10,000 Posts: A Story About a Boy

[The Lion's Den]

Back in the day post count celebrations would get you a paddlin' but enough time has past that I’m sure it’s okay now.

I wanted to make this post because not only is 10,000 is a nice round number, but it also signifies almost 20 years on this forum that has grown up with me. I’m not trying to be sappy, but I guess I wanted to share my story, nonetheless. Also, I know people have twice or thrice as many as I do, just go with it.

I haven’t always been active, I probably checked out in the late 2000’s, and I was never a huge wrestling figure guy. Even still, this place was always there for me – almost an alternative world that accepted me. It might be corny, but it’s true. Look around when someone needs help, this community always steps up in support. I’m going to share a little bit of my story as I know even the smallest part will resonate with people.

In around 2000 I was 11-12, my friend at the time asked me to join the original wrestleworld.com forum “;-0.” Unfortunately, the guy who was once my best friend growing up is no longer interested in being my friend – we all change, but that’s the way she goes. I digress, for one reason or another WFigs opened and took its place as the premier forum. People flocked and it felt like a bustling SimCity 2000 world. I was 13, virtually hanging out with a lot of people older than me. In fact, I remember talking with someone older than me telling me he smoked weed, and me, as a naïve kid thinking it would kill him and telling him that. He sure taught me a life lesson. Many people with different backgrounds but all a similar interest in the forum. It was a community. I remember learning so much about the world this way; music, graphic design, sports, and everything in between.

The forum was such a big part of my life I even downloaded AOL messenger (no AOL in Canada) to keep touch with everyone. I logged in after school, after dinner, and after dark if I could. I was on the computer so much sometimes (I swear I had a childhood) that my parents would take away the keyboard. Then I got crafty, I would sneak out of my room and use the “on-screen” computer with the mouse they left. Suckers. I had to keep in touch with WF friends after school though. We chatted about everything, school, girls, sports, you name it. One guy used to call me white Shaq because we talked basketball so much and I was bigger than everyone else our age. Once, a member told me he was struggling balancing everything and was behind in school, in jeopardy of failing. Me, being a nice guy offered to write a short essay he needed to write for class about a career he was interested in. I remember writing it about video games and being a designer, I wrote some nonsense about how as an avid gamer I would know what customers want so I can be an effective designer. He told me his teacher loved that. I don’t know why that stuck with me, but it did. I was only a kid, maybe 15-16 at that time.

Seeing the graphic design work of so many members motivated me to learn Adobe Photoshop. It was such a creative outlet. I was always a bad student, struggling in the classroom for a variety reasons, and I felt like graphic design gave me a creative outlet. That board was so active and taught me a lot, it helped me get a coop at a graphic and print shop where I subsequently became cheap labour to cut and wrap paper rather than learn about design. At least I became a moderator for the graphic board, that is my claim to fame, I guess. For some reason at the time people were trying to hijack that forum while I was moderator, a real test of character.

Years went on, I went to university, went away to work at summer camps and WFigs fell out of favour. I thought I had moved on. I checked in once or twice in 2015, but I’m not sure about before. When COVID-19 came I found myself in front of the computer more than usual. Here we are. Things aren’t as busy as they used to be here, but I can tell the same attitudes and vibes are still here. People helping people, good chats, trips down memory lane in wrestling, and always good sports banter in the sports board.

If you have read this far, I appreciate it. Chances are you, or someone like you has impacted someone else on this board in some small way. I and so many others have been with this forum for 20 years or so, a lifetime if you think about it. It’s pretty cool to think about it that way. I don’t expect an outpour of emotion, or a riot because I posted my post count, but an interesting way to view 10,000 posts. 10,000 times I said something (probably kind of dumb and rash), 10,000 times over 19 years.

Thanks for reading!

[Kill Em' All]

For sure a cool read; and congrats on the mile stone. It's cool to hear you grow and change with the years on the forum. Internet forums have been big part of my life since I was about 11 years old.

[Deleted]

Thanks for sharing. I wish I kept my original account from the early days. Could have used some essays back in the day myself!

[Valbroski]

I recognize your username from when I used to post graphics on here. I was actively posting around the time Blade had become mod. Seeing signatures on here was a big reason why I became interested in graphic design too and now I do it for a living. It's cool how something small can lead to bigger things.

Anyway, congrats on the milestone!

[CM Poor]

I just crossed 20,000 posts this past week. I noted elsewhere that I was 16 when I signed up nineteen years ago in February of 2002, and that I've been on this board longer now than I'd been alive when I registered my account.

[Mclovin]

I miss my early years on the internet. I miss my grandma's sh*tty old ass computer that was old even back then. I turn 17 in about a week but I've been on the internet since '07 watching early ass YouTube, we're talking Chad Warden era YouTube. It's been a trip watching the internet grow over the years. I first came around these parts around '09ish. I didn't have an account back then but I'd come here for figure news and this is where I learned that Mattel was going to start making the WWE Figures once Jakks contract ended. It's crazy to see people who've been here since before I was born. Always had a fascination with late 90's-early 00's things because I just barely missed it all. So to see people who've been here since 2002 is cool as hell, I bet y'all were having a good time talking about them new R3 Tech figures around that time.

