The Escapist Forum Timeline

[bluepilot]

Hello everyone,

I have been a member of the escapist just over three years now. During my time here, I have seen a lot of changes, and I think that particular changes and events can be made into a timeline. The following list is events that I remember including some events kindly contributed by JoJo.

Rules: Each year becomes an Era, significant events during that year are listed afterwards/

EDIT 6: Scary thread added. Further thread wars from 2012 also added.

start to summer 2008: The Golden Era

2009: The Great and Terrible Era of Death: The fall and rise of The Reaper, console wars

2010: The Era of the Collapsing Order: The PRIATE swarm, the Irish Invasion, The Decline, Pimping reviews, March Mayhem: the Zynga Incident, the great divide, the Zombie apocalypse, The start of, "My little pony", The Scary Thread

2011: The Era of conflict: The pony plague, the health bar, The great Banning, The Pedo Wars, the Forum games split: The forum games revival, The Lulzsec attack, the rise of $2.50 Reviews, The Bacon shortage, The Dawn of the Red Button (do not press it): Bieber fever

2012: The Era of the New Order: The insistence of Lord Z about ME3, The Attack Of The Gun-Control Threads, the Rise of the Brovengers and the Injustice League, the Drowning Fad, the rape discussions, The Attack Of The Icky Fetish Threads: The Bestiality debates, Pride and Prejudice debates (a reference to feminism), death of putty (note:Katatori is a kind of putty in Japanese), the fall of Danyal (I need a nickname, HELP!) the Fake Geek Girl Invasion, Kross, The revenge of the banhammer, the modGroup discussion wars, The Ghost in the machine


This is the current version but I would like to create one with more details. So, if anyone remembers particular events, dates, notable members, wars e.t.c or if you think that the Eras should be renames/redefined, I would love to here from you. I work until late tonight so do not be encouraged if I do not reply for some time. When I finish, I will read through everything and contribute it to the timeline

NOTE: A lot of notable member's names have came up. So far, I have only added banned members, which it not really very fair because I am rewarding the punished. I want to add some notable members, but everyone can already know the start date from the profile. So, notable unbanned users are under "rise to stardom" in the year they became well-known. Banned users "rise and fall" in the year in which they were banned (usually the same as when they became popular). I am also (trying) to avoid using actual user names, so please propose nicknames for the people you want on here.

NOTE 2: I have to go to work now, and I have no access to a computer. I will be back in 12 hours, read through all the comments, and update

Note 3: I am back from work. Thank you for your responses. I will make an effort to reply to you all...so I will be clogging up my own thread...modGods, forgive me.

Note 4: I have to go to bed now, then work in the morning so I will be away for 14 hours. Please feel free to contribute any memories and I will respond to your replies later.

Note 4: Phew, I got back and read through to the last post. Thank you to everyone who contributed. I think this is our history...more or less

 

[Slenn]

I definitely think that Ponies and related media was enough to spark a lot of subjects in the "Off-Topic" forum... At least when the new show started in 2010.

Also, avatar based games in "Role Playing" probably became more evident at around late 2011 I think. Although in "Forum Games", avatar games would have existed long before that.

 

[God'sFist]

If you've been to R&P the "death" of Katatori Kun and the fall of Danyal part of the 2012 era.

 

[Berithil]

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

 

[JoJo]

Everything important about the Escapist's history in summary:

Spoiler

Up to 30th March 2010 - nothing much happened, just some boring shit

31st March 2010:

Okay, but seriously, we could consider adding some very well known users (for good or ill) in but we have to be careful, since it's pretty subjective where you draw the line and we don't want the list swamped by user shout-outs. A few suggestions of some of the stand-out users for each year:

2010: Aylaine, Jack and Calumon

2011: Caramel Frappe

2012: Daystar Clarion, Fappy, Danyal

Redlin5, lacktheknack and Vault101 all also strike me as some of the best known forum users, though I wouldn't be sure which year if any they'd fit in best. Perhaps it might be better to keep this to events but hey, it's up to you bluepilot >.>

 

[lRookiel]

30th June 2011, Greatest day on the escapist. 'twas the day the escapist was graced with my presence! :3

 

[Sassafrass]

That's two threads I've gone into today and twice I've seen my old group mentioned.
This worries me.

