Always in motion...

Change is always constant, I think this is an obvious point to everyone...Being on SST for a little over 3 years (short compared to many others) I find it interesting to see how little things have changed over that course of time, many in recent months it seems...

Little things on the site always seem to be added, was there a time before favorite lists?  How the heck did you remember what you liked? Or right, you had to remember them in your head!  Funny how you cannot see how things functioned well without such an add-on.  While many changes seem sort of useless (IN MY OPINION) such as little stars in the queue or scrolling forum box text thingamajig, I suppose they serve some additional site enhancing purpose in the eyes of they who own this joint. I Suppose the site has to by dynamic, if things never got added then things would get a little boring there. Sometimes its fun to find something new added to the site...then the novelty wears off, as with anything new and shiny.

Then there are the people changes.  I usually don't mind when people come and go, most of them I am not really attached to, it is the way of things on SST.  You get new people who hop into chat, you get others who never come back for some reason (I think some get rather intimidated by other chatters).  I suppose everyone has their reason to leave, but sometimes it is hard to not see that person there.  I will say, when they do come on it is nice to chat up a storm once again, maybe that is their purpose? They want you to miss them more so they leave for a month just to show how much you miss them!  Plan uncovered, I am on to you now!! *evil giggle*  Or others decide to change their roles on the SST crew. But again, life changes, things come around and you find your attachments to SST waning.  Such is life.  We see, we enjoy the times we have...and we have a nice chat with those lost friends who find their way back, if only for a brief period...

Please don't leave forever, you would be too greatly missed...

Finite Content

Well, as SST does change, it is not always a quick and sudden things, more glacial if I were to compare it to any sort of movement...what am I supposed to keep writing on?  What I see is still the same, silly, serious, nonchalant...how about the art of trying to be different?

How does one manage to stick above the crowds that *sometimes* fill the SST chat box, or even if it is not crowded, there are still quite a few people on the site who are regular.  How do you make out your little niche? I suppose each chat persona is at least a part of the real persona of the person.  It seems to me that those brave enough to even enter the chat take their time to figure things out.  Do I say this, or that?  Do I tell them I like those better than these?  Do I run with where this crazy chat is heading towards?  Am I brave enough to just run with the oddity? How much do I need to kiss to get ahead here?  Nothing against any of you on that site, I just find it humorous how some people choose specific points to emphasize, no one really seems to be the stiff upper lip type, but I suppose to survive long you have to have a sense of humor.  Anyways, why would you frequent a chat box if it reminds you just of the same life you have away from the computer screen?  I suppose when one chooses their screen name, that has a lot to do with it as well.  You choose the name Kellybug, you will be forever associated with bugs, but cute little ones because Kelly is a nice little name. You choose the name Rukia and you decide to be connected to that anime character who likes swords and freezing temperatures.

You choose how to show yourself to the chat box, obviously, so I suppose that is the point...was there a point? How do you pick your level of sillyness?  Or does it just come out without you really meaning it to? I find that others tend to bring it out in me, but I think those others have to either consciously do it or think they need to be that way in order to keep their niche. Do they go outside who they are in real life just to have a place in the chat box just for them?  I'd like to think that none of the regular chatters are in-genuine with who they are, they are just as quirky in real life as well. You have to be a certain type of person to last on SST, maybe that goes with being that certain type who loves soundtracks as well.  Not a large category, but larger than one first thinks...but everything has its limit...

The Uses Of SST

In regards to what people get out of SST, I have touched on that topic a bit with each member posting a then a little more in random general postings, but thought I would establish a single post about what I see people use SST for...

I think the majority of people use SST as a way to escape into a little internet world.  In regards to where a person logs on from (work or home) defines how deep that person needs SST.  Those that come on at work I think see it as a way to get away from the boring work day, while listening to great music along the way of course. They found the site through an interest in soundtrack music and stayed because somehow the company was so enjoyable that SST became a part of their lives.  Of course some leave for long stretches of time...some never come back...but I suppose sometimes real life can get in the way of things. To log on at home I think means you found something more.  You take up your free time and spend it with the online community and in the process become closer to all the regular members.  You find SST to be a more integral part of your life because you would rather be on the site than out conversing with other real life flesh and blood people.  the company is more enjoyable on SST perhaps, I think that is my main reason.  You become hooked, you want to keep up with other people's activities and daily life on the site.  To miss a week may mean a large gap in your knowledge base about these people. But there is no harm in that, obviously, I am not as attached as I once was, but I am online nearly the entire day...

