Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!"

I really think it depends on the extent of the namedropping, like when it gets to the point of harassment/doxing that's too far.

"Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn."

I've always thought the community is what keeps this place going. Not in the sense that "WE THROW MONEY AT THE SITE SO LISTEN TO US" but... we the people give we the people a reason to stay around. WE are the reason we stick it through here just as much as the items. Those who were here strictly for the items before hyperinflation are likely to have all or mostly left, but it seems like the many who remain are here for each other for the most part. We're here for the friends and features that don't revolve around spending cash. Perhaps many of the newer users, who joined this past year, don't care about anything but the gold and the items, but I feel like if someone was talking about wanting Gaia to just keep churning out the gold and items and they don't care about anything else, there is a high chance that they're trolling or being sarcastic.

The community is a big part of the reason why I've stayed here so long. heart

mm~~ Reasonable concerns. I just feel like Gaia The Company and Gaia the place I hang out are kinda.. two different things. Like... the staff or CEO or someone/people up there have so far done what they can to destroy our trust in them and their ability to competently foresee the decisions of the company, but site-wise, on the level with the average user, aside from the prices having sky rocketed, there isn't exactly a WHOLE lot that's different. Gaia can't really stop me from talking to people about bands I love or shows or books I've read/watched. Derping around is a lovely free feature available to everyone everywhere. They can't stop the nice people who are either talented exchangers/vendors or financially well off IRL from having giveaways and donating to people they deem worthy. They can't charge for humanity or the human condition. There's no sales on conversations and inside jokes. There are inherent intangible draws that are pretty deeply rooted in the site that, despite all the cash bombardments and the blundering decisions of the upper management, will always exist so long as there's a group of people who gather here, as it would anywhere people gather.
Gaia may have lost its soul, but the users haven't. UuU

That is all so true. I think that's why I love playing zOMG! so much. There are so many possibilities to derp in the game thanks to unfix glitches. It's really fun just to use the glitches to tease friends with. I've enjoyed many fun crews with users and ex-devs, that no matter how many times I play Shallow Seas or Dead Man's Shadow the conversations keep the game fun. Forums actually scare me a lot and I didn't start using them much until the whole drama thing with Gaia happened. It was like finally I had something to talk to people about since economics and business topics interests me a lot. zOMG! and friends keep the site interesting and fun. It's like yeah I can dress my avatar up and all on Gaia if I wanted, but it's what I do with my avatar in flash spaces that keeps me amused. I've gone to weddings to playing hide and seek games in zOMG! and friend chat spaces. So I admit I use forums the most when there is some interaction with them through events. I like interacting with people not items. I wish Gaia staff could understand that.

That's a really good approach to have. It gets stressful at times being on Gaia and feeling like constantly being attacked just for having a different opinion on any subject in forums. So there are times I have to even remind myself of something [ JK ], a zOMG! developer said, "Really Gaia Really? Is gold all you care about?" because features and social interactions really matter on the site. I love how part of that quote was inputted in the Towns 2 loading screens. It's almost like the stunts that Gaia pulls would be easier to handle if main features on the site got worked on again. The events are fun, but in between them it feels like there is nothing fun to do other than bicker with each other in forums. I think I remember quoting you before that you shouldn't feel like you can't post in forums just for having a different opinion.

I mean there are features like Flynn's Plunder and marketplace that have been abused by staff mules as mentioned in this thread, so I've decided just to avoid them now and view them as a broken feature not to be used by myself. But yes there are many cool features that still work. I just wish they would be worked on and not get outdated because I enjoy using them. GOfusion and animal bases are two new things that came out this year that I enjoy. I hope the inventory arranger and IM system come out this year too. I really was hoping pet system would come out too, but Uncle Kenny left. sad I'm actually shocked it took so long for tiered spender to show up. Gaia cash shop is like a MMO shop on steroids with their prices. lol I still can't help laughing how Gaia items cost more than items in popular MMOs now, but whatever.

I had really fun time today in Gaia's new hangout area the Neko place with my shark avi I admit. It was fun making people laugh just being silly.

I could joke for things Gaia could do, but last time I did that achievements became pay to play with kickstarters. So I would hate if another silly joke I did ended up being another thing Gaia did. At least Gofusion came out after a similar suggestion I submitted to usertalk e-mail, so super happy Gaia listened with that. Anyway nice talking with you.