Pulled From: Istorya Daily Blog | Written By: thisbe.ara

Tonight I woke up from my looooooooooong hibernation from Istorya.Net because someone knocked my cave of memories and told me that I should go back and that in one way or another, there are people who miss me. I said that I was just lurking around but then again, I just kept mum all entirely because when I browse over the forums, I seem not to know anyone and when I tried to holler, I really can’t get the topics that they’re discussing (no offense). I have also gotten so busy with work that although I have the entire access of the internet, I still can’t mingle and do chitchat with people. Although come to think of it, every time I log in at Istorya.Net I just shake my head and sigh. Some of you may know me, others may not have the slightest clue who I am but then again, in one way or another, you might be able to relate to the stages of what I would describe as the ferris wheel of Istorya.Net. Forgive me for the names (albeit original, they are not official). Based on my observation and personal experience, here is our roadmap.

Stage 1: Getting to know the ride. Someone introduces you to the ride of Istorya.Net. However you are invited (Bai/Day/Gurl/Yadj/Bes/Labs/Anak/Lola, “naay daghan chix diri” or “maka solve ni sa imong problema” or “you can meet a lot of people here” or “you can find meaning here” or “apil ka or dili? Sumbagon taka ron!” LOL) or whoever invited you (a friend, a lover, a nerd officemate, a totally hot babe, your crush, a classmate, a teacher who’s selling his stuff, a gay neighbor who wants to make a pass on you—yeach, or just someone who wants to get to know you better), you may be hesitant at first but then you will get a teeny bit interest which will spread to your whole system and entrap you which basically is the point of stage 2.

Stage 2: Riding and Loving It. Alright, so here comes the stage with the following symptoms: When you switch on your computer and log on the net (whether you arrive from work, from lunch, from an exam, from a kasaba ni mama or an away with the uyab, or you can’t sleep), you immediately log on to www.istorya.net. And then, you are glued to the screen scanning all replies from your previous posts, reply, argue, make amends, listen to music (then post the lyrics), have something you need to buy (then you post whatever you need), need advice for you being dumped (you go to love is) or you just want to see how people view the government and other political issues (you know where to go) or you just plain chat in gen chitchat. You may have memorized the lyrics of The Forum song by heart, you may perhaps get warned, get banned, or get promoted to a higher status. You may have arguments or you may have fallen in love in the cyber world or you may hear comments every now and then, “hey who are these people? Where is this and that? I miss you guys!” and you may never understand. Before the shoutbox was invented by our great “humble” super newbie master Beor (a.k.a. Mr. Galadriel, Mr.Macro-who-shoots-insects-and-eats-them-later-for dinner-eeeewww), we have this Off-Topic thread where you can post single words like uhmmm.yes.fine.whatever.dude!musta?oist!hahaha.LOL.” And this is where you get all the posts to become the number one poster (I was. But never because of OT. Haha) and others might see you as crazy but hey, this is my istorya world. Stay out of it. And then you meet lots of friends through EBs (where you bring other friends just so you can get comfy at first) and you hang out with them every week and you form groups with group names and you befriend moderators and find out that they’re really cool guys (that’s why I fell in love with one.char). And then maybe, your boss would see you not doing your report and you go to Human Resources for disciplinary action or you might as well walk like a zombie the next day with your eyebags looking like you’re a raccoon on reverse because you didn’t have enough sleep due to excessive posting. That, my friend is the diagnosis for a CERTIFIED ISTORYAN ADDICT aka CIA (of which I remember this title being coined during our time. How fascinating our group was!haha.). If symptoms persist, go back to that person who invited you and give him a smack on the head if you can. :p

Stage 3: Dizzy from the Ride. After the crazy-madness, you might wanna lie low. Maybe because you had a fight with whomever, you got hurt, you don’t want to see someone else’s post, your internet connection just got disconnected, Istorya.Net is banned from your IT department, you are on suspension, you got busy, you got married, you got a new job, your new boyfriend is jealous with the computer, you got relocated to Mars, you have earth-shattering problems you want to deal for yourself. Whatever your reasons are, you need to take a break from Istorya.Net. It’s human instinct, I guess. It’s just like eating humba too much and having too much will make you throw up and the sight of one would make you sick (though I can say other examples, but hey this is the first one on my mind). However, after trying to login for a time, you seem to not know anyone, you seem not to understand these people and now you are one of those peeps who would say, “Hey, who are these people? Where is this and that? I miss you guys.” And because of reasons like that, you slowly go far away.

Stage 4. Missing the Ride and Trying to Ride Again. And then maybe, you ran into somebody you know or you joined one of the EBs or someone texted you or you just have this innate need to post (the same need why you joined in the first place) and you want to post again. And you try to reach out. You try to understand. But this time, you understand. You clearly see things and you enjoy the ride more. And not just because you want to be understood by other people but you want to be the one to understand. And the forum song will stick to your head and capture your heart once again (and I bow to all the masters behind the song). Will it matter? We might break the rules but still we are, trying to show the world that we care and we feel. We believe we are one.

You may or may not agree with me on this but will it matter? You have your stages. I have mine. But never fail to thank yourself for giving yourselves a chance to login—for friendship, for meaning, for just trying to reach out to your own humanity.

thisbe.ara signing off.