It sucks being new

[Dark Angel]

Hey folks,
 DA here. I'm still new here but I have to share something. I'm not feeling welcome here at all. The only ones who actually take the time to chat with me is Brintello & Japhael. But the rest of you seem pretty stuck up and full of yourselves. I mean that in the way of, you choose your circle of friends and don't let anyone else in cause it's too much trouble to say Hi there ,etc,etc.

I noticed this in a few threads where I support missing Donatello and everyone ignoire me posts and comforts their friends. That's pretty darn selfish and patheic in my eyes. How would you like that? I know this place isn't super-super active still after the *insert swear here* I went through with a couple of TMNT boards I thouht this place was a bit better. But it feels like the same thing, only exculsive members who've been here from the begining are accepted.

and something I never let bug me till I noticed I keep getting some unwanted mesages about my TMNT site...I'll be honest I'm tired of seeing a few fans who ( I won't name who )like they are the  TMNT VA's personal friends,their body guards, their personal assistants. That they must talk to them always, be seen with them, know everything about them.They need to quit it because rather they realize it or not they show how arrogent they are. In my eyes I see it as ,those fans show how they don't want the attention to be drawn away from them.

And yes I admit this Scott is a very close friend of mine but it's not the center of my world and nor is TMNT. I have school and stuff to take care of.

I just couldn't hold in those feelings in anymore I had to let them out.This is what the TMNT fans have shown me and that is what I had to say.

and since nobody really cares what I truely think or feel and will most likely just flame my opinions instead of reading the thread again and trying to understand, I had a really rough time online when I join forums of a popular show. I'm always too late to join and too late to be accepted so after years of this crap from Sailor Moon, to Teansformers to TMNT I decided I won't be unheard. I won't be a troll, an online bully nor a flamestarter but I will say this when new people post , post/reply back. Don't be too busy to talk to new people cause your comfortable with the friends you already have open up to new people too.


---DA

[Michaelangelo]

Hiya, I'm going to jump in and reply to this... mainly because there was an IM just recently where we talked about simalar stuff.  And I just have to stand up when things like this are being said, and I don't feel they are really all that just.

Hey folks,
 DA here. I'm still new here but I have to share something. I'm not feeling welcome here at all. The only ones who actually take the time to chat with me is Brintello & Japhael. But the rest of you seem pretty stuck up and full of yourselves. I mean that in the way of, you choose your circle of friends and don't let anyone else in cause it's too much trouble to say Hi there ,etc,etc.

When people join the forum, and say hi I always post a reply saying "Welcome to TMNT-L" and how I'll like to be there if they need me.  I don't ignore people's post and read most every post on the forum that I can keep up with.  Some topics start off in away where I read through it the first few times and see it doesn't obtain to things that truely interest me so I don't reply to every topic on the forum, nor is anyone required to.  Though I know that I've made friends through TMNT-L with people who are new.   And you're not all that new anymore, you've been here since November this board was created in September.

I noticed this in a few threads where I support missing Donatello and everyone ignoire me posts and comforts their friends. That's pretty darn selfish and patheic in my eyes. How would you like that? I know this place isn't super-super active still after the spit I went through with a couple of TMNT boards I thouht this place was a bit better. But it feels like the same thing, only exculsive members who've been here from the begining are accepted.

People talk as they want, some people don't jump into the "I miss this Turtle" posts too much.  Not because they don't care, but because that stuff doesn't hold their interest.  It's not fair to the full board for you to say everyone ignoires me because one, your most recent post in that Donatello topic is as of right now the last post in it.  Two not everyone reads the TV forum, some people are here for the Lounge, others are here for the Events area, and some are here for the fanfics.  Not everyone reads every part of the forum, so it's not that they're ignoreing you, it's that they didn't see your post.   Some people don't even come to TMNT-L to post, but just to read what's being said.   And you know, that's alright.  No one is required to reply to anyone.  Infact a joke thread going on right now is about topics dieing and Shredder picking on the fact that he's good at killing a thread (being the last posted) and asked if others are going through that, not in the same manner you just said... but joking showing that he realizes this happen.  It happens to me a lot, even on Ninja Turtle Network, I posted and the topic would die off at some point or another.  I didn't get mad at anyone for not replying because I don't except it, I enjoy a good talk when one comes up, but if people don't reply it's their choice.

and something I never let bug me till I noticed I keep getting some unwanted mesages about my TMNT site...I'll be honest I'm tired of seeing a few fans who ( I won't name who )like they are the  TMNT VA's personal friends,their body guards, their personal assistants. That they must talk to them always, be seen with them, know everything about them.They need to quit it because rather they realize it or not they show how arrogent they are. In my eyes I see it as ,those fans show how they don't want the attention to be drawn away from them.

