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Drama: Watering the Shmeng-Garden |
Posted by
Schizo on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 04:01 AM PST
As most people know, we recently went through one of our fairly routine Shmeng purges. Noisy idiots and twits of all varieties had been growing like weeds, and had been neglected to the point that they seemed likely to overtake all that makes Shmeng worth-while. Unfortunately, weeding, especially with well-rooted weeds, tends to cause disruption in the soil of a garden, and the roots of many valuable plants can become dislodged in the process. When this happens, it is necessary to re-seat the roots, and baby the plants until they recover. Also, it is necessary to keep weeding, lest the weeds choke out the flowers again.
Shmeng is no different. Many of us felt hurt and unsettled by the violence of the purge. While it is necessary to continue to keep up with our routine maintenance when it comes to the noisy and unpleasant, it is also necessary for those who make Shmeng beautiful to recieve the praise and nurture they deserve.
So, here goes. In alphabetical order. Again.
Arthegarn, your brilliant mind and lawyer-esque skill in debate enrich us all. We are all put to shame by the perfection of your English, and make us hang our heads for the lack of work most of us put towards a second language. You have the courage to bring up opinions and points of view that are as deviant from the normal Shmeng mindset as Shmeng can be from the rest of society. This helps us not only rethink our own views, but also to reconsider the value of the opinions of those who differ from us. And on top of all this intelligence and courage, you somehow seem to avoid the sort of cocky, know-it-all-ness that many superbly intelligent people fall into.
Bettie X, girl, you inspire me. Your Satanic self-empowerment and bad-assery is as amusing as it is refreshing. Not to mention that you have single-handedly educated us all on the beauty of bats and the horrors of the slaughter house. Your ability to make a stand for what you believe in helps to push us all to do the same. Not to mention your amazing artistic talents. You give Dali a run for his money, girl.
Callei, your patience as an editor is epic. You would not be labelled as cranky nearly as often if people really understood all you put up with and all the work you put into this site. You are intelligent, classy, and very honest. Twits fear you and true Shmenglings love you. Keep up the good work, girl, because Shmeng could not exist without you.
Comedian, you have an amazing insight into the common man. Your powers of observation, and your empathy for the people around you sometimes takes my breath away. I have seen you grow into yourself over the past couple of years, and look forward to seeing what the next couple bring out in you.
Devin, what can we say? You are the keeper of the vibe and the webmaster. How do you manage to be so much larger than life, and yet so approachable? Your calm wisdom and wide-open heart is matched by your common sense. And that's not even mentioning your super-human technical skills in creating and maintaining this monster of a website. Bravo.
Dolorosa, my crazy sailor. From your wild Navy days in Japan where you entertained us and broke our hearts all at once, to your Californian bar rampages, to your mellower times now as a new father, you have kept us waiting on the edge of our seats for your next newsbreak. You are also the king of compliments, with a heart of gold. Little Eva is a very lucky girl.
Feralucce, I watch you in your dogged fight against stupidity. I see you restrain yourself from roasting idiots as harshly as you would like, and I see them kick dirt in your face in return. I see how you long to be left alone, to isolate yourself from these pestering gadflies, but you don't give up, do you. Thankyou for that, and your brilliant photos as well. When Shmeng was young, I didn't care for you much. In fact, you irritated the hell out of me. But now, I consider you one of those without which Shmeng would be crippled and incomplete.
IamSquid, you are ridiculous, and occasionally annoying, but I can't help but value you. I still can't figure out how you can consistently insist that you are indeed a giant squid, and still be taken seriously! But under that fascetious exterior lies a heart of gold, and an intelligent (although perhaps not always perfectly organized) mind.
Ickgirl - those who are new to Shmeng do not know that there is a huge hole here. But those of us who remember you miss you and wish you would come back.
Meranda-Jade, you are my inspiration as a mother and a woman. And, even though your gentle heart did not serve you so well in the Tough Love forum, I still value it highly. Thankyou for taking us up short, and reminding us that sheer cruelty was out of order. That, indeed, tough love is about tough LOVE, and instruction should never be indulged in for the sake of causing pain. You are wise, kind, and your ability to combine nurturing motherhood and naughty sexuality is an inspiration. Thankyou for helping us to see that the two walk hand-in-hand, and that the fun doesn't end when the kids come.
