#1: You as a PC Member

[Belldandy]

I was 17 in 2009 when I joined. I was pretty immature - but still maturer than most 17-year-olds - and I was outspoken in a bad way :pink_tongue: I'm much easier to approach now and my opinions aren't so nonsensical / unable to be changed. I mould my opinions with new information now rather than being silly and denying any valid arguments against my claims.

Really had nothing to do with PC. I was here on and off. Real life experiences helped me to grow.

KuKu is pretty nice to me all the time and is objectively supportive of my irrational thoughts :pink_tongue: TwilightBlade is also nice. I don't think anyone has caused me to change, though; rather, they're supportive of the change and are nice to me about it.

 

[esperance]

I know I've changed since I joined. I was 12 when I joined, and it shows in a lot of my early posts. They're pretty bad. I think I cry a little bit if I ever see one.

I can't say that PC really helped me change as a person, that was more just growing up and dealing with life, but that first few friends I made back in the day really changed the way I used the site. It helped me to come out of my shell, and it made it easier for me to be active in different places.

Of course, a lot of them are gone now, so that's sad, but I'm happy just browsing about the site, posting when I feel the need. I've really enjoyed getting involved in more events lately, and I definitely try to put more thought into my posts than I did in the past.

 

[Nakuzami]

I was eleven or twelve when I first joined PC. Now I'm nearly seventeen. I've changed a bit in the last year alone, and certainly quite a lot since I first joined. PC has been one of my few mainstays over the years, and since I've spent much of my time online since around the time I turned ten I was, in a way, raised on this site. It's certainly helped me in a few ways, and though I can't begin to recount all of the things that have happened since I've joined, I can at least say that PC has had a direct influence on my writing skills, as I've spent most of my time honing them over in the Roleplay Corner.

 

[Universe]

PC was definitely a direct influence on me as a person.

I've been around and on PC for... nearly 10 years now. My previous point of heavy activity was (almost) 5 years ago and I actually had quite a few companions on PC back then! Lots of things happened as a result of my friendships, both good and bad.. because of that I've learned a lot of things about people and myself throughout the years; things that I may have never known otherwise.

While it hasn't always been a grand experience around here, I wouldn't change it for anything. This forum means a lot to me. :)

 

[Thomas]

I was 15 years old when I first joined, and looking back I really didn't know much about myself thing. I chose in the poll that I've changed a lot, but that's not exactly true. I'll be turning 27 in a couple of months, and I think that I've just learned how to live my life better. Less stress, be more carefree, forgive others easier, taking things in stride, and getting along better with everyone I meet. I think my early years at PC helped a lot with that. It also helped me get through a time in high school that I didn't particularly enjoy. I feel off of visiting PC while I was in college, but I've tried to come back everyone once in a while and check in on things to see who's still around and meet some of the newer members. I've found PC has changed a lot as well, and its much more of a healthier and welcoming community nowadays.

 

[Auticorn]

I've definitely changed since I first joined. I was sixteen at the time, and I was very childish and immature. I couldn't control myself when it came to annoying others because I had no idea what the fuck I was even doing. I thought that everyone I came into contact with was my best friend for life too. I didn't realize that a majority of people actually hated me.

Now, I know that just because I meet someone here. We aren't quite friends until we get to know each other. I also have a better control of myself when it comes to my actions as well. If I know something will get ugly that involves me... I walk away instead of trying to pick a fight. In a way, I guess PC has helped me understand myself a lot better as a person though.

 

[gimmepie]

I have changed a fair bit since joining PC, however I don't think that has much to do with PC itself. Rather changes that have occurred as a result of life off the internet tend to just be reflected in the way my posts have developed on PC.

I will admit though, since joining PC my, already eclectic, taste in music and the diversity of anime I watch have both expanded a fair bit. I have also grown to want to be involved with the community and to contribute rather than just post-and-go.

 

[Fairy]

I joined PC at twenty, so I don't want to say that I've grown or matured dramatically compared to some people who have been here for the better part of a decade; but I honestly feel like I have. I've grown to be more proud of myself, and not so nihilistic about the way people may perceive my opinions and personality. I discovered that I do have something to offer others by way of just being myself, online or off. Mainly though, I've learned to stand behind my art. PC has motivated me to become a better artist and taught me how to lead and participate in a creative community. So, in a lot of ways, PC has greatly influenced how I've changed over these past few years (and in a positive way, I hope!) though maybe not in the direct way that I grew up with it and developed myself along with it.

