Story of a Mess

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:23:14 GMT

We've all drooled over accounts before. We've looked at statistics and avatar counts and thought, if only I had that many trophies, I would truly be a happy neopian. Well, I'm here to let you in on the secret to being a happy neopian, and guess what? It's not found in the size of your shop, or the amount of stocks you own. The key is making friends! I know, I know, you were expecting me to let you in on some top secret restocking advice, or on how to attain the ever elusive Bonju avatar, but I'm here today to explain a much simpler way of enjoying neopets to the fullest!

Now if you're sitting there in your Dried Bamboo Chair asking yourself, 'Who needs neofriends when I have painted pets and a Diamond Deposit account?' then trust me, you need to read this guide. By neofriends, I don't mean the number of people you have saved uner Neofriends, I mean the number of neopians that you interact and communicate with on a regular basis! Neofriends are people that chat with you, help you achieve your neopian goals, and join you in celebrating your successes! It's beginning to sound kind of nice, isn't it? That's what I thought! But now your wondering, 'how do I go about seeking such neopians?' Well you're in luck because through three simple steps, you will find yourself transformed into a social buzz!

Step One: The Preparation

Now before you go gallivanting about the Lost Desert trying to make friends, you need to prepare yourself. You wouldn't take a test with studying first, or play NeoQuestII without practicing, would you? Of course not! The same is true of making friends, which brings us to step one: preparing yourself to take on Neopia! No one wants to talk to somebody with no personality, so we need to make sure that your personality is visible to anyone who tries to get to know you! The way you present yourself affects how other people depict you, so you want to make sure your presentation is pleasing and inviting. You present yourself in three ways: your userlookup; your avatar; and your font.

So let's start with your userlookup, since it is the first thing people notice about you. Viewing a bland, uninteresting userlookup gives the impression that you are a bland, uninteresting person, which we both know is untrue! So decorate your userlookup! Make it colorful and informative. Do you enjoy role-playing, or are you a hardcore gamer? Tell people that! People should be able to glance at your lookup and get a feel for who you are.

Second, you need to choose an avatar that you like. If you think that avatars are only for avid avatar hunters, think again! Regardless of how you choose to communicate with your fellow neopians, your avatar is always on display. You don't want to blind everyone with a bright yellow default avatar, do you? Pick an interesting avatar to show off your individuality!

But what's an avatar without a font? We have now arrived at your final task in preparation for a social storm, use a pleasant font and neosignature! If you're not a font person, there's no need to spend hours laboring over a creative font and witty siggy, just ensure that your overall font presentation is attractive to the eye. You want chatting with you to be a favorable experience for others, so putting some time and effort into your overall display shows consideration for everyone you meet.

If you followed those three tips then you should have new and friendly look. You should now be ready to take the next step in our quest to ensure you happiness and success as a neopian.

Step Two: Join a Guild

Now that you have your new look, you need to show it off! The next step is to join a guild, but this part can be pretty tricky! You just need to remember three things:

Choose a guild that interests you, you want to have something in common with the other guild members, right?
Being hasty will not be to your advantage. You want to spend time finding a guild where you belong!
Once you join, remember to be active!

In choosing your guild, it's crucial that you join a guild where you will be able to relate to the other members, and where you will fit in! If you choose right, your guild members will become your neo support system, your go-to neopians when you need help, and your cheering section when you take on goals. But they'll never get to know you if you don't post. Speak up, introduce yourself, it's the only way to make friends out of your new guild members. They will not accept you simply for joining the guild, you need to make an effort to reach out for them as well. Though it may seem like a lot of work on your part, being a valued member of a guild will change your entire outlook of neopets! You will not be alone in your neopian endeavors any longer. You will have a group of friends to encourage you, and help you reach your goals. Who wouldn't want that? Just remember to be active, and don't neglect your duties as a guild member. If you respect your guild members then you in turn will be a respected member before long!

Step Three: Take on the Chat Boards

So by now you have made yourself neopia friendly, you've joined a guild, and you are ready for the next step! You are about to take on the Chat Boards. Now I know how intimidating the chat boards can be, but they are the best way to meet neopians with similar interests as you! The key to overcoming your chat board fear is to find a few chat boards where you fit in! For example, if you love collecting avatars, you'll be right at home at the Avatar/Neosignature board. If you enjoy writing poetry, perhaps you should introduce yourself to other Neopian Writers! The point is that there is a board for you, all you need to do is find it. Although it can be overwhelming, don't just sit around and lurk all day, take part in the conversations! If you agree with what someone says, let them. If you have an opinion, give it! Just remember to be respectful of others chatters opinions as well. Before you know it, you'll have plenty of new neofriends.

