Back in the mists of time, 8-10 years ago, when I first screwed up enough courage to actually post on the Wotmania Message Board - the then only Message Board, incidentally - down the bottom there was a post. "Why do you come to Wotmania" authored by Simon.
The post served as a safe place for newbies to post their first words, which would be acknowledged by Simon, flame-free, and having got past that giant hurdle unscathed, newbies would then launch themselves into mainstream discussion of who killed Asmodean, why is TMJ so damn sexy and Erica's choice of underwear; they could also enter into Fanatic posts (at their peril) and generally learn site etiquette.
Time passes. The Wotmania site grew creaky under the load of posts, and a new message board appeared. Strangely enough it was called CMB2.
Wishing to make my mark in this strange new land of Wotmania, when confronted with the blank space of CMB2, I waited the necessary nanoseconds that etiquette required, and posted a brand new "Why do you come to Wotmania" post on the brand new CMB. Howls of derision, scorn and distaste resulted from my ungentlemanly actions in pre-empting Simon's rights, and my site presence was established.
CMB3, CMB4, CMB5 and CMB6 followed in due course as the Wotmania site laboured under the weight of posts. on each I posted the requisite "Why do you come to Wotmania" post, which sat, at the bottom of the CMB.
With coming of RAFO, I posted the current "Why do you...." post; out of a need for continuity, and out of sheer mischief, I suppose.
I was never as good a steward as Simon had been, I freely admit. He is the Master, whereas I was simply an acolyte.
Over time, the post remained a safe haven for newbies; it also became a place where private jokes flourished, relationships blossomed, and latterly a place where returning site stalwarts could leave passing greetings if they lacked that certain arrogance required to create a post directly on the message board. It became, in a sense, a post that stayed the same on a site that was transforming itself into multiple message boards. A Poste Restante for passing old-timers, if you will.
Just as Mike Mackert moved on when he lost the need to know would Rand manage to survive the final battle with his entourage of wenches intact, I have moved on to a great extent. I still get email notification of new answers on the post. I still look at them. I answer those I feel the need to.
The post remains until either it is deleted, or Ben creates a second CMB when the current one gets too creaky for the servers to handle. It will re-appear at the bottom of the CMB when someone posts on it. That new post may mean nothing to you, or it may well mean a lot. Entirely up to you.
To me it means 8-10 years of coming to a place which interests me, whose denizens interest me, whose raison d’être interests me and whose history I honour. What started out as a place to discuss various story lines in Mr. Jordan's writings turned out to be a place where many friendships were forged, and a fair few marriages were founded. It is also a place where people can pour out their souls and receive a supportive hearing.
By the way, who actually did kill Asmo?
The post served as a safe place for newbies to post their first words, which would be acknowledged by Simon, flame-free, and having got past that giant hurdle unscathed, newbies would then launch themselves into mainstream discussion of who killed Asmodean, why is TMJ so damn sexy and Erica's choice of underwear; they could also enter into Fanatic posts (at their peril) and generally learn site etiquette.
Time passes. The Wotmania site grew creaky under the load of posts, and a new message board appeared. Strangely enough it was called CMB2.
Wishing to make my mark in this strange new land of Wotmania, when confronted with the blank space of CMB2, I waited the necessary nanoseconds that etiquette required, and posted a brand new "Why do you come to Wotmania" post on the brand new CMB. Howls of derision, scorn and distaste resulted from my ungentlemanly actions in pre-empting Simon's rights, and my site presence was established.
CMB3, CMB4, CMB5 and CMB6 followed in due course as the Wotmania site laboured under the weight of posts. on each I posted the requisite "Why do you come to Wotmania" post, which sat, at the bottom of the CMB.
With coming of RAFO, I posted the current "Why do you...." post; out of a need for continuity, and out of sheer mischief, I suppose.
I was never as good a steward as Simon had been, I freely admit. He is the Master, whereas I was simply an acolyte.
Over time, the post remained a safe haven for newbies; it also became a place where private jokes flourished, relationships blossomed, and latterly a place where returning site stalwarts could leave passing greetings if they lacked that certain arrogance required to create a post directly on the message board. It became, in a sense, a post that stayed the same on a site that was transforming itself into multiple message boards. A Poste Restante for passing old-timers, if you will.
Just as Mike Mackert moved on when he lost the need to know would Rand manage to survive the final battle with his entourage of wenches intact, I have moved on to a great extent. I still get email notification of new answers on the post. I still look at them. I answer those I feel the need to.
The post remains until either it is deleted, or Ben creates a second CMB when the current one gets too creaky for the servers to handle. It will re-appear at the bottom of the CMB when someone posts on it. That new post may mean nothing to you, or it may well mean a lot. Entirely up to you.
To me it means 8-10 years of coming to a place which interests me, whose denizens interest me, whose raison d’être interests me and whose history I honour. What started out as a place to discuss various story lines in Mr. Jordan's writings turned out to be a place where many friendships were forged, and a fair few marriages were founded. It is also a place where people can pour out their souls and receive a supportive hearing.
By the way, who actually did kill Asmo?
*MySmiley* Druid *MySmiley*
Object of Desire (retired) 
The Peoples Front For Nebhead Appreciation 
I blame Jake






