How do I do this? Let’s drop the facade...lower the mask...let’s be human for a moment, not a username and profile pic...
And that’s not to say I’ve been fake. That’s not to say that in the many years I’ve spent on the lego message boards I haven’t been me. Because I have been me.
No, I just wanna be real, and human here for a second...down to earth...because I’m not overdramatizing this here...this...this sucks...this really hurts...I’m in college and I’m telling you that I feel like I’m about to cry, as I’m writing this in a note before posting it on the boards...
Because, wether you believe me or not, the truth is this is so difficult...like, how am I supposed to just say goodbye to a place and to the people that has/have had such an impact on my life? There’s so many thoughts, so many questions rushing through my head right now.
So I posted a retirement message once already...aren’t I overdoing it with a second one? I don’t wanna seem like I’m begging for attention here...
Do they even remember me? It’s been five months?
Where did everybody go?
Tad left? How could I have missed that?
Do I really want to do this? I mean, it’s hard to stay active, but really? There’s no turning back here. If I do this, I do this. No logging back on. No being semi active. I’m saying goodbye to people I’ve called my friends for so long...forever...REAL PEOPLE behind those screens, more than just usernames. That’s something I think we forget too often. That behind the username is a real person. This is it. This is final. No turning back. No changing my mind.
Look, I said I’m gonna be human with you guys for a second, so let’s do this...
I wish I could...I could just paint the perfect image for you guys of what this place means to me...of what this place is to me...
So...please...bear with me here as I try...
Hold on to something, this is gonna be a long one...multiple parts, so get those eye drops ready...
“I wanna be on there...I wanna join them...roleplay...write...I’ll have a cool username!” I used to think this to myself when I was younger. I started scrolling through the message boards sometimes. I didn’t have an account. So I would just scroll through, read some posts, and dream of being a member of the Lego Message Boards.
Then I made an account. I don’t remember exactly when, but it was a little before the launch of Nexo Knights. I saw some early revealed images of it and thought, “wow, that looks cool!”. So when the time came to make a username, Nexo81 was born.
It was a rough start. That’s for sure... I don’t deal well with people irl...I’m extremely shy. So I was, well, I was hesitant, to say the least. I had a few arguments, but they were short lived, whomever I was arguing with I would typically befriend shortly after. Misunderstandings. You know the deal. But friends, I made a lot of. Robin_Go (Tad), TheFlash123 (Stan), TheGreatCon, essaanimals (Essa), and so many others...
I started writing. I’ve always loved writing. I hope to be published one day. It was well received. I had some readers. I think I even made the Community Newsletter at one point...
I also joined a few RP’s, but they either went inactive, or I couldn’t keep up.
But I tried. Oh I tried. Almost every day I would be on. In the mornings. In the afternoons. In the evenings. Hard to believe now, am I right?
The LMB’s, you see, were so much more than just a message boards for me. They were a home. They were a family. I’ve been through a lot of struggles and a lot of hard times in my life, and I still am dealing with a lot of personal issues to this day, but the LMB’s were always there for me. Even on the worst days, just logging on to the LMB’s to see if so-and-so had responded yet, or to post a new part to a story, would cheer me up, even if it was just for 10 minutes.
I’ve never been good with people irl. I’m afraid of people, afraid of what people might think or say, so I’ve never been good at making friends irl, but the LMB’s? They were a place I could go any time and feel welcomed and accepted. A place where I could belong.
That...that was one of the worst days of my life...
I was miserable. But I learned to move on. Every now and again, I would feel a little nostalgic, so I would throw up a google search, on the slim hope that maybe the boards had reopened...
Then one day...I saw it. “The Lego Message Boards Eternal”. “It’s a joke,” I thought at the time, “a scam. It can’t be real.” I looked anyways, and when I saw my old friends on the LMBE’s I was a mix of excited jumping and almost sobbing tears of joy. I joined immediately. It was great. I made new friends. Even started writing some more (or tried to at least... ).
But life? Life hits hard. And don’t ever let anyone tell you different. I got busy. I started dealing with more issues in my life, especially with things like stress. I started going inactive. I almost disappeared off the boards completely. I didn’t have time to post...or I just didn’t think to. But I never forgot. So I tried to post a retirement message, at least say a proper farewell...but I got roped back in. I kept talking to people. I couldn’t leave. I didn’t want to say goodbye to all of my friends. But things were slowing down. My old friends were leaving. I was averaging only a few messages to respond to every couple days. Then it happened again. I disappeared, for another 5 months. I came back today, responded to some posts but...no...
I can’t keep this cycle going. I’m sorry. Saying goodbye...it hurts...but going inactive like this for months at a time, feeling bad for disappearing, then coming back only to see that more people have left and...whaddya know? 8 messages to respond to...that hurts more...
I need to do this...I need to bury this...I need to say goodbye...
I wish that my friends from the old MB’s who didn’t make it to these boards and my friends that did but have already left could see this, and know exactly the kind of impact they’ve had on my life.
So...thank you. Thank you to the LMB’s and the LMBE’s. Thank you to my friends. Thank you for being like a family to me, even though we’ve never met in real life. Thank you for being there for me in the hard times, even though you didn’t realize you were. Thank you for giving me a place to belong, to step out of my shell and be me with no fear of judgement for even just an hour out of the day.
But alas...we must come to a close. This is my story here on the LMB’s. The beginning. The middle. And now, finally, the end. And wherever you are in yours, wether it be here or in real life, I wish you all the best. And if you’re new here. If you’re just beginning your story in this amazing place...I say “welcome”. I encourage you to step out of your shell. Talk to some people. Make some new friends. Get involved with the community here. You won’t regret it. I promise.
And with that, it is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that I must say my farewells...it’s been a long road. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey with me. I will miss you all, and will never forget this place or the friends I have made here.
This is Nexo81...
…former member of the LMB’s and now...the LMBE’s...
I know we don't know each other, but we are somewhat acquainted for having talked in passing. Your leaving-message was moving and, what I believe, captures how many people feel about the LMBs, the transition to the LMBE and the experience here.
I'm not sure if I am qualified to do so, but I bid you a farewell, from another who wishes he could stay here forever.
It was a pleasure to have you as part of the LMB community, Nexo. I do remember seeing you around from time to time chatting with a lot of people.
Thanks for sticking around as long as you could, and I wish that the rest of your journey and adventures would be as awesome as the LMB journey was. You're always welcome to come back here at any time to say hi or to hang out with us if you have some spare time.
I know we don't know each other, but we are somewhat acquainted for having talked in passing. Your leaving-message was moving and, what I believe, captures how many people feel about the LMBs, the transition to the LMBE and the experience here.
I'm not sure if I am qualified to do so, but I bid you a farewell, from another who wishes he could stay here forever.
I regret that I didn’t get to know you more, but in the short time that I did know you, it was a pleasure.
It was a pleasure to have you as part of the LMB community, Nexo. I do remember seeing you around from time to time chatting with a lot of people.
Thanks for sticking around as long as you could, and I wish that the rest of your journey and adventures would be as awesome as the LMB journey was. You're always welcome to come back here at any time to say hi or to hang out with us if you have some spare time.
Thank you, it was a pleasure to be a part of the community!
I wish I could stick around longer, but I suppose all good things must come to an end at some point, huh?
It was a pleasure to have you as part of the LMB community, Nexo. I do remember seeing you around from time to time chatting with a lot of people.
Thanks for sticking around as long as you could, and I wish that the rest of your journey and adventures would be as awesome as the LMB journey was. You're always welcome to come back here at any time to say hi or to hang out with us if you have some spare time.
Thank you, it was a pleasure to be a part of the community!
I wish I could stick around longer, but I suppose all good things must come to an end at some point, huh?
Thanks for having me! Farewell, Gnuehchcaz!
You're welcome!
I guess so, as much as I wish things could last forever.
Post by ninjagofanmam on Feb 27, 2020 13:34:30 GMT
It kinda breaks my heart a little every time I see goodbye post or topic. Although I don't know you as well I would have liked to, it is still hard to see you go. The main characters of two stories on here are based off of you, that's pretty amazing. You must be an awesome friend.
I will admit, I don't fully understand yet why people leave, probably because I don't intend to do so myself. I have been miraculously fortunate though, many of the active and top users are my friends, and have been for awhile. A good number I actually met on the LMBs and Lego Galleries, and we've stayed in contact for a few years now. I do worry about losing contact with some of them in the future, but I'm also very hopeful, I plan to meet up with those I'm closest to someday IRL.
Goodbye Nexo, I hope you do well in whatever area of life you are going after.
How do I do this? Let’s drop the facade...lower the mask...let’s be human for a moment, not a username and profile pic...
And that’s not to say I’ve been fake. That’s not to say that in the many years I’ve spent on the lego message boards I haven’t been me. Because I have been me.
No, I just wanna be real, and human here for a second...down to earth...because I’m not overdramatizing this here...this...this sucks...this really hurts...I’m in college and I’m telling you that I feel like I’m about to cry, as I’m writing this in a note before posting it on the boards...
Because, wether you believe me or not, the truth is this is so difficult...like, how am I supposed to just say goodbye to a place and to the people that has/have had such an impact on my life? There’s so many thoughts, so many questions rushing through my head right now.
So I posted a retirement message once already...aren’t I overdoing it with a second one? I don’t wanna seem like I’m begging for attention here...
Do they even remember me? It’s been five months?
Where did everybody go?
Tad left? How could I have missed that?
Do I really want to do this? I mean, it’s hard to stay active, but really? There’s no turning back here. If I do this, I do this. No logging back on. No being semi active. I’m saying goodbye to people I’ve called my friends for so long...forever...REAL PEOPLE behind those screens, more than just usernames. That’s something I think we forget too often. That behind the username is a real person. This is it. This is final. No turning back. No changing my mind.
Look, I said I’m gonna be human with you guys for a second, so let’s do this...
I wish I could...I could just paint the perfect image for you guys of what this place means to me...of what this place is to me...
So...please...bear with me here as I try...
Hold on to something, this is gonna be a long one...multiple parts, so get those eye drops ready...
Hi Nexo, I don't think I have had the pleasure of meeting you before, I was on the old LMBs as well. Anyway, I would like to thank you for helping make this forum active.
It kinda breaks my heart a little every time I see goodbye post or topic. Although I don't know you as well I would have liked to, it is still hard to see you go. The main characters of two stories on here are based off of you, that's pretty amazing. You must be an awesome friend.
I will admit, I don't fully understand yet why people leave, probably because I don't intend to do so myself. I have been miraculously fortunate though, many of the active and top users are my friends, and have been for awhile. A good number I actually met on the LMBs and Lego Galleries, and we've stayed in contact for a few years now. I do worry about losing contact with some of them in the future, but I'm also very hopeful, I plan to meet up with those I'm closest to someday IRL.
Goodbye Nexo, I hope you do well in whatever area of life you are going after.
Thank you for your kind words, Ninjagofanmam! It’s heartbreaking to have to write these. I am honored and grateful that people have thought me a good enough friend to put me into their stories like they have. It’s something that honestly means a lot to me, and something that I honestly still don’t think I deserve...
I wish you luck with your adventures here on the LMBE’s, and hope that you are able to maintain those friendships! I also wish you all the luck in the world with publishing that story! From how excited and passionate you sounded about it, I’m sure you’ll do great as a writer!
It’s been a pleasure, ninjagofanmam! Good luck and farewell!
How do I do this? Let’s drop the facade...lower the mask...let’s be human for a moment, not a username and profile pic...
And that’s not to say I’ve been fake. That’s not to say that in the many years I’ve spent on the lego message boards I haven’t been me. Because I have been me.
No, I just wanna be real, and human here for a second...down to earth...because I’m not overdramatizing this here...this...this sucks...this really hurts...I’m in college and I’m telling you that I feel like I’m about to cry, as I’m writing this in a note before posting it on the boards...
Because, wether you believe me or not, the truth is this is so difficult...like, how am I supposed to just say goodbye to a place and to the people that has/have had such an impact on my life? There’s so many thoughts, so many questions rushing through my head right now.
So I posted a retirement message once already...aren’t I overdoing it with a second one? I don’t wanna seem like I’m begging for attention here...
Do they even remember me? It’s been five months?
Where did everybody go?
Tad left? How could I have missed that?
Do I really want to do this? I mean, it’s hard to stay active, but really? There’s no turning back here. If I do this, I do this. No logging back on. No being semi active. I’m saying goodbye to people I’ve called my friends for so long...forever...REAL PEOPLE behind those screens, more than just usernames. That’s something I think we forget too often. That behind the username is a real person. This is it. This is final. No turning back. No changing my mind.
Look, I said I’m gonna be human with you guys for a second, so let’s do this...
I wish I could...I could just paint the perfect image for you guys of what this place means to me...of what this place is to me...
So...please...bear with me here as I try...
Hold on to something, this is gonna be a long one...multiple parts, so get those eye drops ready...
Hi Nexo, I don't think I have had the pleasure of meeting you before, I was on the old LMBs as well. Anyway, I would like to thank you for helping make this forum active.
Farewell old chap!
Sadly, I don’t think we have met, but it’s always nice to see another former LMB user. There’s no need to thank me, as I am alas only one small part of a larger community, whom all deserve the credit for that. But it’s been a pleasure nonetheless to be a part of this community, and I hope that this place will continue to grow and expand long after I’m gone!
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” I know the feeling. The LMBs and then the LMBEs has been a home where I could escape the real world, cast aside fear of prejudices and to be myself, and it's here I've met my first real friends. You're a part of that home, even if you and I never interacted personally very often.
But, in the words from a certain popular LEGO theme here, "The past is in the past, but there is always the future"; you've grown from your experiences here, and I think they'll help encourage you to do great things with you life outside the computer. You've made an impact on many people here, so chances are you'll only continue to make great impacts on people anywhere and everywhere else. If leaving is what's best for you, so be it--don't be afraid to move on and do new things with your life.
Thanks for being a part of this family, Nexo. Very few people will be able to forget you.
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” I know the feeling. The LMBs and then the LMBEs has been a home where I could escape the real world, cast aside fear of prejudices and to be myself, and it's here I've met my first real friends. You're a part of that home, even if you and I never interacted personally very often.
But, in the words from a certain popular LEGO theme here, "The past is in the past, but there is always the future"; you've grown from your experiences here, and I think they'll help encourage you to do great things with you life outside the computer. You've made an impact on many people here, so chances are you'll only continue to make great impacts on people anywhere and everywhere else. If leaving is what's best for you, so be it--don't be afraid to move on and do new things with your life.
Thanks for being a part of this family, Nexo. Very few people will be able to forget you.
Thank you LordTigress! It was fun getting to chat with you in writer’s chat!
Thank you for having me as a part of this family! I will never forget any of you!
). 
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