How have you changed in the last decade?

So, with E3 news afoot, and the fact that I've been on this board for nearly 10 years, I figured it was a good time to ask.

How different are you from a decade ago?

I know I myself have changed immensely. I used to attend E3 every year and lived or died by that kind of news. I sorta forgot it was even happening today and checked out some of the announcements. I'm also very serious about my studies (wasn't even enrolled in college 10 years ago) and am beyond glad to not be working some god-awful retail job for a living. I enjoy gaming, but it's far from the end-all be-all of my existence. Was also in a serious but horrible relationship a decade ago which I knew was doomed but didn't have the courage to get out of.

So, in a nutshell, things are vastly better. How about yourselves? I know a lot of you cats are lifers from around the same time.

I've learned to not give a fuck about things that aren't worth giving a fuck about.

I'm in a hell of a lot better shape, don't play video games as much... read a lot more. Have a wonderful son. Not religious what so ever (I think when I first came here, I was still clinging to some hope that god existed, being a life long die hard Catholic). Don't give a shit about anime any more. Quite a bit different.

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Was also in a serious but horrible relationship a decade ago which I knew was doomed but didn't have the courage to get out of.

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Yeah, I can totally relate. I think everyone can relate to that. Keep on staying in it, no matter how much you don't want to be.

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Originally Posted by Spike Spiegel

I'm in a hell of a lot better shape, don't play video games as much... read a lot more. Have a wonderful son. Not religious what so ever (I think when I first came here, I was still clinging to some hope that god existed, being a life long die hard Catholic). Don't give a shit about anime any more. Quite a bit different.

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The video game thing is really, really interesting. It's totally a less-is-more sort of thing. If that's your primary focus, it will actually make you pretty fucking miserable.

I can only imagine how much having a child alters your whole perspective.

Shifted my spare time focus from games/fucking off to exercising/developing my body.

Became a vegetarian and have been that way for almost seven years now and that won't ever change.

More tolerant of people even if they have disagreeable lifestyles/beliefs (a more recent change.)

Generally, overall more intelligent in a variety of ways.

Still can be ass at times but not nearly as bad as I once was.

Bit more open to relationships (sexual and platonic.)

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Originally Posted by K9999

Bit more open to relationships (sexual and platonic.)

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:emb:

been working out more, getting less and less materialistic, spending more time outdoors, getting slightly more religious as i get older, don't waste time doing drugs or getting shit faced at the bars anymore, gaming isn't a primary focus anymore, although i still probably play my fair share.

My work ethic has been stronger lately too. I guess being a single guy owning a house does that to you. I spend probably 50% of my free time just doing shit to maintain my existence, be it yard work, or cooking, or shopping, or cleaning, or laundry or whatever. You couldn't pay me to do this shit when i was in my teens.

I like to think I've changed a lot.

I've definitely matured more, but getting married (2003) and having two kids (2006, 2009) probably had a lot to do with that.

I went from menial jobs to an IT career, making better money.

I'm a lot happier overall.

I game less these days than I did 10 years ago. In 2000, I was all about pulling Counter-Strike or Everquest all-nighters. Now I have so many other things to focus my attention on. The gaming is probably going to become even more infrequent after I get another job. Between that, spending time with the wife and kids, hitting the gym, and reading, I doubt there will be much time left.

I'm also less impulsive, better with money, and overall a much more experienced person at life. I've learned to stop obsessing over things I can't control.

I'm less angry than I was 10 years ago, more laid back. Still like games but only play lazy games or RPGs. Spend a lot less time on the Internet. Hang out more with friends. I'm fatter and have a better job than when I was in school. Am more focused on important stuff like buying a house. I also am more accepting of what happens around me. I'm not nearly into anime anymore.

became an even bigger faggot

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Originally Posted by galfordo

became an even bigger faggot

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:tickled:

I think it would be helpful to post ages as well.

I joined the boards in December 2002 after a few months of lurking, so I was 17. Now 25

Since then I've (roughly in order)

Bought my first MVS kits

Graduated high school

Went to UT

Bought my 4 slot cabinet

Sold all of my kits

Rebought some carts and minis

Started the mini marquee project

sold my cabinet

met a girl

Graduated college

Became disillusioned with the value of my degree

Got into beer drinking

Fell in love with galfordo

Started homebrewing

Quit playing games for nearly two years

Bought a Wii so I still don't play games

Got married

Looking to brew as a career

Still come here

Now 25.

:annoyed:

I'm a year older than Lithy. Joined roughly the same time as him though I had just completed my first semester of college.

Since then I've graduated and moved across the country. I finally sort of feel like an adult, though I still don't feel like I've put my degree to use. I still enjoyed college though.

