Yeah, yeah, we passed the birthday et-cetera, but!
In the last few days, I've heard a lot of people say things about fellow Matazonians that, without this forum, obviously wouldn't have happened - it just seems like this forum has had a tremendous impact on the lives of its posters, so I want to know, individually, what has the effect been on you?

I clearly whittled away a lot of my high school years in iRC learning about different musics and things like that. A lot of my favorite bands today have actually been those I learned of because of you people. I also (and don't wince at this..) started smoking because of Matazone, mostly to be involved in the various smoke breaks people were going off on. Dayan certainly has impacted my life to an insane and untouchable degree, as have my friendships with Candice, InKy, Rachel, LoLo, Oni, etc., and Mata has given me some of the best advice and put perspective on things I never would have thought of before.

So, in short, I can confidently say I would not be who I am without this place. I love it, I love the people, I'm just a happy syuu because of it.

How about you?

Let's see...it started out as a way to stay sane during my unemployment months. I loved being here and being dorky, sticking marshmallows up my nose and documenting it, etc.

I made great friends here and really opened up with meeting people on the internet in person. All the cool people I met here made me expand my world by being great enough that I had to make it possible for me to get over my fear of flying and go to England. Not to mention of course giving me a place to crash while I was out there which made my trips more of something I could do.

This place brought back together some of my old friends like candice, and oxymoronical, and brought them to meet my new friends like syuu, inky, mata, missy, cheese, and many many more. I'm sure I'll have forgotten people, so I'll stop it there.

I'm hoping that now that I'm going to finally become a grown-up soonish, I can return the favor for couching it for other Matazonians that I would trust to crash on my couch when I finally move out. It's always nice to expand your world, and stuff like that just makes it so much easier to do so.

I'm sure I'm babbling now, so let's just end this here, even though I'm sure I'm missing plenty of other things that Matazone has caused to change my life.

Well for me Matazone was actually the first forum I'd ever joined so it opened up the world of internet friends to me (which now turned me into an internet addict you gits! ). It's been a good place to escape to since I've been here and I've met some really amazing people who mean alot to me and would be alot worse off not having them as friends and I got one of the best birthday presents because of you guy for my 30th.
Change wise I'm not sure it's anything big or obvious but it has changed me, I think it's made me open up a bit more personal not so much in person but alot more when I'm on the the net.

Well, I was pretty young when I joined, so I think this place made me mature a bit. I've pretty much stopped calling things "retarded" or "gay", because I realized how stupid and childish it made me sound. I've also learnt lots of things I probably wouldn't have if this place didn't have all the adults it does. O, an i don typ lyk dis nemore.

And then there's all the entertainment from CM I wouldn't have if I never joined.

These forums have always been a great place to while away the time and blow off some steam. I've met some tremendous people here - some still present, some long gone, all of whom know who they are - and like to think I've got some friends for life, which seems all the more likely given my reception here upon my return after a few comp-less years in the wilderness.

For my part, I hope I've given the people here as much pleasure as you've given me. The good people have always outnumbered the arseholes (a grand statement for an internet forum - not many can boast such a favourable ratio), and I feel proud to have been part of the fun since the early years.

It's perhaps not changed me fundamentally as a person, but it's been an important part of me for several years now. The memories and the friendships that I take away from this place are what keep me coming back.

Um.

Has anyone not had matazone change their life?

It's not that everyone's not wonderful here. I think this is a crazycool place, but I am shy. So it seems like everyone has these awesome individual friendships (mostly, not to be weird, but the IRC peeps) and I am sort of saying 'hello I am here' over at the side of the room. I am not shy in real life, though, I am just internet shy.

So no, my life hasn't really been changed, but matazone was/is a neato place to go where there weren't/aren't lame-ass suburban teenagers moaning about how their parents think they smoke too much pot all over the place. Which is ill! Thanks!

I can't imagine what things would be like now if I hadn't had anything to do with the Matazone forums. (For one thing, I wouldn't be hungover today with aching teeth where Wytukaze accidentally headbutted me, last night, whilst dancing to Pendulum with CheeseMoose and Witless at a metal club in Camden for Witless's birthday!)

