I miss the good old days

[velcro76]

 I haven't even started flying yet, just decided I missed AW from back in the day and signed up for the trial. I have similar memories of fair fights, challenging specific people, etc. I hope I can run into some AW folks from 95-98 kinda area, maybe we'll remember each other. If anyone from that era with an intact memory remembers Velcro or Nobody (my two names, I never was decisive), say Hi. I was good enough most knew me, but that was a long time ago. I spent my first three months on AW gunning in bombers cause I couldn't fly a lick. Then, with a lot of flight sim exp. I eased my way into a spitfire and voila! I wish I could remember some names, but I was in a haze back then. I remeber a P-38 pilot named Vet32 that was dominant, and a couple 109 pilots (AcGsr) and my trusty wingman, or was I his? Rempf. Anyway, waxing remnicent, but as soon as I decide if I want to try it on my laptop...ugh...I'll be up there making a fool of myself...for a while...then look out! Should i assume you can ride shotgun in bombers in AH2? Cause I think thats a good place to start.

[Urchin]

This is a topic that really gets some folks back hair up.  

I know that I percieve a shift (for the worse) in gameplay over the years.  Does that mean the shift really happened?  Or is it more likely that over the years I became so good at what I enjoyed doing (which is fighting other planes) that very few people could pose enough of a challenge to keep it interesting for me?  I think it was the latter.  I also think that the much larger population didn't help.  I just got bored, and frustrated.  Even now, I find it difficult to find a truly enjoyable 1v1, but I'm not really good enough yet to take a subpar plane and win a 2 or 3 on 1.  So I still get frustrated when I play the game, but I have to remind myself that other people aren't playing the game for my enjoyment, they are playing for *their* enjoyment.

Even in the DA, where I spend most of my time currently... I see a lot of stuff that half amuses and half disgusts me.  There is no score in the DA... it *truly* does not matter.  The only thing that matters is what you think matters.  For me, it is fighting.  For some others it is just getting as many kills as they can.  Others, I think, crave attention.  I guess I have a bit of an extreme view on "respect" and how you show it to other players.  Generally speaking, I show respect by not piling in on a fight.  That is pretty much the extent of it.  If I crippled you, and I can finish you off, odds are good I will.  If someone else crippled you and you killed them... I'll probably let you go.  If you are already fighting 3v1, I'm not going to come in and cherrypick you, then <S> like it was some sort of good fight.  To me, thats a mockery of the whole thing.  

Skyrock comes from the same school of thought I do.  When someone acts in a manner you disapprove of, you let them know.  When they act in a manner you approve of, you let them know.  The main difference between us is I have come to the realization that not too many people actually give a toejam what other people think of them, particularly not in the environment of the MAs (giant, faceless populations make for crappy peer pressure).  I know for me it was the disapproval of Hblair that got me on the road to learning how to actually fight, as opposed to learning how to kill people once I had every possible advantage, and running like a scalded cat otherwise.  For Skyrock I believe it was NathBDP.  Nowadays, I really think it is a lost cause, so I don't bother.  I try to return any <S> I get, even if the guy who sent it just cherrypicked me out of a 5 on 1.... because I know he truly doesn't care that it was a weak way to get a kill.  

The biggest casualty on 'my side' is any genuine respect for other players.  The thing that sucks the most about swapping between the different sides (or even the AvA) is that you come to realize that everyone really is almost identical.  All three sides gang, all three sides horde undefended bases, all three sides spawncamp and vulch.  So I've really lost any desire to interact with anyone outside my squad (or, oddly enough, people I 'know' from the BBS) other than in a perfunctory manner simply because I know they will act in a manner that I will disapprove of at some point.

Anyway, there is the end of my huge long post on the matter.  

[humble]

You dont even need to go back to AW or WB to describe the "good old days". When I came to the AH beta in sept of 1999 it had a relatively small player base with literally a 100% experienced player base. EVERYONE came from AW or WB any many went clear back to AW on Genie. There wasnt a weak tit in the bunch. Average peak load for the server was probably 100 or so...

60% of your fights were one on one or 1 on 2, 2 on 1 with no one really violating the "4th man in rule" but orbiting waiting for another guy to show up or someone to die. If a guy was successful in beating the "2" in the 1 on 2 but damaged or bingo he got a clean ditch and reupped. Nobody hoarded and nobody vulched....everybody fought and what mattered was how you handled a relatively "even" fight. "Who" you were was based on how you conducted yourself and how you were precieved was your real "score"

A different time, a different place and by and large a different mindset...end of story.