I dunno, I feel like I've become a meaner and sometimes more bitter person at times, but that could just be a rough patch I went through a year or two ago.

I definitely feel like my worldview has changed, college was an eye opener in terms of me understanding how things went on in the world (however, cliche that sounds it's true.)

I'm just so fucking glad I'm not earning $6.50 an hour selling 30 packs of Natural Light to college students anymore each and every friday night. Fuck that world, I hope to never have to be in low paying retail again. Even though I don't make a ton of money now in my new job, I love it and it's definitely good experience for what I want to do.

I still don't have a cabinet :tickled:

Around this time, I was in 8th grade going to 9th and here what i've noticed:

Then: I disliked black girls because of the attitude and snappy fingers.
Now: I love my black women and found that people do grow up over time. :)

Then: I was a certified Japanophile and weaboo.
Now: While I still like anime, I don't go around saying that Japan has better stuff than what's in this country.

Then: I was starting to be more interested in the Bible but was doing things the wrong way (i.e. be a Bible thumper).
Now: I have a MUCH better understanding of the Bible and the Lord and I don't go around judging people and forcing people to follow my views.

Then: My writing was terrible
Now: My writing has improved greatly but I can still do better.

Then: I sucked greatly in RPGs, fighters, and adventure games.
Now: I'm better at them since I have an understanding on how to play the games.

Then: I was big headed once people always said good things about me.
Now: I remain humble when people talk good about me in public.

I've got a list but you guys pretty much get the idea. :)

Almost exactly 10 years ago today I was in Japan as an exchange student. I was 15, wore really nerdy shirts, had a really nerdy hairstyle, and I was pretty immature and introverted. I thought about going to college as a film major. Some Japanese kid destroyed me at Marvel vs. Capcom 2 at a Japanese game center.

Now, I'm 25. I've finally become a much more mature and outgoing person. Some people just take longer than others, I guess. I make a fairly decent living as a graphic designer, but thought about becoming a police officer in the last few years. In recent times, my interest in anime and manga has faded, but I still love games. I've also met who I believe may be my wife someday. :cool: Also, some Japanese kid destroyed me at Super Street Fighter 4 online last night.

I was in college back then, writing a lot of short stories and poetry. I have since gone through a lot of jobs in the real world; gone through a lot of women; traveled a lot. I'm still the same guy. I just have less hair now and a cooler ride.

10 years ago, I was still really quiet and I never really spoke up about anything. When I moved here, I had to force myself out of my shell or else I wouldn't survive and I'd have to move back home.

All I can say is that I've had a lot of stuff happen to me (both good and bad) over the past decade and I'm a better person because of it.

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Originally Posted by Meg White

10 years ago, I was still really quiet and I never really spoke up about anything. When I moved here, I had to force myself out of my shell or else I wouldn't survive and I'd have to move back home.

All I can say is that I've had a lot of stuff happen to me (both good and bad) over the past decade and I'm a better person because of it.

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I have no idea who this is.

Domino-chan

Not enough.

I'm significantly less of a pussy.

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Originally Posted by Murray

I'm significantly less of a pussy.

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I feel like that as well.

Got fat.

Reached puberty, voice deepened.

Angrier, less tolerant, bitterer. All in all as negative as ever.

Worst ten years of my life. I feel like nothing I do is ever right. That would include just about everything I've done in the last ten years.

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Originally Posted by Lagduf

I have no idea who this is.

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;~;

I am unloved.

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Originally Posted by Meg White

;~;

I am unloved.

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Not true, O excellent secret Santa. :buttrock:

I can't even begin to start on how I've changed...

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Originally Posted by SPINMASTER X

Angrier, less tolerant, bitterer. All in all as negative as ever.

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you were cooler 10 years ago.

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Originally Posted by Meg White

;~;

I am unloved.

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To be fair, there are other members who got hit by the detroit virus that I still dont know who they are. I'm just not on the up and up on who got change to who.

It was only like last week or so I realized who Ghost Dog was changed to.

Me 10 years ago:

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__.../Kanjiface.jpg



Me today:

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0..._oro_large.gif

Met wasabi

I met Bobak!

But who hasn't (the answer is Wayne :emb: )

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Originally Posted by Lagduf

I met Bobak!

But who hasn't (the answer is Wayne :emb: )

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*raises hand*

A decade ago I only had 2 kids, now I have 4.

I was also sporting a big ass electric blue mohawk and matching docs...now just plan docs and short hair.

I didn't have a kick ass gameroom 10 years ago.

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Originally Posted by topher

A decade ago I only had 2 kids, now I have 4.

