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AusGAF (2016)
- Thread starter Kritz
- Start date
- Status
So as far as contributing to NeoGAF, I think I am done. I'm also pretty sure this thread will soon be locked, thanks to Kritz's cuntacular banner in the OP.
The 28th of October would have marked 10 years since I was a registered member. We're a few days short of a decade, but it's close enough for me. It's been a mixed but ultimately positive experience, even though I'm not as active as I used to be.
I wrote a list of major life events that occured in my decade as a member. It was self-indulgent and boring, so I deleted it.
One thing I will mention from the list is just how important my time as a writer for Vooks.net was, and how that brief stint as a news writer and features editor got me through a very difficult period in my life. If it weren't for GAF, specifically AusGAF, then I wouldn't have taken that path. Having quit a PhD and then dealing with the financial and emotional fallout from that decision would have been very difficult had I not started writing about Nintendo for a couple of years. It kept the brain matter ticking over and gave me a reason to get out of bed each morning. I now have a somewhat succesful career in something very different, but there were skills and experiences that I got from that short period that are very valuable to me.
Vook - you don't post here any more and I've drifted off on a different path, but thanks for the chance mate, I hope you got as much out of me as I got out of the website.
Online discussion can be a beneficial, educational experience. It can also breed toxic behaviour and cultural myopia. I have my opinions on religion, culture, media and politics but I get bored when I just hear my position repeated back to me. I live in a house with religious Liberal party voters who've had very different life experiences to me and we have great respectful discussions, even if we rarely convince each other to shift our point of view. I don't have that experience on GAF. I would have preferred a broader range of perspectives and for there to be less shutting out of contrary opinions. People don't even play devil's advocate any more and a lot of people on OT took all-or-nothing absolute positions. That kind of environment is intellectually unhealthy and boring. Looking at the reasons behind GAF's recent and sudden circumstances, I'm really not surprised at the manner in how the situation has been handled and the subsequent departure of large chunks of the community. ResetERA looks to be a step in the wrong direction.
The AusPoliGAF thread, however, was generally a pretty good resource for news and links. I don't think the culture in there was reflective of the political climate fostered by the OT, but it was a little bit exclusive. I've had an appreciation for posters like legend166 that come from a very different perspective to mine and would have enjoyed more contributions from posters like him.
Apart from the political situation, I found that spending too much time on GAF led to me developing unhealthy consumerist behaviours. I bought way too much crap i I didn't use or play thanks to GAF. I've curbed it now, and I still spend way too much time browsing OzBargain.com.au, but I think that's the worst part of having so much time on GAF.
Old AusGAF was really funny. Alistwairw, Mar_, iamrass, smartarse-mode Fredescu, Rez and others made it very entertaining. Serrels had some good stuff too, when he was around, and I'm sure the recent batch of youngsters are a sharp witty bunch as well. Shout outs also to evlcookie, Jambo, jintor, Planet_JASE, viciouskillersquirrel, Elaugaufein, Yagharek, Rezbit, N0VAMOD. eatchildren, ThoseDeafMutes, ClivePwnded, Hamchan, Kritz, mandiller, Orbi, remz, reptilescorpio, Shaneus etc.... Gazunta you're okay too.
GAF was a really good resource for discovery - books, music, off-beat films, technology. I'm sure I'll find other online resources when researching how to spend my time and money, but I found GAF to be up to date and comprehensive. The OT is gone now, so we lose that wealth of insight which is a real shame.
I don't think I'll post much in the Discord. There are some funny people in there but it's too much like the Steam thread and I'm too old to keep up. I may keep an eye on the Slaent page but the RetroERA thing doesn't look like it's for me. I'll see how things go on gaming side, it might still be a good place to lurk and keep up to date with gaming news but I doubt I'll post.
All the best cunts, and I'm sorry if I wasn't always as funny as I thought I was.
-Josh
The 28th of October would have marked 10 years since I was a registered member. We're a few days short of a decade, but it's close enough for me. It's been a mixed but ultimately positive experience, even though I'm not as active as I used to be.
