The CTFG circlejerk: an in-depth study

Stay on topic or I start deleting posts.

I wish we can stay on topic, but we said our opinion and the OP is not around to respond.

i was part of the IB before it became CTFG board.... i didnt read everything but here i go

comparing the IB and the CTFG is kind of like comparing generations so i believe everyone's opinion will clash again and again so it would be pointless to argue about it

one thing i can say here is the relationships here might be imaginary/illusionary as others say but i can say for myself that i for one really had fun in the old IB especially with the members of RS and chat thread that which became a part of me

i always looked forward on talking with them even if we are just spouting randomness or non-sense because its fun and if you asked me how is this fun then i ask you did you do something completely nonsensical before in your life and yet you had fun? if not then.... ill leave it to you how to take it but i dont mean any ill will
even if were just giving virtual hugs i believe this has helped some people for a breather on their problem.. i for one was down before and the people on IB has clearly cheered me up and gave me advices that helped me to recover and deal with my problem....

i believe that the issue here should not be bashed but to be understood by each of the generation of the people on fakku we all might have different opinion on it but you cannot deny that other people found this place as their second home

as for the current CTFG sadly i came here less frequently after the apocalypse so i cannot say anything... the people that were originally with me didnt came as much as well after that... but one thing i can say is that there has been alot of angst/trolling/flaming/hating on the CTFG rather than the former IB..
this might be the cause of newfags going around and flaming or just looking to troll someone because of the lack of respect most newfags have... surely this is an H-site and this is the internet.. but i do believe that even in anonymity you should still have respect for others if not then... i have nothing more to say to it for it'll just be futile

everyone that has been in IB or CTFG that had fun coming there cannot deny the fact that they had fun and that it somehow became part of them

talking to people you enjoy talking with and being able to have fun with them even with all the nonsensical things you do... isnt that more than enough reason for people to stay in IB/CTFG?

looking back at it i can say that it had been a fun experience and if possible i want to go back to that time and enjoy it again especially with the people that made my stay here enjoyable... namely the people in RS and chat thread
Animeholic,Blank_Zai,Rin_penelope,K-A,Elfen Lied,Rengo,mztaken,Yuuki,Katsucha,mr bushido,zeriam,korou,seishiro,catcher,superdanmaku,tsuyoshiro,persondude,imperialX,Iilska zornig(M2991),fallan(nanaya/shiki),symeria,jonoe,kaimax,Cinia Pacifica(Rise AKA rice-tan),gism88 and spalose sorry if i missed anyone but to all that made my stay here enjoyable thank you and godspeed

With waar forfeiting his Global Moderator position, I figured that this is a good time to bump this topic. I have completely updated the OP with a new discussion topic, given that this event can be used as a window for us to see some inner parts of CTFG culture that we omitted in the discussion thus far due to lack of clear-cut information and cases to study.

I have also taken my time to reply to some posts here. Sorry for being 6 months late. Med school sucks. This post is 3,791 words long though, and that's the longest post I've ever written on this site. Quite an achievement, if I may say so.



That’s not really speculation. It’s pretty much the truth...of course, I’m not speaking from any position of authority either.



Have you played the visual novel called Umineko no Naku Koro ni? It is my favourite piece of literature of all time our of all mediums, no competition. One of the main themes in the visual novel is the concept of everything in the universe not having a single truth, but multiple truths based on your perspective.

If you’ve played the visual novel, then this will seem extremely straightforward for you. However, if you haven’t, I’ll use an example to explain. In Umineko, there is the Red Truth which is a truth that one sees “without love”, and then there is a Gold Truth which is a truth that one sees “with love”. Let’s look at the same scenario, but with the two different types of truths:

Red Truth: Rosa is a single mother, and always leaves her daughter Maria at home saying that she has work. Receipts of expensive hotels are frequently found in her purse because she wastes money on hot springs rather than a birthday present for her daughter. Her company also states that she often goes on vacation with different men from the company and stay at these hotels overnight.