Monlycus. So often in the last month or so you have been upbraided for the way you withdraw yourself from society. But what else would we expect from the Lone Wolf? You are the hermit, the searcher. No one can dig down to the rock bottom of a topic like yourself, and if you can handle all the multi-syllabic words, one finds that your wit is sharp. In fact, you remind me frighteningly of my brother. The same difficulty in social interaction, but the same brilliance and intelligence, the same capricious sense of humor and the same roll and tumble of wording. I have a very big place in my heart for you, although I haven't interacted with you as much as with some others here.
MystressRavynDarque - you are in the middle of a seeking and exploring time. You are just on that brink of life, where you are finally able to decide what you want to be. You are looking and listening, tasting and feeling, and experiencing all that you can. You are an inspiration as well - what a recent high-school graduate should be. Eventually you will mellow down into whatever it is that you are to be, but until then, you are heading about things the right way. I only wish I had the opportunities you have when I was your age.
Shade, you are the King of Smut. Whenever we see an intelligent discourse on sex, it is safe to assume that your name will be among the authors. And who can forget Toy Dolls? The most amazing smut-series on this site, may it continue again before long.
Vampcourt, you wonderful pissy Virgo bitch you! What would we do without your bad temper, the mental image of you and Bettie on drunken rampages through the mall, and your incredibly, beautifully twisted artwork? Not to mention your talent in eye-makeup. We are all fucking jealous of your amazing ablilty to apply eye-makeup. Keep up the bad attitude, and keep drawing, please!
Of course, there are more. Some of you I have not known for long, or I just haven't interacted with you personally, or just don't feel I know you as well for whatever lame reason. But you still fill up Shmeng with worth and intelligence, even if I can't pinpoint exactly why or how right now. I'm sure I will eventually. Some of these (but not all, by any means) that I will include in my honorable mention are Britva, Closetgothbabe, Daria 4, Domkitten, EyeCandyRayce, Merry Widow, MorteAscendo, Rae, Rogue, and SindelChaos. All of you, I value, highly. I just can't seem to come up with a paragraph about it now.
These are the people who make Shmeng a paradise. All this rich display of personality, talent, intelligence, and vibe. Where else can you find a list like this? With such variety, and yet such cohesiveness? This is what keeps me coming back. This is what keeps me dealing with the minor annoyances. This is what makes weeding the garden worth it. I love you all. Thankyou for being who you are, and sharing it with the rest of us.
Please, people, add to this. I know I have missed people, or qualities in the people I have included. Let's feed and water and nurture this beautiful garden. We have fulfilled our duty in removing the unsightly and harmful weeds, but let's not forget that there is more to gardening than weeding. Let's cultivate the fruit, beauty, and fragrance that Shmeng is capable of, encouraging each of us to flower. To become what we are meant to be - a restful and bountiful haven in this world's wasteland.
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Average Rating : 5.0
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Watering the Shmeng-Garden | Login/Create an account | 40 Comments |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by inward (-)
on Aug 04, 2004 - 06:24 AM
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Although I am new around here and may well fit the "noisy idiots and twits" category - allow me to say that this article outlines the heart of goth (at least from my perspective): do not only hate the common, but also love the rare.
I have much to learn from Shmeng.
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by feralucce (feralucce@wayoutonthecorner.com) on Aug 04, 2004 - 09:31 AM (User info | Send a Message) http://www.wayoutonthecorner.com/feralucce | inward... it was a graet response... till you mentioned goth... look at the top of the page man... THIS IS NOT, WILL NEVER BE, HAS NEVER BEEN A GOTH SITE...FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!
schizo: gret piece... i will comment in depth later... but for now the world is tinged red... |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 04, 2004 - 03:39 PM (User info | Send a Message) | I do not hate the common. Why should I? Air is common, and so is water. I do not hate them. There are so many things that are plain, and common and even *gasp* normal, that it would be more than slightly ridiculous to hate them.
There are also rare things which I do not love. It is pretty rare for me to get deathly ill, but that doesn't mean I'm going to love it.
Rather, I judge by a much more realistic criteria. I love those things that enrich me, and I hate those things that contribute towards my devaluement.
Incidentally, there are many things that are generally labelled "goth" that would devalue me. And many things that are "mainstream" that enrich me beyond words.
