Wonderful story about a great community..... - Edit 1
Before modification by Anonymous2000 at 04/02/2017 04:17:45 PM
Thanks for sharing. I am always amazed to hear such stories, this was such a great place. I am so happy that you had this community when you needed it!
By the way, how did Kory pass away? I know the name and some of the story, but I was only lurking at the time. Was he an admin?
It's always interesting to analyze why RAFO didn't make it. A few thoughts:
- Changing web technology (i.e. Facebook) - lots of folks moved to social media
- Fading quality of WOT, the passing of RJ, and the end of the series - even though the community grew beyond WOT, it still was the driving of new members
- Members growing up, so many members started while in college and 15 years later, are now adults, spouses, parents, etc.
But one thing to remember, WOT was past it's prime in 2009 when Mike ended it. Obviously, still plenty of members and traffic, but it's golden years had past.
View original postWhen I joined Wotmania it was right after Kory died and the outpouring of grief really made me realize that Wotmania was not just a website but a community. Myself, I was going through a devastating life change. My husband came out as gay and I lost my home, then he died and I lost my best friend. I was severely depressed. I lurked in Wotmania community board and chat for a while but eventually became more active especially in chat. I met some wonderful people who lifted me up, made me laugh, who shared their own struggles with me. I watched romances bloom and marriages happen between Wotmaniacs, now some of those folks have children and I can watch some of those children grow up on on FB. I had many late night chats with a friend as his health deteriorated and then a few with his mother after he passed.
View original postWotmaniacs were a diverse group who expanded my music, book libraries. As well as TV and movies. (I had never heard of Fireflie until Wotmania and now it is one of my favorite shows)
View original postThere were Wotmaniacs from almost if not all every country in the world, every color, religion, class, education. There were political and philosophical debates that broadened my mind.
View original postAfter Mike closed Wotmania Ben started RAFO and while I have never been very active here I am grateful that I had RAFO for a transition. I'm not sure why RAFO never made it as a community the way Wotmania was. I wish it had. I don't know if not having a chatroom was to blame or if it was facebook. Doesn't really matter but I can tell you that I for one have missed the community feeling Wotmania had and I really wish RAFO (through no fault of Bens) had been able to keep that community feeling alive. FB just ain't the same.
View original postLove and peace. Danu