Gold Truth: Rosa is a single mother who is always busy at work so she can make money for living costs between her and Maria, her daughter. She goes to hot springs and expensive hotels because the company she works for is an advertising firm and she’s there to find customers. The guys that go with her are her co-workers helping for her work.

So, which one is the truth? As long as the cat box is only partially opened, and not fully opened, we can approach the “truth” with different mindsets, but yet we cannot disapprove one as something that isn’t the truth. Now think back to CTFG’s role-playing, superficial relationships that we have all admitted to...is it a truthful relationship? That depends on your mindset.



Ultimately, most of CTFG’s drama stem from this distorted character or facade that is being role-played. This is something we are all too familiar with. It can’t be helped though, since all humans are narcissistic and desire to be praised, even if it’s random people you don’t know on the Internet.



“Illusion”. What a brutal word. However, even an “illusion” is better than nothing. And I imagine that this might be true for many CTFG regulars, as sad as it may be.



Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed this thread, and am even happier to know that it has contributed to the better of SD.



I can agree to this, but CTFG culture only seems superficial when you have something else in comparison. I did quit CTFG, and I see no reason for myself to be involved with it again not only because my old friends are no longer present, but also for the fact that I also see CTFG as a whole to be quite †˜superficial’. However, why do we think that? Clearly, to think that CTFG is superficial, we must have experienced other forms of human interaction that we deem “genuine”. Without a point of reference, we can’t really judge anything. I propose that we already have enough interactions with real life friends or another group of people we’re close to. Because of all that, we deem CTFG interactions unnecessary after the interactions we already receive elsewhere. Am I right?



Well, to be honest, this is something that isn’t exclusive to CTFG so I don’t have much to say about it in this thread. You can say the same for 4chan as well (which is much higher traffic than CTFG).



On the surface, this seems like a different point, but in reality this is exactly the same problem as you stated in part 1. Both part 1 and 3 of your post are about the purpose of CTFG being superficial and pointless. However, once again I would like to bring up the fact that there needs to be a point of reference for us to call something frivolous. You brought up Twitter just now. Let’s suppose Twitter is our point of reference. Both you and I have numerous followers on Twitter, and when we post something random, we can be assured people can see it. Heck, we both have Facebook too, and even more people will see it there.

Now see what I’m getting at? Similar to you, I don’t post in the “Say something random” threads. However, that’s because we have better methods of being narcissistic. What if you have no friends at all outside of the CTFG? What if no one follows you on Twitter and you don’t have a Facebook, or you have one but have no friends?

Obviously I’m not saying everyone in CTFG have no lives, but it’s definitely a thought. All humans love narcissism, after all. Even if they have no friends in real life.



Yes. When you’re deep into CTFG you will almost always Skype them.



Yes. Definitely.



If you do get deep into CTFG, you definitely do find out enough about them for them to be considered a “friend” in your standards.



It does mean I took my Internet relationships too seriously. When drama happen in CTFG I shed real tears. It’s kind of silly now that I think back, but I so want to find the psychology of what went on in my head back then and why I took it so seriously. Thus, this thread.

Once you’re deep into CTFG, the answer to every single question is



Overall, I think your post was a very thoughtful one. However, it’s also to be expected that you were never engaged with CTFG deeply enough to realize the depth of relationships formed in that subforums can go. From a perspective of one who was never truly intertwined with CTFG culture, this is already a very good post.

The three flaws you pointed out about CTFG are all very much real, and I didn’t deny any of them. However, I tried to point out why these flaws are not as big for those who regular CTFG. Humans are social creatures, and most humans want to be accepted. CTFG provides a place for those who don’t feel accepted in real life. Gambler actually said this thread discusses MMO culture too, and he can’t be more correct. CTFG IS role-playing. If you call that gerrymandering, frivolousness and uncertainty, then I can’t argue with that. In fact, I think if you look at Cinia Pacifica’s post, I think he makes it pretty clear.