Others, those in lesser numbers and those who do not stay long, use SST for their own gain.  Be it just to peeve other unknown people or take advantage of kindness so rare on the net these days.  No site is perfect, everyone has their issues, the large community base means SST gets more recognition than others sites I think.  Sometimes it is harder to figure out who these malicious people are, why would they take advantage of such a nice place?  Do not ask me, I can only guess. There are those that are too lonely and see the site as a cheap form of therapy or help. I suppose they figure 'friends' are supposed to give advice for free, but there is a line and few do not even care when they cross it.  To use others for this goes against what SST has become...If you assume something from this, take it as you like...

I write what I think I see, if you need to correct me please feel free.  I am just a blogger, what use am I? expose the wrongs and write the rights I hope!

Istagi

I have neglected a prominent member of the chat crew, though I have mentioned him in passing a few times before, I thought that perhaps he deserved his own posting!  So here it is...*cues "Prelude to War" by Bear McCreary*

Istagi is someone who you do not want to be on their bad side;  heck, half the time you don't want to be in the chat with him for fear he may moon or let out excess gas from either end at any moment without warning.  But, regardless, he is always interesting to read, though irritating things may become.  Never one to hold his opinions back he will certainly make sure you understand the fact that hippie food was not meant to be eaten by normal human beings.  He is never far from his bow or medicine kit (yes, Istagi is a native and yes you are standing on his ancestor's land) and is having fun trying to figure out what to do with his new net tail! He is always never short on anything to say and will make sure all in chat know this fact as well.  He hates talking to stupid people, but yet that is his job which he cannot get rid of.  Sometimes, it is truly fascinating to hear the stories of stupid questions he gets asked, how do these people live?  Questions of the universe never to be answered I am afraid.

Though he is crass and certainly can be hard to like, many do find him likable, even known to give him a few huggings should the moment arise. Him and Lies surely can get things going, long term friends are hard to find on the net.  Although there are many things to  irritate some, he certainly does add his own unique presence to that chat.  Everyone adds something, though not always useful, mostly it is still found to be amusing and fun at times. Just as I would never wish him to leave, I get a good laugh out of him and I am learning to like him more and more as I get to know him longer. I like when he brings up stupid crap people do, random links to cats being rolled over by toy cars, endless stories of his life as he knows it.  Whatever it is, chat hold a special place for Istagi...and that is that...!

The Art of Teasing

Go read some reviews i posted on SST! Miss Austen Regrets and The Young Victoria. Both excellent films as well!  Fall in love I suppose, or be like Jane and just look for money...

BUT that is not the subject of this posting! It takes a clever person to tease, its takes a bigger person to take the teasing!  The greatest example is my bad spelling that Rukia so kindly has taken to keeping track of!  I love a good laugh, no one dishes it better than the night crew of SST.  When the chat gets going with Levi, Rukia, Bru and even Nate and Andres if they are around, who knows the wild things that can come out of peoples mouths!  Or fingers as it may be...There was a lovely tease going on Thursday night with all the silly blogs that Jade could write about, my favorite was "Embracing my Inner Blonde"  thought up by Rukia...It goes back to that point of how much do you tell in chat?  Yes I cut a box where it was not supposed to be cut!  Yes I have my dumb moments, yes i wrote it in chat!  It was funny though, I like a good tease every once and a while. Squiddy would be proud that he is still noted in chat as well.

But it should be noted that teasing in chat is done in the sport of laughter and fun and should never really be taken seriously, Nate has taken a lot of chat teasing (why that man is picked on so much I have yet to full understand: research ongoing).  You pick out the sill things, you skew the facts a bit (or a lot) and you run with it!  There are no rules, there never are, just be big enough to take the teasing and do not let it get to yo, if you are on the receiving end that is.  I think it takes a close nit group to be able to get to that high level of tease, where you really like the person and are comfortable enough with them to be at that point where you can tease and know it is all just a joke.  You laugh at their expense, but you would have to know they would soon laugh right back at you if that point came.  I like to catch Rukia when she makes spelling mistakes, like she wrote "FRO" instead of FROM and I shot back at her with a little ghetto, FRO realz rukia?!?! I laughed, she laughed, who wouldn't laugh at my silly jokes? If you are not laughing then :P But then redjack proceeded to throw a fro at me which was not appreciated, but I still laughed.

