End of a long Runner

I was one of the founders of the Rat Bastard clan in Clan Lord. My title is C.E.O. (Chief Emitter of Odors) and some of my clan mates are kind enough to flatter me by viewing me as the leader of the clan. Frankly, we're not organized enough to have a leader, and a group of good friends doesn't need one. Back in the early days of the clan, when I had a wee bit more initiative and a lot more free time, I hobbled together the Rat Bastard web pages, which actually used to live under the nosuch.org domain, believe it or not. It was my first foray into real web publishing mainly because it took the enthusiasm of my Clan Lord friends to motivate me into doing it. I was glad to do it for them, and it was fun.

But as a clan webmaster, I sucked. The pages were initially sufficient, but I didn't keep them current. The site was never designed to be maintained easily, and I hate labor. Dust started to settle. The clan joke for many months was "when the web pages are updated" became the equivalent to "when hell freezes over".

Finally a clan mate managed to pry my anal-rententive, control obsessed but frozen fingers from the web site. And it's been under his helm for many more months then I ever was on watch. He's done a better job than I ever did, committed to doing the work that helps us as a clan maintain our strong but silly identity. I have a lot of respect for that work he's done. I tried to do it, but didn't have the follow-through. On the web, follow-through is everything.

I bring this up, because everyone who plays Clan Lord knows what a great guy he is. I've had hours of fun in his virtual company, and I count him not just as a clan mate, but as a friend. His quiet but determined efforts on the clan site are a perfect example of his temperment.

Needless to say, I am very sad to see Runner retiring from Clan Lord. I tried to convince him to use his departure to advance some game design agenda, like saying he's quitting because the Zo pose for "lie" is "too cute" or something. He's got more integrity than I do, though, and truth be told he is leaving Clan Lord for sound personal reasons, which I respect. I've seen a few clan mates find great satisifaction and escape in Clan Lord, and suddenly leave so the could invest energy in actualizing changes in their real lives. This usually leads to a lot less time clanning for that person. Sometimes it means no more clanning at all. I'd be a selfish Bastard if I couldn't be happy for Runner for being ready to take that step. But I'd be a cold Bastard if I didn't say how sad I am to see him go.

There's always ICQ, there's always email, that's true. It is some comfort. And really, I'm not in that different a place then Runner. I don't clan that much any more. And the only reason I do clan is for my friends who are there. It's like going to a restaurant where your friends hang out, which has a great atmosphere but lousy food. There really isn't an online social spot quite like Clan Lord. And now that spot is just a little more empty, a little more lacking, with my good friend moving on.

Runner, Clan Lord will not be the same for me without you, but our friendship will always remain. I know you'll find satisfaction in your new ventures, and I wish you great happiness.

(With any luck, all this ass kissing will get him to keep being web master of the Rat Bastard site for a while...)
posted 12:30 PM | link |