This is hitting a lot of fans on the board, because there's a huge group of us that go to meet the voice actors.  And the last thing ANY of us are is body guards, true we want to be friends with the folks but is that a problem to want to be able to make friends with people who are doing your dream job or working on something you truely enjoy.   And not only that, but are people you find you do get along with when you meet them in person?  Is that such a crime that you're telling these people, including myself that we're arrogent?  I'm sorry, but everyone is in to what they like to do.  And one thing I enjoy doing is helping people get a chance to also meet and make friends with these guests, and shareing the event with others who like to read about it.  If you don't like those types of topics stay away from Events and Meet-ups and TMNT Memories.  Those are the areas those topics are most brought up in, and they're made for that.

And yes I admit this Scott is a very close friend of mine but it's not the center of my world and nor is TMNT. I have school and stuff to take care of.

And what?  The people who talk about that other stuff don't have lifes?  Gee thanks.   I got a family that is in constant need of help, disablities, including myself.  Though I still pull through and am able to help where I'm needed and I even help many friends with problems.  I've even taken the time of my life to be an ear for you many of times.  Others I know who do the events are going to College, still in High School, working big jobs, and raiseing families.  Everyone on this board has lifes outside of TMNT.  

Now I'll like to bring one of your quotes right down here those fans show how they don't want the attention to be drawn away from them.  Now after reading that line and stop and think about this... are those folks standing there complaining when ever things go quiet for them?  Are those people making posts complaining that no one cares.  Are those people jumping up saying that you have to pay attention to them?  Just because people like to do events and follow their dreams, and share what they can does NOT in any case make it so they want attention to be drawn to them.   I for one have not seen this from any of the folks on this forum.  Infact the only one begging for attention right now seems to be this post here, saying pay attention to me, stop ignoreing me... when I know I have not ignored you.  

Do you think everyone here is really all that full of themselves?   Do you think we're sitting here constantly waiting for our friends to post topics?   I look at topic titles and what they're about than decide if I'm going to reply, not the person who posted it... that doesn't matter, if a good talk comes up I will reply.  Or if an issue that needs to be talked about (like this one) I'll be replying.  

I just couldn't hold in those feelings in anymore I had to let them out.This is what the TMNT fans have shown me and that is what I had to say.

and since nobody really cares what I truely think or feel and will most likely just flame my opinions instead of reading the thread again and trying to understand, I had a really rough time online when I join forums of a popular show. I'm always too late to join and too late to be accepted so after years of this crap from Sailor Moon, to Teansformers to TMNT I decided I won't be unheard. I won't be a troll, an online bully nor a flamestarter but I will say this when new people post , post/reply back. Don't be too busy to talk to new people cause your comfortable with the friends you already have open up to new people too.

I am not here to flame, I'm here to show another side of the picture.  Are people suppose to just read over and over, and not say how they feel about it?

Here's how I feel... and I'm going to be honest

I feel hurt, because I have talked with you, I have been an ear, I have not ignored you, and I always felt I welcomed you.  Though, how is that type of friendship repaid?    You question me when I just IM you to say hi.   Saying why?  Than say it's weird that I just wanted to say hi, than question my friendship when I never ever did anything meant to really hurt you.   There's a way of saying thanks for being a friend.

I feel insluted knowing that I'm one of the people who do make friends with the voice actors, and yes I do like to help them out when they're around.  But I also help out the fellow fans around me, to meet the people that I meet.  I list every event, if I can go to them or not in the events area on this forum.  I list links to their personal web sites, I invite them here so that people can meet them.  I do not guard them or act like I'm better than any other fan, I just want to be friends with them for who they are... if I didn't get along with a VA in person I don't go out of my way to keep seeing them again.  I enjoy making friends, but not just because of their job but because they're wonderful people behind the job.  And it's insluting how you view and act like we're doing it for attention.   If we were doing it for attention we'd be doing a lot more for attention too.

I feel ignored, I have told you that I don't ignore you.  I have told you to please keep personal issues from coming to TMNT-L.  I have talked to you, trying to help see other peoples points of views to help with the problems.  Though instead, you post your personal issues with people on the forum.  You still go against people, for being who they are and wanting them to pay attention to you and do things your way.  But when it comes to you doing the same thing you're mad at them for, it's ok.  