I wouldn't have had a street teaming buddy to help me out at a Cord, Clear Lake and The Crimea gig at Norwich Arts Centre, if I hadn't met Snoo here.
I would have never gone on IRC (I didn't even know what IRC was, and I still don't understand how it works) if Snoo hadn't prompted me to (after getting to know her better by meeting up for that gig) and so I wouldn't have got chatting to Novander, Witless, Moosh, Gothic Angel, LoLo, Cath, Ange, Gothic They Say, Oni, Wytukaze, Cand and Moop (and more recently Spoon and Syuu).
I wouldn't have posted up my friends' music myspace, which wouldn't have prompted Mr Teapot to message me and have a two hour conversation which made each of us go "oh my, this person is awesome"... and so we wouldn't have met up and exchanged jaffacakes, books and beer (and ended up going out).
I also wouldn't have met Froggy through Mr Teapot. Out of many amazing Matazonians who have actively changed my life, she seems to have done it the most and gave me a leg up when I moved to London. She's like the big sister my big sister should have been She also introduced me to The Space Hijackers when I was living in Paris- another group of wonderful people who have changed my life.
I wouldn't have met Novander and Wytukaze at Snoo's 21st birthday pub crawl.
I wouldn't have got into a relationship with Wytukaze. I also wouldn't have moved to London, got a house and two (plus one) cats with him either.
I wouldn't have a bag of pants I still need to give out from the armpit and leghair growing competition from October >_< (nor would I have a gorgeous orange pentapus named Octy)
I wouldn't be all excited right now about having Evil Spoon coming over to stay in June!

I wouldn't be as grounded, open minded nor mentally balanced as I am now, if it wasn't for you incredible lot. Having Mata come up to me, the first meet I went to, and asking "how are things?" made me realise that even when my life seems to be the sh**iest it could possibly be, there's a group of people who will always be there for me. (I also silently said "SQUEE!")

Also, I can now say that I went to Cand and Ste's wedding dressed as a rainbow
I feel so proud to be a part of this lot, and I am proud of the way the forums have changed my life. I really wouldn't be the person I am now if it wasn't for all of you, and I am incredibly grateful for the friendships I have made.

Well, for a start I wouldn't know be sitting in a room in a house with Wytukaze and Daria, using Daria's laptop to post this, and I wouldn't have gone out last night for awesomeness at the Electric Ballroom for Witless's birthday.

I wouldn't know all the awesome people I've become friends with from here, Becky, Jen, Emma, Izzy, Monty, and all the other awesome burritons and forumites.
I wouldn't be wearing the rather nice pants that I've got on, which were a christmas present from Emma.
I wouldn't have my current facebook profile picture from last summer at the Ben and Jerry's festival with snoo, Becky and Monty.
I wouldn't have had all the huge amounts of emotional support and advice and help that I've had when things have been a bit crap for me.
My lifestyle would currently be a fair bit different, if certain people had not been there at the right time to pull me out of the vicious circle of self-destruction and depression that I was inhabiting a couple of years ago.
And most of all, I wouldn't have each of the people on here that I care about, and that I know I can talk to and ask for help from, and who'll put up with my whinging and incompetence and immaturity, and even let me come and stay with them when I need to escape.

But it isn't just the people I've got to know well that I appreciate, the whole atmosphere of this place, a place that you can come and socialise and get to know people, but also ask for help and advice about anything, without being mocked or judged is very rare on the internet, and I for one count myself lucky that I stumbled across it.

Basically I have no idea what kind of person I'd be without the influences I've got from matazonians over the last few years, but I do know I'd be missing a load of very good friends. I just hope I manage to do as well for other people when they need it as they've done for me.

I just wouldn't be me. This place has helped me to grow and vent and realize that there are so many people out there experiencing similar things and - it may sound cliche - but I'm not alone. =)

In other words it has made me realize that it's okay to be yourself regardless of what the world thinks and that there are genuinely nice people out there.