Again, I’m not saying all CTFG-goers have no lives IRL. I know many of you and I know you have lives, but I’m presenting a theoretical case to Tegumi here.



Please do. Quite a few posts need to be deleted from this thread, and you know what they are. :)



I am replying to them now.



Apology accepted. Now let me apologize for replying six months late.



This is exactly like what my life on the CTFG was like. Like I said, it was pretty much a huge chunk of my life invested into a forums on the Internet. That’s because just like you, I absolutely loved the time I spent on the CTFG.



Tegumi, are you reading this?

In all honesty, this is precisely what I thought CTFG was to so many people out there, and I truly thank you for your honest sharing. One of the main reasons I imagined CTFG was popular was because real life can really suck for some people, and CTFG is a place where people who suffer from this same problem can gather, and all feel accepted. This is a feeling that everyone lacks in real life, but is obtainable here.



Well, yeah...I was reduced to tears the first time it appeared. It was just so sudden and was so in my face, I didn’t know what I’d do.



Again, Tegumi, are you reading this? This is how important CTFG can be to a person.

It’s almost incredibly how much common feelings we share, especially the part about realizing that people always come and go. Regardless of feeling very close to you, one day they might just disappear without a trace. That’s how the Internet is, I took it. The first time it happened to me with spalose, it was incredibly lonely. I was genuinely hurt, but I swallowed it up and accepted it as reality.

It’s funny, because people come to CTFG because they’re lonely, but CTFG can often be the cause of new loneliness. I’m sure these experiences that we learn can be handy one day. At the very least, I don’t think realizing the truth about CTFG culture is a bad thing in terms of our development as human beings.



I will never leave FAKKU either. FAKKU and CTFG culture has had its impact on my life, and played a role in developing me as a person in the same way as you, though not necessarily as big. My first real relationship was on the Marriage thread, and even to this day I still see that as a real and genuine relationship. Just that alone has influenced my life views in ways that are still more than relevant today.

As long as Jake keeps running this site, I’ll never leave. Priceless fragments of my life are buried here in the archives.



Your post actually discusses the new OP I put up today. Good for you!



To be honest I didn’t expect you actually saying that the relationships here are imaginary/illusionary, but I agree completely. Also, as I said in the OP, I absolutely enjoyed my time in the old IB, and with members of RS such as yourself. It was truly a blast.



So true.



This is definitely reason enough.



I would actually go back to that time too, if possible. However, life goes on and we can’t help but be swept along. I hope to keep seeing you in the Chat Thread occasionally when I go back!

Thank you for making this thread because it has been an interesting read. I would assume it's important to them as IB is to me and other users who go on this site. I lurked before I created my account and IB was one of several section of Fakku that I enjoyed reading and made me join. However, it's hard for me to comprehend what goes on in CTFG. Before I did not want to judge them since outside of CTFG they seem like okay users. But the incident involving Waar and them complaining over if someone is "qualified" to run the Chat Cafe irritated me. I don't understand the glomps, the constant huggles, kisses, and the overuse of emoticons. I will admit that IB has its try hards or users who believe acting liking an ass or saying the word faggot equates to them being accepted in IB and they can be annoying. But the try hards do not last long since they are usually not accepted or liked in IB. I found it interesting that the users that used frequent or still do frequent CTFG were the ones who participated in the attack on CTFG and several users( CTFG users and a random user) considered IB a circlejerk. I am open to discussing with any users currently part of CTFG since I do find their behavior annoying, but interesting.

Wat?

I'm super c00l, wut part of me do you find annoying? D;


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So, in regards to your new topic, Imperial. I'm not sure how I can help but... let's see...

It could just be habit. CTFG can sometimes be something akin to addiction for something you really enjoy. All the interactions and fun times; are just so 'worth it' to those who are really into it. After coming to face the hideous side of CTFG that was full of hate and all - I, myself just stayed there because I looked at the bright side - there are still other users, not everyone hates you; probably an escape route that used to come up in my mind to persuade me to stay, the excuse itself referred to the thread where the haters usually don't post. Then the next thing that happens is that some hater makes an excuse to bicker negatively with me, after finding an excuse in one of my posts and wazzah; back to drama.