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

I thought that happened in 2010?
Or at least the tail end of 2010.

 

[bluepilot]

I definitely think that Ponies and related media was enough to spark a lot of subjects in the "Off-Topic" forum... At least when the new show started in 2010.

Also, avatar based games in "Role Playing" probably became more evident at around late 2011 I think. Although in "Forum Games", avatar games would have existed long before that.

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

Agggh, two different dates for the same thing. What to do, to which Era, does it belong? Also, is it an invasion, a trend, a plague, of a swarm.

I want to call it the "pony Plague" because I like alliteration

 

[Berithil]

That's two threads I've gone into today and twice I've seen my old group mentioned.
This worries me.

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

I thought that happened in 2010?
Or at least the tail end of 2010.

I definitely think that Ponies and related media was enough to spark a lot of subjects in the "Off-Topic" forum... At least when the new show started in 2010.

Also, avatar based games in "Role Playing" probably became more evident at around late 2011 I think. Although in "Forum Games", avatar games would have existed long before that.

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

Agggh, two different dates for the same thing. What to do, to which Era, does it belong? Also, is it an invasion, a trend, a plague, of a swarm.

I want to call it the "pony Plague" because I like alliteration

The show started in 2010, and a few fans showed up. But it wasn't til 2011 when the flood came, mainly around the summer and the season 2 premiere.

 

[bluepilot]

If you've been to R&P the "death" of Katatori Kun and the fall of Danyal part of the 2012 era.

I think RP needs its own sub category. Any idea when this forum started?

 

[Hero in a half shell]

2010: Aylaine, Jack and Calumon

2011: Caramel Frappe

2012: Daystar Clarion, Fappy, Danyal

Redlin5, lacktheknack and Vault101 all also strike me as some of the best known forum users, though I wouldn't be sure which year if any they'd fit in best. Perhaps it might be better to keep this to events but hey, it's up to you bluepilot >.>

You could include Zeel in the Mass Effect 3 fiasco, because he pretty much turned that whole situation nuclear until the mods destroyed his forum Healthbar, and due to the Escapist forums being stuck in hardcore mode (No respawns) once he was gone they petered out pretty quickly.

Also you forgot the feminism debates this year.

the Drowning Fad

I pretty much started that fad by posting the first slightly altered version of the original thread. I feel so special.

 

[bluepilot]

Everything important about the Escapist's history in summary:

Spoiler

Up to 30th March 2010 - nothing much happened, just some boring shit

31st March 2010:

Okay, but seriously, we could consider adding some very well known users (for good or ill) in but we have to be careful, since it's pretty subjective where you draw the line and we don't want the list swamped by user shout-outs. A few suggestions of some of the stand-out users for each year:

2010: Aylaine, Jack and Calumon

2011: Caramel Frappe

2012: Daystar Clarion, Fappy, Danyal

Redlin5, lacktheknack and Vault101 all also strike me as some of the best known forum users, though I wouldn't be sure which year if any they'd fit in best. Perhaps it might be better to keep this to events but hey, it's up to you bluepilot >.>

True, these are important people, Maybe they deserve too have the Era named after them, but I do not want to use their actual user names because that would not be polite.

2010: The Era of Digimon
2011: The Era of Hot Foamy Beverages
2012: The Era of The Calligraphy Brush

Or something like that

I am open to any proposals

 

[tippy2k2]

March 2010 (could be footnote in Zynga incident): A foolish user asks 4Chan for help in taking Zynga down in the March Madness...the porn....so much porn.......