I think part of the important thing about this place is it's welcoming, surporttive, imformative and helpfull but in a really fun and relaxed way. Your more likely to get someone say 'Ooo! tell me more about that.' for something you have going on with you that your not sure is right than someone go 'Ewww!' and then you just as likely in reply to that get someone go 'Oh! yeh I get that to have you tried ......?' and because of the people we tend to atracked it's likely to be a reasonablely well informed reply. For example The TMI thread I set up, it a damn silly thread we all know that. But there's still usefull stuff in there like Froggies way of removing period stains from pants. Just someone saying 'Oh! I had this happen to me today.' is enough for someone else to be able to go away and think 'Oh I'm not the only one then so I dont need to worry about that.'

It's a good place to be is all.

I think that's happened to many people on here. I use capital letters, punctuation, and sometimes even decent grammar because of this place.

It's true. Go back to your first post and try to read it without cringing. I know I can't.


Aside from making me who I am as a person today, Matazone's also allowed me to sort of watch myself grow up. A lot of my life experiences are pretty much due to being on Matazone. So, thanks Mata, for giving so many people the opportunity to make positive change in their life.

I would like you all to know that I had to stop reading this thread about halway through because I didn't want to start crying at my desk while at work

I'm now going to look at the TMI thread to remind myself how grimy you all are

I started off reading this thread thinking "well...not a lot really", but then that treacherous thing that is my memory started ticking...


I guess without Matazone, my life would have been significantly more sheltered than it is. Early on it was a huge boost to my self-confidence, what with one thing and another. I've not always been on my best behaviour and I've probably made a fool of myself on more than one occasion, but yeah, that's all part of life.

We've laughed, we've cried, we've loved, we've lost. It really has been emotional, hasn't it?

Edit: Oh, and the grammar, never forget the grammar!

I havn't been a member for that long but it's certaintly helped me to stop tlkng lyk tis all the time and it's given me someting better to do then finding things to break. That's about it though...oh and I've become more sure on the fact that our world is corrupt and we shall all die from pollution or from the U.S pissing off every country with threats about bombs and wars.

I can't say Matazone changed my life, but it did get me through some darker times. Well, I say that, but really it's the people in here that did that. Anywhere is only as good as it's inhabitants make it, and this place was made fantastic for me by the people. I got the chance to meet some great people on here which, unfortunately, I've not spoken to for a long time.

So I'd like to say to all these people, whether they come here or not, a massive thank you for all your friendship and help to me during those times. It was fun, it made my days much more bearable and I've never forgotten that.

Oh it's a reunion - may as well add my bit.

This place didn't change my life but it probably kept me sane for two years while I was working from home. I spent the best part of 13 hours per day either working or caring for a little one; that's a lonely place to be at times. So this place was my way of socialising. Thanks for that.

I'm back in the office now so I've kinda' drifted away back into the 'Real World'. S'not quite so much fun out here so it's still nice to check in from time to time to see what's what.

*falls off chair*

*Hugs Leo*

Chap! How the devil have you been! I've been wondering for years how you are getting on. I knew that these forums had been your shelter during the real-world storm, but I had always hoped you'd pop back in. It's put a big grin on my face to see you on here again. Aww! *hugs again*

And Eli - Fixing your grammar, check, making you sceptical about the future of the planet, check... That's pretty much exactly how this place is supposed to do, I suspect

Ah, I'm doing all right thanks Mata. Happily married, kids, decent job, nice place to live, and it's even sunny outside (and because I'm working at home I can take advantage of it ) so all is well in the land of Leo.

Actually, this place did change me in one way - being the first person to wear the mod pants gave me a level of power and self-esteem that still lives with me to this day. Although they're a bit tight these days!

Just found that whilst cruising old threads. Magical times for a Linguistics graduate such as myself, I can tell ya.

What gets you laid gets you laid, man.


I would have to say that this place got me through alot of the harder times in my life. Generally it was nice to be able to talk to somone about the stuff that was going on in my life, and really.. I didn't have alot of people that were worth while talking to in real life. Most of them were douche bags that just always went, "well... that sucks Steph. Wanna go get high now?"

Even negative feedback was better then being told to ignore every problem. So, that really helped alot.

I would like to think this place helped me preserve my sanity through all the bull sh*t that got thrown my way over the years. Luckily everything seems peachy keen now, and it's still nice to be able to wonder back here.

