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I'm back....
Chatterbox: Down to Earth
I'm back....
I'm back....
I decided to end my hiatus, so I'll be around again, and I hope you're all doing well with the coronavirus situation. I had some thoughts while on my hiatus, though, so I thought I'd share with you all...it's about the CB and me and leaving (permanently, not on a hiatus) and stuff.
So I used to think I would never EVER be okay with leaving the Chatterbox, even as so many people I used to know were fading away. I had these really deep connections to the CB a while ago, and all the people there, and all the stuff that was happening. And I really don't like letting things go, so I thought I'd never be able to let the CB go.
But that generation of the CB...most of them have left, and not come back, and especially for some of them who did actually let us know before they left instead of just fading away, it really hurt. Because they were my friends. But it's been such a long time now that the pain of that has kind of disappeared, mostly.
I don't have the same connections to the new CB. It's really a whole new generation of people, and the CB isn't the same as it used to be in terms of activities and ideas. Don't get me wrong, you all are great people. But I almost feel like this isn't my place anymore.
I have so many great memories from years ago and that, I feel like, is the CB I belong to, the one I was afraid to lose, but I've been slowly losing it over time as people have left or faded away. And now there's a whole new CB, that I feel like I don't fit into exactly. It makes me heartsick that I might actually think of leaving the CB at some point, because I never wanted to and this website has been my home for so so long. But I've found other things that I'm devoting time to. And I feel like it might be time for me to leave, knowing I'll hold on to the great memories of things and people that were my friends--people who aren't coming back.
I've seen so many people come and go on the CB. They come in, love it, kick off their shoes and stay awhile, each person helping shape the CB with their ideas. And then eventually, they move on. It's a cycle really. And I think I may be coming to the end of my part of that cycle.
But rest assured, in case I am freaking anyone out, I'm not leaving yet. Definitely not. It might be a long time still before I leave. For now, I think there's more to do here and...yeah! Um, I guess I'm done with that train of thought. Anyway...hi everyone I'm back <3
*insert witty thoughtful ending here*
submitted by Leafy, age No, not a cat
(March 25, 2020 - 12:45 pm)
(March 25, 2020 - 12:45 pm)
Hey, welcome back!
Sad to hear that you feel like you're not fitting in, I know how you feel. I'm on this other forum that now has kinda turned into "Follow me follow me follow me blah blah blah." And I've kinda drifted away from it. Still there every once in a while but not much anymore.
While it will be sad if you leave, we will respect your decision no matter what you choose.
(March 25, 2020 - 5:15 pm)
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(March 25, 2020 - 5:16 pm)
(March 26, 2020 - 11:55 am)
Ahh! You scared me! I nearly cried reading this! But I know you're just not feeling it, so I understand that. You just really helped shaped my time here, and I love looking at your work. You're halarious, kind, and purely amazing. It'd be sad to see you go, but our brains hold memory. And I could never forget you. Ever. <3
Now before I start crying for real, I'm going to go. I hope things work out and you come to a descion to the best of your ability.
(March 26, 2020 - 12:09 pm)
LEAFY!!!!! *tacklehugs*
Please please please girl, don't leave me here! (I mean, you could if you wanted to, but I would really miss you... :(
I'm still here, I promise. I just don't post as much anymore... but I'm glad you are here. *hugs*
Love ya!
(March 26, 2020 - 12:40 pm)
Please don't leave! We need to be able to keep your generation around. We don't want that part of the CB to disappear. That would be horrible.
(March 26, 2020 - 3:51 pm)
Welcome back Leafy! *hugs* It's good to see you again.
I know exactly what you mean about the CB changing- it's not a bad change, but I do get nostalgic for how it used to be. I hate change, but it's inevitable, and it's sad to see it happen to this place, but I suppose everything has its time. Either way, I guess everyone comes and goes eventually, but I'm glad that at least for now, you aren't going anywhere. It's good to have you back!
(March 26, 2020 - 5:45 pm)
Leafy!!! Welcome back!!
I totally feel you, all of it. I'm kind of the generation between yours and the current one (at least, that's how I've felt, I don't know how you think of it), and I'm also nostalgic for all the people I remember, even though I didn't really know most of them and just watched them from a distance. So I totally understand that, and I'll support you if you do decide to leave.
But I hope that's not for a long time. :)
(March 26, 2020 - 5:46 pm)
Strawberri’s right! I really hope you don’t leave. I mean, I would get it if you left, but it’s sooooooo great that you’re back!
(March 26, 2020 - 6:40 pm)
Awww, that was so sweet! Please know, Leafy, that we will miss you very very much, but we also respect any decision you choose to make. We all wish we could be able to talk to you and everyone forever, but we know that all good (and in this case, absolutely amazing) things come to an end. Maybe I'll pass you on the street one day and say, "ThAt mUst bE LEAFY!!!!" I mean, I kinda doubt it, but anyway, we will miss you if you leave!
(March 26, 2020 - 7:12 pm)
Hello Leafy, welcome back! I was wondering where you were, since ironically enough I think I missed your hiatus post because I was taking a break from CB. I feel the exact same way as you do.
I get nostalgic sometimes for those Crowd Sorcery days... being in seventh grade and poring over CB on my family's big old desktop computer... the steampunk RP with Danie and Brookeira... my old solo write (which had an incredible cast, I now realize looking back)... the original AE ball... The old AEs!
Sorry, that was a tangent. Anyway, most of the reason I'm not as into CB as I used to be is through no fault or change on the website's behalf, it's that I grew up. Most of the novels I read and what I write are not really appropriate or popular with people younger than me. I suppose my nostalgia is not simply for the CB but for being a kid. And writing dumb skits with my AEs and making friends and writing RPs and not really worrying about whether they were any good.
I do feel like there's a norm of like, decisive leaving on here? And at a certain point everyone's just like, okay that's it! Bye forever! But you don't actually have to do that. I don't plan on leaving but I don't plan on staying forever. I've been going in and out for the past, like, 2 years. You don't have to pick. You can do whatever you feel like in a given moment.
(March 27, 2020 - 1:05 pm)
ARE YOU KIDDING?? I WAS TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!!!
This kind of surprised me. I mean, I used to always think the "older" CBers were the ones who fit in most. I was always so impressed by all of you. It was a shock when you all started referring to me as a friend, because I felt so... unexperienced? Young? Ignorant? Something? But really, I feel like the CB without you would honestly be boring. So, I'm glad you're sticking around for a little while longer.
(March 28, 2020 - 3:29 pm)
@Alex yeah, forums can change a lot. I'm glad that this one is less like social media and more of a writing website!
@Spellbound I'm sorryyyyy...and thank you for everything you said! That means a lot <3
@Joan *tackle hugs* aww, yeah, I won't leave for a while. Probably a long time. I'd miss you as well! Love you too <333
@Strawberri ehhh my generation is mostly gone anyway...but I'm staying for a while don't worry!
@Quill thanks! *hugs back* Yeah I get pretty nostalgic too :(
@Kitten that sounds about right...sort of? There might be another generation in there somewhere. Idk. But yeah. I won't leave for a long time :)
@Dolphin don't worry, I'm not leaving for a while yet!
@Cello thank you! It would be so cool to get to know you or any other CBer sometime.
@Abigail yes yes all of that. And thanks for the thoughts about the decisive leaving. I would miss you if I left <3
@Luna-Starr sorry :/ No, I mean, once it's more younger CBers than older CBers and they're bringing so many new ideas in and changing the CB a lot, it's more their space, you know? Yes I definitely consider you to be a friend though and I will be here for a while still <3
(March 30, 2020 - 8:24 am)