Time for a change
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:34 pm
I have been involved with the ZAFur forum right from the start and even before that. (I remember you, FurrySA!) It will probably seem strange to many of the newer furs but, back then, there basically wasn't a furry fandom in South Africa; at most, we thought there were one or two dozen furs. The forum provided almost the only space for South African furs to get together and it's been great watching it grow from just a handful of furs to hundreds of registered members, and the wider South African furry community has spread to many places. So many furs have found the fandom through the forum, made friends, fallen in love and, sadly, some now exist only in our memories.
Sometimes I've thought of the forum a bit like my baby; albeit a baby with probably three fathers. It was a combination of my idea to make a directory to bring all the South African furs together, Keita's preference for a forum and Anoyomouse's blog. That was all nearly thirteen years ago. If the forum were a baby, it might be in high school by now! Similarly to raising a baby, running a website is wonderful, stressful and tiring. I love the forum and have put a huge amount of time and effort into it but, as of late, I have not had the same passion and energy as I used to have. So, from the end of the month, I will be stepping down from the ZAFur administration team.
One wouldn't normally hand pre-teen over to new parents because you've lost your drive for parenting but the forum isn't a child, so at this point the metaphor breaks down and we can abandon it. Ivic has indicated that he wants to keep running the forum, so I will be handing it fully over to him. He will, of course, be assisted by Adagio and Trace and whoever else he decides to bring on board. It might be tough to see different choices being made but I trust Ivic and no one can question all he has done for the South African furry fandom. Perhaps different choices are needed, and I am sure he will have the forum's best interests at heart while finding a path which maintains the historical value of the ZAFur forum and helps to reenergise it. I wish him the best of luck.
Lastly, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone. I am extremely grateful to all the current and former staff with whom I've had the pleasure to work but the forum is a community effort; built by the posts of hundreds of furs. I thank each and every one of you. This is not one of those dramatic posts about how I am leaving the fandom, it's just a reevaluation of my priorities. It's been an amazing journey so far, one which I hope will continue for many more years but, perhaps, with a little less stress.
Sometimes I've thought of the forum a bit like my baby; albeit a baby with probably three fathers. It was a combination of my idea to make a directory to bring all the South African furs together, Keita's preference for a forum and Anoyomouse's blog. That was all nearly thirteen years ago. If the forum were a baby, it might be in high school by now! Similarly to raising a baby, running a website is wonderful, stressful and tiring. I love the forum and have put a huge amount of time and effort into it but, as of late, I have not had the same passion and energy as I used to have. So, from the end of the month, I will be stepping down from the ZAFur administration team.
One wouldn't normally hand pre-teen over to new parents because you've lost your drive for parenting but the forum isn't a child, so at this point the metaphor breaks down and we can abandon it. Ivic has indicated that he wants to keep running the forum, so I will be handing it fully over to him. He will, of course, be assisted by Adagio and Trace and whoever else he decides to bring on board. It might be tough to see different choices being made but I trust Ivic and no one can question all he has done for the South African furry fandom. Perhaps different choices are needed, and I am sure he will have the forum's best interests at heart while finding a path which maintains the historical value of the ZAFur forum and helps to reenergise it. I wish him the best of luck.
Lastly, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone. I am extremely grateful to all the current and former staff with whom I've had the pleasure to work but the forum is a community effort; built by the posts of hundreds of furs. I thank each and every one of you. This is not one of those dramatic posts about how I am leaving the fandom, it's just a reevaluation of my priorities. It's been an amazing journey so far, one which I hope will continue for many more years but, perhaps, with a little less stress.