[SkyRock]

Maybe it would help if he knew his age to better understand his situation? I'd hate to think I (48) was talking about a 14 yr old. I'd feel real bad and would treat the situation differently in opinion.

We know him by the way he presents himself on 200, and that's all. We should not HAVE to go to the DA to get to know him intimately. He projects a certain persona which he chooses and he\we has to live with it. We need not go out of our way to investigate (what I view as ) a split personality. So far that I have seen he has no concept of leading by example. He wants praise yet pummels the radio with insults and personal attacks. Every night for hours.

If I were a GA\Tech now as I were in AW (under AW rules which do not apply here), I'd mute him for arena disruption, and it would be justified easily.

We are not the one's who need to look, he needs to look within himself if he wants to be treated as anything other then the persona he presents to us. personally he's very transparent and predictable to me. I've seen it 100000000 times. He's not and will never be alone in this.

This 1-1 thing\demands in a crowded arena is pure utter nonsense, and just a reason to spew hateful temper tantrums and personal attacks,.. even against his own country men. I'll bet that draws a lot of cooperation.

He says he can own me at any time, and I never even fought him, nor him me. SO how would he even KNOW this? Of course while he only thinks I've been flying for a week, I've been doing it for 14 years. For all he knows I could spit out my window and hand him his butt. I doubt that to be true, but he doesn't KNOW either way, nor I. I just humor him because that's all the attention he deserves from me with that attitude.

So this stuff where he ( or anyone else it's not just him) just attacks people who do something to put him in a bad light is nonsense and just a reason to spew hateful attacks on people on open channel every single night that I have been here.

I have a strong feeling it has nothing to do with people doing him wrong, I think he seeks out reasons and is a master at justifying his foaming at the mouth on 200. he really wants to be respected and admired, and that's where it all comes from.

I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and I believe everyone can stand to learn something about themselves and apply it. I'm sure somewhere a long the line he IS a good person, he just seems to refuse to show it. Maybe he views it as a weakness?

The dark side has held me in it's hand a few times too, I'm not perfectly innocent. It was only when I became a GA\Tech and had to deal with the masses that I came to understand my own faults by watching them with my mouth sealed shut. When I did correct my own faults, and only then, did I become respected in the arenas. The entire game probably fainted when they made me a GA (Game Assistant), I was a bad boy and many vets here can confirm that, with vivid memories. Culero convinced Moggy, Mage. Blesk and Vet and made an example of me that it could be done. I honestly don't think I let them or the players down.

Money does not make a man. Meaning projecting yourself as THE ONE does not instantly reward you with respect, in fact it deters it. People who live by this concept,...their mileage will vary.

I'd like to see a change in him (we ARE using him as an example of many, of which I apologize for) because I believe the guy has a true passion for the sim. Passion can get the best of us all and it has and it will. I think he\they has it in him to change how we see him on his own. You will never MAKE someone change. He's VERY proud of his accomplishments and should be, but at some point he and many like him need to be humbled and present their new found skills in a way that people WANT to respect them.

Most here will also learn as some already know. I am a long winded SOB. <S>

Animl, I presume, the first time I ever saw your name ingame was on 200 insulting me.  Not once had I ever typed anything to you.  Yet, you assume you know "why" I act a certain way.  As I've stated before, my bantor is a drop in the bucket of what regularly takes place on 200.....and always has(at least for the past 5 years I've been playing).  I see comments everyday about people's mother, wife, sexual preference, cultural history, and so on.  So remember these things, SkyRock is a character, I am the character, I enjoy being the character, I do not fly planes in WWII, this is a game, this is a fighting game, smack talk will occur, attempting to be holier than thou gets you nowhere with me, "dweeb" is not a bad word, "twit" should not hurt one's feelings, one should not have thin skinned in this world(much less this video game), I own you, shut your trap!

[humble]

Maybe it would help if he knew his age to better understand his situation? I'd hate to think I (48) was talking about a 14 yr old. I'd feel real bad and would treat the situation differently in opinion.

We know him by the way he presents himself on 200, and that's all. We should not HAVE to go to the DA to get to know him intimately. He projects a certain persona which he chooses and he\we has to live with it. We need not go out of our way to investigate (what I view as ) a split personality. So far that I have seen he has no concept of leading by example. He wants praise yet pummels the radio with insults and personal attacks. Every night for hours.

