How has your time here at TZ benefitted you?

[Phantasm]

Well, some would say that spending your time browsing forums isn't the most productive thing to indulge yourself in.Though I partly agree, I'd be lying if I said if it has been a complete waste of time. For one thing, I get exposed to a lot of talented people, showcasing their skills in art and litreture. Then there is just the necessity of learning to express myself clearly in written form. Because talking your point across is a lot different than writing it across.

Also 'meeting' a host of people from all corners of the world has been an interesting experience as well.

(ugh!Wrong spelling ...:sweat: :o )

[Mr. Pedro]

I've actually learned how to type a little faster. Prior to TZ, I was a point and push kind of guy, but now I've become a lot more comfortable with a keyboard.

And I guess shooting the breeze with folks via AIM is nice too. I never did that a few years ago.

[Classic Speedy]

I've learned how to express WHY I like/dislike something a lot better. That's the most obvious positive. Being on a forum with lots of different viewpoints helps to gain understanding on all sides and formulate opinions in a more intelligent way.

Also, there's the obvious of getting to know people with the same interests.

Finally, it's helped me through times in my life when.... there's just not much to do. :p

[Kury Wagner]

My family has benefited from it, because I'm not constantly prattling on about nonsense to them as much anymore. I do it to you guys instead. XD

Seriously though, as Pedro said, typing speed has approved. TZ has also helped quite a bit with my nerd-training. And I found my mentor -- Gwenny. :anime:


shooting the breezeThe breeze has feelings too, it hurts the breeze when you shoot it, so you shouldn't shoot the breeze. =P

[Natey]

im smarter

[purplehairedwonder]

I'd say my typing has improved as well. Also, my internet grammar skills have improved by a lot. Plus, I've made some friends who I can talk to about things that none of my friends in RL are interested in.

That, and I've found a pretty intelligent place to spend my time when I have nothing do.

[Demonic Raven]

Being able to talk with people with similar interests (not a whole lot of people are into anime at my school) has it's benefits. Just reading is good as well. Lots of smart people who know alot more than me about video games and animation in general. Lots of cool people here too. :D

Grammar-wise, there isn't a whole lot of room to improve. Though my typing still has some way to go (I still make plenty of typos. Such a klutz).

[Tenku]

Hmm. Well with everyone else, I've finally met people who has the same interests as me, and made a couple of good friends. :)

I can actually touch-type (typing w/o looking down at the 'board) so it's pretty fun looking at the tv and comment. :D

Plus, I have learned through the Story Board's low traffic, thus my pimping of said place, that good things happen to those who wait I think, because had I not had that sliver of patience waiting for someone to comment, I'd... well, I just don't know. Some of my friends complain it's (my story, siggy) too long. Here, no one has a qualm. I just simply warn that it's gonna take a while to read. :D
That's it I suppose.

[James]

A lot. I've meet some great people for one. Some I'm now very close too. I've found some of them extremely supportive and one or two were the first to be involved in a new turn in my life. Their help and belief in me those two-three years past were an asset.

Then the Drawing Board. A few firtive attempts at colouring there got some positive reactions and they - along with encouragement from some closer TZ crew - gave me the backing to approach art at university level. I'm now preparing to try freelancing fulltime as my student years are now finally over.

It also got me to do some other cool things - like the online Batman comic. That got me working with some great artists, improve my artwork and get my stuff seen by what I think is FAR more than people realise...

Back to Toon Zone, thanks to the news, I've had the wonderful experience of interviewing/chatting with some of my REALLY cool writers and artists. Jason Hall, Dan Davis, Christopher Jones, John Delaney, Ty Templeton, Marc Campos. Some I still have the good fortune to speak to via email (and I got a mention as an acknowledgement in one of Jason's books!).

So yeah, socially, romantically and vocationally, Toon Zone has been - to my embarassment, a massive influence. I say embarassment, as to have such a silly thing as a message board to have such an impact on all aspects of your life is kind of... well, sad? :p

[Eddie G.]

Made some great friends. Got some great holiday cards (You know who you are). And I've learned a lot about animation.

[ToOn~g@l]

Well I think this place has actually boosted my confidence. Before I came here I was really shy and afraid to talk about things, now I am always ready to strike up a conversation with someone if they look interested in talking to me.


I also know about a lot of things happening ahead of time and all my friends are often glad to hear some cool news.

[Beguiled]

My typing has gotten a LOT faster and better. :D I've made some good friends, gotten myself to branch out and try new anime/manga, gotten good feedback on my poetry and tons of other things that I'm just to lazy to write! Well actually I just can't remember them at the time. It'll come to me sooner or later...:sweat:

[TimTwoFace]

It's made me a crapload of friends, many of which I'm sure I'll know for the rest of my life.

And yes, a "crapload" is a unit of measurement. That crazy metric system. 1000 craploads is known as a "kilocrapload".

-Tim

[Zach]

I've met a couple of AWSOME friends, i've found a place to discuss CN, and I am always on top of all the TV ratings...

[90'sCartoonMan]

Because when I didn't have any friends, it made me feel like I did.

And I like getting my thoughts out on shows and reading lots of other people's thoughts.

Plus advice is good. I remember your words of encouragement, Phantasm, from a couple months back. It really helped my morale.

[Juu-kuchi]

A good time-killer and a place that allows me to pursue conversation that relate to my interest in animation.

[Gatomon41]

Improving Socail skills, Diversty, and I feel alot beeter about myself.

[JetMaster5]

This place is just very interesting to me. And anything that's interesting is worth benefitting.

[Weatherman]

My time here has helped me make alot of new friends that I would have never known any other way. I can't say all of those friendships have had a positive impact on my life, but enough have to make it worthwhile.

