Answered The most important question of questions about ASF's destiny.

[nanashi1]

Well, I wasn't sure if this to General Discussions & Debates-sub section give should or not - But if it against the rules, then move it there or delete or whatever...


Well, let's move to my question...

How should I start... Well, the ASF moves slowly to his/her (dunno which gender has...) 4th year, and I had this painful question since long - I've me always wondered; what'll with ASF (say we 10 years later) happen? - Because I'm sure that the currently Mods (includ the Global Mods) sooner or later because of job, family or personally reasons the forum leave will, and there are still the Admins - What'll with they happen? - They'll also sure later with the same reason how the Mods (and actually also at the AST and ASL staff) the forum leave - But there is also the core question: Well, except the Admins can the rest of the staff easily the forum leave... - But the Admins not, because there are the servers: Who'll then they manage? - The only solution were, if who there the servers (and it are 5 in 3 different continents, how I know...) inherit would, and then in the function advised were...

Checky says always that he'll never a partner for his whole life find, and an own family found... - But in this 10 years will he sure one find, where then the forum "G'bye" saying will - except if he at the founding of the forum with Ignis and Coro a solution/idea for this possible scenario planed has... - Otherwise I see the closing of ASF before my eyes.

Well, this was my thoughts and most important questions about the destiny of the forum...

 

[Leggy]

A thriving forum will always find a way to keep growing. I have faith that ASF will be around for quite a while still.

While I have seen one or two Mods retire, I believe there is a system in place for new people to apply to become Mods. I'm not sure if ASF needs new Mods right now, or what the qualifications are.

 

[Ignis]

Comings and goings will always happen in a community. It's not a workplace, after all, and people aren't bound to stay except by their own will. Staff are no exception; they're normal people like everyone else beholden to real-life obligations before their duties, for want of a better term, on the Internet. That said, we do require commitment from our staff and do not accept long-term tenure within our ranks people who'd just up and disappear randomly without a good reason.

Of course, as we demand that our staff members be committed to not just randomly leaving their duties here at ASF, we ourselves do strive to live up by our own standards. For us, ASF is an obligation as much as it's precious fun. We don't just do whatever the hell we want on ASF. We don't even try to be serious about ASF, because we are serious about it. It's a routine to check up on the forum when we come home from work or school and when we wake up, and it's not a habit that will just go away without a reason. Just like with everyone else, we do have our own real-life obligations, but suffice to say that we're the kind of people whose primary plane of existence is the Internet.

As I'm sure everyone is well aware, however, no amount of beautiful words and hopeful promises can make a dent on our inability to predict the future. Who knows what the world has in stock for us next year, three years from now, or a decade later. We can't give a definitive answer of what we think will happen and whether ASF will change in a couple of years, not only because the world doesn't roll the way we want it, but also because we don't think it necessary to be gloomy about the future. This is a community, a gathering of people; not a job or education. It's more appropriate to think of and seize the fun we can have while we can.

There's a Japanese phrase usually taught early to learners, ichigo ichie (一期一会) literally meaning "one time, one encounter". It's widely interpreted to mean that every encounter is unique and only happens once in a lifetime; therefore, every encounter should be cherished. If what I wrote sounds more like (heartfelt!) babbling that doesn't give a definitive answer you expected, I apologise, but to wrap it up, the very short summary is that we don't know. TL;DR: it's over when it's over (to quote Cocona on the matter).

 

[nanashi1]

Well, this true Ignis - and I agree with you... But really, ASF isn't a 3rd-party-made forum, what only in the last 24h. created was - No, ASF is too big that it later close will... - I want just say: That I'd really like the forum for the next generation-members let, and then the same wonderful (- Well, sometimes also negative...) experience make let, how you and the rest of ASF already made have...


Well, of course I can understand, that ASF not your work place (in actually sense...) is, but I'm sure that you the forum not for only few years thought had, right? - Because how already mentioned: "...ASF is too big..." - You've pretty much money; efforts; passions and "blood" in this project putted, not? - You've sure somehow at beginning of the forum a plan in your drawer, where the closing avoid would.

I've the forum in my heart closed, and again: For the next 10-20 generations the forum let...