Some reflections after 15 years, and in memoriam

[der meister 3,248]

               Fifteen years, eh? That's a long time, and it makes me feel old knowing that I've been a part of this community for the better part of 10 of those years. I kind of zoned out since that last sentence, thinking about how much my own life has changed over that time, and how much it will change in the next ten. Before I continue, I want to preface the following paragraphs with the statement: I'm writing from the perspective of my memories, and as such, there may be some factual inaccuracies.

 

               I've mentioned before that I delayed in joining the VHL for several seasons after first learning of it, mostly because of the reputation the league had at the time of being 'elitist'. The reputation wasn't entirely undeserved, as at the time, the amount of TPE a media spot earned depended on the quality of the work, and ultimately the grade it received from the Media Review Team. I like to think of myself as a capable writer, so I wasn't particularly worried about that for myself, but it definitely felt very exclusionary. Over time, the rules on this have eased up considerably, and the league feels much more accessible for non-native English speakers. A significant positive.

              

               I honestly don't remember quite what the update procedure was when I started, but I do remember my initial reaction to the VHL App: hatred. I hated the idea of more of the community not being present on the actual site [a special middle finger to Discord goes here]. The navigation of it also felt somewhat obtuse, which certainly led to some frustration. With a little more development and some more experience on my end, the App has become one of the biggest positives of the VHL. Submitting tasks for TPE and then applying those points, checking stats and standings, and now even Trivia being centrally-located is fantastic, especially when comparing to the archaic updating procedures on Other Leagues, which feel like they are straight out of mid-90s BBS systems.

              

               I hate to end this piece on a downer, but I would be remiss not to mention a few people who have unfortunately left us, some of which I had more interaction with others. I suppose it's good to keep the limits of life in mind when enjoying hobbies, because as wrapped up as we all get in the results of fake hockey, there are real people behind the usernames, people who deserve to be remembered. I also want to apologize for anyone I miss:

                            

                              - The first person who comes to mind is 701, David Theusch. I had the most direct interaction with 701, even remotely giving him computer support many years ago, which he eventually threw some money my way for [along with some of my SHL bank cash]. I used that money to buy Bloodborne for PS4, and to this day I can't play that game without thinking of 701. He could be brash and over-the-top, but his enthusiasm for sim hockey and for living life were unparalleled.

 

                              - I had fewer interactions with Emi, but they were memorable nevertheless. When I first started toying around with the idea of having a Persona 5 character as my next player, my initial plan was to have Joker as a playmaking center, using the name that he has in the anime, Ren Amimaya. Emi was quick to cut in with approval of the idea, but said that his proper name is Akira Kurusu, because that's his name in the manga. She always struck me as having a razor-quick wit, and I regret never having been on the same team.

 

                              - Finally, Fredrik Elmebeck, a user who I don't recall having any interactions with, so all I have to go on is the memories of others, who I recall describing him as a brilliant conversationalist and a very talented musician. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he was a positive member of this community, and is honored as such with the Frederick Elmebeck Memorial Trophy.