I wrote a list of major life events that occured in my decade as a member. It was self-indulgent and boring, so I deleted it.
One thing I will mention from the list is just how important my time as a writer for Vooks.net was, and how that brief stint as a news writer and features editor got me through a very difficult period in my life. If it weren't for GAF, specifically AusGAF, then I wouldn't have taken that path. Having quit a PhD and then dealing with the financial and emotional fallout from that decision would have been very difficult had I not started writing about Nintendo for a couple of years. It kept the brain matter ticking over and gave me a reason to get out of bed each morning. I now have a somewhat succesful career in something very different, but there were skills and experiences that I got from that short period that are very valuable to me.
Vook - you don't post here any more and I've drifted off on a different path, but thanks for the chance mate, I hope you got as much out of me as I got out of the website.
Online discussion can be a beneficial, educational experience. It can also breed toxic behaviour and cultural myopia. I have my opinions on religion, culture, media and politics but I get bored when I just hear my position repeated back to me. I live in a house with religious Liberal party voters who've had very different life experiences to me and we have great respectful discussions, even if we rarely convince each other to shift our point of view. I don't have that experience on GAF. I would have preferred a broader range of perspectives and for there to be less shutting out of contrary opinions. People don't even play devil's advocate any more and a lot of people on OT took all-or-nothing absolute positions. That kind of environment is intellectually unhealthy and boring. Looking at the reasons behind GAF's recent and sudden circumstances, I'm really not surprised at the manner in how the situation has been handled and the subsequent departure of large chunks of the community. ResetERA looks to be a step in the wrong direction.
The AusPoliGAF thread, however, was generally a pretty good resource for news and links. I don't think the culture in there was reflective of the political climate fostered by the OT, but it was a little bit exclusive. I've had an appreciation for posters like legend166 that come from a very different perspective to mine and would have enjoyed more contributions from posters like him.
Apart from the political situation, I found that spending too much time on GAF led to me developing unhealthy consumerist behaviours. I bought way too much crap i I didn't use or play thanks to GAF. I've curbed it now, and I still spend way too much time browsing OzBargain.com.au, but I think that's the worst part of having so much time on GAF.
Old AusGAF was really funny. Alistwairw, Mar_, iamrass, smartarse-mode Fredescu, Rez and others made it very entertaining. Serrels had some good stuff too, when he was around, and I'm sure the recent batch of youngsters are a sharp witty bunch as well. Shout outs also to evlcookie, Jambo, jintor, Planet_JASE, viciouskillersquirrel, Elaugaufein, Yagharek, Rezbit, N0VAMOD. eatchildren, ThoseDeafMutes, ClivePwnded, Hamchan, Kritz, mandiller, Orbi, remz, reptilescorpio, Shaneus etc.... Gazunta you're okay too.
GAF was a really good resource for discovery - books, music, off-beat films, technology. I'm sure I'll find other online resources when researching how to spend my time and money, but I found GAF to be up to date and comprehensive. The OT is gone now, so we lose that wealth of insight which is a real shame.
I don't think I'll post much in the Discord. There are some funny people in there but it's too much like the Steam thread and I'm too old to keep up. I may keep an eye on the Slaent page but the RetroERA thing doesn't look like it's for me. I'll see how things go on gaming side, it might still be a good place to lurk and keep up to date with gaming news but I doubt I'll post.
All the best cunts, and I'm sorry if I wasn't always as funny as I thought I was.
-Josh
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
thanks for keeping it real bern. it's been about ten years for me too. bye everyone. 
Would you mind posting a list of the ones you know? Unlikely I will hang around here any longer. I will miss Moviegaf, Indie music gaf, Book gaf, etc.
Take care, Bern. We'll always be hanging around somewhere (Steam, Discord, PSN) if you feel like chatting!
Come join us! I use it on mobile and it's not that bad at all.
