Aw, you all Grown Up GCD?

[Yorugami]

Hey GCD,

Gaia became public in 2003. Now it's already 2012. That's a WHOOPING 10 years that has passed guys! @.@ Sometimes I can't believe so much time has passed and yet I started on Gaia 2004...and somehow found myself still here.

Back way when, I was still in the hormonal driven states of my irresponsible youth when I first logged on Gaia. It was bright, it was anime and it was very DESU DESU at that time. XD I remember piling on every bit of Demonic thing on my avatar...>>; Not that I changed a lot...but I think I grew to have better taste? XD --hopefully.

Somehow...although Gaia has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. The maturity level of the general site itself hasn't really changed so much. I'm not sure how many Gaians from the Ye Olden Years are still around...but...they've probably grown into respectable adults by now. OAO Is there an effect of Gaia's maturing population to the current site's content?

Which led me to wonder:
gaia_spoons How much have you grown through the years GCD? Or inside, you're still that sad pimply hormonal teen glaring at his/her computer in a darkened room after school? ;D

gaia_spoons For those already of the older bracket when Gaia started, how's the Gaia experience now that you're even older? XD Still relevant to you old fogies?

gaia_spoons Also...have you grown up enough that some site content that were so innocent before became...something else? ;D (item descriptions anyone?)

gaia_spoons One last thing, older Gaians...planning to stay with Gaia for longer? And still enjoying all it's awesome features new and old?

[Lady Ada Lovelace]

Well, I imagine 10 years ago there were still adults on the site, even when you were a teenager. The truth is, that cadre of grown ups, so to speak, has always been around and always will. Some people drift away from it, but I think that has less to do with reaching a certain maturity and more to do with the nature of forums in general.

[Mikaino]

I think it has plenty of adult themes, you just have to be adult enough to realize it. XD
Or get slapped in the face with it by Alruna's Rose. emotion_awesome

So I feel as is, we're good enough. If there was an 18+ section of Gaia, I have a feeling most people would be showing porn pics, trying to get laid, etc. And the internet already has 4chan!

And, I've grown quite a bit. XD I went through the atypical GD phase, CB phase, ED phase, so on so forth! Since coming here in 2008, I think I'll stay here a biiiit longer. :3
(Ironically, I AM in a darkened room, but that's to help keep my area cool.. our A/C just broke!)

[Ridley Starsmore]

I was a grown up when i started, so....

Or, rather, I didn't?

[Yorugami]

Lady Ada Lovelace

Well, I imagine 10 years ago there were still adults on the site, even when you were a teenager. The truth is, that cadre of grown ups, so to speak, has always been around and always will. Some people drift away from it, but I think that has less to do with reaching a certain maturity and more to do with the nature of forums in general.

That's certainly true.

But my point was being that if the majority of the older users stayed with Gaia.
Gaia's adult population + the young users who have grown up = more adults?

XD I guess.

I have no doubt though there are still a lot of younger Gaians who are new to Gaia as well.
But you know...just wondering how a maturing population could affect Gaia as a whole.

[water_spirit]

Meh, I kinda like the way gaia dances with older themes.
I'm 24, started in late 03, and I'll probably stick it out for a while more.

[Myrielle]

"I won't grow up."
"I won't grow up."

The first three would definitely require Gaia changing content rules. I still think they'll maintain it where the largest population is served.

[Lady Ada Lovelace]

Yorugami

That's certainly true.

But my point was being that if the majority of the older users stayed with Gaia.
Gaia's adult population + the young users who have grown up = more adults?

XD I guess.

I have no doubt though there are still a lot of younger Gaians who are new to Gaia as well.
But you know...just wondering how a maturing population could affect Gaia as a whole.

I would actually be quite interested in seeing some statistics of the age demographics for this site. I suspect that the majority of users are between high school age and mid-20s, but I'm pulling that completely out of nowhere. But yes, I get what you're saying...but that is assuming that the site doesn't pull in enough young users are a consistent enough basis to "replace" the demographic when they get older.

I know there's plenty of "adult only" (and not in the triple X sort of way) guilds and hangouts around Gaia if you look for them. But honestly, if they aren't into dressing up their avatars and chatting about whatever on an anime-themed forum, they'll leave no matter what sort of changes are put into effect to try to keep them here.

...I guess I'm agreeing with you in the wondering aspect as well. I think the maturing users will either continue to enjoy Gaia for what it is or seek their entertainment elsewhere.