While chatting on random threads can be quite entertaining, another way to make new friends is to join a chat group! In such a situation, you would be interacting with the same people from day to day, and can therefore get to know them better! A chat group is a group of neopians gather to discuss a common purpose or interest. Chat groups have continuous threads, so whenever you are bored, need help, or just want to chat, you can head over to the active thread and be greeted by friends!

Good Job!

While joining a guild and introducing yourself on the chat boards are great ways to make friends on neopets, the truth is that the opportunity to meet neopians presents itself countless times each day! Perhaps you could introduce yourself to another competitor in that contest you entered, or send off a quick friendly neomail to the author of that comic you found so funny! You need to seize the opportunities as they come! You don't want to end up alone and bitter like the esophagor do you? Of course you don't! You are not alone in Neopia, and it's time you stopped acting like you were and opened yourself up to enjoy the neopians around you! Sure you could simply coexist with your fellow neopians, or you could get out there and let everyone know that you have arrived. Neopets is so much more enjoyable when you have friends to share it with. Say goodbye to evenings spent at the bank until closing time counting every last neopoint, because those lonely days are behind you! Now you can spend your time laughing on the chat boards and plotting in your guild. Neopia takes on an entirely new light when you are in the company of friends.

doo

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:24:35 GMT

We've all drooled over accounts before. We've looked at statistics and avatar counts and thought, if only I had that many trophies, I would be a truly happy neopian. Well, I'm here to let you in on the secret to being a happy neopian, and guess what? It's not found in the size of your shop, or the amount of stocks you own. The key is making friends! I know, I know, you were expecting me to let you in on some top secret restocking advice, or on how to attain the ever elusive Bonju avatar, but I'm here today to explain a much simpler way of enjoying neopets to the fullest!

Now if you're sitting there in your Dried Bamboo Chair asking yourself, 'Who needs neofriends when I have painted pets and a Diamond Deposit account?' then trust me, you need to read this guide. By neofriends, I don't mean the number of friends you have saved in your adress book, I mean the number of neopians that you interact and communicate with on a regular basis! Neofriends are people that chat with you, help you achieve your neopian goals, and celebrate your successes with you! It's begining to sound kind of good, isn't it? That's what I thought! But now your wondering, 'How do I go about seeking such neopians?' Well you're in luck because through three simple steps, you will find yourself transformed into a social buzz!

Step One: The Preparation

Now before you go gallavanting about the Lost Desert trying to make friends, you need to prepare yourself. You wouldn't take a test with studying first, or play NeoQuestII without practicing, would you? Of course not! The same is true of making friends, which brings us to step one: Preparing Yourself to Take on Neopian! Nobody wants to talk to someone with no personality, so we need to make sure that your personality is visible to anyone who tries to get to know you! The way you present yourself affects how other people depict you, so you want to make sure your presentation is pleasing and inviting. You present yourself in three ways: your userlookup; your avatar; and your font.

So let's start with your userlookup, since it is the first thing to notice about you. Viewing a bland, uninteresting userlookup gives the impression that you are a bland, uninteresting person, which we both know is untrue! So decorate your userlookup! Make it colorful and informative. Do you enjoy role-playing, or are you a hardcore gamer? Tell people that! People should be able to glance at your lookup and get a feel for who you are.

Second, you need to choose an avatar that you like. If you think that avatars are only for avid avatar hunters, think again! Regardless of how you choose to communicate with your fellow neopians, your avatar is always on display. You don't want to blind everyone with a bright yellow default avatar, do you? So put some effort into how people will view you, and pick an interesting avatar to show off your individuality!

But what's an avatar without a font? We have now arrived at your final task in preparation for a social storm, use a pleasent font and neosignature! If you're not a font person, there's no need to spend hours laboring over a creative font and witty siggy, just ensure that your overall font presentation is attractive to the eye. You want chatting with you to be a favorable experience for others, so putting some time and effort into your overall display shows consideration for everyone you meet.

If you followed those three tips you should now have a completely new and friendly look. You should now be ready to take the next step in our quest to ensure you happiness and success as a neopian.

Step Two: Join a Guild

Now that you have your new look, you need to show it off! The next step is to join a guild, but this part can be pretty tricky! You just need to remember three things:

Choose a guild that interests you, you want to have something in common with the other guild members, right?

