[Maru]

I didn't really want to do this, but maybe it will make someone's evening... I haven't had time to go through mine again and try to figure out who may have posted mine (and if I want to post thoughts or not)... and still have to re-read other people's votes.

I ordered based on who I thought could use the most encouragement... and tried to also think of the type of persona I've associated with them... that part was quite fun and creatively stimulating. The ordering... not so much. It feels a bit too rigid to order people this way... I think many people come in and out of top spots for me... because all have had a part in lifting my feelings on a particular day from time to time

Anyway, too much blubbering... Here is my Top 10:

Spoiler:

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1. kirklancaster – This guy got me into so much trouble. He is the one who probably turned me from an infrequent/un-committed lurker to a TiBB regular. When he up and poof’ed, he made it an easier decision for me to make an informal break. Kirk is one of those people here I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know, who I wonder how they are doing when they are inactive for any length of time... Though in all seriousness, I think I may need to gift card him some tech munz for Christmas, as his keyboard's Shift/CAPS Lock key may be ready to retire from all the action he sees in SD. He and the Missus should find him a nice mechanical one … one with key switches that clicks&clacks like a typewriter ♪ ♪… and with fancy lighting that dims and flickers, like a starship exploring the galaxy…

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2. TwoSugars – His words sometimes hook me into the current conversation whether I want to contribute in it or not. He's a clear communicator, high in the court of empathy and is patient which reminds me of Jamie89 a bit… but where Jamie’s vibe kind of reminds me of a pop culture/cinema geek, TwoSugar is more of the science&history geek. He has only been with us a short time, but I think it isn't too early to say I already consider him to be “one of the crew” and think he is a great addition the TiBB community. <3

3

3. Alf – A memorable face of SD. Even after I took my break from TiBB, I sometimes wondered what he and others would say about current events and what their mindset might be. In the short time I have been at TiBB, I've gotten to know him through his posts which provoke thought, while still raising amusing points, in digestible bytes, but without all the fancy presentation and social incentives that these days often are “expected” to come with an opposing point of view. He offers no filter or probiotics to help others with the digestion of his words… is just his way of being... which is unapologetically human and often missing from today’s conversations.

4

4. Jamie89 – Oh Jamie… one of my favorite walls to frequent. He is up for banter at any time, a serious chat, or the sharing of random YT videos and other misc. forum business. He’s the guy who I never would expect to be bored when around. Aside from our wall shenanigans, he’s an excellent craftsman of the word, very high in emotional intelligence and his posts often empathetic and considerate of all people participating. I consider his words carefully, even when we may be on opposition on certain topics, as I still tend to hold his opinion in high regard.

5

5. Livia – This user I look up to massively. Her wit and sense of humor matched with her Pulp Fiction ava are legendary, even recalling her posts and persona from when I was a long-time lurker. I find her thoughts on particular subjects to be quite inspiring and her commentary to be witty. She speaks her mind and puts a lot of thought into debates she has with others, even if she doesn’t necessarily receive the same in return sometimes. I was very sad when she had decided to step back for a bit, but we all need a break sometimes. Her sense of humor and depth of character is always missed when she goes inactive.

6

6. montblanc – I know mont mostly from BB on-season, chatting with “the crew” of younger folk who rule the on-season boards and help keep the forum overall a lively and active place. When I heard mont was foreign to the UK as well, I was pleasantly shocked… just because they blended in so well with so many of the other younger members on here, who are in my head will always be the “posh” group of TiBB during on-season… I think the group’s membership went something like this… montblanc, Amy_Jade, Pete., Cal, etc …The TiBB Spice Girls... with various different singers at different points. She was always amusing me and entertaining with her posts during on-season and gives me just one more reason to keep watching an increasingly predictable predictable reality TV show… their style of debate is also very interesting, as it comes from a different perspective than my own. So I do look forward to their posts… and to some degree, the high school part of me feels I am interacting with a local celebrity… a famous member of the TiBB Spice Girls cheer club… ♪

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7. Nicky91 – Nicky is the protagonist in the TiBB reality show. I always imagine him running around the forum with a microphone at hand, trying to get the “latest scoop”, taking notes and recording member’s important and even trivial thoughts on their camera phone, considering their every word later on… if TiBB were a high school, Nicky would be running it’s student newspaper, and filling the pages with all juicy tidbits, feuds and insights into TiBB’s “local celebrities … in his Senior year, he’d be running for Class president (and probably win)… for me, Nicky bridges the gap between the serious, the weird and the competitive of TiBB... he networks fairly evenly with all the little micro-communities within the TiBB universes, keeping up to date on our words and commentary, coming up with his own thoughts about them later on … Nicky is the Angelina Jolie of TiBB … and a skilled TiBB Goodwill Ambassador…

8

8. AnnieK – In BB on-season (and occasionally SD), she really shines. I find her commentary interesting, her posts amusing and her contributions to be a positive break to the chaos that often coexists in TiBB. She is light on the feet with her thoughts, but still seems as though she puts a lot of thought while maintaining the same insistence with her words, so she comes off as having always weighed them very carefully… one of the brightest members on here and one that I look up to massively for their strong perspective and wisdom.

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9. Riley. – One of my favorite and entertaining on-season posters of TiBB. I have always enjoyed his live commentary/banter in the discussion threads, but I haven't quite made an elaborate persona for him in my head yet as he is heavy on banter (a good thing!). I think that's why he helps keep on-season from falling completely into a predictable cycles and the forum entertaining, as he has such an unexpected but outgoing personality and I think users like that really helps the forum spark to keep going. A very dynamic personality.

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10. Vicky. – Vicky has always had a high patience level, even for a mod, when it comes to discussions, even the heated variety. I don’t think that is necessarily a modding thing though. She comes off genuinely as a compassionate member of the TiBB family in general, carefully considering all our words and taking in the current discussion, even if she does faithfully have to disagree with some of it. She manages to do so in a clear and interesting way. — I kind of wish she wasn't a mod for that reason, because I think without having to babysit the troll dungeon that is SD, she could take her on-season posting up a few notches easily as I really enjoy seeing her opinions develop and her way of expression as a person...

My 15 (which I'd revealed my missing 5 already </3):

Spoiler:

Alf
AnnieK
Chewcobo
Eddie.
Jamie89

Jonnii
kirklancaster
Livia
montblanc
Nicky91

RichardG
Riley.
smudgie
TwoSugars
Vicky.