Lifedam 00: The 2000s in review.

[Monpochi]

I guess most people have a small idea about what I've been doing for the past 10 years or so. 2000-2002 was mostly spent spamming this forum back and forth. Left for the all glorious army, had a shitload of adventures all around the world, a few relationships, then in 2009 I ended up my service. Now I'm enjoying benefits from all of this, currently improving my high school grades to enter Uni next year and major in Arts. Oddly enough, almost 30 and yet I have no idea what my future holds. It's like I'm a teen again, yet I'm much more focused and calm, thanks to 7 years of strict military discipline.

ESAKA~ You lurker you. Wait a sec... you're 20 something and you have yet to enter College? Due to the army thing?. First time i heard of that. But i congratulate you on majoring Art, goodness... i would've chosen the same.

[Gunsmith]

I never said I was more cynical, I just said you're not as cynical as you claimed to be.

I said I was more cynical and bitter. Compared to the glorious milennium and the life I had then, with my worldly ignorance, my cherished Japanese gf, and love of all things SNK, how can I not be more cynical and bitter today? I'm certainly not a total cynic, proof being (amongst other things) this site still exists, paid out of my own pocket, where most people would say I'm wasting my time, but oh yes, certainly more cynical about... everything.

You booze, you eat prime cuts of beef (for cheap), you workout and you're doing pretty damn well on UC2 and SFIV matchups, no doubt will do just as well on SSFIV. I'm envious! Yeah sure, not envious of other things in your life, but still, I'm envious!

Good to see old ON'ers still kicking about and dropping in to greet old friends. Some things change, but as long as you haven't become a raging serial killer, I'm happy. I've seen quite a bit of people change/admit/realise their sexual orientation over the years. I'm especially proud that this is one of the sites where intelligence rules over stupidity, where people can talk openly without fear of reproach and actually LEARN something. Seemingly dead in activity, for sure, but that's always the case, we're a minority in the mass of internet stupidity. Here's to another ten years!

[Foxhole]

You booze, you eat prime cuts of beef (for cheap), you workout and you're doing pretty damn well on UC2 and SFIV matchups, no doubt will do just as well on SSFIV. I'm envious! Yeah sure, not envious of other things in your life, but still, I'm envious!

I used to be dry before I turned 26. Everything else I could have easily done without.

[Esaka]

ESAKA~ You lurker you. Wait a sec... you're 20 something and you have yet to enter College? Due to the army thing?. First time i heard of that. But i congratulate you on majoring Art, goodness... i would've chosen the same.

well, as much as I would like to multi-task, I choose not to. I did have the chance to continue studying while serving, but knowing how the army life goes, with peacekeeping missions abroad and a shitload of exercises, my education would have suffered with it. So I chose to wait and finish my duty, and now I'm totally free to study what I really love and fully concentrate in it. Benefits are a plus side, with everything being payed by the army, not to mention special treatment and a guarantee place in the uni of my choice.
It's never too late to restart. A lot of people have told "you fool, you could have go on and made a career in the military/police force", but that's not what I see myself doing for the rest of my life. I don't wanna reach 60, look back and saying "Fuck, that wasn't what I planned." An artist life might be ungrateful, but it's the only kind of life I wanna live.

[Monpochi]

well, as much as I would like to multi-task, I choose not to. I did have the chance to continue studying while serving, but knowing how the army life goes, with peacekeeping missions abroad and a shitload of exercises, my education would have suffered with it. So I chose to wait and finish my duty, and now I'm totally free to study what I really love and fully concentrate in it. Benefits are a plus side, with everything being payed by the army, not to mention special treatment and a guarantee place in the uni of my choice.

Makes sense, indeed military service would've f*cked up your brain and body to the point of you failing. Much worst.

It's never too late to restart. A lot of people have told "you fool, you could have go on and made a career in the military/police force", but that's not what I see myself doing for the rest of my life. I don't wanna reach 60, look back and saying "Fuck, that wasn't what I planned." An artist life might be ungrateful, but it's the only kind of life I wanna live.

But i guess it can only be applied to countries that are open on hiring the same range where you are currently at. Like for example, in the age you're going to finish Art in Uni (about 5 years? so you'd be around 30+ by that time (?) ) around here you cannot apply for entry-level-jobs on that age. Thank Goodness that we don't have Military service, as if our Government can provide benefits like that of your country if we had one.

[Esaka]

But i guess it can only be applied to countries that are open on hiring the same range where you are currently at. Like for example, in the age you're going to finish Art in Uni (about 5 years? so you'd be around 30+ by that time (?) ) around here you cannot apply for entry-level-jobs on that age. Thank Goodness that we don't have Military service, as if our Government can provide benefits like that of your country if we had one.

