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From One Year To The Next...
7 years ago
As you all know, 2017 went belly up, being replaced by 2018. This will be a journal reflecting on what 2017 was for me, as well as what I expect for 2018, and other things I'd like to bring up.
About 2017:
While 2017 has been an overall improvement from 2016, there was still lots that could've been improved on, both in my personal life and in the state of our world.
I had to leave my job at Stop & Shop due to medical issues doing carriages, as well as dysfunctional supervisors in the Front End. (I should've never been moved to the Front End to begin with.) I have still yet to find a new job somewhere. However, leaving was for the best. Had I stayed, my health would've gotten even worse for as long as they were to keep me on carriages, but neither the supervisors nor management would care enough to move me out of the Front End, so I was left with no other choice but to give notice and leave.
Matt Adey (a.k.a. "Danruk Rooface", in the furry community) was arrested back last March for sexual assault and statutory rape on a teenage boy. On December 21st, he was officially sentenced to 17 years in prison. I was completely stunned and outraged when I learned about what he had done. I was especially shocked to find out he had this secret life of molesting minors. This was someone I knew since 2011, and never, I repeat NEVER would suspect he would do something like this. He's been in this fandom longer than I have, and was staff at Anthrocon since its beginnings in 1997. Up until this news went public, he had a clean reputation. Now, it's tainted. And it's not just his own reputation he flushed down the toilet. The rest of the furry community would be at risk of having their reputation go down with his. The Nashua Telegraph picked up on this case and mentions his involvement with the fandom. Here's some screenshots of an article on this case by the Nashua Telegraph:
https://imgur.com/IEdMpW2
https://imgur.com/CqqKt2j
https://imgur.com/al8J9fq
https://imgur.com/66kdMO8
https://imgur.com/Y0ShZU4
While the article doesn't try to damage our community's image, readers of this article could get the impression that this is what our fandom does. There's no place in this fandom for actions Danruk has done. Accordingly, I am deleting all content in my gallery featuring Danruk. This includes art and photos. I am also removing him from my watch list.
My depression was at its worst in 3 years. I thought summer was gonna clear my depression away, especially since leaving S&S. The heat was no help. It wasn't until the beginning of August that it started reducing away.
As for the rest of the world, we all know about the horrendous events that happened in Charlottesville, Las Vegas, etc. Our country is still very politically divided. We may have a lame duck president in office, but I'm more worried about what our citizens are doing. Sigh...More fuel to be cynical.
Now that I've stated the bad things about 2017, let's talk about what was good about it.
I attended Anthro New England, Anthrocon, both Micro Fur Cons, and FurPocalypse (single day only, though). All of them, great conventions, as expected. I was especially pleased to meet Charlie Adler at AC! Other celebs I met this year are Jim Cummings (first time meeting him since 2014), Billy West (twice), Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli, Mike Maronna, Dana Simpson, and Jonah Ray (MST3K)!
I completed my art project, AHL MAX. I've gotten some positive feedback regarding this project, including compliments on my idea for the Texas Stars mascot. A collage of all the gallety's pics can be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/24804642/
Well, that's all I'm gonna talk about regarding 2017. Now, onto 2018!
About 2018 And What To Expect:
With the state the furry community was in, I had thoughts of taking a vacation from this fandom. Others I've talked to about taking this break because of current issues in this community suggested I should. However, I felt I would be evading the problem without fixing it, rather than stepping in and solving it. Therefore, no vacation from this fandom at this time. I would like to do whatever I can to make this community better. That being said, I can't do everything on my own to make it better. Others should join in on making it better. This is OUR community. What our community is is what we make of it.
Besides, I have plans for things involving this fandom in the near future. My More Fur Less fursuit should arrive soon. I have ANE to attend. I have plans to visit Pine Fur Con. I have upcoming key announcements regarding PaWS. Now wouldn't be an appropriate time to take a break.
New job? Well, we don't know yet. I'm still applying for certain places. Only one way to find out if I get a new job this year or not. Despite a relatively thin budget, I'm not in financial danger, however.
There's plenty of optimism for the new year. At least, I expect it'll be better than 2017, in terms of my personal life. I don't expect perfection. I'm also certain there'll be more scary events happening in our world. However, I do aim to make 2018 as great as it can be for myself, and for others. Effort like this can define 2018 the way I'd like it defined. There's optimism because I plan to make it better. If 2018 becomes an improvement over 2017, than I'm looking forward to experiencing this year. All this being said, we won't know for certain what 2018 will be like until we lived through it. Let's just wait and see what happens.