I feel like I'm wasteing my time right now, because you're not going to care that I'm telling you this.  Infact it's going to be another 'you don't really care about me' replies.  

I have  tried.  I thought I was your friend, but it seems you have choosen who your friends are even when others do talk to you.  

You preach of things you're doing yourself.  If you want attention, which it seems you do... than maybe you should start topics of interest, without complaining about others.   If you think others want attentions because they like the VAs and other TMNT workers, than maybe you should look at yourself trying to get the interviews and stuff that you're doing.  You are in the same boat as a lot of other fans.  So please, stop and hear what you're saying... re read it yourself.  Who's your friends?  Only the people that always reply to you?  Or the people who do try and be there for you when they can?  Or both?

[Fugitoid]

I must say that was a rude awakening. I honestly took 10 mins to take a look at myself and see if I am a culprit in what you are saying. And I think I am guilty of it a little bit. In my defense, you did send me a private message a while back and I did reply back. However, I haven't heard back from you since.

As for the overall tone of the board, I can't say one way or the other. I try to keep tabs on things here @ TMNT-L, but it's hard for me to dedicate enough time for it. But believe me when I say that I'll take a serious look into this because normally I wouldn't be forcing my brain to think of an intelligent post at 1:30am. Especially since I need to be awake by 6:30am.

One thing I have noticed about boards in general is that new members typically take a while to get noticed. It's just the nature of forums because when you break it down, it's just a bunch of text messages. IMHO, it's hard to "humanize" a text message, and so it's easy to not reply to every message you see. On the other side of the coin, it's hard NOT to say hello back to someone else in person, even if it's a complete stranger. I can't tell you how many conversations I've gotten into at a bar in the line for the bathroom! But you don't have that on a forum. I know that's not how it should be, but sometimes you gotta be realistic and just take things for what they are.

One thing I will take away from this is myself and the mods need to do a better job of greeting in the new members. And recommending that they fill out the Introduction sticky topic (http://www.tmnt-l.com/index.php?topic=8), as well as you should if you still feel like you'd want to be part of TMNT-L.

[Raphael]

Might as well ring in on this one too.  I freely admit that I don't meet & greet everyone that joins the board. Maybe, as a moderator, I should...I don't know. It's certainly not anything personal against you, that's just what I'm like. Yes, I do reply more often to the folks I've known for a while, because I know how they'll react to comments I may make that could be interpreted as rude to other people (I posted a reply a while back that, to me, wasn't all that flippant but was interpreted that way...so I tend to try and avoid that).

As for your comment about the "Missing Donatello" thread, I'm not quite sure what you're referring to. From reading Mike's response to you, I gather it is part of the "I feel so bad about what *** (insert TMNT character here, depending on the subject) is going through, they need a hug" series of topics that have been posted in the TV section for a while now. Frankly, I ignore all of those posts, so, once again, nothing personal.

It's the nature of a message board that cliques form and that not everyone will be responded to. To post a "You're all ignoring me" post is as much a cry for attention as the posts you are slamming from people who have met folks involved in the show.

[moronqueen]

It's the nature of a message board that cliques form and that not everyone will be responded to. To post a "You're all ignoring me" post is as much a cry for attention as the posts you are slamming from people who have met folks involved in the show.

I'll agree with Raph, there. And I'm sure not everyone looks at every single section of the board and reads every single thread. I know I sure as hell don't, and I know I've missed posts that were aimed at me. I figure if someone wants me to reply badly enough, they could just send one of the PM things and point it out to me.

Despite what you seem to think, we've all got lives outside of the board. I go for long periods of time without even looking at this thing, and I don't post every time I do look at it.  Just goes according to interest, as well as current mental ability. It's nothing personal. That's really just too bad if you don't like it, or anyone else for that matter.

Whining about it doesn't do any good, nor does it make any friends. Hope at least making that lovely post of yours made ya feel better.

[Onatello]

I'd have to generally agree with everyone here. Just because someone doesn't post a reply to your reply doesn't mean nobody reads it. I've been on both ends of the spectrum. Sometime somebody might read your post but is to busy to post, and can forget with doing other things, but that dosen't mean that they don't care.

[Leonardo]

Much good stuff has been said by others in reply to this.
As someone who's been part of the original TMNT-L list all the years back...I've seen a lot over the years.

You've probably heard you catch more flies with honey.

