Which brings me to my other note of worthiness. Today makes it exactly six years since I joined this fine, fine forum. Six years is a really long time, when I look back on it. I was only 15 at the time! And what a newb I was too. A quick glance at my earliest posts will confirm this. I knew nothing of all the acronyms we all use now, nothing about the forum etiquette, and nothing about the larger community out there. But joining this site is probably one of the best things I ever did, and quite possibly saved me from a dark age. My adventures into the world wide web were still rather tame back then, and my experience with Lego websites was limited to only a couple. This site was my first glimpse at the AFOL community, which before I had thought limited to myself, and maybe a few random people out there. What a pleasant surprise to find out about all these hundreds of other people out there with the same love for Lego that I have. And to know that everyone here enjoys building castle is an added bonus.
Over the years, as I delved deeper into the online community, Classic Castle always remained my starting point, and my home base as it were (I have it as my homepage for a reason). I checked out other forums, even joined a couple, but none of them had the same feel that this site has. Classic Castle has a place in my heart not in the least because of it's great members, and excellent administration. I love both the integrity and respect I find here. Everyone (more or less) is civil and helpful to each other, without many of the problems that other forums seem to have. The site has also offered many resources that I might not have found out about otherwise. Sets, MOCs, events, corporate news, and strange pieces are just some of the topics that I have learnt about. Classic Castle has been my portal to just about every Lego website out there. From The Brothers Brick to Flickr, I learnt about them all from here.
The site has had some truly great stuff to offer over the years. From all the varied and numerous contests, many of which have helped me to grow as a builder, to the opportunity to show and receive feedback on my MOCs, to the chance to host my own contest, this site has given me so much. The roleplay, back in the day when it was still around, was great fun, and I do believe helped my writing, both in general, and on my posts. It was also the first thing on the forum that I was actively involved in. Showing my own creations here online, and getting feedback, pure awesome. And that is the one factor that I really believe helped me stave off a dark age. Being able to see in one place the huge selection of creations by other like minded builders has done nothing but inspire me to build, time after time.
Of course, probably the biggest thing Classic Castle has given me is the opportunity to meet and become friends with some truly great people, all who share my love of Lego. If I hadn't been a member of this site, I would never have gone to BrickCon, and I would have missed out on the experience of a lifetime. There have been many great chat conversations over the years, with many great people. I have gotten a chance that I once only dreamed about, a chance to talk in complete seriousness about the pros and cons of flesh coloured minifigures. I've met in person, and consider myself a friend to at least a dozen members here.
This website has helped me find a direction for my hobby as I became an adult, allowed me to meet many fellow fans, and opened me up to a much larger world of Lego. Classic Castle, thank you so much! I hope these past six years are only the beginning.
Dan