Here's wishing all a Happy 2018, but also encouragement to make 2018 the best year it can be!
About 2017:
While 2017 has been an overall improvement from 2016, there was still lots that could've been improved on, both in my personal life and in the state of our world.
I had to leave my job at Stop & Shop due to medical issues doing carriages, as well as dysfunctional supervisors in the Front End. (I should've never been moved to the Front End to begin with.) I have still yet to find a new job somewhere. However, leaving was for the best. Had I stayed, my health would've gotten even worse for as long as they were to keep me on carriages, but neither the supervisors nor management would care enough to move me out of the Front End, so I was left with no other choice but to give notice and leave.
Matt Adey (a.k.a. "Danruk Rooface", in the furry community) was arrested back last March for sexual assault and statutory rape on a teenage boy. On December 21st, he was officially sentenced to 17 years in prison. I was completely stunned and outraged when I learned about what he had done. I was especially shocked to find out he had this secret life of molesting minors. This was someone I knew since 2011, and never, I repeat NEVER would suspect he would do something like this. He's been in this fandom longer than I have, and was staff at Anthrocon since its beginnings in 1997. Up until this news went public, he had a clean reputation. Now, it's tainted. And it's not just his own reputation he flushed down the toilet. The rest of the furry community would be at risk of having their reputation go down with his. The Nashua Telegraph picked up on this case and mentions his involvement with the fandom. Here's some screenshots of an article on this case by the Nashua Telegraph:
https://imgur.com/IEdMpW2
https://imgur.com/CqqKt2j
https://imgur.com/al8J9fq
https://imgur.com/66kdMO8
https://imgur.com/Y0ShZU4
While the article doesn't try to damage our community's image, readers of this article could get the impression that this is what our fandom does. There's no place in this fandom for actions Danruk has done. Accordingly, I am deleting all content in my gallery featuring Danruk. This includes art and photos. I am also removing him from my watch list.
My depression was at its worst in 3 years. I thought summer was gonna clear my depression away, especially since leaving S&S. The heat was no help. It wasn't until the beginning of August that it started reducing away.
As for the rest of the world, we all know about the horrendous events that happened in Charlottesville, Las Vegas, etc. Our country is still very politically divided. We may have a lame duck president in office, but I'm more worried about what our citizens are doing. Sigh...More fuel to be cynical.
Now that I've stated the bad things about 2017, let's talk about what was good about it.
I attended Anthro New England, Anthrocon, both Micro Fur Cons, and FurPocalypse (single day only, though). All of them, great conventions, as expected. I was especially pleased to meet Charlie Adler at AC! Other celebs I met this year are Jim Cummings (first time meeting him since 2014), Billy West (twice), Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli, Mike Maronna, Dana Simpson, and Jonah Ray (MST3K)!
I completed my art project, AHL MAX. I've gotten some positive feedback regarding this project, including compliments on my idea for the Texas Stars mascot. A collage of all the gallety's pics can be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/24804642/
Well, that's all I'm gonna talk about regarding 2017. Now, onto 2018!
About 2018 And What To Expect:
With the state the furry community was in, I had thoughts of taking a vacation from this fandom. Others I've talked to about taking this break because of current issues in this community suggested I should. However, I felt I would be evading the problem without fixing it, rather than stepping in and solving it. Therefore, no vacation from this fandom at this time. I would like to do whatever I can to make this community better. That being said, I can't do everything on my own to make it better. Others should join in on making it better. This is OUR community. What our community is is what we make of it.
Besides, I have plans for things involving this fandom in the near future. My More Fur Less fursuit should arrive soon. I have ANE to attend. I have plans to visit Pine Fur Con. I have upcoming key announcements regarding PaWS. Now wouldn't be an appropriate time to take a break.
New job? Well, we don't know yet. I'm still applying for certain places. Only one way to find out if I get a new job this year or not. Despite a relatively thin budget, I'm not in financial danger, however.
There's plenty of optimism for the new year. At least, I expect it'll be better than 2017, in terms of my personal life. I don't expect perfection. I'm also certain there'll be more scary events happening in our world. However, I do aim to make 2018 as great as it can be for myself, and for others. Effort like this can define 2018 the way I'd like it defined. There's optimism because I plan to make it better. If 2018 becomes an improvement over 2017, than I'm looking forward to experiencing this year. All this being said, we won't know for certain what 2018 will be like until we lived through it. Let's just wait and see what happens.
Here's wishing all a Happy 2018, but also encouragement to make 2018 the best year it can be!
