(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); I've been here for about two years now, and during those years, I've made dozens of suggestion threads, bashing the site for moving in the wrong direction, not being aesthetically pleasing, and so on. My specialty for the past year has essentially been demonizing the site for being too large, with too many features, and a bad community.

This isn't one of those threads. I've finally realized that amid all of my complaining and condescendence, I've ignored the blatant fact that this is one of the most successful online communities on the web, and that this place clearly is moving in the right direction, despite my constant attempts to convince you all otherwise.

When I joined this forum, seeking hacks as many do, there were only a bit over 100,000 members. Since then, nearly 600,000 more have joined. That's insane. I've never heard of a forum (aside from the official PS or LIVE communities) growing that immensely, and especially not that quickly. And that's because NGU is home to some of the most knowledgable hackers I've ever met. People who can manipulate a game so profusely you can practically do whatever you want with it. I might not hack much myself anymore, but man, if I ever decide to start up again, I know this is the place to be.

Then there comes the staff. I've complained about you guys endlessly. There are too many of you. You all suck. That's been my drift for a year or so. I'd like to put that to an end, too. There might be a hell of a lot of you, but there are a hell of a lot of us, too. And better yet, just about every single one of you is active. I don't think there's a forum out there that has a staff as active as you guys. I'm also happy to say that a lot of you have proved me wrong. People I thought would get bored of staffing and leave the spotlight ended up going all the way to administrator. I'm talking about you, Reaps.

I've spent along time convincing myself that I don't like this place. I'm not quite sure why. Maybe it's because I retired twice from Super Moderator, or because I utterly walked out and failed as a reporter the second time around last Summer. But I digress. This is a pretty great place, and I plan on being more active around here again.

Here's to NGU. :beer:

I appreciate those kind words Schaffin. :wub:

And it will be good to see you become more active again and see you stick around.

Oh Schaffin, NGU isn't the same ever since '09-'10 staffs left, (I never knew Calfreezy). I guess I could say you were one of my favourite mods back then. I always thought Schaffinator and SchaffinOSX was the same person and I kept on wondering "man why does this mod keep on changing his name".

i was expecting a "cool strory bro." somewhere in this thread. shows how mature people in this forum are. congrats guys

Just to clarify, I was Schaffinator.

But wow guys, I got more response from this thread than I ever imagined. Thanks a bunch. Great to know I'm still welcome here.

I am so confused

You taught me a lot about what I know today. I wouldn't be myself without you Steven, it's great to see an old friend come back. We missed you man, don't go like that again.

This forum certainly has grown. It only had 50,000 members when I was around.

When I was a Super Moderator, I changed my username several times. At one point I was "Schaffinator", to play along with everyone who called me a robot. I later changed my username back to SchaffinOSX, though.

And thanks for that, Samberg. I'm glad to see you've made it onto the staff. We really need to get chatting on IM again, bud.

Hit me up, SambergNGU.