In the years I have been a member of this community, I have started maybe a half dozen topics. But a recent in-passing kind of comment by a member got me all fired up, and I thought I'd voice my opinion and ask others for theirs.

In the “Oblivion Evolution - A Next Generation Mod Compilation” thread by Klaus, a new member of the community (user name Jihoko – post # 42) refers him/her self “as a completely irrelevant member of this community”.

Was this just modesty speaking? Does Jihoko really feel this way? I don't know. What I do know is that I have a strong opinion that every member of every community is relevant.

This thing which Bethesda describes with the label “Oblivion Mods Forum” is obviously not the same as our real life communities, but I would argue that virtual communities have the potential to be just as meaningful.

I came here in 07 to ask for help with that yellow exclamation thingy that appeared in my game after a manual install of 3 or 4 mods. I really didn't expect to stay around. This seemed more a place for the makers of mods rather than the users. Before long, however, I was hooked. Although I have been a gamer since Pong, I really had no understanding of how a game was put together. It was here I began my education. What was one hobby sort of became three. Playing the game, modding my particular version of the game, and keeping up on the forum.

Soon I began to differentiate the individual personalities behind the various user names and avatars. And it was about this time that I really started thinking of this forum in terms of a community, and myself as a member. No membership applications to fill out. No screening committee to deny me membership. If I was here, I was a member, whether I knew it or not.

Now I don't want to get all mushy (I'm garx The Bear after all), but I have become extremely fond of this community and all it's members. Granted I'm fonder of some members than others. And at times I get downright annoyed and upset with some members. Isn't it the heat, the friction, and the disagreements that keep a community vibrant, however. Grocho Marks didn't want to be a member of any organization that would accept him as a member. I don't want to be a member of any community that is in agreement with me on everything. Talk about boring.

Disagreements when not handled in an agreeable manner can be very destructive, to be sure. I don't want to name names, but I think many of you can recall individuals who have left our community because of name calling, hurt feelings, lack of appreciation. Their departures saddened me, and I miss each and everyone of them.

So... to repeat myself... I see every member of this community as relevant. The mod makers and the mod users. The posters and the lurkers. The registered and the visitors.

Please share your thoughts and experience. Especially if they are in disagreement with mine. :wink_smile: