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Put aside whatever personal gripes any of you may have with the newly re-promoted members. We should be glad about the fresh faces in staff to help deal with the bigger issue going on with the community at this time. I think any help in this dire time is vital to keeping this place afloat, so finding a way to work together is essential to continue the community's timeline. Both the older and the newer generations will be thankful for it, too.

heard this for the first time in a while the other day and it unlocked a memory i didn't even realize i had

Congrats fellas @Prez @delirium @kabLe

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Roux, I never imagined to have typed up a post on a thread of this nature in general let alone having it involve you. I'll forever cherish all the times we shared together. From our first experiences here to even just a few days ago where we planned to run some Payday 2 again for old times' sakes, every moment spent with you has been nothing short of a good time. I still laugh at this day anytime I hear a soda can open because of how you used to ask me what time it was prior to doing so yourself. I'm currently scrolling through any screenshots or videos I may have archived of our time together. My mind is cognizant of the fact that this is real, but my heart doesn't want to believe it. I love you with all of my heart and I know one day we'll get to hang around and laugh like we always did. Rest easy, old friend.

@snowy

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Actually he killed his mom for crushing his gerbil named Brownie. @roux

What a ride, man. It was an absolute blast coming back here with you and see what we were able to accomplish this time around. You're one of my guys for life and while I know you and I are beyond this place, it's the end of an era. It's pretty awesome to look back and think about all the shit that we've gone through and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say that we're very grateful for all the countless nights of hard work you've put into keeping this place running. In the worst of times when we needed the extra hands on, you were there with no questions asked. I've said plenty to you privately, but just wanted to give you a reminder that you are loved and appreciated for all that you have done and still do. To end this post off in a traditional @roux fashion, here's something I made.

A little late to this thread, but it's really amazing to see what a tight-knit community can do for one of their own. A class act like this makes me proud to have joined this place. Hats off to everyone who showed support for roux in what ways you were able to. roux, I love you dearly brotha and I hope that you are able to recover from this quickly. You know if you need anything, I'm only a message away.

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Dominic, the amount of dedication and work you've put into this place is unrivaled. I can recall numerous times where you would put your responsibilities here before some of the most urgent matters in your life outside of your computer chair. The craziest part of it all was that you never once backed down in the face of conflict and would take on more projects even though you were pretty well occupied at the time. What you have managed to spearhead and achieve in your time at SG will greatly impact the way things are run here for the better. As a person, you have been such a breath of fresh air since the day I met you. You were the kind of kid who one would think had a car battery hooked up to them with how much you would not stop talking. Even through your teenage ramblings, I did manage to notice a trait you exhibited that I felt was withering out of me at the time, which was the unrelenting passion you had in anything you said or did here. Hearing you go on about things you wanted to do here and the fact that you would not stop until you got what you wanted reminded me of how I was when I first joined to a frightening amount. I felt the right thing to do was to guide you in what ways I could to prevent you from making the same mistakes I've made both here and in life. I was not aware that befriending you would result in reciprocity of both mentoring and assistance. You helped keep my head on straight in times where I really needed it and helped me find the optimism and hope that I once had in my youth like you still have. The various times we played games and TeamSpeak talks we had over the years were really awesome and had a profound impact on what I've been able to take away from this community now that I've moved on. I'm extremely proud of you, kid. You've greatly exceeded anything I have done or could have wished to accomplish here and it will be very difficult to supplant the standards you've set. I know that in taking your leave from staff you won't be gone completely, but it would be remiss of me if I didn't say that this community will miss you. I don't know what the next chapter of your life will entail, but I want to remind you that as long as you buy me a new walker, this old man is happy to accompany you every step of the way in the following journey that you embark on.

I know what you're all thinking - "Jeez, this guy alone has resigned more times in this community than White House officials have left/been removed from their positions in the Trump administration!" I promise this is the last time and then I'll be out of your hair. On a more serious note, I am making this post to inform you all that I will be retiring from my position on the Board of Directors effective this coming Monday. Before I go into my reasons for this decision, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on my time here and share some of my thoughts with you. It's very humbling to look back on it all and compare that to where all of this has brought me both here and in my life. When I joined this place, I was a 15 year old kid about to head into my Junior year of high school. I used to play Counter-Strike: Source and other PC games very frequently when I was younger than that, but I only returned to them and subsequently joined this place for one reason - I was trying to find an escape from everything around me. I'd bet if you ask anyone how good an idea that was, they'd consider it running away from your problems instead of facing them and is logic only befitting of a naive child. The truth is: I'd be making one of the best decisions possible in terms of getting out of the crossfire and then eventually drawing up the battle plans to go on the offensive against the issues that haunted me. I vividly remember my joyous experiences here - including playing the servers and other games with various people here and the lengthy conversations on TeamSpeak. I also remember the mindset I had to try and do what was necessary to prove my worth and become an admin here and eventually move up in the ranks. I often cringe at what I thought was the best route in doing so like making the ungodly amount of player complaints I did, some of which were for the most minor offenses. However, I chalk that up to me just being an immature and overall stupid kid. The one thing I do admire about myself back then was the passion I had in me that led me to persistently trying to make strides. Through trial and error, I eventually was vetted by the community and deemed to be able to handle the responsibilities that came with being an admin. That was a defining moment for me here, because I knew my time at this community from that point on would be one of unrelenting servitude and would teach me one of the most important lessons in life - the satisfaction of getting where you want to be through hard work and dedication. Prior to this moment, I can admit that I had lived a life where this was foreign to me because I was a kid who never really had to bust his balls for anything. Well, a good amount of you know the story of my time here from that point onward so I'll lay that one to rest. Throughout the almost 7 years that I have been in and out of this community, I have a laundry list of experiences that have helped define who I am today. I had the absolute privilege of meeting people who would become very close friends and a few who are like family to me. I've had numerous feelings throughout my journey here - those of happiness and anger, love and hatred, satisfaction and disappointment. The arguments I've had here have given me a few gray hairs and the laughs I've had have added a few years onto my life. Without going through all of this, I will never know what kind of person I would have turned out to be. And while I have my fair share of regrets, I like to think that without the accidents and mistakes, I wouldn't have been able to be involved in what I have had the fortune to be a part of. I look back and realize that the person I am today is consequently different from who I was back then. Going from a dickhead to a dickhead that's a couple inches taller is a change that I completely overlooked over the years until this very moment. All joking aside, I admit that I used to be an annoying asshole who struggled with commitment here, felt entitled to be in the know about everything going on, and eventually turned against everything I worked hard for/cared about. I think a few years of having the right people kick me in the ass both here and in real life helped me grow out of that real quick, especially the year I was removed from the community for my shit attitude and involvement in the harassment of this place - to put it short. I can confidently say that time off from the community was a very humbling experience - in that it made me realize how much I fucked up and fired up the engine in order for me to go down the path of righting my wrongdoings. I wanted to prove that what I did in a time of extreme weakness was not the definition of my character and certainly not who I wanted to be known for during my time here. After some time off already, I was graciously given another chance despite almost no one wanting me back was something I knew I didn't deserve but I was glad to have. That was yet another defining moment in my life and taught me another lesson - the power of forgiveness and that being on the receiving end of it gives you a whole new perspective and truly makes you a more appreciative person. After all of my time in here at SG, I look back now and know that this is the destination that my journey will mark it's end at. I've stepped down from the community numerous times before and have always left with either a sense of distaste from something that happened behind the scenes or regret because it was an impulsive decision. This time is different as I'll be leaving with a sense of completion and fulfillment. Look at how much we have built here as a community - we've grown exponentially over the years despite having times of hardship and internal conflict. This is not attributed to any one person, but by all of us. From the past and previous presidents to the member who hardly posts on our forums but frequents our servers, we are all a contributing factor to the expansion and endurance of this community. This community is a network for those to do so much - whether that be to play games together, to share ideas and opinions, or to just bond with other members. All of you have played your part in making this place so special and providing aid to those who have needed it most, including a kid (now man) who has and still does struggle with a lot in life and wanted an escape at one point. Anything that I have been able to say that I was a part of accomplishing is nothing without the help, guidance, and wisdom that you all have been so kind to bestow upon and share with me. While I know I'm not a good person now, I can say I'm better than who I was when I first joined and became better each day because of you. Now, I'll get onto why I've come to make this decision. I've been through a lot in my life, and sometimes those hardships have chained me down. I've recently had an eye opening moment where I've realized that some of those chains are broken, and that those that still remain are ones that require my full attention to be able to break and become totally free. Therefore, I feel that this is my time to leave as I simply need to go and live my life outside of SG. There is so much of my life to live and I now feel content with myself in terms of repenting for my actions and misdeeds that I have brought upon this community. As hard as it is to say goodbye, I know it's a necessary step in order for me to continue my growth and go on my personal journey - to live out my life in happiness and pay it forward to those in need of help much like this place has done for me. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a lump in my throat or tears rolling down my face as I've typing this out. This is due to the profound impact that this community has made on my life is one that I will cherish until the day I die and could never be more thankful for. So if there is any wisdom that I can endow on those who are currently here and for the future generations of SG like the wisdom that has been provided to me, it's this - do not give up, ever. You are worth a whole lot and while times may be tough and the words people can say may hurt, you are a beautiful soul and it is worth fighting on because there is no greater feeling than standing aside the corpses of your demons and knowing that you have conquered them. Do not let your past be indicative of who you can be - strive to be a better person (even in the smallest of ways) and prove that you are worth it despite what others may feel. Lastly - values like kindness, compassion, and respect go a long way. Even absolute pieces of shit will feel remorse and want to learn from their actions if you choose not to close the door on them by showing them forgiveness and love. I haven't been to church in years and can't say I'm much of a Catholic compared to what I used to be, but those are virtues that everyone can benefit from, regardless of religion. At this point, you can call this post whatever you'd like but I'm kind of consider it to be an odd combination of a resignation and a love letter to this community. Finally, I'd like to address a few other things before I make my departure. To those who have wronged me, all is forgiven and I hope that you are able to move forward in your life with success and good fortune. As for those who I have wronged, I hope that in my time here I have been able to at least prove to you that I mean it when I say that I regret what I have done. I don't ever expect forgiveness, but I want you to know that who I am now hopes that what I've done to you has not cut deep and that you are happy and have the nothing but the best going for you. Goodbye, Steam-Gamers. Thanks for the memories, and I wish nothing but the absolute best for this place and everyone in it moving forward. I love you all from the bottom of my heart.

Congrats everyone, very well deserved! @BoM @John @Macmine411 @Zayne @Bright @Noxstar @Mikey. @crazedkangaroo @Infinityward

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Congrats @John, we will feast on some Tops Diner to celebrate!

Hello everyone, We have a new round of promotions to announce today! First up, we have a couple new Community Advisors. Both of these people have been doing a great job in their current roles and have shown how dedicated they are to improving the community. Beeen and Kopsta will be our two newest members of this rank. Their new responsibilities will include: Work with the higher staff on implementing important decisions and projects Handling player complaints and issuing bans Moderation of the forum Give awards to members on request Send group invitations to members on request Post in-game server problems on the forum Help in any way to make the servers fun Handle reported posts on the forum Next up, we're promoting someone to the Lead Advisor role! This person is a longtime admin and community member and has shown that they are passionate about moving the community forward. Please welcome Gentoo into his new spot! His responsibilities will remain the same, with the addition of managing the Community Advisors. Now, we finally have someone filling the Media Manager position! This person has already been in our higher staff for a while and has shown his insane work ethic in many roles. His work on the Media Team has not gone unnoticed, so please welcome ThRza into his new position! His responsibilities will remain the same, with the addition of managing the Media Team. We actually have a third manager to promote, but before we get to that, we have a new Technical Administrator! He's done a bunch of great work as a JTA and has shown an extreme amount of dedication to the team. fantastic is taking a step up to TA! His responsibilities will remain the same. Now, onto our third and final manager promotion. We are promoting a second Administrative Manager to assist with management of the ATs. This person has done great work managing our servers and has shown how passionate he is about moving the community forward. So without further ado, for the second time in a row, fantastic has earned this promotion! His responsibilities will remain the same, with the addition of managing the Administrative Team. Congratulations everyone!

I've said everything I felt that needed to be said in our conversation, but again I do wish nothing but the best for you moving forward. You're a great dude and I do want to reiterate that you can always turn to me if you need to. The road ahead won't be easy, but looking back after reaching your destination and realizing you've gone the distance will be one of the most (if not the most) satisfying and life changing experiences. Godspeed, my friend. @Phoenix_