There's an old saying that as one door closes another opens up. While I doubt that the originator of that phrase had the Internet in mind it seems it does apply in cyberspace as well as the real world.
Last March I returned from a trip and was going through the e-mails that had accumulated during my absence. There were more than a couple from colleagues wanting my ''take'' on the recent events on Themestream, another site that I was writing on at the time.
Not knowing what everyone was talking about, and curious as to why people were enquiring as to whether I was ''staying'' or ''going, I logged onto the site. There I discovered the ''good'' news. Due to the economic climate the powers that be had changed the relationship they had with the contributors.
The major upshot of this was in the payment process. It was reduced to almost nil. The result was that overnight hundreds of talented people pulled their content and left for greener pastures.
Within a month TS had gone out of business. The site and it's content were no more and incidentally many of the contributors, including yours truly were left high and dry. TS owed me quite a bit of money for about three months worth of work.
They say history repeats itself. Prior to going to TS, I was a member of E--. That other cyber place which so many here seem reluctant to mention here by name. Recently as some are aware there have been some problems there too. The failing dot com economy has forced them to make some difficult, if not exactly sound, business decisions.
I will not go into details regarding this. Those who were present are more than familiar with the situation. Those who were not may find it irrelevant. Suffice to say, the actions taken there seriously affected the membership.
Civil disobedience followed. Now there are now those that wonder how long before Eps follows the way of TS.
Last week a trusted friend of mine over at that troubled site turned me onto this place. Since since arriving I've seen several other ''familiar faces'' floating around. For my part I have also passed on to those I trust at ''Eps'' the location of Mouthshut. A couple I've noticed have followed me over.
So what does it all mean. So far all I've done here is look about. Test the waters so to speak. I've read reviews but up until now, have declined to write. I notice I'm not alone in that regard.
Presuming Eps does not in the immediate future take a nose dive, something I hope does not happen, despite all that has happened, then things will not change much. I will probably continue to contribute to both sites. I've done this before and think I can manage to not compromise any quality. I may choose to use one site to concentrate on one area of interest and the other site for another area of expertise.
However if good ole Eps does decide to do an imitation of the Titanic in the next few months, then I predict the trickle of writers from there to here will become a virtual flood. Many are already looking for a bolt hole in one place or another. I've been continually receiving, and relaying e-mails on one site or another over the past few weeks.
One advantage of MS over some of the other sites I've looked at and passed on (for now), is the similarity. The layout and content here is a familiar place to us dispossessed. That will make any transition a little easier.
Then there's the familiar faces here. I've noted that we seem to be forming our own little ''clique.'' Otherwise how does one explain why it is that several of us are already trusted by members when we've only been here a couple of days and have yet to post anything.
We know, and more importantly trust each other. Thus we are quite aware of what each is capable of and have no problem ''vouching'' for each other even if it seems premature to some. Like any new immigrant community, we're also a little confused and scared on foreign shores and seek comfort in the familiar.
Eventually this little clique will cease to exist, as we discover other members here and the quality of their work. Likewise the community at large will hopefully discover us as well. When that happens MS as a whole cannot but benefit.
A few words to those who've been here from the start and may be concerned, or resentful at this influx of ''Johnny come latelies.'' Don't be. Give us a chance. Some of our ways of expressing ourselves may seem a bit odd at first, but you'll soon see that there are some very experienced, talented, and giving people coming aboard.
More good members of this community can only enhance it and make it stronger. There will be more content for you to read and enjoy, and help you in making informed choices. At the very least some of it will be entertaining if nothing else. Besides there will be more of us to read rate and enjoy your contributions.
To the management of MS, first of all thanks for having us, and again be patient. It may take a while for us to become productive here. Not all of may choose to do so. Some may decline to write, but may still contribute in other ways by reading, rating and commenting. Their experience and expertise is hard won and beyond value.
Finally, and it should not need to be said, but do not make the same errors as others. Treat us with the courtesy and respect we deserve, and you will be rewarded with the same. Act in an irresponsible or callous manner to us, and as some have already learned we will not take it meekly lying down.
To my fellow cyber refugees also washed up these foreign shores. Patience and tolerance should be our watchwords too. Remember we're the newcomers here. Our reputations and our egos established elsewhere may not be relevant here, nor accepted or appreciated. We also need to remember that there are others here who may not as yet be familiar with us and some of our ''unique writing styles.''
Finally, this site is not the old one. Look where it's based from. The community here is more international than perhaps some of us are used to.
The slant is not as North American centric as elsewhere. These are important facts to take into consideration when reading, writing, or contributing in any other manner. Yes that also means some of you are going to have to master the ''Queen's English'' and adjust your PC's spell check accordingly.
Hopefully, irregardless of events elsewhere, my association with MS will be a long and mutually rewarding one. Rewarding of course in more than the financial sense. Who here really does this just for the money after all.
The alternative is rather a bleak one. I really do not wish to see myself in the years to come as a member of some loose association of literary cyber gypsies flitting about from site to site. Stopping for a few months to display my wares on a friendly web page and then folding my tent at night (one step ahead of impending disaster or retribution) and heading off to greener pastures.
