Dermot appears after a long absence.

[Dermot]

Hi, I'm Dermot.  I haven't been registered on a Star Fox fan community for a very, very long time.  I ran the first (well, technically the second) MouthOff message board, as well as the Papetoon message board that followed, back in the 1990s.  I don't know if anyone I knew back then is still around.

[fox1235]

Hello I haven't been since the 1990s but I think DZComposer(Our Site leader here) has been a starfox fan the longest.

Also, we have a welcome subforum in the Lounge section of the forum called The Welcome Wagon

[DZComposer]

I ran the first (well, technically the second) MouthOff message board, as well as the Papetoon message board that followed, back in the 1990s.

Holy Crap!

I am honored you decided to join us!

Hello I haven't been since the 1990s but I think DZComposer (Our Site leader here) has been a starfox fan the longest.

Also, we have a welcome subforum in the Lounge section of the forum called The Welcome Wagon

He's definately been around longer than me, lol. I became active in the fandom in late 1999 (shortly after Puffy opened OTG, I believe). I want to say Papetoon was already gone by then, but I could be wrong (and I'm sure Dermont will tell me if I am.)

I will probably create a member introduction thread here at some point, but since this is the CSF affiliate board, I won't force people to post on the main forums if they don't want to (Same with the KA board, unless Mr. K. says otherwise).

[Asper Sarnoff]

Hello Dermot. While I wasn't active in the fandom, or on the internet at all for that matter, untill quite recently, It still gives me great pleassure to see older fans return to the franchise after a long abscence. You are most welcome!

[Guest FoXXX]

Welcome to SF:O :)

[Dermot]

Well, Puffy (aka Purry) is a name I definitely *do* remember. :3 I also remember people kept calling me "Dermont" (I kept correcting them - there is no N), but now that's more funny than annoying, because it brings back memories. But so far haven't met anyone from the old community I remember.

And...it was years ago - I can't remember exactly what the calendar years were when I ran MouthOff and Papetoon.  After a while, I gave control to someone else and faded away, largely because I was increasingly out of touch with the fandom that was becoming so centered around Star Fox 64 (which I couldn't stand X3).

Let's see, what other names do I remember...

NeoPhoenix?

BlueYoshi?

MaryBeth Kaczynski?

Kenny Beach?

Jason Wolfman?

Fana McCloud?

Miyu Lynx?

StarVixen?

But if you asked me who was who, I might not quite remember - I've lost contact with almost everybody since then.

[Kursed]

Holy Crap!

I am honored you decided to join us!

He's definately been around longer than me, lol. I became active in the fandom in late 1999 (shortly after Puffy opened OTG, I believe). I want to say Papetoon was already gone by then, but I could be wrong (and I'm sure Dermont will tell me if I am.)

I will probably create a member introduction thread here at some point, but since this is the CSF affiliate board, I won't force people to post on the main forums if they don't want to (Same with the KA board, unless Mr. K. says otherwise).

I would have been in the fandom sooner if they would have put a  girl in  the permanant charaters list ,but I got into the fandom officially after assault (unofficially after adventures)

either way welcome to sf-o Csf...

[DZComposer]

Well, Puffy (aka Purry) is a name I definitely *do* remember. :3 I also remember people kept calling me "Dermont" (I kept correcting them - there is no N), but now that's more funny than annoying, because it brings back memories. But so far haven't met anyone from the old community I remember.

And...it was years ago - I can't remember exactly what the calendar years were when I ran MouthOff and Papetoon.  After a while, I gave control to someone else and faded away, largely because I was increasingly out of touch with the fandom that was becoming so centered around Star Fox 64 (which I couldn't stand X3).

Let's see, what other names do I remember...

NeoPhoenix?

BlueYoshi?

MaryBeth Kaczynski?

Kenny Beach?

Jason Wolfman?

Fana McCloud?

Miyu Lynx?

StarVixen?

But if you asked me who was who, I might not quite remember - I've lost contact with almost everybody since then.

I have slight dyslexia, and I admit I read "Dermont..."

Ah, yes. Just seeing those names brings back nostalgia. I haven't heard from any of them in quite some time either, though I stumbled across a DeviantArt page for MaryBeth a couple of years ago. Don't remember what her username was, though.

I just wish I hadn't been the big freaking n00b that I was back then... That's the only thing I DON'T miss about those times.

I went by "Double Zero" back then (guess what 'DZ' stands for ), in case you remember a n00blet by that name.

[Dermot]

I'm not entirely sure "Double Zero" rings a bell.  It's also been a long time.

I'm actually feeling a bit more wary today.  I tried to introduce myself in #arwinglanding recently and I started to discuss some Star Fox character development issues.  Some of the non-Star-Fox-fans got really very annoyed with me.  (I tend to be a bit hyperactive when I get deep into a discussion.)