Well that sucks; might put in a brief appearance, but I only use my phone for forums these days
Been posting (sporadically) in AusGAF since we got the go ahead on the very first thread... maybe we shall meet again at ResetERA? If not, it's been a pleasure ladies and gents.
Come join us! I use it on mobile and it's not that bad at all.
Planet_JASE
Member
All the best, Bern. Old-timey AusGAF (but not old-old AusGAF, 'cause I didn't get to experience that) was some good times.
Later, Bern! Great to know you for this ride through the 'net.
Fyi for when I get banned and this thread gets nuked: I may start up an Australian Forum in the next few days for folks who don't want to engage with the discord as much. I don't plan to moderate it at all, I'll probably give that job to Jambo or one of the other less... Abrasive regulars so that nobody has to put up with my narcissism.
No promises, but I'll update yall via the chat.
It's been real, y'all. For those of you passing on to the next thing: thanks for putting up with me, and thanks for making this community what it is.
You all know where to find me. ;D
Fyi for when I get banned and this thread gets nuked: I may start up an Australian Forum in the next few days for folks who don't want to engage with the discord as much. I don't plan to moderate it at all, I'll probably give that job to Jambo or one of the other less... Abrasive regulars so that nobody has to put up with my narcissism.
No promises, but I'll update yall via the chat.
It's been real, y'all. For those of you passing on to the next thing: thanks for putting up with me, and thanks for making this community what it is.
You all know where to find me. ;D
Alter_Fridge
Member
I just wanna say even though I never really post in this thread I 'know' a good chunk of you guys, mostly from AFLGAF, and I always looked out for your posts when I was wandering through various threads. You all seem to be good people.
I will check out this discord business but I'm not sure its for me. I prefer a 'traditional' sort of forum set up, but that already seems fractured - some are off to slaent, some are off to resetera, who knows where else everyone has gone / will go?
So if this is indeed the end, let it be known that I put the blame on the end of the world on fucking Adelaide reaching a grand final. Quite frankly, I'm surprised the whole world didn't end at this point. The end result was rad, mind you. So its not all bad.
Later skaters
I will check out this discord business but I'm not sure its for me. I prefer a 'traditional' sort of forum set up, but that already seems fractured - some are off to slaent, some are off to resetera, who knows where else everyone has gone / will go?
So if this is indeed the end, let it be known that I put the blame on the end of the world on fucking Adelaide reaching a grand final. Quite frankly, I'm surprised the whole world didn't end at this point. The end result was rad, mind you. So its not all bad.
Later skaters
Later, Bern! Great to know you for this ride through the 'net.
Fyi for when I get banned and this thread gets nuked: I may start up an Australian Forum in the next few days for folks who don't want to engage with the discord as much. I don't plan to moderate it at all, I'll probably give that job to Jambo or one of the other less... Abrasive regulars so that nobody has to put up with my narcissism.
No promises, but I'll update yall via the chat.
It's been real, y'all. For those of you passing on to the next thing: thanks for putting up with me, and thanks for making this community what it is.
You all know where to find me. ;D
I was thinking of doing the same when GAF died. Register a domain, keep the forum private etc as people were mentioning that discord was a bit too quick for them.
At some point discord will have in game chat overlay so we can ditch steam chat, but prob not until 2020.
Ruthless_Barbarian
Member
AU community thread remains cause we never got moved to OT
lmao
lmao
bobs...onGaf
Member
Can anyone pm me the discord link
I'm actually visiting Melbourne in a few months and may be making decisions on if I want to spend a year or so there (from the U.K.)
Hoping I have some way of contacting this community as I would normally have assumed I can ask any questions on gaf
I'm actually visiting Melbourne in a few months and may be making decisions on if I want to spend a year or so there (from the U.K.)
Hoping I have some way of contacting this community as I would normally have assumed I can ask any questions on gaf
It's been a pleasure to share boards with you Bern. I personally would have loved to read the self indulgent post if you've still got it. Hope to see you around the internet somewhere.