I also learned what a comma was, and other worldly grammar bits.

So my first thought was "how did I end up in this old thread?", but then I saw the post date and the first words to pop into my mind were "f*ck a duck". Good to see you're still alive and kicking!

That was, word for mallard-bothering word, my precise reaction to the news. These are exciting times.

No way Cap'n Kybosh! Linguistics? Internet high five?

/is going to McGill for Ling & Langs

/has nothing else to offer this thread

no joke:



also, what exactly does a linguistics graduate do?

Hey, Wytu isn't just a pretty face, you know. He's also a Linguistics and German student OhhHhhh, those bi-labial fricatives!

*goes off to take a cold shower*

Well, aren't we just a bunch of merry grammar fiends?

elph - I'll take that five up high. Many thanks.

syuu - on my evidence, a Linguistics graduate takes a lot of low-pay jobs in a variety of soul-numbing locations. Or teaches. There are many other things, such as speech therapy and certain branches of forensics (seriously - I did a seminar on it, and achieved a decent grade therein), but they take more time, effort and study than I can frankly be arsed with right now.

Daria - bi-labial fricative is perhaps the filthiest term in the cunning linguist's handbook. Shame it's basically a rasberry. I always liked 'schwa', though I did an essay on yod dropping that kept cracking me up into giggles. Seriously, 'yod dropping' - who names this rubbish?

Hahaha. I'm apparently "in a relationship with "Fullname Schwa" on Facebook. Oh yes.

You know who names this rubbish? The bar steward who is Chomsky (I like to blame him for everything, regardless of his involvement) and linguists who believe they have a sense of humour. Indeed.

I'm bad at this sort of thing >.>

If I never joined Matazone:

I wouldn't have grown up so open and sensible about sex and sexuality
I would have done stupid things to cope with my mum
I would never have met Beccles, Monty, James, Cath, Ste, cand, Snoo, Ryn, Matt, Sarah... the list goes on
I quite possibly would never have gone out with Guy
I wouldn't have a LGG felt toy on my wall or various SMEXy underwear
I wouldn't capitalise the word SMEX
I would have had nothing to shoot for when developiny personality growing up... or worse, I would have shot for something bad
I probably wouldn't have an almost pathological obsession with piercings, tatts and dreadlocks...
I wouldn't know Leon existed (the restaurant)

Meh... I could fill up about 80 posts with the effect MZ had on me. You guys are awesome

I've met some awesome people through Matazone. And through them I've met others. It's all good.

It's also had a moderating effect on me.... hard to explain but I think it made me less emotionaly immature...


... even if I'm still an idiot most of the time.

Well its made me happy! VERY!!!!

i dont know what i would have done with out this place all those years ago!

and not only have i met some of the best people EVER but it keeps me entertained when im bored too! LOL!

but really, im happy and its this places fault

Matazone has changed my life because in all honestly if I hadn't found it when I did I may well not be here today. When I found this place I was going through a really hard time, I had gotten moved away from all my friends, kicked out of my dream middle/high school, tossed into highschool as a freshmen not knowing anyone, and had decided that I didn't want to be part of the world anymore and wasn't leaving my house other then to go to school. I found this place and suddenly I had people to talk to, friends who actually cared what happened to me even though they'd never actually met me face to face. My life turned around, slowly, but none the less. I met awesome people, like Cheese, Lolo, Steph, Ri, Dayan, Aries, Irish, and the list goes on and on. I got out of my house to go to a MataMeet in Sacramento and actually got to meet some people and that was what rocketed me back into RL, after that I started going out again and meeting people in my area and living again. So yeah, this place changed my life a lot and I'm glad for it. Thanks to ya'll, especially Mata for creating this place.

~Shelly/Wolfie

Now that, if anything, is a fantastic example of a life being changed for the better by an Internet forum. Now I can say to anyone who criticises; "Hey, I know someone who benefitted!"

Wolfie, I remember you from way back then, you weren't one of the more prolific posters (ie. not a spam monkey like me ), but I do remember you were a good person. I'm so glad to hear that you've seen this for yourself and you're back on track with your life. I hope everything goes well for you in the future.

