Wow! Thanks, morningSIDEr.
When it comes to being a ReadAAR and fan, stnylan is my hero.
I'm sure what I'm about to say is part nostalgia and reputation, but for a very long time it seemed to me he lived here. It didn't matter what you were writing about or where you hid your AAR, he would find you and offer some meaningful comment. He believed, as do I, that comments fuel AARland. Yes, by all means we're gathered here because we enjoy the games, have at least some appreciation for history, and like to write about our accomplishments, but I've seen writers get discouraged and AARs fail because of lack of comments.
I think, on some level, we're all here to interact with each other. Otherwise, why post?
I am not stnylan. I don't think I have that kind of energy, and oft times my thoughts are too scattered to offer meaningful insight. I come here almost daily however, and try to find some AAR I can lose myself in for awhile. It's been almost seven years since I came here, years full of breathtaking heights and crushing sorrow. AARland is my solace, my reward for putting up with that 'other' world for another day, and sometimes even home.
I think being a fan means trying to 'give something back' to the community. It sounds almost cliche, but it's true. I think all our volunteers are great fans, as well as mod developers who find new and interesting takes on the world for us to try.
Some of our finest fans however, the people I admire and smile at whenever I see their names flash on my screen, are those who find a handful of AARs they care for and encourages our writers with meaningful feedback. Ultimately I think it's about finding ways to make AARland a welcoming place for newcomers to join and veterans to settle.
I'll carry this award around with honor this week, for it's our fans that holds AARland together.