The fact that I'm going back to school doesn't stop me from making part-time or freelance work (which I'm also currently doing).I just feel that actually majoring in the area will open more doors and add up to my credibility as an artist overall (despite the numerous examples of successful people in this area that didn't have a formal training). I see art school more of a way to increase my value than a place where I'll learn a shitload of things.There's also the added value that the school I'm aiming for has a high rate of artist employment, and I could use that network.
As for the whole applying to jobs, once again the army provides help in either self-employment/company creation or special priviledges for companies that employ ex-military.

[Gunsmith]

I hate to sound like a nazi but frankly, army is for those who can't do anything else. The only thing I like about the army is that it installs discipline into assholes. They generally remain assholes, but some become better men, as their parents and the government couldn't do any better.

Esaka, that's a good way to view higher ed. Think of classes as confirmation of what you already know, kind of revision, this way you'll be less frustrated. Then network like a bitch and slap that graduate sticker all over your CV! Gogogo!

[Esaka]

I hate to sound like a nazi but frankly, army is for those who can't do anything else. The only thing I like about the army is that it installs discipline into assholes. They generally remain assholes, but some become better men, as their parents and the government couldn't do any better.

I totally understand that, hell, I had the same outlook on army life before I was drafted. I alos learned that army won't change who you really are deep down, no matter how much discipline you try to install in men. I've worked with A LOT of people that weren't soldiers, they were grunts with a uniform on. The whole discipline subject is more of a facade they use to avoid getting into trouble than being really part of who they are.

Esaka, that's a good way to view higher ed. Think of classes as confirmation of what you already know, kind of revision, this way you'll be less frustrated. Then network like a bitch and slap that graduate sticker all over your CV! Gogogo!

oh hell yeah boss, that's pretty much my mindset regarding all this matter. I think that being more mature now and having a diferent view on life itself will be a great asset.

[Kyo-wa]

Being a mature student owns.
Sure, you might have to study harder than younger kids, but nothing is going to beat your life experience that you have gathered outside of class. Younger kids will be talking about getting drunk, and chasing after girls, but you know that as a mature student, you are more goal orientated and will work harder than younger kids.

Just do not give up~ You can do it!

[Gunsmith]

Younger kids will be talking about getting drunk, and chasing after girls, but you know that as a mature student, you are more goal orientated and will work harder than younger kids.

Hehehe welll actually, being the mature student gives you more chance of getting laid! Amongst the foolish hyper young men, you will stand out as the cool, laid back, yet intelligent and motivated guy.

Art students party hard around here, going to gallery openings and stuff. Don't act too mature, , make like you want to stay at parties etc but have to go to your part time job because you're independent (not relying on mummy and daddy). Or just lie.

OI! NUFF ADVICE! BACK TO REVIEW!

Yeah, so this decade saw me put away kof 98, which was already two years old, after its ten year anniversary. I put it on the other day to demonstrate KOF to some students. Good lord it's brilliant. I remember actually getting good at the game, only to be told I was a "normal" player, er well, considering high level play, yes I guess I was, but it makes me cringe to think how bad I used to be, and how bad I am now - it was like I always said "you're only as good as the people you play". I never really got to practice consistently with good KOF players, but when I tried GGPO, it raised my skills big time. Then, I got busy with work. This decade is trying to make me settle down, and it's very hard to resist!!

[hebretto]

Damn 2000 to 2009 ... that's a whole decade ... I think a lot of important life changing events has happened for me from 2000:

- started getting more involved with the "internet life" (joining forums such as this one)
- turned 16; 18; and 21. 16 was pretty damn fuzzy but I still remember my 18th birthday and how good it was to celebrate it (three times even). My 21st was probably the downer cause I couldn't tell anyone it was my 21st and I had to pay for lunch that day wtf hahaha but I spent that time with my mother so she could see her son become a man (though she had no idea 21 is a big deal in west hahaha)
- went from negative and cynical to not so negative and cynical with the help of different services and people
- started working fulltime and then adding more jobs/hours onto it on a weekly basis. I am more or less burnt out now but I learned no matter how much money you have, if you're not having fun and enjoying life what's the point
- bought a car and a home
- finally attending a family dinner where the majority of my family was in attendance. I'm very family orientated so I saw it as a big thing for me

Dammit too many things to list / summarise the past decade ... all I can say is I feel the past decade has shaped me for the better and I hope the next decade will only make me a better person ... wife and kids (and cat/dog) included

[BP]

So with this year (and decade) almost ending - I must say there has been quite a few substantial changes in my life.