Totally agree. I've been thinking a lot along these same lines over the last couple of days. Especially when Rep said I played devils advocate a lot here in the early days. That's pretty much a dirty word these days, because it's assumed that you're covering for genuinely dark views that you actually hold and are trying to push people towards. I think Gamergate was the event that kind of broke this kind of discussion in places, because devils advocate was a recruitment tool for dicks. GG was warfare. The time for questioning the views of your own "side" was over, now is the time to show solidarity.
Apart from small pockets, the internet does feel like warfare now more than it did in the past. Maybe that's just a natural result of the size of it, and of the popular platforms. You can't have a respectful yet heated debate on Twitter, you'll get retweeted by your opponent or their followers and get dogpiled. You can't do that on Reddit, your post gets downvoted and disappeared. You can't do it on Facebook because fuck Facebook. Traditional forums seem like the best format for that sort of thing, and I really liked what I used to get in years gone by in AusGAF and AuspoliGAF. I liked being able to argue with Arksy and say Darkace.
But Darkace got banned for some shit that happened outside of the thread and while my response at the time was "lol he should have been more careful", looking back it was a loss to Auspoligaf which pretty much went back to people nodding their heads and agreeing with everyone but Arksy and Legend.
I don't know how to fix this shit though. I'd love to be somewhere where provocative dudes like Darkace have a place and generate thought and conversation, while somehow weeding out actual bigots. Having that, while having a big enough community to survive natural attrition, but small enough to be personal, is pretty difficult. Maybe we had that on GAF five years ago, or SA ten years ago. I'm not sure if it exists anywhere now.
Now I sound like an old man longing for the golden age of the internet that didn't really exist, so I'll shut up now.
Totally agree. I've been thinking a lot along these same lines over the last couple of days. Especially when Rep said I played devils advocate a lot here in the early days. That's pretty much a dirty word these days, because it's assumed that you're covering for genuinely dark views that you actually hold and are trying to push people towards. I think Gamergate was the event that kind of broke this kind of discussion in places, because devils advocate was a recruitment tool for dicks. GG was warfare. The time for questioning the views of your own "side" was over, now is the time to show solidarity.
Apart from small pockets, the internet does feel like warfare now more than it did in the past. Maybe that's just a natural result of the size of it, and of the popular platforms. You can't have a respectful yet heated debate on Twitter, you'll get retweeted by your opponent or their followers and get dogpiled. You can't do that on Reddit, your post gets downvoted and disappeared. You can't do it on Facebook because fuck Facebook. Traditional forums seem like the best format for that sort of thing, and I really liked what I used to get in years gone by in AusGAF and AuspoliGAF. I liked being able to argue with Arksy and say Darkace.
But Darkace got banned for some shit that happened outside of the thread and while my response at the time was "lol he should have been more careful", looking back it was a loss to Auspoligaf which pretty much went back to people nodding their heads and agreeing with everyone but Arksy and Legend.
I don't know how to fix this shit though. I'd love to be somewhere where provocative dudes like Darkace have a place and generate thought and conversation, while somehow weeding out actual bigots. Having that, while having a big enough community to survive natural attrition, but small enough to be personal, is pretty difficult. Maybe we had that on GAF five years ago, or SA ten years ago. I'm not sure if it exists anywhere now.
Now I sound like an old man longing for the golden age of the internet that didn't really exist, so I'll shut up now.
I started posting here in AusGAF my last year of high school, worriedly posting about my HSC and what sort of mark Id get and what sort of future etc.
Now Ive gone through two degrees at Uni, now have a good job and saving some moolah to buy a damn house for an eventual family, so yeah spent some time here on GAF.
I would say a sad bye but Ill see most of you again in Steam or Discord or whatever GAF replacement eventuates.
Though if I never see you again I wish you well and hope life goes fantastic for you.
Cya
Now Ive gone through two degrees at Uni, now have a good job and saving some moolah to buy a damn house for an eventual family, so yeah spent some time here on GAF.
I would say a sad bye but Ill see most of you again in Steam or Discord or whatever GAF replacement eventuates.