Things may run out quickly, or they may go on for a while.  Some times the teasing can be long winded, they are still going on about silly blog titles!  The newest one is Bru: Blog 3: Bale in my Crawlspace - An Adventure!  -- Tank tops and Bawl Babies...Are you laughing yet?  Perhaps you would need to know Bruiser better to really get the tease, but it is worth it. Laughing so hard your side hurts, when was the last time you did that?  Smile a bit, it is all in good fun :)

The Great Game

This post idea came from Sockenfussel, thanks!  We were talking about chat dynamics and she brought up the idea that being in a chat room like SST is like role playing, in a way.  The chat room is the stage and you create for yourself your chat character, defined by that user name you chose when first coming on to the site and whom you will forever be known as....so play on dear chatters...

The member posts have sort of touched on the idea that each person has created for themselves a unique persona and that is how they are known.  They are loud, they are hug maniacs, they are deep composer thinkers and so on...just to generalize of course.  It would be interesting to meet everyone from chat just so I could compare them to their chat persona.  I have met two of the members I wrote about on here, I did write little comparisons between their two faces, but two is too small a number to really say if the persona played in chat is really who that person is.  I know to some degree, who you are in chat is a part of that real physical you (though I suppose some people do go so far as to be totally not themselves, but I'd like to think they are a small minority).  Perhaps those characteristics of your personality that are subdued in real life come to the front in your chatting life, you are quiet and reserved around people in real life but in chat somehow you cannot help but be loud and silly.

But regardless of the similarities, there are many things that you would never really do to someone if you met them in real life.  General chatting in a friendly environment would not likely produce some of the crazy antics that have occurred in chat, but that is because you are, in a way, more free in chat.  You have a virtual world at your disposal were reality doesn't necessarily need to come in to play at all.  the chat room, for example, has everything one could need...I even  made a cute little Shaun White snow man yesterday with virtual snow (his pretty red hair was made with licorice).  Istagi has a tail, brought on by Avatar of course, but he enjoys his virtual tail, except when Phire lights it on fire...Little pieces to create that unique chat persona apart from who you are outside.  I suppose you get the idea by now...be whatever you want to be...share as much as you want and keep hidden everything you can.  You are not really seen by anyone, so what would they know?

So we go into chat everyday, put on our username and play along with the rest of the group...hopefully you have fun with it because thats the point of it, to have fun (i hope so at least)

Quote on Brew-meister...

I suppose another chatter is needed, lighten up the mood a bit anyways.  Therefore I present BrewersGuy, although a recent addition tot he SST day crew, he has surely made for himself a name and personality most always enjoy to meet.

If anything could be said about the guy, it is that he loves to quote those quotable movies. It should be a well known fact that now all movies are quotable, you cant think of lines off the top of your head from every film, but then there are others that are a plethora of awesome quotes.  Comedies seem to be the most easily quoted, but Star Trek and Aliens likes to be quoted a lot as well.  But i digress, BrewersGuy can quote most anything but his favorites seem to be Airplane and Spaceballs. Just queue up a track off those films and he can go on and on with quotes.  Of course, often others join the movie quoting when a track comes up, but Brew seems to be a big player.  He noted one time in chat that he loved to quote and could quote almost any film.  I had asked if his girl knew of this hidden talent, and he told me not yet to the extreme! I am sure he could out quote anyone, if you got him going.

Besides the quotes, he loves to hug and tackle hugs any lady that comes in chat and for some reason has taken a liking to pretending I am a horse (I still have not figured that one out yet). He is a very nice guy, loves to flirt and loves to be silly as often as he can.  It is always fun to have him around and like everyone else, he adds so much to the chat that he is certainly noticed when absent.  It was interesting to see him first come on to the chat and find his footing and place within the chat, but he seems to have had no problem with all of that. Some shy away from the sillyness that usually occurs, be he just stepped right up and added to the mayhem. I think that says something good about his long term prospects.  But hey, its just a chat room.

...and there it is, another lesser known to mark the pages, quote on...