If I were a GA\Tech now as I were in AW (under AW rules which do not apply here), I'd mute him for arena disruption, and it would be justified easily.

We are not the one's who need to look, he needs to look within himself if he wants to be treated as anything other then the persona he presents to us. personally he's very transparent and predictable to me. I've seen it 100000000 times. He's not and will never be alone in this.

This 1-1 thing\demands in a crowded arena is pure utter nonsense, and just a reason to spew hateful temper tantrums and personal attacks,.. even against his own country men. I'll bet that draws a lot of cooperation.

He says he can own me at any time, and I never even fought him, nor him me. SO how would he even KNOW this? Of course while he only thinks I've been flying for a week, I've been doing it for 14 years. For all he knows I could spit out my window and hand him his butt. I doubt that to be true, but he doesn't KNOW either way, nor I. I just humor him because that's all the attention he deserves from me with that attitude.

So this stuff where he ( or anyone else it's not just him) just attacks people who do something to put him in a bad light is nonsense and just a reason to spew hateful attacks on people on open channel every single night that I have been here.

I have a strong feeling it has nothing to do with people doing him wrong, I think he seeks out reasons and is a master at justifying his foaming at the mouth on 200. he really wants to be respected and admired, and that's where it all comes from.

I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and I believe everyone can stand to learn something about themselves and apply it. I'm sure somewhere a long the line he IS a good person, he just seems to refuse to show it. Maybe he views it as a weakness?

The dark side has held me in it's hand a few times too, I'm not perfectly innocent. It was only when I became a GA\Tech and had to deal with the masses that I came to understand my own faults by watching them with my mouth sealed shut. When I did correct my own faults, and only then, did I become respected in the arenas. The entire game probably fainted when they made me a GA (Game Assistant), I was a bad boy and many vets here can confirm that, with vivid memories. Culero convinced Moggy, Mage. Blesk and Vet and made an example of me that it could be done. I honestly don't think I let them or the players down.

Money does not make a man. Meaning projecting yourself as THE ONE does not instantly reward you with respect, in fact it deters it. People who live by this concept,...their mileage will vary.

I'd like to see a change in him (we ARE using him as an example of many, of which I apologize for) because I believe the guy has a true passion for the sim. Passion can get the best of us all and it has and it will. I think he\they has it in him to change how we see him on his own. You will never MAKE someone change. He's VERY proud of his accomplishments and should be, but at some point he and many like him need to be humbled and present their new found skills in a way that people WANT to respect them.

Most here will also learn as some already know. I am a long winded SOB. <S>

I could care less if your "long winded", however you do appear to be egotistical and uninformed. As you yourself mention you've only been here a short time yet you readily make a judgement about someone who's been here for years. I'm certainly not going to unilaterally defend Marks more then occasional exuberance. What I will point out is that 99% of the time he's a classy loser (on those rare occasions) and when he's not he'll publicly acknowledge his transgressions either here or in game or both.

I dont see what benifit you bring by launching a diatrab against someone you dont know specific too issues you dont understand supported by references about your conduct in a game for all purposes long dead. Marks conduct is very much inline with the top 100+ sticks back in AW FR. The code was real and the code was policed and peer pressure played a part...and back in the day ALL that mattered in AW was how you handled your plane in a 1 on 1. you flew together but you stood alone...

[tokenjo]

Ya .. know .. I miss em too .. it was different .. no ho-ing .. a call of bingo ammo over the main com .. a shake of the wings .. maybe we need a old people arena .. ; )   Actually, I like the new times too .. you do see it .. a call for help and a response .. a sincere one .. " although someone over the weekend asked how they .. " hook up a mike .. "  and I had to bite my tongue from replying .. but in general .. I still find it fun ..  I see some of the ol AW guys still flying .. I wonder if there are others too under new names ? .. deadduck, gypsiebaron, bullethead, CAF guys .. etc .. even Shane .. I cant see them just giving up .. atleast not for long .. ?

Tokenjo  

Just came across this link a week or so ago .. ought to bring back some good mems ...



I wouldnt be so sure it has no useful application to combat. I followed MD and Dustys instructions to the letter. As I came through the cumulus and 52,000 there on top of the cloud layer were DD and Wolfman trying to unravel a snarl in the telephone cables connecting their aircraft.

