2012

So, the book of 2012 is over and freshly set onto the proverbial shelf to gather dust. I hope you're as happy with it as I was, personally, concerning the fandom, and the world at large.
I'm very pleased with what I have accomplished myself, no matter how inconsequential they seem at first sight.
The fandom has also come far in the last twelve months, though for better or worse is a matter of opinion of course.
And the world at large... I try not to pay attention to the news, purely because it depresses me.

Personally:

1. I started my writing.

All 155,220 words. I added this up this morning and I was astounded. How I found the time, I'll never know, but not a single second was wasted when I did find it. Whether the coming year will have as much creativity on this front, that remains to be seen. (I am terribly busy these days)

2. Speaking of terribly busy, this is the cause: my degree.

Now don't get me wrong, as much as I complain about it, I love my degree really. It keeps me busy and out of trouble, and I do love learning, though of course, as with everything, sometimes the pressure just gets to you and you can get very stressed. Despite that though, I passed my first year and am sailing relatively smoothly through my second as far as I can tell.

3. I got back into mah books.

Oh wait... wrong books.

That's better.
I'm reading more than ever, and I've never been happier.

That's enough boring stuff about me, now the fandom.
Comparing the fandom today to this time a year ago, it has exploded; and it was pretty big back then too. There have been good things and bad things. I'll begin with the bad.
There was the infamous Derpygate back in February, which of course, caused a massive shitstorm that went all the way to Hasbro itself. It was a sad and unnecessary thing to have happened, but it did, and now (in my belief) Derpy has been quietly swept under the rug. (Have you seen her (with full derp eyes) at all this season?) I'm holding out for an appearance of our favourite wall-eyed mare in the finale or something.
There was Mandopony's big tantrum over /mlp/ on 4chan jokingly accusing him of being a paedophile just because he collaborates and does stuff with Michelle Creber.
If someone on the Internet insults you, you brush it off and move on with your life. What you don't do is say how 'upset' you are on Twitter, looking for pity like an attention seeking whore, thus provoking 4chan into setting up the perfect shitstorm for teh lulz. It got to the point where Michelle's parents had to get involved, denying the lulzy allegations, plus Sibsy (a storyboard artist for the show) made the same mistake, telling /mlp/ to stop being dicks, thus having them go after her too for teh lulz. Overall, I found this whole escapade to be hilarious, just because they brought it on themselves.
There's been a few other negatives, but let's skip to the good.

I think one of the best emergences of the year was what I've just been talking about: /mlp/ on 4chan. It's one of the only pone places on the Internet where I feel like I'm not surrounded by idiots, where it's not full of shit like this: "OMG GUIZE WE SHUD LOVE & TOLER8 EVERYONE XDXDXD BRONY 4 LYF LOL!!!" That was genuinely painful to type out. I've been with /mlp/ since day one, and it has been a supplier of many many lols.
Other good work is the fantastic charity work the community does. We do so much now that I can't keep track of it anymore, but it must be in the ranges of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
And last but not least, is the content (brackets for my favourites). Music (Aviators and Ponyphonic), art (Discorded Hooves and Princess Molestia), conventions (BUCK), animations (Sonic Rainboom previews and Picture Perfect Pony), forums (/mlp/), and, best of all fanfics! (All my stuff shortskirtsandexplosions, kits, device heretic and tons more!) Deluges of it are produced everyday, and while a lot of it is shit, there's so much great stuff that's been created.

If you're still here, well done you, have a biscuit before Twi gets it.

The happiest New Year to all!
Forever yours,
Gallifrey

Xxx

Comments

[Morphile]

Wow That was long

[Gallifrey]

670822
I know! I began just wanting to wish everyone a happy new year, and I got a bit carried away.

[Morphile]

I'm on a IPad, so I can't click the reply button, but do you know why I started following you? I normally follow for sequels, so it might be this story.

[thatman]

Breaking news, our roving undercover reporters have obtained this damning footage of Mando's actions. Stay tuned for more...