So, I see that Talon has left the site, and I assume with that the productivity and speed of changes/fixes that we were receiving. So, with us now essentially being back to where we were a few months ago, how do we move forward? Yes, things are better than they were then, but unfortunately now we don't have the sense of optimism and looking forward to the future of the site and its changes/fixes that we had before. I know that Trucks is still around, but unfortunately things are just not going to be done as quickly as they were before. So, what can we, as a community, do? There are some things we can help out with, for example maintaining threads and fostering a community, and possibly helping out if we are asked of it, but maybe what we need to do is gather together to let Talon know that we really do appreciate his fixes and that we want him to stay. I know that his responses can be rather hostile, and in fact I do think that he does need a better sense of PR However, I think we could maybe write some sort of thank-you letter or something that we used to do at school with our names and a little note to write until we have enough people that have written it, and then someone still in contact with Talon can send it to him. It may not work, but I think it's still worth trying at least, however I do think that if he were to come back that it would probably be better for there to be a mediator or someone who can filter what he says in a way that doesn't put everyone on edge.

Hang on when did Talon leave?

Were was the big announcement that should have been sticked to the Forum Hot Topics for us all to see and wish him all the best?

The words are coming out all weird

No one knows what's going on besides the ones who spend their time on the discord servers. Why did talon leave?

Was it bitching?

Ah, I see. To be honest, I was almost sure that this was going to happen sooner or later, this was something that was going on ever since he came back to be honest, it was really more of a matter of when rather than if, there were many instances of him having issues with the way users provided feedback (vivster, NATO, bananaking21, Rol, me, Ganoncrotch, etc.). As for this site/community, I'm wondering why we even bother staying, why remain on a site where the owner does jackshit when there are other forums that have ones who actually do a ton? With Talon gone and updates being much slower again I'm mainly staying for nostalgic/sentimental reasons and also because I've put my entire game collection on here so it'd be a huge pain having to re-add it elsewhere.

However, while things may be bleak, maybe all hope isn't lost, it may be possible that he'd be willing to have a curator/filter or such in order to prevent something like this, in fact I believe that Versus, Ryuu and I were originally brought on-board to do that essentially (as back then he was getting overwhelmed with all of the conflicting feedback and requests and wanted something more cohesive/organized). I don't know if he'd be willing to talk to me, and to be honest I am not really in a position to become the curator myself, but maybe he would be convinced by the idea.

Thats sad, I really liked Talon and most of all, appreciated what he did.But unfortunely, for better or worse, you need to have a tough skin to head or be an administrator in any capacity of an online forum.unlike real life, where there are real consequences for being a jerk and/or an idiot(you can punch the other guy, actually call names, etc.And if someone is really being unreasonable, ususally he will be unreasonable around people he knows, and that could have real effects on his life, which prevents people from being jerks), in the internet you can be as unreasonable or as trolololol as you want since the worst thing that can happen to you is for you to get banned from that place.But then you just go and find another one that serves more or less the same purpose.

Its sad, but unfortunely its the truth.Talon was, in my brief experience with him, a really sensible person and someone who is really easy to piss, which are horrible carachteristics for an admin.I do hope that someday he comes back, not only because everyone appreciates what he does, even the ones that say they dont, but because it would show to these same persons that he is better than them.Plus, given how easily infuriated he gets, would be an excellent training for real life situations.

I cant speak for others, but the reason i stay here and participate in this forum is:

1)The numbers.Accurate or not, me likes it.

2)But most of all, the discussion.It dosent matter(that much) if the site dosent get game changing updates every year.As long as it functions, and as long as there are awesome users who i can discuss things with, I am more than satisfied.After all, thats the main function of a forum:The excitment of sharing the ideas and discussion with like minded people.people that share your hobby.

This is not meant as a critique, and Im sorry if it sounds a bit harsh, but if you come to a forum because you want new tools, to see it have a new logo every year, or to make friendships with 90% of the users and have that friendship last until the end of times, then you came to the wrong place.

Have you considered doing this on a smaller scale? It sounds like burnout was also a problem for you, maybe if you did this on a more limited basis it would avoid the same traps that happened last time? I understand if you don't want to do that, but I guess it's a suggestion. 

A leads to B, though. If the site continues to get changes and updates, it will drive people to come here and as a result there will be better discussion. Yes, I also came to the realization that most people here are not really looking for close friendships, that has been a very painful and hurtful process for me.