And I can just picture Mata reading your post with tears welling...

I have to say, I love that Mata does take this so seriously, that a flash anim site has helped to shape the courses of the lives of others and he really (as he usually does) understands the level of impact his art has had. Every accomplishment or downfall, we have all been there for each other in a way that is altogether selfless. This place is like a family in that we all love each other so much unconditionally, regardless of what might be going on at the time. Even when terrible events occur, we all come back eventually, because none of us can ever let go of the sense of no-strings-attached acceptance that this place gives. I could say anything here and feel completely embraced, and that is something many people go their entire lives without.

For the person who started this all to shrug it off or not say much would be understandable, but Mata does what he always has - he takes it one step further and expresses that he knows how much we love this place and love him for creating it, and that is a remarkable quality in another human being.

So thanks again, Mata. /me tips hat

The feeling is mutual. This place has provided a wonderful sense of stability, friendship, and family for me. I've said it many times before, but it's worth reiterating: it wouldn't be the way it is without the goodwill and generosity of spirit shown by the people who gather here.

I put rules in place and some initial guiding work to the attitude I wanted to nurture. A few years before I started this site I had been going through a very low patch and friends online had been a very significant daily part of getting me through it. I wanted to make it easier for others to find that kind of support if they needed it. That's not just about helping people with the serious things in life, it's also about getting people to expand their knowledge - I genuinely believe that learning and new experiences make you happier, so I wanted a place where others could come and hear new opinions, or about new media (music, films, books, etc) that they might not have found otherwise. I wanted a place where less-common and accepting attitudes towards sexuality could sit alongside the more common ones, to the benefit of both... And I wanted all this to be optional, so if you just wanted to have a laugh with people who could express themselves fluently then you would always be welcome.

I poured those intentions in, but it's all of you who I think wanted the same thing that made it happen. I think that the people who have stayed, or who keep coming back, all have the same ideal of what friendships online can be - something real, meaningful, and that will always be there.

Wolfie, it's stories exactly like yours that makes me so proud of everyone here. *hugs*

*welled up*

Being here has taught me a lot about myself. And though I'm not glued to my keyboard anymore, refreshing 'new posts' I still feel a strong tie with the forum. By forum I mean forumites. Met people who've had entirely differant upbringins o me and actually formed friendships. You folks, most of you in all honesty whom I don't speak to any more. Won't deny you've all provoked me. And inspired me. Lo, I think more than you will ever know. I keep in sporadic contact with people, it just good to know in the back of my mind that I can always slip back and you'll be here. -As a whole. Provoking me about things I do want to learn more about, and those things I find uncomfortable. Sillyness is such a great respite from moroseness that goes on for months and months.

I'm not sure how to put how I have changed by being a member, but I know I wouldn't have been to so many RL places in England and Scotland.

I'mma sluch away again now

PS: Mata- you're safe you are, or, the dog's bollox -whichever one dun't get me warned

A memory returns from the mists...

I was standing at the bar in the pub in Brum that housed a fair portion of the first official MataMeet, watching over a table of very happy people. At this point I turned to Mata and pointed out to him that every person sat there was a direct result of his website.

The poor lad looked a little alarmed at the concept, it has to be said. I gave him a hug - it was an emotional event, and I was more than a little drunk.

I was just thinking dear lordy lord it's been 5 years since I joined this forum with you bunch of reprobates () and I can't believe how time has flown by!

I'm sure Matazone has taught me stuff but I'll be damned if I know what in a few easy sentences. Some things I could talk about, some I couldn't I guess there are some people on this board, you know who you are, that are really special to me and I'm chuffed to have met you through this wonderful WWW

I have some AMAZING times at the meets with several wonderful people and even putting up with InKy hasn't been too difficult (you slaaaaaag!).

A big high five to you all for making this place so warm and welcoming to those of us who only drop in every now and then because work keeps watching them

P.S. I may be part time soon which means more time for Matazone and meets. Huzzah!

I think this place taught me more about love, loss, friendship, and IRC bots than practically anything else in my life.

Yeah, that'll do it.