Continuing the site!

[LadyVirgoxoxo]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

The Great Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. The Library was part of a larger research institution called the Mouseion, which was dedicated to the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts. The loss of the ancient world's single greatest archive of knowledge, the Library of Alexandria, has been lamented for ages. The books at the library were divided into the following subjects: rhetoric, law, epic, tragedy, comedy, lyric poetry, history, medicine, mathematics, natural science, and miscellaneous. The library is believed to have housed between 200,000 and 700,000 books, divided between two library branches. It is said that it burned a couples of times actually and I won't go further in detail with this. The real tragedy of course is not the uncertainty of knowing who to blame for the Library's destruction but that so much of ancient history, literature and learning was lost forever. If you have seen the movie Black Panther with that realm of Wakanda... I think that world could have been our world right now, if all that knowledge would have not been lost.

And so... there were great things going on in the world back then when all these books and scrolls were written, just like all these threads and comments being made here. In the process, we learn, grow, help each other and so on, just as those people from 2000 years ago have researched everything and wrote it down. They did it because they know it has a build up effect, one thing leads to another, future generations will always be smarter than previous generations because everything is already ready for the new ones and it is their duty to keep climbing.

And the legacy of this forum that is left behind is not just an experience, but it is the spiritual modern version of Library of Alexandria. We should think of the future generations as well, those that right now are falling into a dark path, and one day they can end up on one of the posts of this forum, then browse around, make an account, and join the big family and use it as a crutch or an escape or a help or a guide or an unmatched knowledge source,.. endless reasons. There is no other place like this and there will not be, because this forum already has a certain vibe that when people join it, they understand it and just blend in. I was struggling to understand shadow work meditation few years ago, I did read articles and watched videos, but it wasn't until I found a thread on this forum with people who talked about it, that made me finally have an a-ha moment.

I could have gone in circles for a long time if it wasn't for this forum. We all know the impact it has on all our lives, but this impact will never end if it will keep being up forever, as new generations will come, and all the talks will become more refined as people who learn things from here will grow as parents and is rare to find parents these days to know many of the things being discussed in this forum. And with such parents, their children will be way more aware of a lot of things, and so it keeps growing from generation to generation. I think SF mission is just beginning.

I recommend a gofundme project and it could raise enough money to keep it stress free for a long time.

PS I received the explanation that the other admins do not want to sell it because it is immoral to sell it since it isn't their forum, but it was Matt's. They also cannot just give it away randomly to someone as maybe that someone might sell it. And to destroy all the forum data instead is also even worse in my opinion. Sure, they could sell it and open a foundation in Matt's name. Send missionaries all over the world who can teach meditation in schools, kindergardens.. do something in Matt's name. But this is also not what is going to happen. Then what? Is simply... trust! Choose trust, and not randomly. It takes years to form relations, and I am sure the admins can always promote some mods into admins, and some users into mods. The whole forum would be managed by multiple people, and always other people will pop up and take the place. Can something guarantee that in 60 years from now on it will not be sold? No. But will it be worth? To be online for this long.. to have such a great impact on the world and on so many people's lives. I know the answer. We all do.

This is such a BEAUTIFUL way of putting this. This forum has meant a lot to me over the years. I joined it when I just graduated from high school about ten years ago and I was only just beginning my spiritual and life journey. I've popped in and out over the years and finally returned to it earlier this year. The pandemic made me start reflecting on what in my life has brought me meaning and happiness, and this was one of those things. So, I had to come back. Now to hear that the forums are ending is absolutely devastating. I would love to help any way that I can as well. I've made so many friends on these forums, this is truly a special corner of the internet.

[LadyMay]

Oh! I just remembered my thought

In my profile I have the quote “every end is a new beginning and every beginning is one of many” (actually I think I made that up ). That’s how I was thinking of this site. It may have to be an ending in one sense because there’s not enough server bandwidth... that’s the reason I believe why it was having to be closed down in the first place as it is too expensive to upgrade.

Whilst all the lovely replies here include a willing to donate, my main point is that if you change servers yes the site will change and it will be the end of one era, it will also be the beginning of a new era with a server that would better perform at a price meaning money would no longer be an issue.

If that is a possibility, then to me that makes the most logical sense. However, I also understand many here are quite fond of the way it already is and may rather keep it that way with donations.

It is just a thought anyway

[Uma]

Thank you annafox and all who are supporting this!
I've been part of SF over a decade and it flows with Light!
Great moderation has been for sure the key - openness to all points of view, respectful - it is a peaceful valley filled with beautiful flowers of many different colours and very unique on internet - an oasis.
Count me in for whatever support you need.
How wonderful that you and administrators are considering this!

I read something about returning to an original idea and simplifying.
I would actually like to see more thread houses - like ecology or peace or green energy - to speak about ways of integrating spirituality into daily life because our world needs this more than ever. But it might be too much work so it's just a thought.

[Honza]

Keeping the forum going would be wonderful as long as the people who run the place can cope. Perhaps the site needs some new moderators to help run it. Perhaps Lynn is feeling the pressure.

[StrandedSnowMonkey]

I think it would be amazing to keep it going. It's always felt like home

[RedEmbers]

Originally Posted by ocean breeze

What an interesting turn of events!

It would be more amusing if the admins decided to keep it open but didn't say anything about it until Oct 1. Like everyone says their good-byes then the admins announce that they are just kidding the whole time and the forum is staying open.

I know i would be happy regardless of whether the forum stays open or not but if i had to vote, i'd vote to keep it open.

Lol, yes, I now feel a little bit silly for starting my premature goodbye poetry thread Lol... Ahhh... The anouncement of the site shutting down turned me into sentimental mush

Nothing like a rush of heart felt goodbyes to make one realise the value of what one has

[Anala]

annonafox,

Thank you for planting a seed of hope for the future! And thank you for sharing Matt and his vision with all of us.

[linen53]

Originally Posted by RedEmbers

Lol, yes, I now feel a little bit silly for starting my premature goodbye poetry thread Lol... Ahhh... The anouncement of the site shutting down turned me into sentimental mush

Nothing like a rush of heart felt goodbyes to make one realise the value of what one has

Poetry is poetry. It's still beautiful. And here's another thing SF offers: a place to express it.

Heck I feel like ing everyone right now.

[gemma]

Adding my support and love to this, hoping to see the site continue..

[Flexi-Girl]

Originally Posted by annonafox

Thank you for this. Lynn and other admin would appreciate any information about this---any recommendations anyone might have....and cost estimates.


Even if we can only afford to keep the site in the current version, it would be worth it for so many. I can see that so clearly now reading all of these posts.

If you and the admin wanted to give this place a facelift, (for the record I like it as is, but that's beside the point) I would be happy to contribute a good chunk to help cover the expense. I want to help keep the lights on if I can.

If on the other hand Lynn is truly ready to move on, I fully support her decision.