Mega-Zine & VR - A Retrospective (Part 2)
Posted In: News. Reading This Thread:
| 
Daft Cow?
See Part 1
Part 2
Over the course of 2002 the Yahoo group and the "new" vr battled for authority. By the end of 2002 almost everyone had moved to the new VR, and we had begun to outgrow the free webspace of my ISP. In this time I had actually become something of an "internet expert", and knew what to do next. We had to actually PAY for a server...
On December 25th 2002, I buy vegetablerevolution.com and move everything over. This starts the modern era of VR.
By now, I'm a little older, and interest my interest in VR wanes. My newfound internet skillz allow me to become a senior developer on the forum software I picked in the beginning. I'm more interested in working on their community than the one here. Away from the keyboard I wasn't a dosser at college anymore, I actually had a job, and a girlfriend, and rent to pay. VR became just another bill, and I even started to resent it. I worked hard on things, and people complained. Always complaining, all the time. It really got to me.
On the bright side, VR itself was flourishing. My aforementioned girlfriend was a directly caused by VR. This wasn't a singular occurance... In fact, inspired by The Ohio State University Sex Map - we compiled our own. It would turn out to be even more convoluted than anyone could possibly imagine... Updated as of 2009 (to the best of my knowledge...)
![[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/Main-VR-Sex-Map-2009-Anonymized.png]](http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/Main-VR-Sex-Map-2009-Anonymized.png "http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/Main-VR-Sex-Map-2009-Anonymized.png")
It wasn't just random sex, we've had multiple children, and multiple marriages, and countless long-term serious relationships. All directly attributble to the relationships VR fostered. And without 'zine, there wouldn't be a VR.
I experimented with new things on the site, trying to capitalise on the newfangled trend of 'blogs' by trying to get the creative writers on here to... write something creative. They never really stuck. VR has been, and I guess always will be, a place to relax. Not a place to "work".
By the time we came into 2007, 'zine was looking unhealthy. Rumours abound that it was about to be cancelled. After a plea from WLW, we managed to save the very thing that brought us together. It would even be dragged into the modern era by having a newfangled thing called a "website" and an "RSS Feed".
By now I was back to hanging out on VR. I'd grown up enough to realise that I hated my job, grown bored of working on other peoples communities, and just wanted a doss about again. Seeing the newfangled stuff coming out of teletext, I whip up a site showcasing zine, in all it's old school analogue glory. Despite the telext technical bods being a bit slack on the quality of their feed, it works pretty well, saving the copier monkeys a thankless job.
Now, in 2009 there is no saving 'zine. Sad, but hardly the end of the world, the real sad story is WLW, being an actual honest to goodness person, has lost their job. It's a tough old world out there, and we all hope you land on your feet.
So, what will become of all this, now 'zine's over? Well, I'll go over that in part 3.
Fill in all the gaps of what I've said, and gossip as much as you want!
Part 2
Over the course of 2002 the Yahoo group and the "new" vr battled for authority. By the end of 2002 almost everyone had moved to the new VR, and we had begun to outgrow the free webspace of my ISP. In this time I had actually become something of an "internet expert", and knew what to do next. We had to actually PAY for a server...
On December 25th 2002, I buy vegetablerevolution.com and move everything over. This starts the modern era of VR.
By now, I'm a little older, and interest my interest in VR wanes. My newfound internet skillz allow me to become a senior developer on the forum software I picked in the beginning. I'm more interested in working on their community than the one here. Away from the keyboard I wasn't a dosser at college anymore, I actually had a job, and a girlfriend, and rent to pay. VR became just another bill, and I even started to resent it. I worked hard on things, and people complained. Always complaining, all the time. It really got to me.
On the bright side, VR itself was flourishing. My aforementioned girlfriend was a directly caused by VR. This wasn't a singular occurance... In fact, inspired by The Ohio State University Sex Map - we compiled our own. It would turn out to be even more convoluted than anyone could possibly imagine... Updated as of 2009 (to the best of my knowledge...)
It wasn't just random sex, we've had multiple children, and multiple marriages, and countless long-term serious relationships. All directly attributble to the relationships VR fostered. And without 'zine, there wouldn't be a VR.
I experimented with new things on the site, trying to capitalise on the newfangled trend of 'blogs' by trying to get the creative writers on here to... write something creative. They never really stuck. VR has been, and I guess always will be, a place to relax. Not a place to "work".