Life: For starters I managed to start college in '00 and moved from Saudi to Egypt. Didn't do so well there and almost caused a rift in the family relationship, but eventually that was resolved and I've pursued education once more. I have learned at the time that I need to be a lot more responsible and a lot less careless when it comes to life's more vital things - and to try not to repeat the same mistake twice.

In that duration my family and I moved to almost like 3 apartments when staying in Jeddah. Most of them being stressful and especially moreso didn't help with my depression phase around mid '08.

Also managed to get a job at the office my dad works in as an Oracle programmer. Been interesting to know how databases are used in a more functional environment.

Hobbies: Gaming hasn't died down a bit for me - been more and more interested in them during that decade and probably still continue to. This especially comes in the case of fighting games and platformers - two of my absolute favorite genres. Compared to the '90s, I managed to got a lot more consoles as well - ranging from a DC to a DS to a 360 early this year. Got into anime as well; internet helped that big time alongside a few people. I've got to read more fiction books, too - making me a fan of writers such as Terry Pratchett and Mario Puzo.

Internet: Ever since living along back in Egypt during 2000 I got to finally use it proper and I haven't left it since. Looking for information and stuff has never been easier; plus I managed to meet some of my best friends online - some whom I cherish them as family.

So how will the new decade fare, I wonder? Hopefully for the best - but I expect as much changes that to happen in this one compared to the rest.

And I look forward to it.

[Gojira]

Well it's about an hour and a half from 2010 here so I guess I'll go ahead and review my decade.

Overall if you were to graph my life over the last 10 years it would probably be in the shape of a very long U.

2000 was a stand-up year for me, too many good things happening and nothing particularly bad. I had a great job, good friends and a clean life.
2k1 started out like 2000, the game we developed was (still is, really) a top-rated GBC game. Then there was an earthquake that destroyed my car, there were massive layoffs, 9/11 happened to make me almost never want to fly again, begin crappy life.
2002-2008 was all crap. I went back to college for a degree, barely pulled through it and a fat lot of good it did me. Still wasn't getting a decent job in this stupid job economy. Went to work with a friend at a startup company that had been doing well but was on a downswing. I got a month's pay and then the whole operation went tits-up. So I was back to doing nothing for a while. Then I took a shitty testing job where I wasn't even making enough money to pay the bills. Oh and the game I helped create in 2001 became an animated series. That should have been a good thing, but I didn't really feel that great about it. Probably because I wasn't involved anymore.
2009, finally I've got a real job paying real money doing fairly high-grade stuff. Great job, good friends, clean life. Again. Took the entire decade for this to happen.

I blame W. But whatever. Here's hoping that 2010 onward will continue on this upward curve I've been riding. Cheers!

[Shiny]

2000, I was not too long out of HS and full of lust for life. Also had broken up with who I thought would be the love of my life, as she was headed to college out of town. I bypassed going to college, which would bite me in the ass quickly. Also Bush was elected. That should've been a big enough warning.

2001-2006 was full of labor. Twin Towers had an oh no. Found work at other places, but my longest stint was as a multipurpose eatery employee. It was good, as it financed me a place to stay and a car to drive..needless to say it wasn't a top notch place to stay or car to drive, but it was mine. Lots of cootchery happened within these years. I also started to attend school sporadically within this time period. Bought a PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, and way too many damn games for each system at the time. Had a severe lack of faith in humanity when Dubya got re-elected.

2006-2008 was full of (f)unemployment. I took more classes with the money I earned being a freelance computer repairman and doing odd jobs for monies. Gaming wasn't a high priority at the time, but I managed to squeak some in. Bought a Xbox 360 and was donated a Wii in this time period. Watched too much anime, and not enough cootchery. I also became an uncle, which was a high point. Barry O'Bama got elected, which was interesting. Life was as shitty as it could be for me, until...

2009. Shittierest year to date. Already depressed, and to top things off with a 3-week old cherry pit, my mother passed in early fall. Still reeling from that. About to be an uncle twice removed. My sister is pregnant again, and my sister and I aren't on good terms right now, hard to determine when we will be, if ever. Also migrated from the Tarheel state to the Sunshine state. Only bright spot is that I am working. And I got a PS3, depending on if you consider that a bright spot.

Being the armchair optimist I am, here's to hoping 2010 yields better results. if not, I'll blame Gun and Oro. Why? Because it's the American Way.

[K' Evans]

Are you guys like freaking drunk or something? Who remembers all these details in their life?

Heck I don't even remember when I entered ON, and when I left either.