I'm not entirely sure how the fandom has changed since then.  If they'd receive me well.  Back in the 1990s, long before Krystal was introduced, I remembered there were a lot more girls in the fandom, and there was a lot more involvement in the furry community.  Does Star Fox also still have a significant gay fan base, or has that shrunken in proportion to the Krystal fandom?  I know very little about the general fandom today, and am trying to reconnect.

[rainfyre66]

Wow, welcome back to SF fandom, Dermot!

I am a first generation Star Fox fan from when the first Star Fox for SNES was released in '93, and the original SF is my favorite video game of all time. However, I am a "n00b" to internet fandom, as I didn't get internet until my late teens and even then I didn't visit video game forums much until the past year or so, so I can't tell you too much about the evolution there. However, haven't noticed much of significant gay fan base, furries seem as prominent as they'll ever be with Krystal in the series, and there is a sort of split line down the middle of SF fandom nowadays- those that long for "the good ol' days" of Star Fox, and those that think that Krystal is the heart and soul of the series, both have their own sort of "snobbery" in their points of view (no offense to anyone, I just can't think of a better word right now). Oh, and everyone loves to bash SF Command. I personally know I am a fan at heart and just roll with the punches of the series, but I am curious as to what got the hostilities flowing at Arwing Landing with your discussion...

Heh, anyone else want to pitch in and give Dermot a more cohesive update on SF fandom?

[Dermot]

Well, the Arwing Landing situation is...complex.  And, truth be told...gave me what now appears to have been a full-fledged anxiety attack.  I wanted to discuss Star Fox characters and character development, not really understanding that most of the people in the chat didn't really care about Star Fox at all (some of whom actually hate Star Fox).  I also treated the chat is if it had a lot of gay users, which might have been another mistake (I'd always remembered a significant number of gay users being in the fandom).  I rather hyperactively discussed topics surrounding the ultimate romantic orientations of certain Star Fox characters, in somewhat the same style with which I've discussed topics on FurAffinity and in IM chat for years.  That really seemed to bother some people.  When I got a negative reaction (then someone lied to me and told me I'd say the word "gay" 600 times, and later admitted it was a gross exaggeration), I started to have the seeds of an anxiety attack as I began to doubt my own memories and my own sanity.  Having autism, anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, it's not really a good idea to push me on something like that, and for the rest of the day it was the only topic I could think of.  Suffice it to say it also became the only topic I could even think to talk about, as I became rather paranoid and wary of all conflict in front of me.  Apparently that only made things worse.  One or two users had decided very early on that I was annoying as hell (the one of which in particular hated Star Fox anyway and kept driving the point home of how much he disliked me), and the souring chat mood started to take its toll on HoshiKitsunuki, who had to start monitoring my (increasingly anxiety-tinged) behavior in the channel as it became harder for me to think clearly.  I was told I'd be banned if I discussed the topic, the topic of the topic, or the topic of the topic of the topic.  I also got conflicting assertions - Hoshi said it was a Star Fox fandom channel, but most of the other users said it was not a Star Fox channel at all.  By the end of last night, I was thrust into a full-fledged anxiety attack, which, in all honesty, is still being felt.  I had never felt less tolerated or more unwelcome in a Star Fox discussion in my life.  I don't know if this means I'm simply more of a forum person and not a chat person, or what.  All I really know is that nearly everything I tried to talk about was met with irritation, hostility and threats, and everything I did to try to repair it got me more of the same (coupled with sheer impatient indifference), and now I'm physically feeling very ill as a consequence, and seriously doubting a return to the fandom at all.

[fox1235]

Wow that sounds tough. But we here try to stay nice and respect everyones opinons.

And a wow why are people who hate Starfox are on a Starfox site seems odd.

[Asper Sarnoff]

Sounds like you really stepped into a hornet nest there. While I'd love to say there don't excist ignorant twats in the fandom, it would unfortunatly be a blatant lie.

However, I like to think that as a general rule of thumb, that SF-O is a lot more open to discussions like that than Arwing Landing, more friendly, fewer self-proclaimed "experts".

So I'll urge you to stick around here on SF-O for a while, discuss Starfox, and anything else with us and hopefully make a couple of friends before you decide to give up on your return to the wonderful world that is the SF fandom.

[DZComposer]

AL's chatroom is not for the faint of heart. Don't let them shape your opinion of the state of the fandom. Yes, it has gone down-hill over the past 10 years, but not THAT much.

Here at SFO, we pride ourselves for being inclusive. So long as you have an interest in Star Fox, and can follow our rules of civility, you are welcome, regardless of race, gender, religion, country, sexual orientation, etc.

[Star Fox Runner]

I've heard some bad things about ArwingLanding, so that's not your fault. SF-O is definitely more friendly place to discuss this stuff. So feel welcome to talk about whatever you want, we won't greet you with hostility.