These people I have mentioned in my article are valued, not for their rarity, and certainly not for their goth qualities, but because their acquaintance has enriched me inmeasurably. And beyond that, they can wear Gap and Ambercrombie & Fitch until they turn blue, and it doesn't matter. I love them. |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by feralucce (feralucce@wayoutonthecorner.com) on Aug 04, 2004 - 08:04 PM (User info | Send a Message) http://www.wayoutonthecorner.com/feralucce | Schizo, lass... the compliments you pay me in the article... you wordsmove me beyond anything I am capable of explaining... for while I am exceedingly erudite... emotional stuff is hard for me... I am glad to have enriched you... as you have done the same for me... Some people find my behavior bewildering... but I defend that which I care for... this place is the people that compose it... and I still cannot find words enough... |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 05, 2004 - 02:26 AM (User info | Send a Message) | When I was younger, there was a tall pine tree a little down the road that looked like a giant with arms raised above its head. That tree always comforted me in an odd way, despite its rather menacing gesture. It seemed like it was guarding the path to my home, and would only be frightening to anyone who was a threat to my well-being.
You remind me of that tree. Perhaps a little menacing at first glance, but on closer inspection you are only menacing to those who would threaten the quality of this place. You have become Shmeng's guardian. You would not do your job so well if you were not also a little frightening. (Although you don't scare me so PPPBBBTTTHHH!)
Life would probably be more comfortable for you if you did not have such high standards, but someone's got to have the strength to separate the brilliant from the sludge. Thankyou for taking on the job. |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by feralucce (feralucce@wayoutonthecorner.com) on Aug 05, 2004 - 08:13 AM (User info | Send a Message) http://www.wayoutonthecorner.com/feralucce | how is asking them to read before they post, respond and communiate in a logical and well thought out manner, not be a noisy idiot, not mention the gothic lifestyle every twelve seconds and demanding an iq greater than that of a low grrade grgapefruit high standards?? *wink* |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 05, 2004 - 04:30 PM (User info | Send a Message) | Damn, you may as well ask for the moon, too! |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 06, 2004 - 01:58 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Yeah, well I keep it in my back-pocket, along with an idiot-less world, but I AIN'T SHARIN' so nyah nyah nyah! |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by KittyGoesMrow on Aug 04, 2004 - 08:54 AM
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Heh... I think that I too fit into the noisy idiots or twits category even though i've been here for a while but not quite as long as some. MRD introduced me to the site and Devin gave me the desire to join this wonderful community. I am not ashamed to admit I have alot to learn and though I am a wildflower and may be consider a weed to some I find I am growing every visit and that when I bloom I might sprout some lovely little flowers. But we shall see.
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 04, 2004 - 02:25 PM (User info | Send a Message) | KGM, if you have the heart to do it, and it is in you, then a rough time at the start won't matter. As I mentioned, I didn't much like Feral in the beginning, and as many here know, Comedian and I have at one time been rather bitter enemies (of a sort.)
You have much to sort though, and some growing to do. We'll see where it will all lead - I must say, I never enjoy uprooting an even slightly-entrenched weed, and would much rather see a late-blooming flower emerge in this case. |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by MystryssRavynDarque (MystryssRavynHI@wmconnect.com)
on Aug 04, 2004 - 10:39 AM
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You've got me right down to it Schiz. Thanks so much for your kind words and understanding. I would love to talk to you sometime. I know we never have, and that is very sad. All of my contact info is in my profile. *squishes* You kick ass!
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 04, 2004 - 02:29 PM (User info | Send a Message) | MRD, I am so sad I missed meeting you (among others) at the Shmengfest. I would love to talk with you, but I am afraid I must warn you I don't have an awful lot of time or energy to spend on it. But I welcome e-mails (being easier to deal with than IM's) from you and anyone else who wants to write (barring trolls and twits, of course.) I don't generally start interactions, for the above mentioned reasons of time and energy, but I am actually thrilled when someone else takes the initiative for me! |
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You forgot one:
by Shade (Shade@Gothcult.com)
on Aug 04, 2004 - 12:57 PM
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Schizo: Your unhesitating devotion to your own path has been an inspiration to us all. Your sense of self has grown from the very scared young woman we knew way back when to the confident adult that graces us all today. Your attention to the details of life brings with it insight that we could all use more of; and your caring nature makes it safe to be near you if even in the digital sense. You have opened all our eyes to the realities of personal faith in ways that not even Betty or Arth could have, and you have proven that age old adage, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
To you I say thank you.