In other times, I stayed on CTFG just to watch over it. I can assure you that I'll always keep a tab open for CTFG and will keep refreshing just to wait for something interesting to pop up, or keep that tab to post around out of boredom. I'm just so used to being there and I can't really leave that place be. It still feels like a home sometimes, albeit in actuality; I have no actual reason to be there. It's a waste of time. Rationally, I bet it's insanity.

On CTFG, when you're deep into it, if some users starts to hate you or doesn't like you; you'll find that out soon enough. Normally it stems from something like general courtesy that people expects you to show to them whenever you converse with them. Either they'll ignore or act rude to you, once the hate is triggered. You'll realize that that one little rude thing you said out of honesty, or a recent incident concerning you, where you acted rude and rashly within CTFG is what caused the hate... or so you'd feel. It could just be one speaking in jest, but the joke is taken the wrong way. In other times you'd probably think that the involved people who clearly didn't liked the supposed rudeness are already talking behind your back about how much they hate you. And this will happen for the times to come. Or people will act nice and normal while saying otherwise elsewhere privately. At least that's what happened with me, and as a result, I got more paranoid (because some other user then tells me about how Person A hated me privately, but he acts nicely with me publicly on CTFG), likewise such situations were faced by other users; if I may speak a name for example, someone like Dr Shaneman probably felt paranoid about how others felt about them.

Even after all the issues one can face from just being into CTFG. I don't think it's all that bad. One can't help but decide to move with the flow and make... more friends? Or well, there is this magical chain that just bounds you to that place. You'll never forget it. All those memories, despite the sadness and grief, the past fun will definitely outweigh the value in your mind and you'll still be just there. Except that after gaining all the experiences, you just won't be an actively posting user anymore. Maybe the bad experiences will still haunt you or you just wouldn't want to get too deep into it ever again, as the people you knew are not there anymore. In my case, some of the people I was good friends with are still there, but our relationship themselves are in a somewhat mess, or just stable but I'm lazy to even speak to them now.

So yeah, the answer to the question you asked can be anything. It really just depends on the people who decides to stick to that place.

And yes, I think I spoke a little out of context in some cases.

This entire thread is a beautiful read.

I used to be a frequent visitor to CTFG (this was around the time when there was really only one "troll", the Cafe did not exist, there was a Filipino chat thread and this) and like most people who went to CTFG, also got attached to some of the people there (I'm not going to list any names). Now, I've never experienced any of that hate per say, but rather.. I got tired of the things going on in there (those Marriage threads, glomps [seriously, WHAT IS A GLOMP?] etc.).

As of recent, I just visit CTFG for the occasional hello and short conversation with winter55 and FOG.

Waar actually said he quit being a mod because he didn't enjoy it anymore. And his issue with the previous original poster of the cafe wanting to create the new thread was as if that OP had a sense of entitlement to something on Fakku, which Waar detests. You make it broader, as if that group in CTFG was to blame, but I think Waar was more irritated that someone got their way instead of him getting his way as a mod, than taking it to a whole social plane of CTFG culture. Although, only Waar knows the true truth.

I simply see CTFG as a high school. There are cliques and there are fringe people who don't quite fit in to those cliques. The cliques may hate each other, and specific people from different cliques or even within the same clique may hate each other, but as you said in your OP, it's usually over some insignificant issue that could easily be resolved if most parties involved were more mature.

And just like in real high school, there are dramas, and scandals, and sabotage, and fights, some wide open for everyone to see, and some playing out "under the hood".

I guess for those reasons, I don't really see it in as harsh a light as Imperial does. It's just a natural, social part of life to me.

A typical teen drama.

