Looking in from the outside

[Buffalobiian]

Not long after I got broadband, I downloaded an anime series subbed by AnimeOne. After watching the first season, I frantically searched the internet for where Aone announces their releases for the second season eps - which is the now abandoned http://aonefans.blogspot.com .

During that hunt, I came across Gotwoot. It wasn't the main nor sole way to announce Aone's releases back then, so I didn't take much notice after an initial browse. I did, however, post a technical question before I left, seeing the effectiveness of the peer-driven support section.

Then I went overseas for a holiday, where my relative who had unlimited internet asked me to pick and set up a new computer for him. It was then I remembered this site and took my chance to download (almost) everything I saw on the torrent page. It took a while, and my poor relative must have gotten quite the shock when she got her electricity bill . She was a thrifty user.

I got home, and in a matter of months, finished everything. Thirsting for more, I once again visited Gotwoot. By then it was the mainstream, and soon to be the sole way of announcing Aone's subs. Logging in for the first time in 6 months, I browsed the forums for the most popular and well discussed anime at the time. After downloading and watching, I became the weakly (Freudian slip, but I'll leave it in) anime watcher you see now.

Back then, I most prominently remembered the heated Claymore discussions. Like Ryll, I was careful at first. In a different manner, I tried not to tread on anyone's toes, mainly by using less "absolute" language. (Cookie goes to whoever finds my very first nooby post )



Back then, Ryll had already developed his style of encyclopedia-standard posts.

-Likewise, Kraco's and Comp's were also well received.

-Assertn was AssertnFailure back then, and you wouldn't guess how long it took for me to work out Bud and Munsu weren't two different people.

-The mods were a lot more active too, like NM, masa and Assassin.

-KitKat was already in retirement, but everybody cheered whenever she popped in.

-Shinta|hikari had his fire back then, he was posting everywhere.

-Xan back then is much the same as he is now. You didn't find him in the Anime section.

-BoC was funny. Really funny. He's softened up a bit now.

-Ani and Python pissed everyone off. No one liked them, and it showed in their rep.

I didn't do much browsing before I joined, but I too lurked a lot after I did. I actually used the daily email system to keep track of the posts, signing in only when necessary to ask a question or two. I only stopped when the emails got out of hand, and then it took some time before I started answering questions.

I joined Gotwoot because of AnimeOne, and now it's a place I've invested hours in and hope to spend many more. <insert artificial tear here>