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Re: You forgot one: by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 04, 2004 - 03:32 PM (User info | Send a Message) | And to you, I say, you are more than welcome.
Actually, I credit much of who I am today to these wonderful people I have cited. There is so much I have gained and learned from all of you, that I shudder to think what I might have become without your influence.
It sounds more than slightly pathetic to attribute so much of myself to a website, but as we all know, Shmeng has become so much more than that. Thankyou, thankyou all of you, for not only opening my eyes to things I might never have otherwise known, but also giving me the space and acceptance I needed to find my own path, and not become a dupe of yet another brainwashing. |
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Gardening
by Monolycus on Aug 05, 2004 - 12:45 AM
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Aw, Schiz... thanks. Kind words mean an awful lot to me. Even if they ARE polysyllabic. Incidentally, you are more right about me than you might guess. I am the hermit.
Incidentally, per your instructions to include those not mentioned (I couldn't add to those you already cited and improve in any way upon what you have already said), I'd like to drag my watering can over to (alphabetically, not necessarily in order of importance):
Domkitten= You've never let a little thing like sleep dep hold you back. I don't always agree with you, but I have always admired your tenacity. And, unlike others, I am in a position to know that you are one of the most charitable souls I have run across. Too bad it is locked inside a workaholic.
Ironboots~ Where've you been? I could always count on you to read (and even partially understand) some of my more long-winded rants and to come back with some perspective that hadn't even occured to me. Dust yourself off and reclaim your monarchy in the forums!
Kira: You have always had a twisted kind of insight that I have always admired. You not only get a bigger picture, but you are patient (and cute) enough to be able to point it up to others. You go!
pARIS> Even with your caps-lock problems, you've always got a joke held in reserve, and it's always one I wish I had thought of. Now, since I am the socially maladjusted one, you have no excuse for giving me more memory on this site than you have used up. Get a little noisier, y'hear?
Rogue; Seriously, you need a shout out, man. Your name has become nearly synonomous with lightning wit. If a person needs to be delicately told that they are being an idiot, you're the man for the job. If someone needs a post to be gently pushed in the right direction because nobody else quite got it, I have always counted on you. And if I am ever at a loss for pick-up lines, I need only listen to you for ten minutes while scribbling furiously in my notebook. You are far more adept, clever, beneficial and downright appreciated than you know, chingu. Now, stop getting in your own way!
~M.
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Re: Gardening by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 05, 2004 - 02:42 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Thanks, Mono, for filling in the gaps. I agree with all of your choices. All of you are people who help make Shmeng a place to come back to again, and again, and again, and hey, wait, did you just catch me hitting my refresh button again? (Wait, that sounded vaguely dirty...)
And Mono, I've had you pegged for ages. I mean, come on, your name gives you away! And having another hermit for a brother helps. That boy would be the happiest man in the world if you locked him in some dusty old library in Oxford or someplace for a month. He's a bookbinder - what better job for a brilliant loner? I would say you two need to get together, but that would be kind of scary. I don't think even I could follow the depths of the vocabulary you men would sink to, and I'm used to it!
Me, I'm the fool. Starting out with nothing, a blank slate, and just heading wherever my feet will take me. I'm here to figure out what is out there, and I take what comes. And I'm not above walking off a cliff or two if that's what it takes to learn a needed lesson. If I've got a destination, I haven't found it yet, but I don't mind. My destination is wherever my next step falls. And it's being a damn interesting journey, and I'm finding out that there's a hell of a lot more out there than I ever imagined when I first packed my treasures in a handkerchief and started out.
I wonder if we all could find a Major Arcana card that describes us? |
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Re: Gardening by Monolycus on Aug 05, 2004 - 04:59 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Bookbinding... thought about doing that. And making my own paper. And oak-gall ink. And marbling the end pages. And typesetting. And... well... you get the idea. Christ, I should have been a monk.
I'm glad you agreed with my picks, Schiz. I think petting is a good idea now and again, and it was sweet of you to start a round of it.
And anytime you want to hit your refresh button is fine with me. Just make sure to send me the polaroids. ~wink!~ I am, as always,
your faithful servant,
~M.