Still, I wouldn't trade it for the world. <3

 

[Hikamaru]

2011 Hika = absolutely terrible
2015 Hika = definitely improved

That sums it up. I joined PC when I was 18, and trust me I got off to a bad start where I ended up breaking rules I never even knew about, and almost considered leaving for the very same reason that I left Bulbagarden, which was mod power abuse. My early years often had me feeling intimidated around certain staff members, particularly higher-ups.

But something happened that made me want to do better, to actually serve as a helper towards the new generation of the forum and that was all mainly due to inspiration from one person, the battle server staff member and former Black & White/5th Gen mod, Forever. She gave off lots of positive messages during her time on the forum staff, and I learned from those and it was a vital step in becoming the member you see me as now. In 2012, I was given a special birthday gift, and that was something I never thought would even happen... becoming a community supporter. And then I established myself as part of the battle server community, even though my slow computer issues caused my activity to be on-and-off there as of late.

2014 was when the real side of me finally showed, especially after further inspiration episodes from even more staff members, such as Sheep's influence on my activity welcoming the new guys in The Welcome Lounge and being named an unofficial member of the so-called "welcome committee". My activity was also greatly expanded, where I found myself branching out into off-topic areas while still sticking to Pokemon boards at the same time.

This year, I celebrate four years on PC (said anniversary is next Thursday) and in terms of my real age I'll be 23 come October. It's so interesting to see how drastic I changed in those last four years on this forum and that one day I hope to achieve even greater heights. Had it not been for PC, I would have not had any friends, and I mean friends who know and understand me, which my real life friends did not have.

 

[Sheep]

Ahh god I changed so much since rejoining the forum in 2011 despite being 20 years old at the time.. haha. My posts used to be littered with annoying tildes, constant "n__n;" faces, and other obnoxious things that makes it hard to even look at posts I made in the 2011/2012 days, especially 2012. How was I ever modded with my old annoying posting habits. ;_;???

So yeah, I've matured a lot. Met many friends who influenced my behavior in a way and also stumbled upon other communities that had a strong impact on me through this very forum. I'm glad that I decided to return. :)

 

[Skip Class]

I grew a hell of a lot up from that immature 13 year old to the 20 year old I am now. I look back at my posts from when I started and damn I was noobish and embarrassing,
TBH if you had a comparison of photos from the me then and the me now, I don't think I've just dramatically much, but personality-wise, It's because of PC that I've become more confident and more happy with who I am. I pretty much did my growing up on PC because I wasn't quite able to do it irl.

Just like Fairy especially, PC was the original motivator of my art and design which is such an important part to my life now. If it weren't me accidentally stumbling into PC, I wouldn't have become the person I am today. People posted the awesomest stuff on here, and from there it just made me want to do that too.

 

[Kura]

Oh god, have I ever changed..

I think if I haven't changed in over 10 years, that'd be concerning, actually. I know the way I handle situations and deal with others are completely different. I've become more lax and a bit more down to earth, but I still maintain that firey passion I have about the things (and people) that I love. I still enjoy sharing my honest opinion (whether people want to hear it or not) and I still feel like I am honest, trustworthy, and have maintained values that I've grown up with. I've certainly matured.

I feel like part of it was because of the forum, but partly because of the way my life's being going (and has gone) outside of PC, too. I have quite a few friends on here that have impacted me for both the better and the worse, and made me grow and look at things in a new light. I'm pretty thankful of that and of the community.

I absolutely know that without PC, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

But it's ok.. y'all can still call me the forum's resident psychobitch. Lol..

 

[Chikara]

Spoiler:

...Just the... Same old, same old... Nothing cringey here. I was the most normal 12 year old on PC. Let's not forget, the title of that thread was "Im new and single;)".

I could just about die, reading some of my early posts here, oh my god...


I've made a complete 180 in terms of how I act here. Who's completely mature at 12 anyway, that just goes without saying. Hell, I think I got myself banned once before(Claire was the one who unfortunately had to deal with me) because I treated the rules like suggestions and kept on reviving old threads, lmao.
-_-

 

[Her]

I only get stronger and powerful over time, so naturally I have improved since I joined this forum. I'm still as playful & blunt as ever, but not to the point I once was. I've learned how to reel in my more... ill-timed thoughts.
Given that I joined this place when I was 14, it's almost a given that I'm far more mature and learned now than back then.

Of course, some people will see whatever they want to see.

 

[Sonata]

Over this past year of being a member of PC I've changed but just a little bit. I've come out of my shell a little and started taking more risks. I talk to people more and do more interactive things now than I did when I first joined. I've also branched out to pretty much every section on the forum instead of just staying huddled up in Challenges, Video Games and General Chat. I don't know that any one group in particular has made anything harder or easier though.

