a great mediator on the forums. If you ever find yourself in the Dallas area, hit me up and I will get you that bottle of Jager you love so much.
So now I’m forced to nag BroMags and Scapes instead of you? Doesn’t look like a fair deal to me, but…
At least I hope you get just a regular account on the forums to vent your occasional madness from your new gig with us.
^^
If we survived this long with you as a mod, we can surelly survive way more with you as a regular user.
You’re more then welcome to join our chats there.
Best of luck to your new job.
To the community that Sanya will be in: You guys don’t have the smallest idea of where you’re getting into with her… It’s an addiction hard to lose!
I am slammed today, but I did want to poke in my beak to say you jerks are making me cry, and that I already miss you.
mmmm… big salty mod…er ex-mod tears.
Cry more, noob. =)
We’re jerks but you love us…
Wow… I have to say that this made me a little more sad than I thought it would.
Whats the name of the game you’re going to be the director of? Any info on it (is it just now starting up?) . I hope it works out well for you Sanya, you’ll always have a family in the TERA community.
HOLY CRAP YOU WORK FOR THE ESCAPIST? 0.o
Sanya,
Thank you so much for being there in our time of need (yes we were children at times and needed a spanking at times ;p) Some lucky sod of a company has scored gold in hiring you. I will miss you alot and wish you well in your new journey.
~StayOnTarget~
us, who aren’t as active browsers/posters on the forums as the previous commenters, grew very fond of you too! one could kick and scream and imaginary-cling for you to stay, but i shall instead wish you love and success for your future projects.
I am so sad to see you go. Now I’m stuck alone with crazy boys and their testosterone fights and walls of text. My eye is already starting to twitch.
But I hope you know just how much of an impact you made on the community. You’ve done a great deal to keep this community together as we wait oh so impatiently to move from forum to game.
You are the <3 of the Tera community. I can see your name becoming a battle cry!
Regards
Chayna
Best of luck in all your endeavors.
-bmurph101
Tithus… Please marry me.
That is all.
-Dev
Tithius, you were the most awesome mod that I’ve ever seen in the history of forums I’ve been too.
You made the forums more enjoyable, fun etc.
Too bad you had to go, but good luck with your future job(s).
Have a great summer!
Late to the party as usual. But I wanted to take the time to say goodbye Tithus/Sanya. Ever since I joined the TERA community back in last September you never failed to make me laugh. Your moderation was always fair. It never mattered to me that you’d be a man or a woman, to me you were just Tithus, one of the rare person I’ve met only on the internet to actually win over my respect and trust.
Good luck in your future career and hope to see you in TERA when it goes live, assuming you’ll play this awesome game made by awesome people!
Liwen Diamond
(Yes you deserved to learn my secret last name, eyes off everyone else!)
Ugh.. I’m not just late this time, the party is over. I was wondering where in the nether you’ve been. -sigh- I can hardly believe it, you will be missed Tithus/Sanya. You will be greatly missed.
I really hope you stop by to see us some time. x3 We’ll be able to laugh, talk about the old days, then break down into tears as you leave again.. to go to bed. You know us.. we’re a bunch of emotional wrecks. >>;
I will admit, you’ve been the best moderator I have ever seen on any forums, and I’ve seen quite a few. Many attempt to inject personality, wit, and intrigue into their online personas however none do it so flawlessly and apparently effortlessly as you did.
Be well, Sanya, and if you’re having a bad day I hope that you can think of all of us fondly and perhaps let a smile creep across your lips because of it. After all, there is nothing better than memories that can turn your grey skies to blue. ^^
Sincerely,
Rev. C.V. Zimmerman (AKA critlocked)