By the time we came into 2007, 'zine was looking unhealthy. Rumours abound that it was about to be cancelled. After a plea from WLW, we managed to save the very thing that brought us together. It would even be dragged into the modern era by having a newfangled thing called a "website" and an "RSS Feed".
By now I was back to hanging out on VR. I'd grown up enough to realise that I hated my job, grown bored of working on other peoples communities, and just wanted a doss about again. Seeing the newfangled stuff coming out of teletext, I whip up a site showcasing zine, in all it's old school analogue glory. Despite the telext technical bods being a bit slack on the quality of their feed, it works pretty well, saving the copier monkeys a thankless job.
Now, in 2009 there is no saving 'zine. Sad, but hardly the end of the world, the real sad story is WLW, being an actual honest to goodness person, has lost their job. It's a tough old world out there, and we all hope you land on your feet.
So, what will become of all this, now 'zine's over? Well, I'll go over that in part 3.
Fill in all the gaps of what I've said, and gossip as much as you want!
| 
Darren is most certainly not my god!
Great idea, Andrames. I am meshing your two names, incase you don't understand what I did there. I think it actually makes a quite good name Anywhere, where was I?
I found 'Zine when I was maybe 10 or 11 years old. At that time, we didn't have Teletext, so I could only read it when my Mum was at work (she worked in the shop next door and we got to sit upstairs watching the owner's HUGE at that time TV whilst eating whatever sweets we wanted, it was grrrreat). When we got Teletext, I would have been 14 or 15, and it was then that I was in the midst of my illness and away from school and any form of social interraction.
Under the pretense (pretense looks like it's spelt wrong, I'm confused) of studying I went to the library, set up my first e-mail account (which I still use today) and sent my first 'Zine e-mail. I think it was about lettuces. I had chosen the name Lilac Leopard for its alliterative properties and also because I liked purple and cats. I think it was printed, and I showed EVERYONE I knew. After a few weeks Yahoo VR was mentioned on 'Zine, and I Googled it. I think by then, I was just about to turn 16 so it would be late 2001/2002. That is a long time ago. I began e-mailing Le Enfant Terrible Paul because he had mentioned he was from near Rotherham, which is near me. I also began speaking to Phil Hippo and Adam Skutterbob about that time. After the Jonthepostman fiasco I started talking to more people, as everyone seemed to know who I was, and in April 2002, Adam told me to join the current VR. I was a GreenMod at some point, then I didn't have the net for a while, but then I came back and as predicted by many, I've taken over, innit
Regards the 'Zine side of things during this time, I actually don't recall much other than transcribing 'Zine letters to the Megazine Yahoo group by hand like 2/3 days a week, which made me a little less interested in 'Zine if I'm honest. I stopped writing properly in about 2006 I think, because I was a little more grown up by then and had realised I had sh*t humour and imagination and nobody really cared if I wrote in anyway!
I found 'Zine when I was maybe 10 or 11 years old. At that time, we didn't have Teletext, so I could only read it when my Mum was at work (she worked in the shop next door and we got to sit upstairs watching the owner's HUGE at that time TV whilst eating whatever sweets we wanted, it was grrrreat). When we got Teletext, I would have been 14 or 15, and it was then that I was in the midst of my illness and away from school and any form of social interraction.
Under the pretense (pretense looks like it's spelt wrong, I'm confused) of studying I went to the library, set up my first e-mail account (which I still use today) and sent my first 'Zine e-mail. I think it was about lettuces. I had chosen the name Lilac Leopard for its alliterative properties and also because I liked purple and cats. I think it was printed, and I showed EVERYONE I knew. After a few weeks Yahoo VR was mentioned on 'Zine, and I Googled it. I think by then, I was just about to turn 16 so it would be late 2001/2002. That is a long time ago. I began e-mailing Le Enfant Terrible Paul because he had mentioned he was from near Rotherham, which is near me. I also began speaking to Phil Hippo and Adam Skutterbob about that time. After the Jonthepostman fiasco I started talking to more people, as everyone seemed to know who I was, and in April 2002, Adam told me to join the current VR. I was a GreenMod at some point, then I didn't have the net for a while, but then I came back and as predicted by many, I've taken over, innit
Regards the 'Zine side of things during this time, I actually don't recall much other than transcribing 'Zine letters to the Megazine Yahoo group by hand like 2/3 days a week, which made me a little less interested in 'Zine if I'm honest. I stopped writing properly in about 2006 I think, because I was a little more grown up by then and had realised I had sh*t humour and imagination and nobody really cared if I wrote in anyway!