I will say, as a personal account, I've left and come back and left since 2004 myself. I always think I'm bored with Gaia, but they keep pulling me back....*sigh*

[Yorugami]

Lady Ada Lovelace

I would actually be quite interested in seeing some statistics of the age demographics for this site. I suspect that the majority of users are between high school age and mid-20s, but I'm pulling that completely out of nowhere. But yes, I get what you're saying...but that is assuming that the site doesn't pull in enough young users are a consistent enough basis to "replace" the demographic when they get older.

I know there's plenty of "adult only" (and not in the triple X sort of way) guilds and hangouts around Gaia if you look for them. But honestly, if they aren't into dressing up their avatars and chatting about whatever on an anime-themed forum, they'll leave no matter what sort of changes are put into effect to try to keep them here.

...I guess I'm agreeing with you in the wondering aspect as well. I think the maturing users will either continue to enjoy Gaia for what it is or seek their entertainment elsewhere.

I will say, as a personal account, I've left and come back and left since 2004 myself. I always think I'm bored with Gaia, but they keep pulling me back....*sigh*

Hahaha I get what you mean. XD I keep going on Hiatuses and swear I'm never coming back.
But...well, here I am again! Lol.

It would indeed be interesting to see the age demographics for this site. OvO I mean technically if you cater to the older population, it would mean they have more solvent cash to spend because they're earning it in jobs? As compared to the little'uns who are still dependent on their Parents?

XD I have a feeling the younger users tend to flock around the CB. >>; I find a lot of the older users tend to be in the GCD...oddly enough.

[Mitsuri]

Looking back on how I've changed throughout the years is the most facepalm worthy thing. I went through the "sexy" naked avatar, the super "kawaii" avatar/text overly done anime-type thing, the tan skin with terra twist and every 04 item I could cram on, the CB/GD lurking and every other awful phase that a lot of us seem to go through. emotion_facepalm
I've 'grown up' since then, but at the same time I find myself a hell of a lot more boring. I barely venture out of the single thread I go to other than to post in people's glow threads and don't really make friends at all. I wish I still at least had some of the spontaneity I did when I was younger combined with the things I know now.
However, I don't think they should include an 'adult' area. There would be no way to completely prevent it from becoming into some awful porn/camwhore fest without mods constantly on alert and they would have to have some sort of legal procedures in place to make sure underaged kids don't get in by making accounts with false birthdays and expose themselves to things that Gaia could be liable for. Of course, it wouldn't be Gaia's fault if a kid decides to venture onto a section like that, but parents might think otherwise since the site was previously PG-13 and suddenly they're aware their child is on a website with adult content. While it IS up to the parent to teach their kids what they should and shouldn't be doing it on the internet they can't possibly be monitoring it 24/7 and those angry parents could possibly start some ridiculous unnecessary argument over it and possibly force their kids to no longer be on a site they enjoyed because of the content on it. There's already a lot of innuendo on Gaia, I don't think there's a need for a mature section.

...I could never leave this place forever. NEVER. 4laugh

[Rude]

Ridley Starsmore

I was a grown up when i started, so....

Or, rather, I didn't?

Perhaps it had the reverse effect on you emotion_awesome dramallama

[A mali]

Magus

Ridley Starsmore

I was a grown up when i started, so....

Or, rather, I didn't?

Perhaps it had the reverse effect on you emotion_awesome dramallama

GCD turns you into Benjamin Button?

[Yorugami]

A mali

Magus

Ridley Starsmore

I was a grown up when i started, so....

Or, rather, I didn't?

Perhaps it had the reverse effect on you emotion_awesome dramallama

GCD turns you into Benjamin Button?

Fountain of Youth emotion_awesome

[Ridley Starsmore]

Magus

Ridley Starsmore

I was a grown up when i started, so....

Or, rather, I didn't?

Perhaps it had the reverse effect on you emotion_awesome dramallama

You know, maybe a little?

All kidding aside, I USED to be a very serious kinda person. But events in my life, and choices i made from them, as well as places I have been, helped me calm down into the mellow, yet highly distracted bunneh you know today.

[Lunamusica]

I think Gaia is more fun with the undercurrents. We really don't need "adult" content. I think things would be a little more unpleasant. On a side note I'm going to be 24 in a few weeks and I don't think I want to grow up if it means I'm too old to be here...(I'm already old sweatdrop ) I have too much fun lurking around this site... Plus there is to many pretty pixels to keep collecting. 3nodding