At 70,000 I found a woman at a giant spinning wheel weaving the great net. It spun invisibly down over the airwarrior terrain. Each time she carded the fabric I could see warps arcing out from the wheel toward the nodes.

Finally at 150,000 ft a great golden light shown on the perspex of my canopy. I saw orange sunbeams dancing across the land below from the great southern sun. A fine castle appeared to sit on clouds of cotton. At the gates sat an Arc Angel and behind him all the books of Air Warrior knowledge guarded by a Roman Centurion. Rows of writings and diagrams by the aces of history. Boxes of sound files, views, hand-crafted joysticks. Stacks and stacks of 486DX66s.

I glided slowly to a stop in front of the Angel. My heart pounded as I realized I had found the source of all knowledge and rewards in Air Warrior. I climbed onto the wing and was about approach the treasure. The great angel stood and walked over to my plane. He reached out to me. In awe I extended my hand in greeting. The angel reached past my extended hand gathering my plane into the folds of his magnificent robes. With a small smile he crushed the wings and flung us over the edge of the cloud and down into the void.

As I fell from the heavens, my plane and I wrapped in our dive of death. I uttered one last question: ...................Dok, ...........Why?.....

Because, my son.......................

You...people down there..... piss... me... off.

Scav

[DrDea]

Dok is a level all to himself.You can see the hate in his eyes

[DrDea]

Anyone got the beginnins to AW?I gotta dig for that.But the..In the beginning...et all...I gotta dig out floppies for that.

[FT_Animal]

I could care less if your "long winded", however you do appear to be egotistical and uninformed. As you yourself mention you've only been here a short time yet you readily make a judgement about someone who's been here for years. I'm certainly not going to unilaterally defend Marks more then occasional exuberance. What I will point out is that 99% of the time he's a classy loser (on those rare occasions) and when he's not he'll publicly acknowledge his transgressions either here or in game or both.

I dont see what benifit you bring by launching a diatrab against someone you dont know specific too issues you dont understand supported by references about your conduct in a game for all purposes long dead. Marks conduct is very much inline with the top 100+ sticks back in AW FR. The code was real and the code was policed and peer pressure played a part...and back in the day ALL that mattered in AW was how you handled your plane in a 1 on 1. you flew together but you stood alone...

I don't benefit from *anything*, except at your own admittance, I don't think anyone would complain if he AND OTHERS LIKE HIM (re-read the org) would pull it back a bit.

The name was brought up way up creek, so I stuck with that example that others seemed to have the same experiences. Why do you pick my post? I explained in the post you claimed to have read that his name was basically an example and he wasn't alone, followed by an apology. Selective reading?

I'm sorry if you don't agree with my POV as a newbie's first impression (being mine) of the game\sim and the most vivid people that created that first impression. But I'm sticking to it. I called it like I experienced it. Do I stand here alone? Am I the first to say it? Is my first impression wrong? Judging by your own words it's not far off. I never once said he wasn't a good stick, I never said I was, I also said I'm sure he is a good guy....you're over defending him. So I think the point you really want to make is that I am "egotistical and uninformed" isn't it?

I may be uninformed about the game mechanics of AH, but personas in an flight sim arena and communities is nothing new to me. Has nothing at all to do with AW, FR, or RR, if nothing else basic common sense. I use my experience there as example, so what? Because they are from AW they are auto-wrong, experiences don't count? No one is applying AW rules here, merely suggesting from people who quit beating head against wall years ago.

That's my opinion, you're welcome to your own. What do *you* think a newbie sees?

But ironic you draw that association of FR,..because if I recall, some FR folks were referred to as "Elitist" because they openly looked down on ALL RR pilots and were proud of it. And these very people created hard feelings that caused a bridge between FR and RR that was never ever over come in the game, not even in the last days. Once that was done there was just no hope yas scared them away making them squeak toys and because of a hard learning curve to them. IMO those masters of humiliating anyone out of the the FR clich played the cards wrong, Noobs had another place to go get away from it, RR. And I followed because that's where the fun went. Why go FR and learn a new curve and be humiliated by self proclaimed "the ones" when and then BW misfits when you can do circus acrobats and still live RR? Should have never let them get used to RR, sometimes stupid mouths cause big problems. Which part of FR do you think it fits into? The things I said here is EXACTLY what the good hearted FR vets told me when I first started in FR. Me thinks you were maybe one of them, or were you one of those being an elitist?

