Late 2007, I was starting in a new mechanical drawing class. Being the lazy jerk that I am, I needed websites that were not subject to my school's IP blocker. I checked out some blogs to find one that would work. Joystiq, Kombo, TheWiire, all opportunities to pass the time between projects. Then I remembered a blog that was referenced on Attack of the Show; "Destructoid" they called it I think. Wasn't that the site that allowed some douche to give Twilight Princess a 4? Wait, positive thinking. You're a converted Nintendo fanboy Peter, don't let one person's opinion get you in a twist. You loved it, that's all that matters.

I followed it for a while, leaving the occasional comments under the most generic username in existence. Tried to write a few blogs only to realize that they were total crap and hid them immediately. Went back to my comments, learned about how awesome Dtoid podcasts were and tried to get back into the community; try and find the community of gamers I so longingly wanted that my regular social life couldn't provide. I floundered in regular social situations that weren't focused on video games. Its as awkward as watching Gordon Freemon guest star on an episode of Gilmore Girls; I stick out like a sore thumb.

Anyway, I went back into blogs late last year and got one of them promoted. How exactly? I don't know. It wasn't very good, and I didn't even properly keep it after that. Made the stupid mistake of trying to edit it afterward, and it was completely ruined.

Then we played games for 24 hours to earn money for the destruction of cancer. I got to talk to the staff for what seemed like the first time. Welcome to Erf happened. I almost got to see Colette face her nightmares with Soda Popinski, a rivalry that has become Dtoid legend. I felt as giddy as a schoolgirl to communicate with these people in psudo-real life, when in reality, it was no big deal. All the members of the staff were real gamers just like me. They had their quirks, and they had their own personalities. I'd never seen that in any other gaming site ever.

The site was down for a few days in December, and in desperation of finding someone to listen to on the internet I found the Steamtoid group chat. The regulars there were all people who I could relate too. People who play the same games as me, and could relate. I was finally starting to feel at home.

So what are the last five paragraphs of composed warbling supposed to say? I guess that for the last 2 and a half years, Destructoid has become like family to me. Even though I've never seen any of you in person, and I probably won't for a while, I still find myself checking this site more often than I do going outside. You could take that as you guys being amazing, or me having no life whatsoever. Either way, you're probably right, which is what makes me so happy to be writing this blog right now. I've grown up since that day in class, I've matured, and you guys have been there with me. I feel like I won't make much of an impact on this site, or its readers, but I'm more than happy to have been along for the ride.

Outside of this site, I'm a 19 year old diagnosed with ADD and Asperger's Syndrome living in New Jersey who's still having trouble keeping up in school, has never been to PAX, E3, or even a proper organized NARP, and hasn't even written who he is in his blog page. But inside the site, I'm home. As ridiculously sappy as it is to say this, you guys are some of the most important people in the world to me right now, and I wouldn't have you any other way.

So at the risk of being redundant, I'm leaving a repeat of my comment on this year's anniversary post: Here's to 4 years of STFUAJGP and here's to 4 more! I said it at last year's anniversary, and I'll say it again: Niero, may those big red glowing lights of death you call eyes never burn out.