I'm not young, I'm going to College next year, but whenever I hear the older members talk about just how old the Star Fox Fandom is, it really makes me feel like a runt. :lol:

[Kursed]

AL's chatroom is not for the faint of heart. Don't let them shape your opinion of the state of the fandom. Yes, it has gone down-hill over the past 10 years, but not THAT much.

Here at SFO, we pride ourselves for being inclusive. So long as you have an interest in Star Fox, and can follow our rules of civility, you are welcome, regardless of race, gender, religion, country, sexual orientation, etc.

Defintly not as friendly there My first impression of them almost had me leaving.

[Guest DRL]

So... You too?!

I mean Dermot, when something really affects

me then my mind spents all the rest of the day

thinking on it. No, I do not have autism/hyperactivity

but I do get that feel of paranoia you described...

But well, that is what happens when you talk to the

wrong person... Just do not let that bother you. If

you can get on well with people in some place, then

go to another, that is why I think you are going to like

it here: the people is way more friendly than in other

places.

...Well, Welcome to StarFox Online!

[Dermot]

Thank you, you all have been so nice to me.  It briefly reminded me of the good times on MouthOff and Papetoon.

Alright, I'll stick around here awhile.

But I don't feel really up to bringing up romantic orientation topics for awhile.

[Asper Sarnoff]

Thank you, you all have been so nice to me.  It briefly reminded me of the good times on MouthOff and Papetoon.

Alright, I'll stick around here awhile.

But I don't feel really up to bringing up romantic orientation topics for awhile.

Sounds great to me! IMO, we've also had our fair share of romantic orientation topics. *coughFox, coughand, coughKrystal, cough4ever.* :lol:

[Matt Macdowel]

Hi, I'm Dermot.  I haven't been registered on a Star Fox fan community for a very, very long time.  I ran the first (well, technically the second) MouthOff message board, as well as the Papetoon message board that followed, back in the 1990s.  I don't know if anyone I knew back then is still around.

hi and welcome! I am matthew macdowel

[Dermot]

Well, like I said, it's going to take me some time to recover.  I don't want to ruffle anyone's feathers or anything.  At least not until I'm feeling sane and can think clearly. X3

On MouthOff and Papetoon, I wanted people to feel welcome, if I could.  People who were genuinely abusive were dealt with, but the threshold for that was pretty high.  I have my own lifelong issues of benign mental illness, so if *I* can be annoying so much, I wasn't about to tell other people they were annoying.  On the contrary, I can sense more if people are being mean-spirited, capricious, petty, impatiently indifferent, etc., and that is what I don't like very much.

[Asper Sarnoff]

Well, like I said, it's going to take me some time to recover.  I don't want to ruffle anyone's feathers or anything.  At least not until I'm feeling sane and can think clearly. X3

On MouthOff and Papetoon, I wanted people to feel welcome, if I could.  People who were genuinely abusive were dealt with, but the threshold for that was pretty high.  I have my own lifelong issues of benign mental illness, so if *I* can be annoying so much, I wasn't about to tell other people they were annoying.  On the contrary, I can sense more if people are being mean-spirited, capricious, petty, impatiently indifferent, etc., and that is what I don't like very much.

Don't you worry about getting on the bad side of people around here. You sound like a great guy, at least in my book you do, and I'll be looking foreward to seeing you around here on the site.

[Guest DRL]

Well if you ever feel like, we can meet on the chat

or you can PM, if you want to...

Well, there is only one thing I can do now:

[shadow=blue,left]WELCOME TO SF-O![/shadow]

[Dermot]

Well, it's been a few days now, and my anxiety hasn't really gone away. X3 The experience in IRC #arwinglanding left a really vile taste in my mouth.  Yes, I know most of the active people there weren't actually Star Fox fans, but I haven't personally witnessed so much sheer human a(nti)pathy in one place in a long time.

I'm now finding myself afraid to speak my mind here or anywhere else in the Star Fox fan community.  I've been burned pretty badly in my return.  And I still have a lot of strong (but ultimately impersonal) opinions about a variety of Star Fox topics.  I don't actually want flame wars with anyone.  But every time I return to this or any other Star Fox forum, I feel my anxiety rise pretty rapidly, like a huge flame war is just around every corner about to pounce me.

And really, there's so much Star Fox fanart I wanted to discuss, and fanmusic to share, and enlightened discussion of characters' development.  And yes, gay Star Fox topics (including slash and bara fanart - even the more mature-oriented stuff) until the cows come home. XD But I don't want my head bitten off in the process, like what happened repeatedly in recent days.

Inevitably, my neurological handicaps come up, so I might as well list them all:

* high-functioning autism (sub-Aspergers)

* tourettes syndrome (not the stereotypes though)

* anxiety/panic disorder (my anxiety center doesn't have an off-switch)

* obsessive-compulsive disorder

* attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

I'm medicated, but it only does so much.

[CrypticQuery]

I'm pretty sure that you'll receive the proper respect that you deserve here at SF-O! and I hope you enjoy your stay!