EoFF is usually a place where the social rules are just about different enough for me to feel like I can be myself, even if in reality I'm probably no more open with people here than I am with people offline. That being said, it rarely fails to entertain, either because of some huge forum-wide event that keeps me up all night posting, or because of a 'friendly' argument with another member, or simply because of that indescribable feeling of warmth that comes from being part of a community for so long, even if I never quite made it into the heart of the place.

The people are of course the main attraction (since EoFF without the members is little more than a photo album and a collection of indecipherable smilies) and it's them that keep me coming back. Some of them have their moments of genius, others get on your nerves and then win you over, and some of them are simply plain interesting to be around. Simply watching a bunch of cool members spam the crap out of feedback, or reminisce about moments that only a few dozen people can still remember is more fun than anything else I've found across all the billions of pages out there.

However, the thing that keeps me coming back (six times and counting!) is that over four and a half years it's been responsible for so much of who I am that I couldn't honestly be parted from it. So many of my opinions have been formed, rethought and dissolved by things I've seen or heard here. I've experienced emotional highs and lows just as great as those I've felt with friends or family. Having EoFF so clearly imprinted on every aspect of my character makes it impossible for me to truly leave the place behind, and in that sense it transcends being a mere image on a computer screen, or a message written by a person whose face I've never seen.

I'm not going to go into greater detail, as far from taking me all day, it would probably carry me into next week. Consider this brief, foolishly nostalgic message to be a thank-you note for absolutely everything you've ever given me.