Big George W
Humanist
As a off and on member since what I consider the golden era of STP, I can completely see where Matt is coming from, and can completely understand and back his reasons for having STP cease to exist.
Truth be told, I'm surprised the site has lasted this long,
When I first got turned on to STP by username graven in the spring of 2010, I was username Earth and man, STP was like the promised land back then, the site was extremely easy to use, and the site itself had a real appeal to it, especially the chat feature which - I know, I've done this real late at night !! - which enabled say 3 or 4 people all over the country to be chatting back and forth while drinking, and really having a good time.
It was like magic, and there really was a sense of community back then [2010/11] but then things began to go wrong between me and graven, she left for Gods country in the PNW, never to be seen or heard from again [which is unfortunate, since I've been wanting to find someone who knows her to let her know how well Loki the dog is doing, at 15 years 5 months old] so I had no choice but to deactivate my profile, plus at that time [post 2011] I sensed things starting to take a more dark turn on STP dark meaning negative, and I left with many regrets.
I know when I came back a few years later as Otterwolf God knows exactly when, STP was very different but it was better in a more positive way.
It was possible to make some cool connections - but the chat feature was gone by then, and I found it difficult to really want to be a part of a scene which, it's debatable if I ever belonged to in the first place.
After another necessary break, again not sure when but say between 5 - 7 years ago, I don't know... I came back to STP, same profile and things got real ugly fast.
All of a sudden, it was like - as Matt correctly stated - everyone fighting over nothing - real stupid shit, I mean real fucking stupid shit which pushed me right out, so I deactivated a second time, I don't know maybe 4 years ago.
All the good people for the most part that I knew in 2010/11 were long gone.
Another thing that got on my nerves real fast was all these new rules - it got to the point where the more inclusive the site was becoming the more people were becoming seperated and forming their own factions [this was just my own observation, weather this was true or not I am not one to say] but again, there was a total shift from Travel to something else, God knows what - so I left with no regrets.
When I came back using my true name, which is my current username, it was because my focus had changed into being more in tune with the whole squatter/traveling community, and I was very seriously looking to return to STP and see what was going on, and to my relief things were cool again, and all the knuckleheads were gone.
But it was no longer the same.
I saw people trying to make posts only to be shot down saying "go look it up" or "check the forums first before posting any questions" and that really rubbed me the wrong way.
Maybe that person asking the question that's been asked 10,000 times was simply looking to connect with some people, instead of seeking to look something up.....
I had that happen to me - not here - on a phone call, upon hearing that Hilly {CBGBs] was dead, and I was curious why only to be told "go look it up" when that mother fucker who used to be me best friend knew the answer but chose to be a dick about it, hence I never spoke to him ever again,
Maybe I'm old fashioned, I am old but not that old, but I'm probably older than most on this forum.
I do admit I know nothing about how forums work, so perhaps there is a legit reason why multipul threads on the same subject are no good and what's the solution then, delete the oldest ones ?? I don't know.....
But I do know that I am sad to learn about this news first thing this morning, as with the end of STP this is truly the end of an era, and it is safe to say nothing could ever take the place for all the hard work Matt and many others put in to make STP the great place is was.
Matt, Good Luck in your next path in life.
You will always be remembered as one of the good guys.
Ali, if I can figure out how, I will PM you and take up your generous offer as I am a huge fan of following you on your travels.
I sincerely hope this came out right, since most likely this will be my last post here.
Come to think of it, once I hit the Post reply button, this will signal the complete end of my social media experience, which in retrospect has probably caused me more harm than good.
I love you all.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d’aghaidh
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú.
My the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Truth be told, I'm surprised the site has lasted this long,
When I first got turned on to STP by username graven in the spring of 2010, I was username Earth and man, STP was like the promised land back then, the site was extremely easy to use, and the site itself had a real appeal to it, especially the chat feature which - I know, I've done this real late at night !! - which enabled say 3 or 4 people all over the country to be chatting back and forth while drinking, and really having a good time.
It was like magic, and there really was a sense of community back then [2010/11] but then things began to go wrong between me and graven, she left for Gods country in the PNW, never to be seen or heard from again [which is unfortunate, since I've been wanting to find someone who knows her to let her know how well Loki the dog is doing, at 15 years 5 months old] so I had no choice but to deactivate my profile, plus at that time [post 2011] I sensed things starting to take a more dark turn on STP dark meaning negative, and I left with many regrets.
I know when I came back a few years later as Otterwolf God knows exactly when, STP was very different but it was better in a more positive way.
It was possible to make some cool connections - but the chat feature was gone by then, and I found it difficult to really want to be a part of a scene which, it's debatable if I ever belonged to in the first place.
After another necessary break, again not sure when but say between 5 - 7 years ago, I don't know... I came back to STP, same profile and things got real ugly fast.
All of a sudden, it was like - as Matt correctly stated - everyone fighting over nothing - real stupid shit, I mean real fucking stupid shit which pushed me right out, so I deactivated a second time, I don't know maybe 4 years ago.
All the good people for the most part that I knew in 2010/11 were long gone.
Another thing that got on my nerves real fast was all these new rules - it got to the point where the more inclusive the site was becoming the more people were becoming seperated and forming their own factions [this was just my own observation, weather this was true or not I am not one to say] but again, there was a total shift from Travel to something else, God knows what - so I left with no regrets.
When I came back using my true name, which is my current username, it was because my focus had changed into being more in tune with the whole squatter/traveling community, and I was very seriously looking to return to STP and see what was going on, and to my relief things were cool again, and all the knuckleheads were gone.
But it was no longer the same.
I saw people trying to make posts only to be shot down saying "go look it up" or "check the forums first before posting any questions" and that really rubbed me the wrong way.
Maybe that person asking the question that's been asked 10,000 times was simply looking to connect with some people, instead of seeking to look something up.....
I had that happen to me - not here - on a phone call, upon hearing that Hilly {CBGBs] was dead, and I was curious why only to be told "go look it up" when that mother fucker who used to be me best friend knew the answer but chose to be a dick about it, hence I never spoke to him ever again,
Maybe I'm old fashioned, I am old but not that old, but I'm probably older than most on this forum.
I do admit I know nothing about how forums work, so perhaps there is a legit reason why multipul threads on the same subject are no good and what's the solution then, delete the oldest ones ?? I don't know.....
But I do know that I am sad to learn about this news first thing this morning, as with the end of STP this is truly the end of an era, and it is safe to say nothing could ever take the place for all the hard work Matt and many others put in to make STP the great place is was.
Matt, Good Luck in your next path in life.
You will always be remembered as one of the good guys.
Ali, if I can figure out how, I will PM you and take up your generous offer as I am a huge fan of following you on your travels.
I sincerely hope this came out right, since most likely this will be my last post here.
Come to think of it, once I hit the Post reply button, this will signal the complete end of my social media experience, which in retrospect has probably caused me more harm than good.
I love you all.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d’aghaidh
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú.
My the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