June 2011: Lulzsec performs a DDOS attack on Escapist

Also, everyone else gets to do this joke! It's my turn:

Pre-March 2008: Site is tiny, no one likes it, it smells funny
March 2008: tippy2k2 joins, Escapist explodes into awesome

 

[bluepilot]

That's two threads I've gone into today and twice I've seen my old group mentioned.
This worries me.

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

I thought that happened in 2010?
Or at least the tail end of 2010.

I definitely think that Ponies and related media was enough to spark a lot of subjects in the "Off-Topic" forum... At least when the new show started in 2010.

Also, avatar based games in "Role Playing" probably became more evident at around late 2011 I think. Although in "Forum Games", avatar games would have existed long before that.

2011: The Year of the Great Pony Invasion. I would definitely count that as a significant event.

Agggh, two different dates for the same thing. What to do, to which Era, does it belong? Also, is it an invasion, a trend, a plague, of a swarm.

I want to call it the "pony Plague" because I like alliteration

The show started in 2010, and a few fans showed up. But it wasn't til 2011 when the flood came, mainly around the summer and the season 2 premiere.

I think it would only be fair to include both events on the timeline. 2010 for the start of the show, and 2011 for the subsequent plague

 

[bluepilot]

2010: Aylaine, Jack and Calumon

2011: Caramel Frappe

2012: Daystar Clarion, Fappy, Danyal

Redlin5, lacktheknack and Vault101 all also strike me as some of the best known forum users, though I wouldn't be sure which year if any they'd fit in best. Perhaps it might be better to keep this to events but hey, it's up to you bluepilot >.>

You could include Zeel in the Mass Effect 3 fiasco, because he pretty much turned that whole situation nuclear until the mods destroyed his forum Healthbar, and due to the Escapist forums being stuck in hardcore mode (No respawns) once he was gone they petered out pretty quickly.

Also you forgot the feminism debates this year.

the Drowning Fad

I pretty much started that fad by posting the first slightly altered version of the original thread. I feel so special.

What year was the 4chan attack? It's happened a few times but if I recall correctly:

March 2010 (could be footnote in Zynga incident): A foolish user asks 4Chan for help in taking Zynga down in the March Madness...the porn....so much porn.......

June 2011: Lulzsec performs a DDOS attack on Escapist

This is all good stuff, it is getting put on there, myah ha ha

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Your memory is better than mine.

I remember Pony Jam though. Before ponies sold out and went mainstream!

 

[Berithil]

I think it would only be fair to include both events on the timeline. 2010 for the start of the show, and 2011 for the subsequent plague

Fair enough.

What year was the 4chan attack? It's happened a few times but if I recall correctly:

March 2010 (could be footnote in Zynga incident): A foolish user asks 4Chan for help in taking Zynga down in the March Madness...the porn....so much porn.......

June 2011: Lulzsec performs a DDOS attack on Escapist

March Madness 2010... I remember. Good lord, do I remember that 0.o

 

[Vault101]

You forgot my arrival T_T

Redlin5, lacktheknack and Vault101 all also strike me as some of the best known forum users, though I wouldn't be sure which year if any they'd fit in best. Perhaps it might be better to keep this to events but hey, it's up to you bluepilot >.>

ah..THIS GUY! gets it!

anyway Mass Effect 3 and to a lesser extent DA2 deserve mentions

March Madness 2010... I remember. Good lord, do I remember that 0.o

I joined late 2010 so I missed out...

 

[TimeLord]

Pre-2008: Nothing important

15th. August 2008: Arrival of TimeLord

13th January[footnote]I'll always remember that as it was the day before my birthday that I was offered the chance to be a mod[/footnote] 2012: TimeLord attains the power of the gods mods

Post-2012: Who knows but you're all doomed.

 

[Berithil]

March Madness 2010... I remember. Good lord, do I remember that 0.o

I joined late 2010 so I missed out...

Yeah, it was.... interesting. It was one of the big 4chan invasions. The mods sure were busy that year.