[CM Poor]

Feb 19, 2021 13:49:03 GMT -5 Mclovin said:

I miss my early years on the internet. I miss my grandma's sh*tty old ass computer that was old even back then. I turn 17 in about a week but I've been on the internet since '07 watching early ass YouTube, we're talking Chad Warden era YouTube. It's been a trip watching the internet grow over the years. I first came around these parts around '09ish. I didn't have an account back then but I'd come here for figure news and this is where I learned that Mattel was going to start making the WWE Figures once Jakks contract ended. It's crazy to see people who've been here since before I was born. Always had a fascination with late 90's-early 00's things because I just barely missed it all. So to see people who've been here since 2002 is cool as hell, I bet y'all were having a good time talking about them new R3 Tech figures around that time.

The first prototype/new figure images I have a distinct memory of seeing revealed on RSC were the Jakks 2 Tuff Series 1 two-packs. I would have been 12 or 13 at the time. I had enough time to check RSC/AFR/FZ after coming home from school before I had to walk back down to the bus stop to pick up my brother.

If you're turning 17 in a week, you were born after I graduated high school.
Pardon me while I go and check myself into the old folks home.

[k5]

as soon as I saw your return posts I immediately recognized you from the early wf Canada board days. we all stuck together back then!

I used to be blown away by how talented the guys who made sigs were. I wish I'd hung on to the ones Mal had done up for me at different times.

here's to 10,000 more!

[The Brain]

Welcome to the blue club! I reached 10k last month.

[hbkbigdaddycool]

Congrats on getting 10,000!!

Honestly, I was happy and stoked when I reached 10,000 too. I don't know why either, it's just something that seems cool for some reason. At least cool for us, I am sure if I told other people who don't use this board they woulds say, "get a life!" Ha ha ha oh well!

Also, I too am a fellow Canadian, so I feel your pain about losing out on things that the USA has that we don't have.

[Mclovin]

Feb 19, 2021 14:43:37 GMT -5 CM Poor said:

Feb 19, 2021 13:49:03 GMT -5 Mclovin said:

I miss my early years on the internet. I miss my grandma's sh*tty old ass computer that was old even back then. I turn 17 in about a week but I've been on the internet since '07 watching early ass YouTube, we're talking Chad Warden era YouTube. It's been a trip watching the internet grow over the years. I first came around these parts around '09ish. I didn't have an account back then but I'd come here for figure news and this is where I learned that Mattel was going to start making the WWE Figures once Jakks contract ended. It's crazy to see people who've been here since before I was born. Always had a fascination with late 90's-early 00's things because I just barely missed it all. So to see people who've been here since 2002 is cool as hell, I bet y'all were having a good time talking about them new R3 Tech figures around that time.

The first prototype/new figure images I have a distinct memory of seeing revealed on RSC were the Jakks 2 Tuff Series 1 two-packs. I would have been 12 or 13 at the time. I had enough time to check RSC/AFR/FZ after coming home from school before I had to walk back down to the bus stop to pick up my brother.

If you're turning 17 in a week, you were born after I graduated high school.
Pardon me while I go and check myself into the old folks home.

Lmao, why am I always the young guy? I've always been the youngest brother, cousin, friend, and I'm probably the youngest regularly active mofo here as well. Being the young guy isn't great. At least everyone looks up to the old guy lmao. I always wished I was born in the late 80's-early 90's so I could have been closer in age to my only brother who is almost 20 years older than me. I feel weird for being born in 2004 and being a huge Limp Bizkit fan, Limp Bizkit was damn near exclusive to teenagers at their peak in the early 2000's. I hate to sound like one of them "I was born in the wrong generation" cringelords but my dad waited too long to have another kid lmao.

[CM Poor]

Feb 21, 2021 13:30:45 GMT -5 Mclovin said:

Feb 19, 2021 14:43:37 GMT -5 CM Poor said:

The first prototype/new figure images I have a distinct memory of seeing revealed on RSC were the Jakks 2 Tuff Series 1 two-packs. I would have been 12 or 13 at the time. I had enough time to check RSC/AFR/FZ after coming home from school before I had to walk back down to the bus stop to pick up my brother.

If you're turning 17 in a week, you were born after I graduated high school.
Pardon me while I go and check myself into the old folks home.

Lmao, why am I always the young guy? I've always been the youngest brother, cousin, friend, and I'm probably the youngest regularly active mofo here as well. Being the young guy isn't great. At least everyone looks up to the old guy lmao. I always wished I was born in the late 80's-early 90's so I could have been closer in age to my only brother who is almost 20 years older than me. I feel weird for being born in 2004 and being a huge Limp Bizkit fan, Limp Bizkit was damn near exclusive to teenagers at their peak in the early 2000's. I hate to sound like one of them "I was born in the wrong generation" cringelords but my dad waited too long to have another kid lmao.