What? Contrary to popular opinion I never really have issues with electronic stuff.. Yeah I have the odd thing break once in a while, but that's usually down to age or me tinkering around with it. (bikes not included in this, Mr. Aitken - before you say anything! 
)
)
| 
Quote: ApologeticSquirrel
I'm gonna guess that they met at work but knowing Darren it'll probably be far more complicated
Quote: admin
August 2001 I got my first computer with external 56k dial up modem. Years later Darren would blow up this historic modem saying "I plugged it in, and it smelled of burning".
This made me laugh.
How did you meet Andrew, Darren?
I'm gonna guess that they met at work but knowing Darren it'll probably be far more complicated
Quote: Enigmatic_Shrew
Its shocking just how much this place has done for me, in terms of who I am and where I am right now though. Pretty sure I'm not the only one, either.
Quote: ApologeticSquirrelActually, James got me the job.. And I curse his name to this day for it.Quote: admin
August 2001 I got my first computer with external 56k dial up modem. Years later Darren would blow up this historic modem saying "I plugged it in, and it smelled of burning".
This made me laugh.
How did you meet Andrew, Darren?
I'm gonna guess that they met at work but knowing Darren it'll probably be far more complicated
Its shocking just how much this place has done for me, in terms of who I am and where I am right now though. Pretty sure I'm not the only one, either.
Confession time- I started reading zine in about 1998/9 as an alternative to B*ckc*at... yes I was a Chatter >.>
Zine became my favourite though, so I was on the Zine side when the other one ended. Sent in a few different letters between the ages of 15-17 as Mrs Haggis the Lazy Camel, but I don't think any got printed. B*st*rds. Then I started writing in as Tooth of Wisdom because my wisdom teeth started hurting. Go figure. Still no b*st*rding printage. Hmph.
Still read Zine pretty regularly though.
Fast forward to 2003, when I meet Joanne (dotted line/aporkalypse) at uni. I kidnapped her to the pub, which thinking on it is how I started many friendships in this life. Meet all the old scots ziners sans George (still not met) and Alan. Read VR a fair bit but don't actually join.
Joined whilst bored one day in June 2005 just after exams when sneakily using a computer in Glasgow Uni Library (was at Strathclyde so used someone elses account). Was warned against it by certain members who had kinda left *coughlaurajocough* but ignored that advice.
Should I have taken it?
Maybe
So I started properly talking in Aug 2005 and made a pretty strong impression first off. Made alot of friends, most of whom have given up on me nowadays like Joel and Martin, but others like my first friend Lisa who I am still friendly with now! Then there is the AWESOME Alice and Alan, contributors to many a drunken rampage in Glasgow. How I miss you both
So yeah, after that I made alot of... judgemental errors (I wouldn't say they were mistakes cos thats not how I feel) relationship wise. There were 'instances' with a few people, like the Alan shocker My relationship with Gary, who I admit I treated pretty badly but he's not blameless, and then Stuart. Do I regret them? Not really. Should I? Probably.
So after various 'debates' and trysts I went from one of the most popular to one of the least liked VRers, gaining Gaz-like pariah status. Not realising how few friends I had left, Andrew and I thought we would mod me for a laugh which backfired, and I ended up leaving for oh about a year or so.
Still don't know why I came back, and honestly nothing much has changed, but I like to check in sometimes as there are still people I care about.
So overall, Zine led to VR for me. There have been alot of ups and downs over the years, but I have met some kick a*s people and been to some kick a*s places in the UK
Am I sad about Zine ending? Nah. I think it's had it's day, and the inane ramblings can continue here evermore. Most of us are growing up these days anyway, and it woulda died a death eventually. It had a good run.
Anyway, back to the show...
Zine became my favourite though, so I was on the Zine side when the other one ended. Sent in a few different letters between the ages of 15-17 as Mrs Haggis the Lazy Camel, but I don't think any got printed. B*st*rds. Then I started writing in as Tooth of Wisdom because my wisdom teeth started hurting. Go figure. Still no b*st*rding printage. Hmph.
Still read Zine pretty regularly though.
Fast forward to 2003, when I meet Joanne (dotted line/aporkalypse) at uni. I kidnapped her to the pub, which thinking on it is how I started many friendships in this life. Meet all the old scots ziners sans George (still not met) and Alan. Read VR a fair bit but don't actually join.
