how have you changed since you first came to this forum?

[underground]

at the risk of showing my narcissistic side, i'll go first.

when i came here: i was a pretentious high school student who would only read books by dead people, always noting literary experts' opinions and trying to pass them as my own. i spent a lot of time reading because i was socially challenged and had very few friends (the reason i stumbled upon this forum in the first place). i was almost emo but without the wrist-slitting thing.

now: i enjoy reading juvenile fictions and fantasy books and rarely read one of those must-read classics novels. i don't feel obligated to like books because they're written by hemingway or faulkner or whoever. i also do a lot more than just reading now. i'm generally a productive human being except for when i suffer a random bout of internet addiction every now and then.

[RobinHood3000]

I'm a little naughtier.

[ElizabethSewall]

I'm a little naughtier.

I guess that goes for me as well.
I met some of my best friends on this forum, and feel no more lonely.
Plus, it's great to interact with people about literature, being able to accept different opinions (even change your own sometimes) is important.

[Mark F.]

I think I was becoming an alcoholic when I first came here, I'm not anymore. I'm not sure whether that's a step backwards or forwards mind you. Other than that I read a lot more than before, maybe three times the amount I used to read.

[Evi]

When i entered this forum ( two weeks ago approximately) i was the same as i am right now. I just have the dissapointment that in a forum about literature are so many youngsters ( the majority of the members are between 15 - 25) that a lot of them are fanatic or with religion ( the good Christians and the good Muslims etc) or with politics ( the good Americans that they saved the world etc) . It is a pity , not for the forum, but for the society. If these are the people who read ...can you imagine how are all the others? Sorry , this comment isnt for the forum and for many members but it is the truth.

Evi

[Mark F.]

Hey, I'm an atheist and I think politics should be left to those who know enough to actually make the right decisions. Maybe we should start a club, Evi?

[Evi]

Mark F,

Yes, i think that it is the right time to start our club.

Evi

[Shannanigan]

okay....

well, before I found the forum I must admit that I was losing hope. My university has a total of 16 English majors...none of which seem to share the passions I have for analyzing works of literature and reading and learning as much as I can. They all basically took the "easy" major...since our English major requires the least amount of credits to graduate. ~sigh~ I was rather dissapointed and contemplating leaving my boyfriend and moving back to California (he would never come with me).

Towards the end of the semester (that I was planning on leaving after) I found this site while researching for a final exam. I saw what awesome conversations were going on, how intelligent and opinionated most members seemed, and how positive the vibe was...and I felt so happy that there was a group of people like me on the net.

Finding this site didn't change my mind about moving...really, I think it just gave me an outlet to talk about literature and intellectual things without people groaning at me. Having that improved my attitude about my situation, and soon I fell back in love with the beaches here, the melting pot of culture, and realized that I really had a good life going for me that I shouldn't give up just to be around more people like myself...

So, I'm still on a Caribbean island, and I get to talk literature. YAY!

[RobinHood3000]

We're glad to have you, Shann.

[cuppajoe_9]

When I came to this forum I was a pretentious high-school student. Now I'm a pretentious college student.

Hey, I'm an atheist and I think politics should be left to those who know enough to actually make the right decisions.

And who, exactly, might those people be? They sure aren't the people who are making the decisions.

[Evi]

Cuppajoe,

They are the people that the nations elect!! Only the 50% of people vote in each country. And most of them are old ( they yound people have detested politics and they are not going to vote anymore) and stupid. As a lawyer i help at the elections every time( here the lawyers have to check the procedure of the elections) and you cant imagine what i am seeing and hearing each time. It is the same everywhere: most of the politicians generally who govern this world are crap!!

Evi

[Nightshade]

Well in the year and a half Ive been here Ive changed alot . my typing speeds gone up, my spelling has improved enormusly ( which youall will have noticed isnt the greatest of things still..) Ive made friends, and I trully belive ( scoff if you like) that being here has helped deal with people more, now that Im at uni I actually have RL friends and the truth is I wouldnt hvae had the confidence or even the desire to go up and sya /hello/ help people before..of course that could have somthing to do with a year working with 'the public' , but having this helped me along through that so now as my boss said recently--weve all noticed how much youve changed in the last year youve really matured
Ive learnt to walk away from arguments and how tolose my temper and still come across as being nice and diplomatic when Im really thinking and I made lots of freinds who might one day wake up to find me on thier door step ith a box of choclates....

[Madhuri]

I wish to be at the recieving end, Night...

[Nightshade]

you never know you might just but getting to India will take me a few years at least

[Pensive]

Before Joining The Forum: I was happy.

After Joining The Forum: I am the happiest girl in the world. As I have more opportunity to write, even if through posts, but still it is one of my favourite activity to express my thoughts with the help of writing.