I promise you, nobody looks up to me.

Everyone's gotta be born sometime.
I was obsessed with Limp Bizkit over the course of Thee Dollar Bill, Y'all and Significant Other. The first one dropped the summer before I started middle school, and then they blew up with the second one when I was headed into 9th grade. God, the sh*t we worshiped back then. Me and my friends even went and got red fitted Yankees caps. Ugh.

[Mclovin]

Feb 21, 2021 14:39:49 GMT -5 CM Poor said:

Feb 21, 2021 13:30:45 GMT -5 Mclovin said:

Lmao, why am I always the young guy? I've always been the youngest brother, cousin, friend, and I'm probably the youngest regularly active mofo here as well. Being the young guy isn't great. At least everyone looks up to the old guy lmao. I always wished I was born in the late 80's-early 90's so I could have been closer in age to my only brother who is almost 20 years older than me. I feel weird for being born in 2004 and being a huge Limp Bizkit fan, Limp Bizkit was damn near exclusive to teenagers at their peak in the early 2000's. I hate to sound like one of them "I was born in the wrong generation" cringelords but my dad waited too long to have another kid lmao.

I promise you, nobody looks up to me.

Everyone's gotta be born sometime.
I was obsessed with Limp Bizkit over the course of Thee Dollar Bill, Y'all and Significant Other. The first one dropped the summer before I started middle school, and then they blew up with the second one when I was headed into 9th grade. God, the sh*t we worshiped back then. Me and my friends even went and got red fitted Yankees caps. Ugh.

Cargo shorts and red fitted Yankees caps are where it's at... Too bad I have neither.

[The Lion's Den]

Feb 18, 2021 13:12:47 GMT -5 Valbroski said:

I recognize your username from when I used to post graphics on here. I was actively posting around the time Blade had become mod. Seeing signatures on here was a big reason why I became interested in graphic design too and now I do it for a living. It's cool how something small can lead to bigger things.

Anyway, congrats on the milestone!

Thanks man! Those were some good times, and it's actually really cool to hear that's your career now! This is what I meant when I posted, the forum has a bigger impact than some realize.

[The Lion's Den]

Feb 19, 2021 23:21:59 GMT -5 k5 said:

as soon as I saw your return posts I immediately recognized you from the early wf Canada board days. we all stuck together back then!

I used to be blown away by how talented the guys who made sigs were. I wish I'd hung on to the ones Mal had done up for me at different times.

here's to 10,000 more!

That's a throwback name, Maladroit!

I didn't realize kay five was K5... I'm from Canada, and they say I'm slow, eh?

Thanks for the message.

[The Lion's Den]

Really appreciate lots of great messages and even the looky-loos. I'm glad lots of people share similar feelings about the forum and have their own stories to share.

I probably got a few extra posts because I can't be bothered to quote and put it all in one post but it still counts. I'm not a spammer.

[GBGav]

Feb 18, 2021 13:12:47 GMT -5 Valbroski said:

I recognize your username from when I used to post graphics on here. I was actively posting around the time Blade had become mod. Seeing signatures on here was a big reason why I became interested in graphic design too and now I do it for a living. It's cool how something small can lead to bigger things.

Anyway, congrats on the milestone!

It's interesting to see others here also finding a career that can trace its beginnings to making graphics in the design board here. I would not be in my canvas/poster printing role with photoshop knowledge if I hadn't started out by simply making micro wrestlers in the non-design sub board.

[Valbroski]

Feb 23, 2021 13:52:40 GMT -5 GBGav said:

Feb 18, 2021 13:12:47 GMT -5 Valbroski said:

I recognize your username from when I used to post graphics on here. I was actively posting around the time Blade had become mod. Seeing signatures on here was a big reason why I became interested in graphic design too and now I do it for a living. It's cool how something small can lead to bigger things.

Anyway, congrats on the milestone!

It's interesting to see others here also finding a career that can trace its beginnings to making graphics in the design board here. I would not be in my canvas/poster printing role with photoshop knowledge if I hadn't started out by simply making micro wrestlers in the non-design sub board.

I remember Micros. I was awful at them because I only had paint at the time but people on here did some amazing stuff with them in Photoshop. That’s cool that it lead you to your job especially since it was just a sub board.

[GBGav]

Feb 23, 2021 14:30:08 GMT -5 Valbroski said:

Feb 23, 2021 13:52:40 GMT -5 GBGav said:

It's interesting to see others here also finding a career that can trace its beginnings to making graphics in the design board here. I would not be in my canvas/poster printing role with photoshop knowledge if I hadn't started out by simply making micro wrestlers in the non-design sub board.

I remember Micros. I was awful at them because I only had paint at the time but people on here did some amazing stuff with them in Photoshop. That’s cool that it lead you to your job especially since it was just a sub board.

Micros were actually all done in paint pretty much. One or two people tried them in Photoshop but the results aren't as intricate as what can be done in paint. Sounds weird but true.