Old...
 

I've talked about this on chat previously, almost jokingly that I'm getting old.

I joined this site when I was fourteen and others were always just that much older than me, but age wasn't really all that important to myself or them.

I knew most people by name or reputation and they quite likely knew me. I remember popping into chat at all times of the day and at points I had stayed awake in chat talking someone out of commiting suicide or just talking to someone who felt alone until 10am in the morning from the afternoon before. I had fought and complained and joked and laughed and grinned when there was yet another person to add to our small RYL family.

Ruinyourlife was the first place I ever felt comfortable and I have many good and bad times there. I have lost people there and found friends I didn't think could ever have been so close to.

I came onto recoveryourlife like many others, filled with excitement. Finally we'd have a chat room that wasn't bright orange! was perhaps the most popular comment.

But we lost people on the way, I lost friends whose computer wasn't compatable with the website and so I meandered between the two websites, and I was saddened when I realized I was going to loose those friends as they drifted away from ruinyourlife.

But life carried on and as more seemed to join they simply joined the family. There were virtual water-fights and food fights. Long running jokes being explained to newbies (admittedly mostly about how a picture of Harley had been altered... which still keeps me amused thinking about it) and generally we had fun, shared secrets, cried and we were still all close.

At some point I lost this, as much as I've tried I could never pin when.

I know next to no one here and I feel very alone and with this new renovation I can't help but feel I lost a little part of myself in the process because when I was re-signing up I actually had to ask the question: Should I?

Is there any point?

Because I realized that what was once my home as changed so much I don't even recognize it anymore. I've had posts deleted because I'm not in with the latest rules, despite trying to read up on them.

And I feel old and decidedly alone, this place which once felt like a small cottage in which everyone felt in-sync, if not a little disorderly now feels like an orderly mansion, sterile and cold.

And perhaps this is only me and it most likely is, because this site will likely offer help to more than it ever has before.

And so what if a few are lost in the waves?

Perhaps it was simply meant to be.

-Chia

PS - I realise I'm probably going to get "points" taken off of me fore this post, or the post itself deleted according to the new rules about not slandering RYL, so If I don't see you in a while, good luck and good health.

I don't think it's against the rules! And I do understand where you are coming from-alot of older members have experessed a bit of dissatisfaction with another version. What happened to all the people you used to talk to on recover v2? Can't you convince them to come here? Do you really need here-or can you not rely on those amazing friends you've made throughout the course of RYL's history? RYL v3 scared the living daylights outta me-I cried! Maybe if you give it time you'll get more comfortable?

Robyn

P.S Chia-I love that photo of Harley.

I don't think you should be so resigned about RYL. I've lost quite a good deal of people when we moved from Ruin and another bunch were banned because obviously, not adapting to the new rules.

But the fact is, you're still here and I'm pretty sure you still have a role to play on here if you want to.
Your surroundings will change a lot along your life and most of the time, you wont have the choice to turn your back on them. If you want to leave RYL, that's fine, that's your choice.
But if you want to stay, I'm sure you can find new friends and enjoy this site. And the rules are fairly easy to follow, proof is, you're still not banned so you must not be that much over the line.

take care

I joined this a long time ago too, when it was RuinYourLife, and I'm a little disoriented here but willing to give it a shot. I know how you feel! For a moment I wondered if there was a point to rejoining.

I'm almost always working on my schooling, but I'll be your friend! :)

I hear a lot about the transition from ruin to recover, what was the difference? =/