My typing has also gotten faster, if not necesarily better.:sweat:

[Sam]

I uh, barely post so, really, nothing has changed for me.

[solarflere]

It's made me a crapload of friends, many of which I'm sure I'll know for the rest of my life.

And yes, a "crapload" is a unit of measurement. That crazy metric system. 1000 craploads is known as a "kilocrapload".

-Tim LOL you do know your metric system lol. I got a new reason to love my PC, and I have a lot some friends, and unfortunalty some enemies, (which they will live to regret:evil:).
Other than that, its my fav pass time when I am bored.:D

[cross blues]

besides the obvious benefits of being exposed to so many brilliant minds and views different from my own...

I am learning a lot from absorbing what other members have to say and how they say it. for example: I am learning (and it is a gradual process) not to take personal offense when my point of view is attacked or contradicted; to be patient with others who might actually be trying to attack me instead of my argument, because I know I am also gulity of that offense sometimes. some of these things I have realized on my own, and others I have observed in the more mature, levelheaded members (you can guess who they are).

from posting myself, I am learning to contradict arguments instead of attacking the person who put forth that argument. this too is a gradual process. I am making an effort to take something from every post I read -this is especially true in the cafe- instead of just posting my own ideas and leaving. my short temper sometimes gets in the way, but I think TZ is helping with that as well.

unfortunately typing skills have not improved. I still stare at my keyboard and usually type with two fingers. :o

[SSJPabs]

When there were still political threads, my time here was well spent as it allowed me to discuss controversial issues with civility and for the most part, reason.

Now TZ is mostly just brain candy and a place to find neat animation. Not that there's anything wrong with that, we should all have candy once in a while.

[Karl Olson]

Friends, connections, a review portfolio that I might one day be able to use to get atleast a sideline job doing professional journalism/critique and fringe benefits (press badges, screeners, commentary on a DVD to be nationally released.)

[Classic Speedy]

commentary on a DVD to be nationally released.) Oooh, which one?

[Tenku]

I've got another.

Self-confidence. I was kinda skeptical of what people thought of me, let alone my looks and when I posted my prom pics, I was like... :eek: ... wow, they say I'm pretty. Not that I didn't think so, but... ^^;

[dark knight acolyte]

The great thing about TZ is that you can come here in your most (within reason :anime: ) candid demeanor and express your thoughts and talk about anything under the sun that is rated less than XXX, and....

You can expect that nobody will judge you and that everyone will have an eye to read and a message to lend if needed.

Seriously, where else in the world can you go, just be yourself- amongst so many people with such SIMILAR interests- without the fears of being narrow-mindedly judged?

Iv'e been to many message boards, and I can forthrightly say that TZ is easily the most accepting, diverse, and interesting place I've ever been online.

[James]

besides the obvious benefits of being exposed to so many brilliant minds and views different from my own...

I am learning a lot from absorbing what other members have to say and how they say it. for example: I am learning (and it is a gradual process) not to take personal offense when my point of view is attacked or contradicted; to be patient with others who might actually be trying to attack me instead of my argument, because I know I am also gulity of that offense sometimes. some of these things I have realized on my own, and others I have observed in the more mature, levelheaded members (you can guess who they are).

from posting myself, I am learning to contradict arguments instead of attacking the person who put forth that argument. this too is a gradual process. I am making an effort to take something from every post I read -this is especially true in the cafe- instead of just posting my own ideas and leaving. my short temper sometimes gets in the way, but I think TZ is helping with that as well.

I think that's the most honest and admirable reply yet. Good on you. I think debating skills are vital in life, as is self control. If this board can help in any small way to bettering one self, I think it's something the bosses here would be chuffed* to know.

* chuffed - adj : very pleased; "I'm chuffed to have won" - I have a feeling it's not a very international term..

[Karl Olson]

Oooh, which one?

Sealab Season 3. Due to a lack of angry Sealab fans in Atlanta (Matt from Sealab made the call out on our forums and got nothing,) and thanks to my home recording studio, I got to do a "Commentary of Hatred" on the episode "Tornado Shanks." As far as I know, they are going to put it on there, minus a couple of things CN Legal told them they had to delete (namely a couple of product names and "ToonZone.net.") If they don't use it, then it's their loss: they already sent me some swag for my trouble (Brak Cookie Jar, Anime Is Teh S uck Shirt, Adult Swim Coasters, Shot Glass and Bottle Opener and an Aqua Teen Hunger Pen. Oh and a copy of the episode on VHS and a few legal forms in duplicate.)

All Thanks to Toon Zone! :p

[SSJPabs]

The great thing about TZ is that you can come here in your most (within reason :anime: ) candid demeanor and express your thoughts and talk about anything under the sun that is rated less than XXX, and....Are we really going to the same board?

[Classic Speedy]

I forgot to mention this earlier, but my time at TZ has also boosted my interest in anime. Before my time here, the only anime DVDs I had were Street Fighter II and Fatal Fury, and the board widened my interests past video game-to-anime movies. ;)

[Ben]

Not only did I get a bunch of friends, a bunch of cool animation-related opportunities to meet cool people, and fun debates, I actually got a job at an Asian newspaper thanks in part to my clips portfolio from TZ. Nice.

[Youko Recca]

Yeah, there are definitely cool people here. Those are the people that kept me here, and in addition to the information, comes a good place to write, The Story Board(Which does exist believe it or not), plus when you can find the ripe discussion it's good. Also learned to type better.

[Kury Wagner]

* chuffed - adj : very pleased; "I'm chuffed to have won" - I have a feeling it's not a very international term..I've never heard of that word, but now I must use it all the time! It sounds fab!

I suppose I've made a few good friends thanks to TZ too. And I've taken a liking to a few different bands and types of music, thanks to various TZers, therefore that counts too, eh?