So if you want people (or to speak for me) to comment on your posts, you need nicely written posts that leave room for nice comments back. Think about principles of what makes for good conversations.
I agree with Raph, that like it or not, I tend to ignore posts that go on about "hugging" or "he's sooo hot", which I won't say is anything Wrong because it isn't--but I'm just not going to reply to them. I love posts that inspire good conversations about the episodes, or comics, or other events. Thought provoking.
But I do also enjoy silly fun posts that provide some memory of the days when we had a rather large "role playing" contingent that welcomed everyone's participation, with TMNT or other characters. As long as someone was not running roughshod over everyone else. And right now we have a couple of these fun threads going. Don't be afraid--join in!!

When it comes to those who've met Media people....and I met a lot back in the day when I was able to get to a lot more conventions. And on older boards and older threads, I posted a lot of stuff to share with others. Currently I can't get to the cons where these VAs or the Mirage folks are, so I have nothing new to share. And I don't expect anyone's that interested in pictures of those people from 8 or more years ago. hehehe
But when those who meet the Media people share all of the details of what they saw, heard, post pictures, post juicy details and spoilers--what is wrong with that? That's sharing so everyone can benefit!!
And I know for myself at least, over the years, I have taken on obtaining autographs or sketches for other fans who are unable to meet some of the people I have met numerous times (like Kevin Eastman and Stan Sakai, and back in the day when I used to see Gary Carlson and crew a lot). That's not "hogging" Media people or acting like someone "owns" them--that's helping other fans!
If the people who meet Media people come back and post things like "well I heard things I won't tell the rest of you" then okay, that's being an arrogant snot. My feeling is don't say a word if you're not going to slap a Spoiler on it and share it with the rest of the community. We're all "fellow ninja" one would hope, one big happy fandom of TMNT that try to help each other out....okay, so it never works like that, but you get the idea. After all, there's always those "bad guys" like Shredder in our midst. (Though I have seen Shredder do a number of very nice things for other fans over the years.)
 
But a good example is the recent convention where Ivey even posted a video clip to share with all of us. That was wonderful! How is that a bad thing??

I went to Japan a year ago in March, and right before it, I just left the all the TMNT online communities I was a part of for a while because I saw things that made me very unhappy. About how I felt people were being treated, and it was while before I gave it a cautious try again here. I think these boards are the best set of boards I have seen in some years, where it's all ages appropriate, but so many varieties of TMNT fandom are welcome. And there's a lot less flaming and people making others miserable. No place is ever going to be perfect because we are all varied individuals across the US, from around the world, and of different ages and interests. But part of "community" starts with oneself.
Before you give up on this place and "yet another fan community" why not try a different approach first?

[Darth_CJJ]

I know that there is an unwritten (or IS it written?) rule about not replying to older topics on forums, but I simply had to reply to this thread.

Dark Angel, I had very mixed emotions when reading the posts in this thread. I could really identify with Michaelangelo's frustration. I get the sense that you aren't an adult yet, or that you don't have enough adult responsibilities if you are in fact an adult, because if you were/did, you wouldn't be concerned about something as petty as whether or not people pay attention to you.

The fact that you turn on Michaelangelo when she does go out of her way to show you that she does in fact care about you suggests to me that you might have some boundary issues. I get the sense that you didn't get enough attention growing up (which we all need). This whole thing isn't entirely your fault. However, I feel that we as human beings do have to make choices that impact what happens throughout the rest of our lives. I sense that you have boundary issues because you crave the attention that you didn't get when you were younger, but at the same time, you feel that you don't really deserve that attention and so you try to sabotage healthy relationships with people who would naturally gravitate towards the role of being a mentor/parental figure (like Michaelangelo).

Again, it hurts me to see anyone frustrated or confused or hurting, regardless of who they are. Everything I've said here has been said out of love, and I hope that if you do in fact have some issues that you will go see a counselor and work through some of these issues. There is no shame in that. I've been/am in therapy myself. The problem with the world today is that too many people think that just because they didn't make the mess, they shouldn't have to clean it up. That's a bad attitude to have. If I see some trash on the ground and just walk by because someone else threw it there, I'm really just as guilty as the person who littered; I have no right to complain that there's trash on the ground if I'm capable of picking it up and make a conscious choice not to do so. The same is the case with you. If you've had a crappy life, that's not your fault, and I'm sorry. But it's time to step up to the plate and start asking how you can improve yourself rather than coming here and blaming others, simply because they haven't taken an interest in you that you feel to be adequate. I've been in this fandom for several years now. I do my best to be a good friend to as many people as I can. In the past I failed miserably. Not everyone you meet should/has to absolutely adore you. There is no law that says that they have to, and not doing so does not make them a bad person.