Being hasty will not be to your advantage. You want to spend time finding a guild where you belong!

Once you join, remember to be active!

In choosing your guild, it's crucial that you join a guild where you will be able to relate to the other members, and where you will fit in! If you choose right, your guild members will become your neo support system, your go-to neopians when you need help, and your cheering section when you take on goals. But they'll never get to know you if you don't post. Speak up, introduce yourself, it's the only way to make friends out of your new guild members. They will not accept you simply for joining the guild, you need to make an effort to reach out for them as well. Though it may seem like alot of work on your part, being a valued member of a guild will change your entire outlook of neopets! You will not be alone in your neopian endeavors any longer. You will have a group of friends to encourage you, and help you reach your goals. Who wouldn't want that? If you forget what time the snowager sleeps, someone will be there to remind you when it's time to sneak your way be (and defrost you when you get frozen by his icy breath!) Just remember to be active, and don't neglect your duties as a guild member. If you respect your guild members, then you in turn will be a respected member before long!

Step Three: Take on the Chat Boards

So by now you have made yourself neopia friendly, you've joined a guild, and you are ready for the next step! You are about to take on the Chat Boards. Now I know how intimidating the chat boards can be, but chat boards are the best way to meet neopians with similar interests as you! The key to overcoming your chat board fear is to find a few chat boards where you fit in! For example, if you love collecting avatars, you'll be right at home at the Avatar/Neosignature board. If you enjoy writing peotry, perhaps you should introduce yourself to other Neopian Writers! The point is that there is a board for you, all you need to do is find it. Although it can be overwhelming, don't just sit around and lurk all day, take part in the conversations! If you agree with what someone says, tell them. If you have an oppinions, give it (but remember to be respectful of other chatters and their oppinions as well). Before you now it, you'll have plenty of new neofriends.

While chatting on random threads can be quite entertaining, another way to make new friends is to join a chat group! In such a situation, you would be interacting with the same people from day to day, and can therefore get to know them better! A chat group when a group of neopians gather to discuss a common purpose or interest. Chat groups have continuous threads, so whenever you are bored, need help, or just want to chat, you can head over to the active thread and be greeted by friends!

Good Job!

While joining a guild and introducing yourself on the chat boards are great ways to make friends on neopets, the truth is that the opportunity to meet neopians presents itself countless times each day! Perhaps you can introduce yourself to another competitor in that contest you entered, or send off a quick friendly neomail to the author of that comic you found so funny! You need to seize the opportunities as they come! You don't want to end up alone and bitter like the esophagor do you? Of course you don't! You are not alone in Neopia, and it's time you stopped acting like you were and opened yourself up to enjoy the neopians around you! Sure you could simply coexist with your fellow neopians, or you could get out there and let everyone know that you have arrived. Neopets is so much more enjoyable when you have friends to share it with. Say goodbye to evenings spent at the bank until closing time counting every last neopoint, because those lonely days are behind you! Now you can spend your time laughing on the chat boards and plotting in your guild. Neopia takes on an entirely new light when you are in the company of friends.

Futura

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:14:29 GMT

Do you ever wish that you could see the rest of your life? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty in your existence? Are you desperate to know if everything will eventually be ok? Would you like to predetermine the decisions you will be forced to make before actually being faced with them?

Do you ever want to know how your future will play out? Do you wish that you could simply breath easier with the knowledge that everything will someday be good, or resolve yourself to a life of inevitable woe.

Would you like to know what is to come in your life, and how you will respond to it? Do you want to eliminate the uncertainty from yourself. To find ways to end the overwhelming confusion, or to know of pain before it actually reaches you so that you can find a way to numb yourself to it?

Knowing your future could do this for you. It would eliminate stress, dissolve confusion, prepare you for pain to come, and shed light on the uncertain. You would no longer be a slave to decisions, nor a victim to the stress of indefiniteness.

But it would take some of the brilliance out of life as well. Where is the excitement in living day to day if you know the inevitable end you will find? It seems to me that life would be devoid of all color and romance if we knew our future. The joys in living would turn bleak with boredom and monotony. Without the suspense of the unpredictable, life is just a series of ups and downs without passion. The element of uncertainty that makes disaster such a painfully hard blow also makes joys and triumphs that much sweeter.

How would you choose? Would you be willing to sacrifice the animation in life to eliminate the uncertainty? Would you choose ease over passion? Painlessness over hope? Is it worth it? How would you choose?

Do you ever wish that you could see the rest of your life? Do you ever want to know how your future will play out? If you were given the opportunity right now, what would you choose?

