An Ode to FG – 15th Anniversary Special

Congratulations to Fangathering on turning 15 years old! To many of us it has become a home and we asked you all to share your reflections from the past 15 years, snippets of which can be found below. A very special thank you to MichaelM for hosting the site and looking after it no matter what, from day one!

“I often just open the site just to take a look at the banner, because it feels like home. And it was home to me for a few years. I could always come here to vent or to just chat and have fun with my friends, and I feel like I still can, if I manage to log on at the right time of day. I remember staying up late at night, chatting with in the shout-box until my parents would come into my room and tell me to go to sleep.

“In general, FG means a lot to me. I made friends here and fell out of contact with them. But when I come back here, even just to take a quick peek, I feel like we’re all still in 2010 chatting away at 2 am.”

Josephine Fowl

“I kind of see FG as my coming of age story, really, because I learned so much here and it wasn’t until later in high school that the site became less active. Then I went to college and now I’m a Real Adult ™ so I don’t come on here very much anymore. But when I do, I am struck with nostalgia. I grew up here. I can leaf through the pages of this forum (good, bad, poignant, and cringe) and I can see the story of my childhood written in.

“That’s why no matter how busy I am, I still end up coming back here. It’s like coming back to my roots in a way. The homepage is so familiar that it’s comforting. I used to rush onto this site every day, first website on the computer, to see what everyone was up to and if it was my turn to post in an RP yet.

“Though I’m getting all nostalgic now, I have to say, I much prefer our grown up selves to those childlike days, although I cherish those memories. It makes me so proud to see how far we’ve all come.”

HollyShort9

“This place showed me what it was like to have friends who actually wanted me around. It gave me a place to be myself and pour out all my stupid, teenage thoughts and feelings (and now, my stupid, adult thoughts and feelings). It taught me that I love planning and making and doing things that make people happy, and gave me the chance to do so.

“FG is something special. I don’t think there are many communities like it still kicking around, these days. Thanks for letting me be a part of it all.”

Battery

“Fangathering feels like an old old friend; the kind of friend who never makes you feel bad for forgetting to stay in touch, the kind of friend who always has a place set for you at the dinner table, the kind of friend who is always ready for last minute plans and late night chats, the kind of friend who never judges you but always tells you what you need to here.

“Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey along the way. I am so genuinely grateful for everyone who I have met via FG. I heartily hope for another 15 good years and I love this place.”

Cabaline

“I can barely remember joining, FG has been a part of my life for a long time. It’s an online home. Like for many, this was a place for me to grow up online. I made lifelong friends, practiced my English, I learned about rp’ing, shared my thoughts and had a place to vent, discovered parts of my identity and talents… I’m so glad I can still return here, again and again.

“There are few sites like this, with such a lovely and kind community. I’m glad to have been a part of it, even if I joined after its peak years. I still remember joining late-night chats (because of timezones) on the little browser on my Nintento DSi and everytime I hear ‘Raise Your Glass’ by P!nk on the radio, I think of FG.”

Iris

“I have so many brilliant memories of chatting on the sb until 9pm (past my bedtime!) and so many other things. This was one the first times I was able to share my thoughts on my favourite books with other people who cared as much as I did and that is so special to me.

“I’m not good enough with words to express how much this website means to me, but believe me, it’s a lot!”

AFRules12