Again, just because you didn't throw it there doesn't mean you don't have a responsibility to clean up some of the garbage in your life. You have to do it for yourself, because nobody else is going to do it for you. This may sound harsh, but we live in a world where you have to ask yourself "what is it I want?" and "How do I get it?" If you have had problems in this fandom/on other forums, that is because you made choices that probably weren't good ones. You have control over the dynamic that you create when you interact with others. Not them. They only have it if you give it to them. You need to learn how to be in control. You need to learn to decide what exactly it is you want out of your life, and then figure out how you get it.

[Aignatius]

Well, of all the fora I'm a member of, this one tends to have the biggest collection of juvenile delinquents I've ever seen.
Either that or people who meet one or two VAs think they're the cat's pajamas. Pretty laughable, eh? Yessir, pretty laughable. Instead of making accomplishments on their own lives, they have to worship people who have done something interesting.

I for one come on here to have a bit of fun, and some folks just take themselves and the fandom a wee bit tooooo seriously. Swelled heads, I think.
Well, hang it all, just thumb your nose at them and find people who do like you for who you are. If some people don't make you feel welcome, whose problem is it?
And that's all I have to say on the matter.  

[Darth_CJJ]

Well, of all the fora I'm a member of, this one tends to have the biggest collection of juvenile delinquents I've ever seen.

This one does? Than you must not be a member at T-Drome.

Either that or people who meet one or two VAs think they're the cat's pajamas. Pretty laughable, eh? Yessir, pretty laughable. Instead of making accomplishments on their own lives, they have to worship people who have done something interesting.

I for one come on here to have a bit of fun, and some folks just take themselves and the fandom a wee bit tooooo seriously. Swelled heads, I think.
Well, hang it all, just thumb your nose at them and find people who do like you for who you are. If some people don't make you feel welcome, whose problem is it?
And that's all I have to say on the matter.  

So...you think Dark Angel had a point?

[WolfofMibu]

I am going to play devil's advocate for a moment and ask a question...

Why is it all of us that go to conventions and meet the voice actors get treated so poorly by those that don't?

Could it be people that don't get to go to conventions and haven't met the voice actors are immature and jealous and can't deal with that fact, so they try to make all of us that have feel badly for doing so?


You know most of the time my statement above isn't even true and it isn't meant to actually even represent anyone on this forum. It is a blanket statement. Meant honestly to offer one very narrow view and most likely to offend people that could even the tinest bit fall into the catagory.

The whole idea of this thread is in my opinion mean. Its a very singular view of a topic that encompasses many people in varying life situtations.

Fandom is fandom, we all like ours to varying degrees and are willing to invest different levels of time and money into it. This doesn't make any one fan better then any other, nor any one fan a jerk for being willing to dish out a little extra to attend conventions, then being excited about the people they get to talk to.

I honestly feel having read this whole thread the people that have met the voice actors are acting rather humble and hurt, why the people that are questioning the way they are acting are being rather rude and critical.

If you don't like the fact we talk about people we have met, don't read the memories or conventions section of the forum. Honestly thats where nearly all of this is talked about and posted.

What a amuses me is the amount of people that complain about this forum and the way people act. I personally find this forum to be very mature and that we have very interesting conversations. I am part of a lot of anime forums with screaming fan boys and girls with enough drama to make your head spin.

[OnnaRaphael]

To piggyback on what you've said Wolf, this is the only TMNT forum I'll even step foot into because I've heard about the drama that goes on in the bigger forums.  I've apparently missed a good majority of the rudeness that supposedly goes on here.

And coming from someone who can't go to cons and meet their favorite VAs all the time I've never gotten the sense that the people who do meet them think they're better than anyone else.  Sometimes it can seem like maybe they're bragging a little, but then you have to step back and realize that if they were bragging there were tons of other times they could have done it and weren't.  There's a difference between throwing something in someone's face and simply telling the story for other's (and your own) enjoyment.

[Kazari]

I feel the same way in agreement with Onna and Wolf. I hated other forums, which I won't mention here, because I feltl like people had their cliques and they could treat anyone like dirt, but it didn't matter because they had connections with the admins and if you disagreed with them on situations, it was like a huge deal on it. I am thankful that I found the ONLY forum for TMNT, which is this one, that I feel like I pretty much can along with everyone. I know some of us had our disagreements, and with that, I mean between members and myself...but in the end..after talking with these people one on one, If elt like the net gave me the wrong impression of them and I am thankful. If I NEVER went to forums, I could never meet the friends I have now.

