When I joined Wotmania it was right after Kory died and the outpouring of grief really made me realize that Wotmania was not just a website but a community. Myself, I was going through a devastating life change. My husband came out as gay and I lost my home, then he died and I lost my best friend. I was severely depressed. I lurked in Wotmania community board and chat for a while but eventually became more active especially in chat. I met some wonderful people who lifted me up, made me laugh, who shared their own struggles with me. I watched romances bloom and marriages happen between Wotmaniacs, now some of those folks have children and I can watch some of those children grow up on on FB. I had many late night chats with a friend as his health deteriorated and then a few with his mother after he passed.
Wotmaniacs were a diverse group who expanded my music, book libraries. As well as TV and movies. (I had never heard of Fireflie until Wotmania and now it is one of my favorite shows)
There were Wotmaniacs from almost if not all every country in the world, every color, religion, class, education. There were political and philosophical debates that broadened my mind.
After Mike closed Wotmania Ben started RAFO and while I have never been very active here I am grateful that I had RAFO for a transition. I'm not sure why RAFO never made it as a community the way Wotmania was. I wish it had. I don't know if not having a chatroom was to blame or if it was facebook. Doesn't really matter but I can tell you that I for one have missed the community feeling Wotmania had and I really wish RAFO (through no fault of Bens) had been able to keep that community feeling alive. FB just ain't the same.
Love and peace. Danu