10 years of TotalFreedom

October 30 marks 10 whole years since I first joined the server for the first time. I had just come from a factions and PVP server that crumbled due to someone logging in as someone who they were not to grief and cause mayhem, and while I didn't get to meet my idol (SkyDoesMinecraft) I was intrigued by the concept of a free-op server. Little did I know that a tightly-packed free-op server would end up having such a massive impact on my life that words cannot even begin to fully describe.

Sure, this is a double-edged sword: it is because of this server that my academic life suffered so greatly, after all. But even with that holding me back a considerable amount, I believe this server has helped me greatly in more ways than one. I've learned quite a bit about programming in languages like Java because of all the patches, plugins, and mods I wrote for the server and its community. I've greatly sharpened my forensics skills from analyzing all sorts of data from log files and such. I got to befriend some truly great people (including some who I would go on to meet in real life) from this server.

I suppose it's time for a life update. My academic life has continued to improve, but I still have a ways to go before I get anywhere meaningful. I recently got a job so I now have a somewhat stable means of making money on my own. Because the job involves a decent amount of physical labor, I'm also getting a decent workout. Although I don't have anywhere near as much free time as I used to beforehand, I'm still going to do my best to archive the server and everything about it. This is obviously not going to be what I do for my entire life, but still.

Ask me questions.

Quote from Tizz

Do you find it ironic that TF got its critical hit the same way the previous server did?

Yes. I remember they griefed the main spawnpoint too, which is pretty eerie to think about. The server was called WitherPVP, and if memory serves correctly it was owned by some guy named Monman11. Some called the server Piemine because that was one of its IP addresses.

What I find interesting is that WitherPVP and TotalFreedom have actually crossed paths before in some fashion:

• When the former was still up, a player named "Johnny Threetears" actually recorded a video of them trying to get the IP address of online players using skid-level shit with Command Prompt whilst on WitherPVP. For a second you could actually see me in the server's tab, and two years later someone actually found the video and posted it on the ProBoards forums. The video itself has since been taken down, but a screenshot of me in the tab is still up.
• Some players from WitherPVP ended up finding TotalFreedom after the former shut down, including a player named jacob62rabbit62, who had previously betrayed my faction by looting and then griefing my skyblock island. I remember it was pretty awkward when we recognized eachother. Someone did file an indefinite ban request for them at some point for trolling, but it ended up getting denied.

Quote from img

At this time it has been a few weeks since closure and you've started to adjust to life after TotalFreedom.

For the most part, this is true. I'm still working with some folks to maintain a sort of "reboot" of the server that uses permission nodes and shit, but it's become a lower priority in the face of real life stuff like work.

Quote from img

Regarding your TF journey, where you are now, and all that's on your mind, just for the sake of it what's something you'd like to say to your future self? Don't need an essay, you've given us all your effort (and then some) already. Just looking for a heartfelt message to bring a smile to your (future) face, that you may not remember writing, but be grateful you did.

I honestly can't decide. I could remark on the fact that TotalFreedom became almost a prison for me as I practically devoted an unhealthy amount of time and dedication to it at the cost of my personal free time and health. I could remark on how poorly this remark aged. I could remark on how I've changed as a person and as a personality over time, going from an immature child to an edgy middle schooler to an incredibly depressed semi-socialist Redditor to a computer geek with a fierce hatred for social media.

Quote from fionn

> totalfreedom shuts down

> caleb gets improving grades and a job and jacked

girlfriend incoming

Hahahaha, I wish. I got fairly close in June, but that's a topic for another time.