Lets stay real here. Some of the most dignified vets flew in FR, 10-12 years before me they were my idols and some fly here too, so did some Elitist who caused much damage. You want some examples of peep types who chased peeps away from FR with their elitist attitudes? I know you know I can? What were the results of all that, good?

>egotistical and uninformed

Since you missed things in my post I suggest you missed on this too.
I do understand the issues because I was a ch 200 target of his 2-3 times in one week for no reason at all. I've never even seen his Icon in the sky, I try to humor him from leaping off the cliff and he gets whacked out on himself. I suggest you are uninformed on my experiences in AH with this exact person.

[SkyRock]

I don't benefit from *anything*, except at your own admittance, I don't think anyone would complain if he AND OTHERS LIKE HIM (re-read the org) would pull it back a bit.

The name was brought up way up creek, so I stuck with that example that others seemed to have the same experiences. Why do you pick my post? I explained in the post you claimed to have read that his name was basically an example and he wasn't alone, followed by an apology. Selective reading?

I'm sorry if you don't agree with my POV as a newbie's first impression (being mine) of the game\sim and the most vivid people that created that first impression. But I'm sticking to it. I called it like I experienced it. Do I stand here alone? Am I the first to say it? Is my first impression wrong? Judging by your own words it's not far off. I never once said he wasn't a good stick, I never said I was, I also said I'm sure he is a good guy....you're over defending him. So I think the point you really want to make is that I am "egotistical and uninformed" isn't it?

I may be uninformed about the game mechanics of AH, but personas in an flight sim arena and communities is nothing new to me. Has nothing at all to do with AW, FR, or RR, if nothing else basic common sense. I use my experience there as example, so what? Because they are from AW they are auto-wrong, experiences don't count? No one is applying AW rules here, merely suggesting from people who quit beating head against wall years ago.

That's my opinion, you're welcome to your own. What do *you* think a newbie sees?

But ironic you draw that association of FR,..because if I recall, some FR folks were referred to as "Elitist" because they openly looked down on ALL RR pilots and were proud of it. And these very people created hard feelings that caused a bridge between FR and RR that was never ever over come in the game, not even in the last days. Once that was done there was just no hope yas scared them away making them squeak toys and because of a hard learning curve to them. IMO those masters of humiliating anyone out of the the FR clich played the cards wrong, Noobs had another place to go get away from it, RR. And I followed because that's where the fun went. Why go FR and learn a new curve and be humiliated by self proclaimed "the ones" when and then BW misfits when you can do circus acrobats and still live RR? Should have never let them get used to RR, sometimes stupid mouths cause big problems. Which part of FR do you think it fits into? The things I said here is EXACTLY what the good hearted FR vets told me when I first started in FR. Me thinks you were maybe one of them, or were you one of those being an elitist?

Lets stay real here. Some of the most dignified vets flew in FR, 10-12 years before me they were my idols and some fly here too, so did some Elitist who caused much damage. You want some examples of peep types who chased peeps away from FR with their elitist attitudes? I know you know I can? What were the results of all that, good?

>egotistical and uninformed

Since you missed things in my post I suggest you missed on this too.
I do understand the issues because I was a ch 200 target of his 2-3 times in one week for no reason at all. I've never even seen his Icon in the sky, I try to humor him from leaping off the cliff and he gets whacked out on himself. I suggest you are uninformed on my experiences in AH with this exact person.

Animl, I presume, the first time I ever saw your name ingame was on 200 insulting me.  Not once had I ever typed anything to you.  Yet, you assume you know "why" I act a certain way.  As I've stated before, my bantor is a drop in the bucket of what regularly takes place on 200.....and always has(at least for the past 5 years I've been playing).  I see comments everyday about people's mother, wife, sexual preference, cultural history, and so on.  So remember these things, SkyRock is a character, I am the character, I enjoy being the character, I do not fly planes in WWII, this is a game, this is a fighting game, smack talk will occur, attempting to be holier than thou gets you nowhere with me, "dweeb" is not a bad word, "twit" should not hurt one's feelings, one should not have thin skinned in this world(much less this video game), I own you, shut your trap!

[crockett]

You dont even need to go back to AW or WB to describe the "good old days". When I came to the AH beta in sept of 1999 it had a relatively small player base with literally a 100% experienced player base. EVERYONE came from AW or WB any many went clear back to AW on Genie. There wasnt a weak tit in the bunch. Average peak load for the server was probably 100 or so...

