Whither the Watch?

[Cambo]

It's been largely personal reasons keeping me away- the beginning of a new tertiary education, and anxiety about that and how much of a procrastination tool/time sink/life raft the Watch was to me last time I studied (and failed).

There were, however, some things about the Watch itself that disinclined me to be here so much. A few times in my sporadic returns the Hegemony was the most active set of forums. It's always been a spirited place, and I love that about it- there's a reason probably a majority of my posts are in the Close. But at the time, particularly in the Tank, a large amount of posts were about the conduct of various individuals or groups, personal conflicts, and grievances. This was bleeding over multiple threads in the Hegemony, and combined with the relative quiet of the rest of the Watch, made a real change to the atmosphere here. Also, on a more personal, and perhaps petty note, I found The Last Dark a bitter disappointment, even after largely enjoying the rest of the Last Chrons, to the extent that I didn't even want to talk about it.

In both areas I think I'm going to give a go at "being the change I want to see." Look out for short, regular bursts of hopefully constructive activity from me, as I try this new thing of fitting my leisure around my studies.

[Menolly]

Welcome back, Cambo!
What studies are you pursuing now?

[Fist and Faith]

In both areas I think I'm going to give a go at "being the change I want to see."

Probably a good idea. I, however, have always gone one better. The bottom line is, I am the Watch. No change is ever necessary. The issues you mention are very much there, but they really don't affect me, the Watch. I ignore them for stretches, then jump in for a while to have some fun. But they don't diminish the Watch at any point, because I say they don't. The Watch, and life, is really much simpler than most people make it out to be.

Here's another example. What the heck are you talking about with this "Last Chrons" and "The Last Dark"?? I've always wanted a 3rd Chrons to follow the 1st and 2nd, but I'm sure I'd've heard about it if SRD had gone ahead and done it. Have you fallen and hit your head recently?

[Icarus Unfallen]

Denial is so much more than just a river in Egypt, Fist!

[Fist and Faith]

Indeed. It is the path to happiness.

[StevieG]

The Watch is going well - this thread has produced 8 pages in one week!

Fist, I still haven't read the Last Dark yet, but I do intend to at some stage. Still working my way through FR. I've heard a lot of negativity about it, but I'm keeping an open mind. The re-read of Runes was fascinating - like a different book. Anyway, where were we...

Oh yeah, the housekeeping looks good!

[Avatar]

Cool! Good to see Mallory's bubbled up to the top. Av will have a fit!

u.

That's fine, it's not the top.

...the layout isn't set in stone.

And I can always change it myself if I really want to.

--A

[rdhopeca]

Welcome back, Cambo.

[peter]

We are all here because of one thing - The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, and while discussion of the Chrons is always going to be a feature of the Watch, there is [as you all must know] oh, so, so much more to it.

We have all in common, this one denominator in the form of our love for the Chrons and that of course is the starting point from where we explore what other similarities [or indeed differences] that we share. In any entities existence there will be periods of 'waxing and waning' of acivity and a thing as organically 'fluid' as the Watch can be no different. When we come to the place and interact, the only thing we can bring to the party is ourselves, and like all poeople in all places, we have 'stuff' going on in our lives that [like it or not] impinges upon the way we act and interact, as well as the way we percieve [on a whole] the way the Watch is.

I can clearly and catagorically state that you guys know more of 'who I really am' than anyone I meet face to face [exepting my close family of course] on a daily basis. You just can't maintain a facade over an extended period in a place like this and so you not only learn about others and how they think - you learn about yourself too. The 'End of the Chrons' was always going to be a tricky time for the Watch because ther was always going to be a question pertaining to it's raison d'etra once the story was completed - but rest asured, that raison d'etra is still massively in exisece even if it has not quite 'gathered itself' as to how it will manifest in the years to come.

My belief [which I have itterated elsewhere] is that the actual 'real work' of sorting out the Chrons in their entierity has not even yet begun - and where else should this be done other than on the Watch? Sure, there may be a period of quiet; the books are barely cold in our hands yet and this is going to take time. But in the meantime the Watch will always be what we the Watchers make it, and I predict that that will be a fine thing.

[kevinswatch]

The bottom line is, I am the Watch.

Didn't Lord Mhoram say something like that?

What the heck are you talking about with this "Last Chrons" and "The Last Dark"?? I've always wanted a 3rd Chrons to follow the 1st and 2nd, but I'm sure I'd've heard about it if SRD had gone ahead and done it.

And double points for the double contraction.

And I can always change it myself if I really want to.

-jay

[Cambo]

Welcome back, Cambo!
What studies are you pursuing now?

I am training to become a counselor!

[Fire Daughter]

Wow! Talk about major makeovers! I like you've done to the place, Jay! Looks great!

My participation here is sporadic, but it's always like coming home. In fact, this is my "online home". When I do get on the computer or browse on my phone, this is always the first place I come too. I may not always log in, but I come and look at posts from time to time. I would really hate to see it fade away. The Watch brought some special people into our lives...

Long live the Watch!

[caamora]

There were, however, some things about the Watch itself that disinclined me to be here so much. A few times in my sporadic returns the Hegemony was the most active set of forums. It's always been a spirited place, and I love that about it- there's a reason probably a majority of my posts are in the Close. But at the time, particularly in the Tank, a large amount of posts were about the conduct of various individuals or groups, personal conflicts, and grievances. This was bleeding over multiple threads in the Hegemony, and combined with the relative quiet of the rest of the Watch, made a real change to the atmosphere here. Also, on a more personal, and perhaps petty note, I found The Last Dark a bitter disappointment, even after largely enjoying the rest of the Last Chrons, to the extent that I didn't even want to talk about it.

In both areas I think I'm going to give a go at "being the change I want to see." Look out for short, regular bursts of hopefully constructive activity from me, as I try this new thing of fitting my leisure around my studies.

I completely agree on these points, Cambo and you are not alone in your disappointment of The Last Dark. I couldn't even finish it, so great was my disgust (and I love, love, love SRD!!)

But, you have a great point to be the change you want to see.

[kevinswatch]

Its easy for me to be the change I want to see. If I want to see change at the Watch, I just do it.

-jay

[aliantha]

Welcome back, Cambo!
What studies are you pursuing now?

I am training to become a counselor!

That's awesome!

[Menolly]

Welcome back, Cambo!
What studies are you pursuing now?

I am training to become a counselor!

That's awesome!

That it is, although I'll miss hearing you describe you attending the Buddhist school (or whatever it was) in the Rockies we discussed way back when...

[Savor Dam]

Oy...if Cambo were in the Rockies (even sequestered at some Buddhist monastery), it would be a race worth betting upon between Menolly and lorin (Cambo's Watch-spouse) to see who showed up first...

[I'm Murrin]

Just noticed something: Have you looked at the "Number of new users per month" chart on our stats page? What happened in February to make people suddenly stop joining?

[Sorus]

The upward trend at the end of last year is interesting too. 50 in October?

[aliantha]

The big bubble last fall might be from TLD readers finding the Watch. But a dearth of new members since February is troubling.