I think that, in a sense, Duke's right.
The CPA ain't what it used to be.
So?
Okay, look, the CPA is becoming big. It's becoming a fairly major site, and suffering some birth pangs, but not many, and not painful ones. I wrote an article on this that got no comments save a couple "Don't worry" lines. I saw this happening a while back. I don't object at all.
We have people listening. We need to have people talking.
We have people looking. We need to have people thinking.
Those are the next steps.
The CPA is a site that people stop by. We've (according to most of the people I talk to) surpassed some of the alleged pro sites in theory and decks (Brainburst comes up a lot...), and we've retained largely our casual graces.
the CPA is at a crossroads. I said that. We can choose between becoming a big site and going back to the small, relaxed, orange-and-black site we once were. NIETHER CHOICE IS WRONG.
Recently, in an e-mail, John Friggin' Rizzo mentioned he recognized my name from this site.
I'd still come here if he didn't.
I was at this site when the changes began. They started (I think) with the first death of the dojo. We had poweful players come in, and suddenly, amazing ideas were being sparked in our own back yard. Some of those players have left, or silenced (Magic Jackal et al), but many are still here.
We have the potential here to go either way, but don't force anything. Let the site take it's own course, don't drag it to one side, it will fall where the people who care for it want it to fall.
I love saying "I told you so." Sorry, but I have mentioned this several times in the past months.
The CPA is changing. It's recognized. It's BIG. It's even a little influential. It is by no means the same site it was.
It is also relaxed, free, open to all who come to it, and very, very casual.
I've yet to a veteran member blast someone's deck with "It sucks" We are different from the other sites. We are growing. We can be big, if we want to.
Be in no hurry to grow up, enjoy our adolescence as a site.
By the same token, don't be afraid of change and growth, it is inevitable. I don't think the quality here has flagged at all (In MY fragile opinion) and I think that we have hit a new high point.
Welcome to the World Wide Web, fellow players. We're now there.
go to
http://www.meridianmagic.com
look up north american magic sites.
There are 10 sites, total for north america there. We're one.
Congratulations. The CPA ain't what it once was.
Doesn't mean it's worse, though.