60% of your fights were one on one or 1 on 2, 2 on 1 with no one really violating the "4th man in rule" but orbiting waiting for another guy to show up or someone to die. If a guy was successful in beating the "2" in the 1 on 2 but damaged or bingo he got a clean ditch and reupped. Nobody hoarded and nobody vulched....everybody fought and what mattered was how you handled a relatively "even" fight. "Who" you were was based on how you conducted yourself and how you were precieved was your real "score"

A different time, a different place and by and large a different mindset...end of story.

I wasn't around in the AW days and in fact I've only been here a short time in the score of things. However, even myself as a newer player only a little more than a year wishes there was something better than what we have now. I like the game, but the average player realy pisses me off anymore. I dunno about the old days but it really seems there is a lack of any sort of respect for the actual fight.

I wish HTC would do away with public viewing of kill to death ratio and the score in general. It seems people put score above actually fighting and it gets old and really limits the experience to be had in this game. There is nothing I enjoy more than getting a good fight and even losing if I made a mistake or was out flown.. However having 5 cons jump you in the middle of it just kills the fun in this game.

[humble]

FR and RR were totally different games. RR was basically the minor leagues and FR was the big time. This was simply a matter of physics, not ego or anything else. Once you flew FR with some semblance of skill you never went back...FR just opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. The game play variations between RR & FR were immense as well. I cut my teeth primarily in RR#2 and had fun and learned alot and was good enough that I could easily plant myself in the top 25 more or less at will. I'd go to FR and just get spanked. 1st I'd lose because I'd stall, then I'd lose because I couldnt drop a wing when needed. Once I actually switched and began to fly FR regularly everyone was exceptionally helpful. I actually still have a T-shirt from my 1st FR squad, the 176th composite airwing.

This is a game, at its core its a contest of skill in aircombat. So guys like Skyrock, Urchin etc who have taken the time to learn that skill appreciate ther game being played to a higher level and not being dumbed down to its lowest common denominator. These are the same guys who will spend hours helping guys learn the skillset required as well.

FR grew by leaps and bounds during my time in AW. To a large degree the presence of the RR arenas's minimized the dweebery in FR. For every "bad egg" you had in FR you had a whole squad of them in RR. What RR had over FR was some phenominal squad rivalries. I 1st flew with the 371st steel Talons in RR#2, left them to go FR...they followed me over a year or so later. I left to come here in 99 when +moss and a few of the dammed clued me in to the beta at the 99 AW con...By the time the 327th got here I was doing the trainer thing here and never hooked back up with them, but many of the original RR#2 guys on all sides are here...some like LYNX under original names some not...

And no I'm not suprised that you (or anyone else) gets caught up in the 200 diatrab with Mark, especially if you try and humor him. He'll always try and get a rise out of you (to bad shane isnt around {oopsy from AW but he sucked back then})...

I'd get the Skyrock owns snaphook (current in game handle) all the time and just remind him that my wife owns me and he's just renting me...

But when I decided to dust off my game Mark was one of the 1st guys I sought out for some time in the DA, why because he'll talk to you straight up about what he's seeing and not feed you garbage. As a former trainer that type of gamesmanship is valued and priceless. Whats important here is the reality that the code is alive, well and being nurtured here once again.

[Shuffler]

yup we used to count kills on our abacus....................... .. we had a ball (actually a bunch of them)

[SkyRock]

I'd get the Skyrock owns snaphook (current in game handle) all the time and just remind him that my wife owns me and he's just renting me...

At least some people get it! 

But when I decided to dust off my game Mark was one of the 1st guys I sought out for some time in the DA, why because he'll talk to you straight up about what he's seeing and not feed you garbage. As a former trainer that type of gamesmanship is valued and priceless. Whats important here is the reality that the code is alive, well and being nurtured here once again.

Yes sir, it is!  <D>

[Saurdaukar]

I'm going to do it from now on.. Screw the kill stealers and gang bangers.. Screw score and all that crap.  Unless the plane is heading to pork, I'm letting it go if it's crippled.

I tried going back to that once.

Then SkyRock picked me and I turned my aimbot back on. 

The game has changed, like it or not.  Why is always cause for speculation.  I don't even think "squeaker" was part of the vernacular back in the $29.95 days or, heaven forbid, the pay by the hour days (not that I'd ever want to go back to that, mind you).