AF-org is nearly 5 years old. How is everyone doing?

[Whateverist]

I've just been skimming through some of the earliest posts looking to see who has been on since the beginning and how people have changed. I believe these forums become 5 years old toward the beginning of next month but please correct me if you know better. I've been posting here for only a couple years and have enjoyed very much. So I'm curious how others are feeling about how its going.

If any of the original members would care to regale us with stories from the 'olden days' it would be great to read them. I'm also curious how relative newbies like myself feel about how the forums have changed over time and how they feel about the directions it has taken. I would most of all like to address that question to Tiberius. Has it surprised you in any ways and do you like what it has become?

It might be interesting to give Tiberius and the gang some feedback. My preference would be for everyone to vote for just the one option in each category which best describes your experience on AthiestForums.org, but if you feel more than one really fit go for it.

[Napoléon]

Well frankly, I think the standard of religious fucktard has gone down the shitter. Is it just me are or they getting more and more lame? Where's the originality gone?!

[Minimalist]

They have no originality - just the same old shit. I haven't been here since the beginning, though.

[Something completely different]

I havent even been on this forum for half a year (if one accounts for the 2 months I was gone)

[Tonus]

Where's the originality gone?!

The playbook hasn't changed much in the past twenty centuries.

[fr0d0]

it felt nuts when I joined. it took a while to get accepted. I enjoyed it though and feel it's developed nicely, in favour of opening up to theists, obviously something in my interest. Tiberius has been a rock. We've had our dramas and falling outs. miraculously it seems we're still together. I feel I've made some great friends. I've learned some, and continue to learn, and that's the best bit.
I think we should plan a 5 year event. Tibs and the staff digging up some memorable moments etc. That'd be great.

---

Some highlights from me

Some awesome theists. Well Christians. Arcanus > Ryft a fantastic example. John Paul his precursor who blinded us with technical speak at the tender age of 17, and went on to fake his own death on another form. And the multitude of short stay theists solid as a rock in their awesome theology
The tenacious void and tavarish, fervent, verbose atheists who delved deeper than anyone IMO. void who went on to study philosophy and tav who created a blog stalking Ryft.
Our existentialist period with young Violet and purple rabbit that confusingly annoyed dutch man.
The great schism caused I think by our first queen eilonnwy, who first, in my opinion, let her new admin powers lead to bunny boiler tendancies and upset people badly, so much so that Tibs was on the verge of closing down. After that, in some people's opinion, turned militant feminist and left in a huff.
We had a nemesis forum created by members that the hurt and wounded fled to. Slowly wounds healed and most people returned and we pretty much continued as we were before.
Then we hit the modern incarnation you all know and love.

[Tiberius]

We appreciate all and any kind of feedback, so keep your suggestions coming.

I believe these forums become 5 years old toward the beginning of next month but please correct me if you know better.

I tend to go by the date I first created my account (which was the first account), and that was 25th August 2008 at 17:47:03 GMT. So, we've got just over a month to go.

If any of the original members would care to regale us with stories from the 'olden days' it would be great to read them.

I'm actually wondering how many of the original atheistforum.com (note the lack of the 's') gang are still here. Darwinian and I are still active; Ace doesn't come around too often. I've forgotten who else there was.

I would most of all like to address that question to Tiberius. Has it surprised you in any ways and do you like what it has become?

I originally created the forum because I was sick and tired of forums which would either ban theists or have people jump all over them and generally be nasty. At the same time, I didn't want to limit people's freedom of speech. It's been a tough 5 years; we've been through so many rule changes relating to expression, but the community has pulled through and I think what we have now is a nice balance. It's not as limiting as "don't be a dick"; it's more "don't be too much of a dick".

It's certainly surprised me how popular we've become, especially since we aren't viewed as one of the "big" forums. We're usually within the top 5 results for a search of "atheist forums", and we get a large number of visitors every month. Our community has supported us in so many ways financially too, so we've got a nice powerful server that should last us for many more years to come.

Edit: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I'm pretty sure we were the first (or at least one of the first) atheist forums to have theist moderators, and then later theist administrators. That is something I'm very proud of. I think it speaks wonders of a community that they can trust and respect the people in charge despite religious differences.

[Rayaan]

Well, I think this forum is utterly sickening ... and it stinks ... and I hate it ... that's why I'm an admin and I post cat memes.

Some awesome theists. Well Christians. ... No, oops, and a Muslim.

Fixed that one little mistake.

[Minimalist]

You're way too cool to be a muslim, Rayaan.

Some imam is going to put a fatwa out on you and then we'll be fucked!

[fr0d0]

Some awesome theists. Well Christians. ... No, oops, and a Muslim.

Fixed that one little mistake.

Nah no awesome Muslims One odd deist Muslim New Yorker plastic surgery victim

Giz a hug {{{hugging}}}

:p