Sometimes I very much enjoy being in CTFG. The people are nice to each other, and it's comforting to hug, or snuggle, or ask for a picture of a cup of cocoa. Posting jokes and funny videos, poking fun at each other, hopping from thread to thread to see if there are any interesting topics, etc.

Sometimes I very much hate being in CTFG. There are a lot of immature, insecure people there, and if I'm not feeling as if I have to protect someone's ego, I'm worried that I have offended someone, or that someone simply dislikes me for reasons beyond my control.

I have had my fair share of drama, and just as with any group of friends, enemies, and frenemies, I've laughed, I've cried and in a way, I have grown up through existing in that social culture. Indeed, Fakku became a big part of my social life, and I would never regret it being so since I have made irreplaceable friends and met the love of my life there as well.

I see the main social factions on Fakku as CTFG High and IB Insanity Ward. The appeal of IB seems to be the trolling, the one-upping on trolling, and the randomness. Obviously, friendships have been forged there as well, and I'm sure there have been dramas, backstabbing, and enemies there as well. The picture you seem to paint exclusively for CTFG certainly isn't exclusive. It's....normal of everywhere. People are fake to each other and mean to each other in all parts of life.

The definition of circlejerking according to urban dictionary:

The practice of expressing emotions, feelings, and impractical sentiments as a means of bonding or gaining appreciation for the members of your team. Related activities may include, but are not limited to making lists, repeatedly affirming one's consent with another persons already expressed opinion, etc.

Oftentimes 'circle-jerking' will occur during meeting times when people feel the need to express their own opinions over and over for the sake of hearing their own voice. Furthermore, they will speak in circles, never actually reaching a point, therefore, appearing like a total jerk off...the entire session then seems like you've experienced a circle-jerk.

Can you clarify if this is the type of behavior you're referring to?

If so, then I think that yes, CTFG is a place where some of the users seem to find comfort in pandering to each others feelings and making each other feel better with useless sentiments like "huggs" "snuggles" "waters you as a flower" and other ridiculous nonsense. But that's really all it is, I think. Only a superficial surface of socialization, not the meat and bones of the story.

My thoughts are kind of rambling, lol..

You are cool, but the sense of entitlement of some users and constant huggles is annoying to me.

lol, caring about a CHAT AND FORUM GAMES board.

Seriously, it may be fun on a serious level, but in the end, it's a freaking chat games subsection.

[align=justify][color=green][font=verdana]I'll just highlight one thing of why this thread is basically now invalid:



[align=justify][color=green][font=verdana]The moderators should not be allowed to mess with the community how they will - it doesn't matter if some people think it's okay; in all actuality, they should try to maintain the status quo and only act if they need to, not on a whim.

The whole discussion of a circlejerk due to this is inaccurate.

Good thing you're not a mod, or else your opinion on what mods do might actually matter.

[align=justify][color=green][font=verdana]Look at what subsection you're in. If you have nothing to contribute to the thread, don't bother posting at all.

Then let me phrase it this way:
As a regular user you can speculate all you want about the things that a mod should or should not do. It is irrelevant, however, because you yourself are not a mod. As a regular user, what you say has very little to no impact on the actions of the mods. While your ideas as to what mods should be doing may or may not be perfectly valid- that is not for me to determine- they are ultimately only your ideas.

Was that serious enough for you, SamRavster, who insists on posting in different, colored, and re-aligned fonts in the serious section of the forum?

[align=justify][color=green][font=verdana]Last post:

1) It was not the tone of your post that was the issue - it was the content. Your post wasn't relevant to the topic.

2) I've actually been a mod on other forums. Sure, each forum is different, but there are certain things that are the same. They're not my "ideas" - it's common sense.

3) Look up, third post down. Bright pink. You didn't seem to have a problem with that. Stop being picky about the things that don't matter.

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Sorry to Imperial for these past posts. Please continue.

By this logic you must love buying Apple products because you can't help loving to gargle on penis.

There's a huge sense of entitlement coming from that section.