I don't see any immaturity here, and I must be blind if there is.

I agree with Wolf in the sense that I think some people are flatout jealous of meeting voice actors. I know I can't see every single person that some of my friends have seen, but I don't loathe them. If I make friends, sometimes, they will be willing enough to get me an autograph at cons that I can't attend. I actually admire IveyAngelo on here, in the sense that she is always so close to almost every aspect of TMNT. It's amazing and I enjoy listening to her stories and her pictures.

I just don't understand how people can say that people are immature here. I practically see NO fights at all compared to other forums. Everyone seems to get along 95% of the time and I feel like I won't be bashed instantly over everything I say. I also say that I could never loathe anyone who gets to meet voice actors. I have met a few and it means the world to me. If someone loathes me for that, then plainly they are flat out jealous because conventions are all over the country, so I don't see any excuse why someone can't just go to one if they really want to. Heck, I went to Vegas to just meet Sam Regal. Vegas is over a thousand miles away and it cost me a fortune, but that is what I wanted in my life, and I put everything I could into it.

Enough said

[Aignatius]

I see. Thanks for enlightening me.
It was said in humor, but I guess I hit a nerve? If it is something that bothers you, then I can understand why you feel the way you do.
Hopefully you will be able to resolve this trouble, and move on.

[Darth_CJJ]

I see. Thanks for enlightening me.
It was said in humor, but I guess I hit a nerve? If it is something that bothers you, then I can understand why you feel the way you do.
Hopefully you will be able to resolve this trouble, and move on.

As someone who has been a TMNT fan almost as long as he has been alive, I have to say, your comment about people taking the fandom "a wee bit too seriously" is truly a slap in the face. While meeting voice actors is not on the top of my to do list (they're just people, for Christ's sake) I can understand why that would be a big deal for someone. Me, I'm just happy collecting action figures and comic books. But  I can imagine that for them, it would be like a hardcore Christian being able to meet Jae-sus face to face. And besides, if certain people on this board are willing to shell out a lot of money to be able to meet people like Rob Paulsen, more power to them. I know that if I spent MY hard-earned money to go to a convention and had a really good experience, I'd be inclined to brag about it to. In my opinion, you have a right to brag when you spend that kind of money. It's built into the price you pay to go to a convention.

I seriously doubt that the people who go to meet VAs do so because they have no accomplishments of their own. That is a very harsh criticism of them. To struggle with living successfully in today's maddening world is heroic enough without having to be rich, famous, or popular. We are all here because we share common interests. We don't have to agree on everything.

At some point, the topic of this thread was skewed by someone. Michaelangelo went out of her way to try to show Dark Angel that she cared about her, and because Dark Angel is so used to not being cared about, she assumed that Michaelangelo was doing it out of pity, and responded by attacking Ivey for her interests. Now, I'm sure that if someone attacked me for something like that, my "older brother" Absaraka would be on them like a mama lion. Raka and I disagree about a lot of things, being that I'm liberal and he's conservative, but our friendship has still been a good one. Why? Because we know it's not worth it to get upset over petty bullsh*t. We're all human-beings with different perspectives. That's not necessarily our choice. I don't believe people make choices to be convicted of certain things. However, we do choose whether or not to be considerate and respectful of others. Until Dark Angel makes the choice to grow up and deal with whatever issues that original post stemmed from, she won't have the kind of relationships that she seems to be longing for. Because there aren't many feelings that beat feeling cared about by another human being, regardless of your flaws and quirks.

So yes, Aignatius, I did take offense to what you said about this forum having a lot of immature people and the fandom being something that some of us take too seriously. You didn't name names, but I'm assuming you were referring to Michaelangelo Ivey, and there's a possibility that you were referring to me. TMNT are like my religion. I can't speak for Raka, but he wrote a f*ckin' book about Raphael, so I'm guessing he feels the same way. Maybe there are people who'd be a little healthier and  happier if they'd lay off of having to get ever TMNT action figure variant ever made, but for some of us, TMNT is a lot more than that, and to have another fan write that off as us "taking the fandom a wee bit too seriously" really does come across as a slap in the face. I love T-Drome, but I go there for different reasons. I have spent enough time there to know that the majority of the people there act like teenagers and juveniles, not always in a bad way, but it's simply not the best place to go if you want philosophical discussion. We tried to have one over there once and the mods had to delete it because most of the members there couldn't handle it.

If you go up against me, you will be defeated. I've talked my share of bullsh*t in 22 years.