Though if I never see you again I wish you well and hope life goes fantastic for you.
Cya
Elaugaufein
Member
If you can't use the other discord link for some reason:
QUOTh thE raven neverMorE
Ozzy Onya A2Z
Member
That Ozzy Onya what a quoteable guy, discord...
Hey guys, sorry I haven't been around lately, I've been having some time off. So, anything interesting happen in the past few d...
I know it shouldn't, but this made me laugh. Hard.
At least we have discord. *clicks to join*
I may not have posted often but I browsed regularly because AU communities are so damn hard to come by. I've made my bed in Slaent as that seems like a super cosy place with a good setup and a community that seems to give a shit about discussing topics without bigots but allowing actual opinions to thrive.
To all those awesome blokes, have a sip of your beer or wine or espresso martini and enjoy the good life, we Aussies have it good!
To all those awesome blokes, have a sip of your beer or wine or espresso martini and enjoy the good life, we Aussies have it good!
shanshan310
Member
Surprised Ausgaf was still here! Kind of a happy sad feeling.
I haven't been a regular for a while now (thanks work...) but I've missed you guys. Was thinking about coming back when shit the fan. Sad to see it end this way. I think I joined in grade 10 or 11? Thanks for putting up with me when I was an annoying teen
I haven't been a regular for a while now (thanks work...) but I've missed you guys. Was thinking about coming back when shit the fan. Sad to see it end this way. I think I joined in grade 10 or 11? Thanks for putting up with me when I was an annoying teen
teacupcopter
Banned
Is discord a forum or chat client?
SuperBanana
Banned
I'm leaving. I can't support this gross site anymore. Any discord or other ways to stay in touch with AusGAF? I hope to see you round,
So, I dont post very often but Im always checking in.
I have web hosting thats not attached to anything at the moment, would everyone who wants to stay in touch rather a forum or discord?
For those not familiar with discord its basically a chat website/app which can also do voice chat and supports lots of little add ons like embedding gifs and file attachments etc
<3
Edit: resetera dot com might be a thing I dunno yet
I have web hosting thats not attached to anything at the moment, would everyone who wants to stay in touch rather a forum or discord?
For those not familiar with discord its basically a chat website/app which can also do voice chat and supports lots of little add ons like embedding gifs and file attachments etc
<3
Edit: resetera dot com might be a thing I dunno yet
Interested to see how resetera turns out.
In regards to your question, I personally prefer a forum as it's easier to keep track of things
An afternoon with an emotional toddler has delayed my departure. I noticed a few people were crashing and burning with final ban-bait posts. That might be cathartic, for some, but I find it antithetical to moving on in a healthy manner.
Wherever you AusGAF people go, may it be filled with borderless panels to fill in as you please.
Wherever you AusGAF people go, may it be filled with borderless panels to fill in as you please.
shanshan310
Member
Cheers for the heads up.
Although I can't think of why anyone would do that in ausgaf. I feel like we're too small a community.
Our Steam and Discord groups are extremely active at the moment (for obvious reasons), but we've usually got solid activity most of the time. Join us if you haven't!
Regarding above, hopefully we're all good, like shan said we're a small community, and I think we're still at the point where we recognise most people.
Regarding above, hopefully we're all good, like shan said we're a small community, and I think we're still at the point where we recognise most people.
The Hermit
Member
I am not Australian, but most aussie posters were very level headed and I agree completely with your position.
But, like the Tarot card, death is necessary for a new beggining.
Good luck everyone
It's still surreal the events that happened over the weekend and how quickly everything spiraled out of control.
I'm happy to have been part of this small community we created for ourselves and it was amazing to see how many members jambo and Co were able to pull into the discord.
I'm happy to have been part of this small community we created for ourselves and it was amazing to see how many members jambo and Co were able to pull into the discord.
CrazedProfessional
Member
Someone give me an invite so I can hang with my old Ausgaf friends.
CrazedProfessional
Member
Ahhhh all the invites are expired
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