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Is there a contest in your neighborhood or something? Slow down, Sir Procreates-alot.

10 years ago I was in a doomed marriage, working a shit job, spending money I didn't have on gaming shit I didn't need, and started to balloon like stay-puff.

Today I'm a single father, going to school, over 100lbs lighter, and spending whatever free time I have studying.

This is probably backwards for a lot of people. I hope in ten years that the fruits of my delayed efforts pay off.

Hmmm...

in 2000 I had been married for 2 years, had no kids.

I was just starting an apprenticeship in the union for an electrical position. I made $12/hr.

Lived in a shitty apartment in a neighboring town.

Had a short fuse...my temper of that time is legendary with those that know me. It was nothing to brag about but it was violent. No, I never hurt anyone but that doesn't mean I didn't any damage with my mouth. Guys I work with that have been with me for years tell the new guys of how I used to be. The gaming world was a HUGE deal to me...the anticipation of the Oct 2000 PS2 release was insane to me.

I weighed around 200 lbs.



Now...still in the trade. My 10th ann was June 12th. Still married, working on my 13th year. Bought a house in '04 Had our daughter in summer of '08...she had balanced me in more ways that I could have imagined.

I'm calmer...slower to react. I tend to have a better ability to let things slide that really don't matter now. I'm still friends with the same people. I game but it is a fraction of what it used to be. I'm very calm with gaming. I watch new things coe out and will sit and wait for the prices to come down...rarely do I ever buy a game a release anymore.

I weigh 240 lbs...

I guess I'll add I've been gaining weight too, for the first time in years..

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Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

Is there a contest in your neighborhood or something? Slow down, Sir Procreates-alot.

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:lol:

Nah, just decided to round it out to 4. Figured with 4 there was more of a chance of getting one to change my diaper when I'm old and decrepit.

lost 100 lbs, gained it all back

gained back hair, but lost head hair

learned what it was like to have a g/f fuck everyone but you

watched a store I ran have record sales, followed by no sales

became less optimistic

these are just a few off the top of my head.

I think it's important for everyone, at least once, to go back and look at their earliest posts. Sometimes it's hard to tell how much you've changed until you're able to view yourself in the past.


For instance, wasabi used smilies sometimes back in the day.

I wish the old gamers.com message boards were still up so I could see what kind of stupid shit I wrote when I was 15.

Um...from a girl to a woman?

Back then I'd watch any anime available now I watch only what seems to be good.

I had only one-sided fights with my older brother, now I mess with him and get away with it.

Back then I only played rpgs now I play everything but sports games.

Oh...back then I was more innocent and now I'm not?

Used to watch tv and now the internet is more convenient.


That's about it.

Well, I got married, had 2 kids, bought a house, got fatter, tried to stop smoking, stopped smoking hash and that's about the main ones :D

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Originally Posted by Yue

Oh...back then I was more innocent and now I'm not?

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This is impossible to conceive.

Ten years is a long time, considering I was in my early teens. I did most of my major changing around 17, 18.

I was a lazy alcoholic drug user who did nothing but sit around, play video games, and eat. I hated work, and frequently jumped from job to job. I let other people do everything for me while I sat back and manipulated them. I had a large amount of misdirected anger and cynicism. I constantly hopped around from one spiritual aspiration to another, never spending any time grounding myself in any of them. I spent money like a fucking barfly, and would blow a pay check in a few hours on dope, booze, and other shit I didn't need. I was cocky, pretentious, arrogant, and shallow. I made a lot of people around me suffer, and as long as it was myself experiencing a gain of some kind, I didn't care and had a hell of a fun time doing it. I was "in a band".

I have turned laziness into cunning, alcoholism into not-alcoholism, and I ditched drugs completely. I have come to an understanding with my work life; I don't necessarily love it, but I do my job, and I am in a decent position. I don't use people anymore; if someone pisses me off, if I have a problem with them, I don't go on a rampage to crush them, I just get them out of my way, and move on. I have a healthy, incredulous cynicism; I'm not brooding and gullible. I have a Wife to support whom I love, and it's not always about me anymore. I have become much better off financially, and can actually handle money properly. I am into video games, but my experience with them does not exceed more than a few minutes a day; a game of Metal Slug here, level in Contra there. I spend a lot of time on that hobby in terms of collecting, displaying, etc. because it was always my dream to have a loaded game room; it's really out of nostalgia. I am altogether much more well rounded, much more easy going, and more focused on what I want in life.

But I'm still kinda fat.

Got over that whole homosexual phase. No more leather pants for me.

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Originally Posted by K9999

This is impossible to conceive.

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I see the dislike is strong between us :lolz:.