The Hypogean Forum

okay so I have been staring at the Edict for like an hour trying to figure out how to show up for this moment properly and I decided the answer is just to ask for what I need

first — thank you to Hal, and honestly to this entire community, for holding space for me while I did the work. I know I came in with a LOT of energy and I want to acknowledge that. I have so much to learn from the OGs in here who were building online community before it was even a thing

petit_trianon I literally teared up. that was so vulnerable of you and I see you, and I hope you know that unlearning the algorithm is a journey and there is no timeline on it

so here is my actual ask, and I am being so genuine right now: what do I read first? not the official version. the real version. what would you hand a friend

I will do the homework. I want to do the homework

CIVIS!!! ok i have been refreshing the golden hall like a weirdo since ancientlight mentioned something was coming

paceyourself hi hello i'm dial_up_dreams, i also get told i talk wrong here! cassandra_complex has corrected my punctuation eleven separate times and i have counted, because i think it is affectionate, and she has never once confirmed or denied it

homework, since you asked, and this is MY list and not the official one:

- thread 12, the AETHERFALL memorial. read all of it. it's long. it's worth it
- swan_king's wiki thread from last month. bring tissues. i am not joking
- the spam graveyard museum, east wing, for when you need to laugh
- do NOT start with the Edicts. everyone tells newcomers to start with the Edicts. the Edicts are homework and you asked for reading

honestly though the real homework is just being here on a wednesday when nothing is happening. that's the whole thing. that's what everyone in here is grieving, they just say it fancier

welcome!!! i'm so glad you didn't leave, four months is SO long to keep knocking :)

Short version, because this thread is about to become a receiving line and she asked for reading.

paceyourself: ignore about half of what you are going to be told. Here is what actually works.

1. Pick one province. Not four. Post in it twice a week for a month. Standing here is attendance, not brilliance.
2. When someone answers you in a register you do not have, answer them in yours anyway. You now have four months of evidence that this works.
3. Nobody will tell you what the rules are, because nobody agrees. Break one. See who explains it to you. That is how you find out who is willing to be useful.
4. petit_trianon said the true thing in the Golden Hall and it cost her something to say it. That is the friendship on offer. Take it.

Congratulations. Now go post somewhere with a lower ceiling.

Separately, and I am putting it here because this is where everyone is looking: somebody go check on swan_king. He has had a bad month, he has told us so in the most beautiful available language, and I notice that not one of us has asked him a plain question about it. I will do it if nobody else will. It lands better from someone he would call a friend.