So....why do you come to RAFO?
30/08/2009 12:17:30 PM
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Bah, I was waiting in the hope Simon would do this
*NM*
30/08/2009 12:18:36 PM
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I didn't dare wait for fear you would
*NM*
30/08/2009 01:03:35 PM
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Some of us have more class... if I was going to post it, I would have.
30/08/2009 01:07:02 PM
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Because it's the premier website for discussion Sci-Fi & Fantasy.
30/08/2009 12:45:51 PM
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For you
*NM*
30/08/2009 01:31:47 PM
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For the gin!
30/08/2009 01:40:23 PM
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Oh dear.
30/08/2009 02:05:14 PM
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Is there any rum, perchance? *NM*
30/08/2009 05:46:08 PM
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Bloody hope so!
31/08/2009 07:06:11 PM
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DIbs!
31/08/2009 07:09:46 PM
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*shows up at just the right time* *NM*
31/08/2009 08:24:36 PM
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To find out what all the new SNs are.
30/08/2009 03:59:12 PM
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Because previous pub is being closed. And because here is pretty
*NM*
30/08/2009 08:42:52 PM
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Heh *NM*
30/08/2009 10:37:30 PM
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After all we have meant to each other, all I get is a guttural "Heh"?
31/08/2009 01:52:20 PM
- 1414 Views
It was more a husky "heh" sirrah! Unhand my posts!
31/08/2009 08:23:00 PM
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Because Ben said I could do this...
31/08/2009 12:14:24 AM
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because I have some hopes of asserting some kind of admin control
*NM*
02/09/2009 02:26:46 AM
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... no. Just... no.
02/09/2009 03:39:17 PM
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b-b-b-but Jonte..
02/09/2009 04:41:38 PM
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Oh.
02/09/2009 05:37:07 PM
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The insanity
19/09/2009 12:15:07 PM
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You just noticed?
19/09/2009 01:48:39 PM
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'Cause I like you people. *NM*
19/09/2009 10:43:25 PM
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Corkscrew!
01/12/2009 01:02:51 PM
- 1312 Views
I've lost my question mark button from my keyboard and I was hoping it was hereabouts somewhere!
15/02/2010 11:17:28 PM
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So you're still question markless? You can have one of mine? *NM*
15/02/2010 11:19:31 PM
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The champ[agne!
17/02/2010 01:58:20 PM
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*arrives on white horse with Bolli strapped to back*
17/02/2010 07:50:34 PM
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Memories? *NM*
04/06/2010 10:56:25 AM
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Of triumphs past? *NM*
07/06/2010 12:41:17 PM
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Of good times... *NM*
08/06/2010 02:57:43 PM
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And peignoirs...I shall never forget the diaphanous emerald green peignoir
*NM*
09/06/2010 04:24:28 AM
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And here I was thinking it had been the power tools all along... *NM*
09/06/2010 06:46:07 AM
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Peignoirs are revealing, but a power tool is a thing of beauty forever
*NM*
09/06/2010 06:57:01 AM
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recipricating saws can be revealing, too! *NM*
09/06/2010 07:14:11 AM
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True, yet I find a sliding compound action is smoother and gives a better result
*NM*
09/06/2010 07:30:44 AM
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~hic~
14/06/2010 01:48:04 PM
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To leave random comments...
23/07/2010 11:57:15 AM
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To read random comments...
23/07/2010 12:52:56 PM
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Re: To read random comments...
28/07/2010 01:38:59 AM
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07/09/2010 11:27:56 AM
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I still reckon it's for the terrapins.
02/08/2010 11:06:11 PM
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Did that exist this year?
02/08/2010 11:19:05 PM
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But of course.
02/08/2010 11:27:26 PM
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Huh.
02/08/2010 11:28:50 PM
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Ohhh. Snarky.
02/08/2010 11:34:41 PM
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Yay, terrapins
04/08/2010 01:57:07 PM
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Yup, I think that reference was last seen on CMB3, so time for a reuse
04/08/2010 02:46:34 PM
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For the reasoned discourse
19/08/2010 02:02:34 PM
- 1533 Views