I haven't really had any outside forces impose a change on me though. My friends don't even really know I have a PC account, most of them come here to get hacks but don't actually have an active account for just posting and stuff.

 

[Tsutarja]

I joined PC when I was 15 years old. Back then, I joined to discuss specifically HeartGold and SoulSilver, and I wasn't posting around the whole forum, because I it was the largest forum I had joined (and still is to this day). I was also more shy in front of larger communities, and here at PC, I never thought I was gonna be able to fit in.

I began my streak of visiting PC on a daily basis two years ago, and so far it hasn't ended. Although what makes this streak different from my original run as a member is that I wasn't really here for the Pokémon. I stuck around the off-topic sections mostly, with the occasional post in places like PGC and PGen. I was mainly posting in Forum Games, Chit Chat & Polls, and Fan Clubs & Groups. Also, Technology & Internet or else I wouldn't be its mod to this day lol.. I probably would have stopped visiting PC eventually like I had done in the past if it weren't for my promotion. I enjoy taking care of the Computers & Technology section for sure, and technology is one of the favorite aspects of my life. Looking back, it's difficult to imagine how much of a difference I've helped to make around PC, and even experience all the changes as well.

 

[Alex]

Yay life stories! I've spent just over eight years at PC.... I've changed a lot. In fact, I used to think three years on these forums was a lot - and that I had changed a ton then. While I may have changed, I wouldn't consider it a dramatic change. Had I taken this poll in 2009, I would've voted "changed a lot" when I really should've only voted "changed a little."

I joined when I was fourteen and my priorities were simple. Make friends, play games, have fun. Now...given that I'm writing this at work on a short break, my personality and priorities are a little different. I think I'm slightly stand-offish and tough to meet with new people. But I still enjoy making friends, so when the barrier is broken I'll usually put in the effort to strengthen the relationship. I still play games a ton and try to have fun always. Work prevents me from really having fun and I truly wonder why it's the social norm to settle for having a job you (probably) don't particularly enjoy, and spend at least a third of your day doing it. My goals are now to find my own apartment in the city which I grew up; to have my own life and live on my own rhythm.

There's a huge crater in my activity on PC. It started and plateau'd, where I was having a ton of fun meeting new people and creating friendships (some of which I still hold dearly to this day). My activity stayed constant, and my friendship-forging continued. My promotion to moderator kept me going strong. But pretty abruptly my activity stopped - where I was in a constant struggle with myself as I was trying to portray as someone "cool" when I knew I was just a lanky little pokenerd. I kept leaving and coming back - usually as a troll - until I got myself banned for a few years to force myself to stop. I got unbanned eventually and since then my activity has been pretty low, with a one-off sign-in every so often. At this very stage in my PC history, I'd say I have a fairly low activity where I don't find much interest in about 98% of the forum's topics, but still sign on to check in on what my friends are up to. Most of my good buddies from back-in-the-day are moderator and s-mod status and I try to keep up with what they're bringing to the table.

Hey that was fun! Thinking about my history on here. I used to make a huge deal about this place. Funny how it's not as significant as I used to think.

 

[Melody]

Spoiler:

I could just about die, reading some of my early posts here, oh my god...

Oh god. My noob days. God. You should remember them, you were a large part of it. (But then again so was Nica and Signomi and a lot of people. God I miss a lot of those people; especially the ones who have moved on.

They essentially put up with me. They were and are the gentlest and kindest people I know. Mind you; my noob days are something I'd rather forget. I even get sad and depressed when drama happens. Of course my attention it surges and wanes so over the course of ten years has been more like 3-4 where I've been seen as "Active". *sigh* Either way; PC has effected a lot of change in me; most all of it for the better. I have left PC for probably all the reasons under the sun; but I always show back up after a while. x3

 

[Foxrally]

I think the main effect PC has had on me is make me a better writer, especially over the years. I started RPing back in 2013 and I cringe while reading those posts. I'm still not an AMAZING writer but I believe myself to have improved.

Oh, and I learned css too, and that's always useful :D

 

[Mana1]

I don't think I've changed much because of PC. But I have probably changed as a person in my time here. I'm slightly less harsh and abrasive now (right???).

I think the main effect PC has had on me is make me a better writer, especially over the years. I started RPing back in 2013 and I cringe while reading those posts. I'm still not an AMAZING writer but I believe myself to have improved.

Oh, and I learned css too, and that's always useful :D

#teamRPC