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Re: Gardening by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 05, 2004 - 01:17 PM (User info | Send a Message) | Yeah, my brother can make kick-ass marbelized paper. There's an incredible school in Boston called North Bennet Street School, just a couple blocks down from the Old North Church of Paul Revere fame. That's where he learned the trade. They specialize in the old crafts, like violin making, locksmithing, and cabinetry. Pretty awesome. My brother now works for a place in Philly that works restoring stuff like Gutenberg Bibles and original copies of the Declaration of Independence. If you ever seriously consider bookbinding, you should really go to North Bennet Street. |
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Re: Gardening by Monolycus on Aug 06, 2004 - 03:46 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Thanks for the tip, Schiz... but I put in two years of Boston already. I've done my time there, and nothing short of physical compulsion could make me go back. Come to think of it, gun to my head, I still might not go back there.
~M. |
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Re: Gardening by Rogue (Rogue@skew.org) on Aug 05, 2004 - 09:17 AM (User info | Send a Message) http:// | Aww, you're too kind. Three kinds, even. I've had a very ugly time the last couple of days and this really helped. Schiz, if the "Tough Love" forum was a blood orgy, this was literary bukkake. "I like bukkake, I'm a-spunky for your love!"...
I only hope that chingu is a dirty word, or that one rap guy that did "Right Thurrr". |
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Re: Gardening by Monolycus on Aug 06, 2004 - 03:48 AM (User info | Send a Message) | If it helps to think it is a dirty word, then I am not the one to disillusion you!
"It never hurts to help!" ~Eek the Cat, shortly before something dreadful happened to him. |
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Re: Gardening by Ironboots on Aug 06, 2004 - 01:47 PM (User info | Send a Message) http://rangerjacket.tripod.com | Thanks, Mono...
Yeah, I've been in trouble with the law for the past week or so... Once I get that all ironed out I'll make a big post about it on shmeng. But the good news for you guys is that I'm stuck in town so I'll be visiting shmeng nearly every day. |
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Re: Gardening by Monolycus on Aug 07, 2004 - 05:54 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Few things improve our literary output more than house arrest. I look forward to hearing about your misadventures.
~M. |
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Re: Gardening by Monolycus on Aug 12, 2004 - 02:19 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Let's hope it all settles down soon for you. I think we might be in need of some of your contribution! Kapchida!
~M. |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by Merry_Widow on Aug 05, 2004 - 12:52 PM
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Schiz, you are that wonderful calm voice that reminded me in the beggining of my pregnancy that I could do it. Even though we only exchanged a couple of notes, your quiet encouragment stuck with me throughout. You're the voice of reason that has the most impeccable sense of timing. You always seem to hit the proverbial nail right on the head in your responses to people.
No one can hide from The Schizo!
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 06, 2004 - 02:11 AM (User info | Send a Message) | Merry, I am so glad that I could help. It's hard to see sometimes that, just because something is hard, and unexpected, and unplanned, that does not mean that it can't also be a wonderful experience.
And I think little Eva is as lucky to have you for a mother, as she is to have Dolo for a father.
Hmmm... Merry and Dolo, Merry and Dolo... do you realize that child is the product of the union of joy and sorrow? |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by Rae (d.embraced@verizon.net)
on Aug 06, 2004 - 01:00 AM
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Schizo, I was completely surprised to see my name in the mix since I haven't "participated" for quite some time, but I am touched all the same that you remembered me. My sincerest thanks to you for that. You brought back a flood of memories of the many here that I hold dear to my heart.
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Aug 06, 2004 - 02:01 AM (User info | Send a Message) | It's not just the people who post now, but the memory of those who used to be here that makes this place great. I guess I was sort of compiling a Shmeng "dreamteam". |
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by gothicmorman (litty_klj@hotmail.com)
on Aug 07, 2004 - 07:12 AM
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in a way it seems like you should also thank the trolls, idiots, and other general riff raff that were kicked off the site. if they had not been around to flame and torture then there would be far less chance for you and all the others to use your talents. also, of course, every purge helps shmeng grow and define itself as a community.
offhand: i do miss ickgirl... hope she returns...
the ruthless
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Re: Watering the Shmeng-Garden
by Domkitten (saradevil@saradevil.com)
on Aug 11, 2004 - 06:13 PM
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Schiz,
Leave it to you to take the time to put into words feelings that many have, an no one expresses.
You replaced the bad with the good, the tragic flaws with the saving graces and thank you for doing it. As long as you can continue to hang around after all that, I think Shmeng will be okay.
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