Soul

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 02:50:35 GMT

When you look into your soul, what do you find?

Does your soul tell you that you are living for the right reasons, going after the right ambitions? Or do you find that you've become a person who is dishonest, untrue? Does your soul tell you that you need to change? Or have you gone so wrong that you cannot find your soul at all?

Sometime we need to reach into our souls to find meaning, to remember the reason behind the life.

Are you someone who fakes their way through their day? Or someone who has remained faithful to the ultimate ideal of themselves? Have you sold what you stand for to other people, have you changed to fit a standard someone else has set for you? Was that standard lower then the one you find in your soul? Do you discover that somewhere along the way you've veered off track, made a wrong turn, lost sight of your soul?

Sometimes we need to pause, probe into our soul, and reevaluate the reasons behind the life. When was the last time you measured yourself against the person your soul tells you that you want to be? Did you meet the expectations, or did you fall short and found lacking?

When we can't make sense out of ourselves, when we don't know what to write, we need only look within ourselves, into our soul, and get reason back.

hmm

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 01:42:45 GMT

It's Amazing how time passes even when you don't. It seems impossible that the balance of the world can remain completely unshifted and undisturbed even as your life plunges out of control or loses the importance it once held. It is especially hard when one is required to live in the aftermath of a chaotic catastrophe, and even harder when your ability to cope and think rationally shuts down as a result of it. When a storm hits that leaves such damage in it's wake, coping and carrying on can cease to hold any appeal. it's easier to just numb yourself and shut out the pain and suffering that emotions bring. In doing so, however, you unavoidably also eliminate feelings of hope, compassion, ambition, passion, excitement, and love. One can become so desperate to numb the pain and end the hurt that slipping into a sort of inactive state to let life pass on without you can seem like the most painless option. It is impossible, however, to remain in such a state forever. Eventually life will force you to come to terms with your past, face reality, and examine yourself and your life as they truly are.

Unavoidably, you wake up and realize that as you numbed your soul, your life slipped out of your grasp. That can be extremely difficult to accept because the feelings of loss and hopelessness can be so overwhelming. Often people are unprepared to come to terms with what they have lost, and the part of themselves that they cannot get back. And then the panic sets in as you desperately try to reclaim your life as it was before you stopped living, but find that it's impossible to return your life to it's former way. Some people find the strength within themselves to climb out of the rut, recover who they were, and form something functional out of the broken pieces. Others don't have that strength within them, so instead remain shattered. These people take the alternative to really living. Instead they survive, they just get through life without the passion and color that make it worthwhile. Time passes on and the world continues rotating, but with one less soul in it.

people

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 01:40:07 GMT

People will never really understand you, or even take it upon themselves to try to. Everyone is simply too preoccupied with themselves to look beyond the surface of the facade everyone must hide behind to get by. You may never get credit where it is truly due. When categorizing you and labeling you within the walls of their minds, people will not calculate the personal obstacles you've overcome, the hardships which are a constant presence in your life, or the amount of pain you fight through daily into their final judgment of you. They will only see you as the stereotype easiest to categorize you as before disregarding you into the back of their minds.

Intro

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:10:25 GMT

I am confident that I will have plenty of entry's in the future in which I can rant about my childhood as the victim of extreme psychological abuse, the roadblocks I face as a result of that, the burdens I carry, and my occasionally shocking self destructive behaviors. For now I will start with the basics.

My name is Madison Parker and I live in Atlanta, Georgia.

I have a life: when I'm not busy surrendering it to the romance of self pity.

I have friends: or at least I did before life got unbearable and I shut them out.

I attend a High School: sometimes, on days when I am in control of myself and perfectly rational.

You see I have certain problems. I won't go into them right now because each problem warrants paragraphs upon paragraphs of ranting which would hold no value to anyone but myself.

I have only recently come out of two months of intense rehab, I am on a truckload of medication everyday (which often brings with it extreme behavioral side affects), I was forced to drop out High School and am only now trying desperately to catch up, my mother and I are fighting a harsh battle against my father and losing (at least when we are not battling each other), and overall I feel as if I am drowning with no way to break surface.

I don't lead a very typical life. Chance is my life is nothing like yours, and you cannot relate to me in any way. However I have discovered that when you screw up as often as I do, or lead a life this fucked up, you unavoidably pick up a little wisdom and insight. And while I may be too pigheaded and self-destructive to benefit from the lessons in my own life, perhaps someone else will.