To ask why...
24/08/2010 11:26:42 AM
- 1882 Views
She did what?
25/08/2010 12:35:06 AM
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And she always seemed such a well raised Sheila
25/08/2010 04:21:42 PM
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Who spread such scurrilous rumour?
10/10/2010 11:59:23 AM
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The team you have taken under your wing boasts of it on their shirts!
10/10/2010 01:03:54 PM
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Hey, you totally did not have permission to post that picture!
10/10/2010 02:34:07 PM
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I'm sorry
10/10/2010 02:36:36 PM
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You should be.
10/10/2010 05:27:18 PM
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Oh, I think I misunderstood
10/10/2010 05:52:26 PM
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Oh <3
12/10/2010 11:35:38 AM
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Ccccccccccoooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeee bbbbbbaccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkk!
12/10/2010 12:35:57 PM
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To find out what my family has been up to. *NM*
31/08/2010 07:33:20 PM
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I refer you to Jonte's succinct answer in your main post
01/09/2010 01:48:26 AM
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To have my culture and heritage slandered, apparently.
10/09/2010 02:52:35 PM
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You mean this doesn't happen globally?
12/10/2010 02:17:34 PM
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Because otherwise I would have to concentrate on work
22/10/2010 01:29:23 AM
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You have become an Enigma to me
22/10/2010 08:55:18 AM
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But... Wait... Huh?
22/10/2010 10:09:19 AM
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Re: But... Wait... Huh?
25/10/2010 11:59:12 AM
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Who's in Hawthorn, when. Who's on first!
25/10/2010 12:30:34 PM
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Because otherwise I would have to concentrate on work
25/10/2010 06:34:20 PM
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To gloat from the top of the FF table
*NM*
26/10/2010 04:38:08 PM
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To gloat from the top of the FF table?
15/11/2010 09:38:09 PM
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Which table are we talking about? I intend to gloat from the other one
*NM*
15/11/2010 09:57:24 PM
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But...but...but...
15/11/2010 10:01:40 PM
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The cat is drinking my tea
04/07/2011 01:25:10 PM
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Where u bin?
05/07/2011 01:34:09 AM
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Bin laden with the daily drudge
06/07/2011 06:19:28 AM
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Re: Bin laden with the daily drudge
06/07/2011 07:04:02 AM
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To keep in touch with my family *NM*
14/07/2011 01:00:18 PM
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...we thought you had escaped
18/07/2011 08:27:16 AM
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We did.
29/07/2011 04:53:41 PM
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To check if my doggies are still running
31/08/2011 12:50:16 AM
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I thought I saw them resting there a bit?
20/09/2011 01:40:04 PM
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Look at those puppies go!
22/09/2011 10:46:33 PM
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For a quiet corner to quietly mourn the Grand Final loss....
02/10/2011 10:05:08 PM
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Come, come my girl, chin up!
04/10/2011 04:11:57 AM
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Once again, you prove to be a man of sense
04/10/2011 04:47:49 AM
- 1440 Views
Was there ever any doubt? If you ignore the affair of the Ukrainian poledancer and the goat, that is
04/10/2011 05:23:37 AM
- 1343 Views
To each man his weaknesses, my friend
04/10/2011 10:31:34 PM
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To see if anyone here forgot to give me a birthday present.
19/10/2011 04:23:39 PM
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How long does this have to go without a reply to get locked at the next one? *NM*
20/10/2011 07:29:09 PM
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Because my quest for free booze always brings me back here eventually!
28/10/2011 06:55:56 PM
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Bloody Melbourne Cup has shut everything else down for the day!
01/11/2011 01:40:04 AM
- 1657 Views
So your horse did not quite make it?
03/11/2011 02:14:01 AM
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The fascinators infesting this city meant I couldn't get to a tote on time...
03/11/2011 09:35:09 AM
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I feel obliged to suggest...
07/11/2011 04:29:28 AM
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So, your reason is that you need to lecture people?
07/11/2011 02:11:11 PM
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Did you object to any of the suggestions?
07/11/2011 03:28:07 PM
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Yes, most.
07/11/2011 03:42:12 PM
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On what grounds?
07/11/2011 04:41:31 PM
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Re: On what grounds?
08/11/2011 12:51:27 AM
- 1645 Views
I don't think we're getting anywhere
08/11/2011 02:10:30 AM
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What this post is all about
13/11/2011 10:33:36 PM
- 1587 Views
I have my reasons *acts all coy* *NM*
10/11/2011 04:41:52 PM
- 855 Views
Yes we know.
10/11/2011 05:05:53 PM
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They are obvious to all and sundry
10/11/2011 10:00:41 PM
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I'm clearly transparent
10/11/2011 10:13:36 PM
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Your transparency is one of your finest attributes
10/11/2011 10:28:35 PM
- 1575 Views

Having taken expert advice
10/11/2011 11:31:41 PM
- 1526 Views
I saw. However, there is another way.....
11/11/2011 01:20:08 AM
- 1514 Views

Your great age is only matched by your great wisdom.
14/11/2011 10:00:50 AM
- 1590 Views
Careful now. You wouldn't want me to suddenly remember stories Jen has not heard?
16/11/2011 12:30:14 AM
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Because I had nothing else to do at a hostel in Lisbon
15/11/2011 11:49:55 PM
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To read and find out about politics in the US, apparently *NM*
30/01/2012 12:38:38 AM
- 896 Views
To see what is happening
29/08/2012 02:46:57 PM
- 1292 Views

I miss you guys.
09/09/2012 03:22:32 PM
- 1258 Views

Blame football
10/09/2012 01:11:32 AM
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I usually do, for some reason or other.
10/09/2012 02:45:44 AM
- 1435 Views
Because reasons! *NM*
05/01/2013 01:50:40 PM
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Reasons are good. *NM*
09/01/2013 08:16:35 PM
- 836 Views
Seems like I do it for nostalgia before THE END™
17/02/2017 02:00:05 PM
- 798 Views