Joined whilst bored one day in June 2005 just after exams when sneakily using a computer in Glasgow Uni Library (was at Strathclyde so used someone elses account). Was warned against it by certain members who had kinda left *coughlaurajocough* but ignored that advice.
Should I have taken it?
Maybe
So I started properly talking in Aug 2005 and made a pretty strong impression first off. Made alot of friends, most of whom have given up on me nowadays like Joel and Martin, but others like my first friend Lisa who I am still friendly with now! Then there is the AWESOME Alice and Alan, contributors to many a drunken rampage in Glasgow. How I miss you both
So yeah, after that I made alot of... judgemental errors (I wouldn't say they were mistakes cos thats not how I feel) relationship wise. There were 'instances' with a few people, like the Alan shocker
My relationship with Gary, who I admit I treated pretty badly but he's not blameless, and then Stuart. Do I regret them? Not really. Should I? Probably. So after various 'debates' and trysts I went from one of the most popular to one of the least liked VRers, gaining Gaz-like pariah status. Not realising how few friends I had left, Andrew and I thought we would mod me for a laugh which backfired, and I ended up leaving for oh about a year or so.
Still don't know why I came back, and honestly nothing much has changed, but I like to check in sometimes as there are still people I care about.
So overall, Zine led to VR for me. There have been alot of ups and downs over the years, but I have met some kick a*s people and been to some kick a*s places in the UK
Am I sad about Zine ending? Nah. I think it's had it's day, and the inane ramblings can continue here evermore. Most of us are growing up these days anyway, and it woulda died a death eventually. It had a good run.
Anyway, back to the show...
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
![[http://furcadia.com/banners/images/DownloadB2.gif]](http://furcadia.com/banners/images/DownloadB2.gif "http://furcadia.com/banners/images/DownloadB2.gif")
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
Marry me?
Yeah, I miss drunken rampages too.
And who HASN'T had Alan?
And who HASN'T had Alan?
Wife of Amy, Sex Goddess 
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
apparently the big pink bastard is me
Quote: The_Educatedwombat
Just kissing, so you know
wait... Alice?
Alan?
Did I know that?
Just kissing, so you know
Quote: fsc
... since there are two it cant be unique...
Quote: Lemony_ZesterYeah, I miss drunken rampages too.
And who HASN'T had Alan?
Most people, really. You two are actually rather unique. Or mental.
... since there are two it cant be unique...
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
apparently the big pink bastard is me
Quote: Tooth_of__Wisdom
Well, if it ain't the one, it's t'other...
Quote: fscQuote: Lemony_ZesterYeah, I miss drunken rampages too.
And who HASN'T had Alan?
Most people, really. You two are actually rather unique. Or mental.
... since there are two it cant be unique...
Well, if it ain't the one, it's t'other...
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
Marry me?
Nothing wrong with being a mentalist. Well, there is if it means you take Alan by the tonsils or worse (CA ), but you know what I mean.
Up mentality!
), but you know what I mean.Up mentality!
Wife of Amy, Sex Goddess
Darren is most certainly not my god!
Vaguely but I doubt Andrew started the topic to illicit a page worth of stuff about how Caggie once kissed Alan, innit?
If I'm where I think I am on that, the love map's about two years out of date
![[http://card.mygamercard.net/gbar/joelsaysyeah.gif]](http://card.mygamercard.net/gbar/joelsaysyeah.gif "http://card.mygamercard.net/gbar/joelsaysyeah.gif")
![[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/uploads/698876.jpg]](http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/uploads/698876.jpg "http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/uploads/698876.jpg")
Quote: pablomarmite
I've been killing myself to work out just where yourself, Dan and I fit in, I know at one point we had a small wee triangle between us..
If I'm where I think I am on that, the love map's about two years out of date
I've been killing myself to work out just where yourself, Dan and I fit in, I know at one point we had a small wee triangle between us..
Outside-left
Quote: SHADOW_FIGHTER
Pahaha. A number of people also think I've f*cked Leah. Wut.
Quote: girlpants
I used to have a copy with names of the full sex map, but it died when my old PC kicked the bucket.
Right, who the actual f*ck thinks that I f*cked That Thing?!
Pahaha. A number of people also think I've f*cked Leah. Wut.
