Kevin's Watch

For the longest time, the Close was, as a forum, small, undernourished and kept alive by a small few die-hard members. With the anticipated release of Runes, the ever-small Watch veretibly exploded overnite with new members. It was about this time that I recieved mod-ship of the Close. New members like Avatar, Jem, Cho breathed new life in the oft-forgotten Close, and this level of intellectual and philosophical thought brought about a plethora of new ideas and discussions. While our identity as a forum is as mixed as can be, our exchange of ideas and beliefs has (for the most part) been peaceful and respectful.

I'd like to thank everyone who contributes to the Close, for you have made my job, (as well as Syl's and Furl's), more than worthwhile.

-B

No thanks necessary Baradakas. The Close and the Think-Tank are my favourite places at the Watch. (Perhaps obviously. )

I would like to add my thanks, and respect, to yours for all the people who make these forums such fun. And for the fact that most everybody is more than happy to engage in calm and rational debate, whatever their point of view.

If nothing else, we're filling ourselves with different perspectives, and that can only be a good thing.

So to all of you who are so willing to play, and there are too many to mention, (you know who you are), my thanks as well.

Keep it up
--Avatar

Indeed. My job has been pretty easy so far. Keep up the good work, all.

This place is really good but over 1000 members is not a lot. Other forums have over 10,000 members and there is one with over 100,000!
Im not saying this place is bad otherwise I would not be here, would I?

Heh.

The quality of the members is more important than sheer numbers. I've never seen a forum with such a concentration of reasonable, open-minded people, and I'm honoured to be among them.

And in addition, the members here seem, without exception, to be intelligent, articulate, and rather witty!

It's very stimulating to be here and read everyone's thoughts!

Avatar has certainly been key in drawing renewed interest in the Close, though half of what he says goes right over my head. How many books did you say you've read, Avatar? How can I be sure you're really not an alien? Maybe we'll recognize you on the street by your extra large cranium which cradles that massive brain of yours.

(I kid.)

Now you're embarrassing me

Much as I may like to think otherwise sometimes, I assure you that I'm human. I had a lot of advantages though. Raised in a very liberal household, my mother was a teacher who taught me to read before I ever went to school. My parents always encouraged me to make my own choices, and respected the choices I made, for which I'm extremely grateful.

My whole family are avid readers, and I always had access to as much information as I wanted, and I usually feel that I want it all.

But all of it is useless without other people to discuss it with, and I've spent large portions of my life in search of interesting conversations. And here, I find them on literally a daily basis.

As I've said before, for me, all this debate is just a game. An incredibly fun game, but still just a game. A mental excercise in logic, reason and eloquence. It depends as much, if not more, on the other participants being willing to play as well.

The outcomes of the debates are unimportant to me. I don't care that I'll probably never really convince anybody of anything. The best way to understand your own position is to try and explain it.

I love it. And I thank you all, again, and repeatedly, for the opportunity.

--Avatar

And we sincerely thank you Av.