Quote: girlpants
Quote: pablomarmiteIf I'm where I think I am on that, the love map's about two years out of date
I've been killing myself to work out just where yourself, Dan and I fit in, I know at one point we had a small wee triangle between us..
I used to have a copy with names of the full sex map, but it died when my old PC kicked the bucket.
Outside-left
Quote: SHADOW_FIGHTER
I don't know, you do seem pretty suggestible.
Quote: Squirrell_of_DoomQuote: SHADOW_FIGHTERRight, who the actual f*ck thinks that I f*cked That Thing?!
Pahaha. A number of people also think I've f*cked Leah. Wut.
Holy b*ll*cks. Fantastic.
May I just take this opportunity to make it quite clear that I have never even met That Thing, never mind boned him, and would never have done so even when I was mates with him. jsyk.
I don't know, you do seem pretty suggestible.
I'm not blind either, just charitable
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
I don't has any money 
Maybe I shoulda asked him for some...
Maybe I shoulda asked him for some...
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
Well there shall be no more VR shagging from this member, I has fiance now...
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
we got about £80 out of him for board for the week
even then it didn't happen in the usual meaning of the word
but yeah, as for accusing tabfire
she's far smarter and a better judge of people than to do that thing
even then it didn't happen in the usual meaning of the word
but yeah, as for accusing tabfire
she's far smarter and a better judge of people than to do that thing
![[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg]](http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg "http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg")
| 
![[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/uploads/549604.jpg]](http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/uploads/549604.jpg "http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/uploads/549604.jpg")
*
Quote: Smashed_Strawberry
I kid, I haven't spoken to the guy in a year or more, so I don't know why everyone hates him so much now...
Of course, f*cking your own sister might have something to with that.
(i think he once said in one of his posts that his sister looked a bit like him.)
I kid, I haven't spoken to the guy in a year or more, so I don't know why everyone hates him so much now...
Of course, f*cking your own sister might have something to with that.
Oooh what else has VR done for me?
I have been clubbing and drinking with some of the most awesome people I have ever met
Tuesday night is a tstimony to that- Gillian and I were tanzen, I loved it
I have been clubbing and drinking with some of the most awesome people I have ever met
Tuesday night is a tstimony to that- Gillian and I were tanzen, I loved it
I only want you to see
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
My favourite part of me
And not my ugly side
Not my ugly side
Ahh, if it wasn't for all the traveling and the sneaking about and the great friends you guys made I would have been a very bored teenager.
I went on a lot of the meets in the early days. It's amazing thinking about the stuff we got up to! I remember sitting in the Triangle in Manchester, the York trip, Birmingham.
I miss you guys
I went on a lot of the meets in the early days. It's amazing thinking about the stuff we got up to! I remember sitting in the Triangle in Manchester, the York trip, Birmingham.
I miss you guys
Quote: leenfantterrible
Oh gosh, you probably don't remember me, but I was a big fan :-[
Hello
Ahh, if it wasn't for all the traveling and the sneaking about and the great friends you guys made I would have been a very bored teenager.
I went on a lot of the meets in the early days. It's amazing thinking about the stuff we got up to! I remember sitting in the Triangle in Manchester, the York trip, Birmingham.
I miss you guys
Oh gosh, you probably don't remember me, but I was a big fan :-[
Hello
Πανδώρα:
Beefy cheesemas to all, and to all a gravy brie
Rayanne Graff:
Happy Easter.
IGH:
Just who was The Brigadier
ratammer:
squeak
Debs|OWA:
o/
IGH:
Wibble
Vel:
*sigh*
Emma:
Hi VR...
Princess Psycho:
Hi I am back in the UK so how are everyone been keeping. Has Fluffy had that little accident yet?
Claire:
SHOUTBOX OF VRRRRRR
Rayanne Graff:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lucozade Lover:
Happy New Year!
Crinkle-Cut Beatroot:
Happy new year <3
Claire:
BOXSHOUT
Rayanne Graff:
Happy Easter.
Emma:
So… Posting a new thread is Fission Mailing… so I’m putting this here.
Emma:
I know there aren’t many people looking at this anymore… but I have made the decision to stop paying for the VR hosting and to let the domain lapse.
Emma:
I think it will be going offline around the end of May
Emma:
It’s been almost 10 years since James passed away… and I feel like it’s time.
Emma:
A lot of the regulars can be found on the VR veterans group on Facebook - if you see this and you’re not in there, come join us.