When I first joined, after a prompt from the App Store in its first few days of existence, I instantly downloaded it. What I discovered was a rare, magical world where things were friendly and intimate, and the passion was for creativity. It seemed almost like a communist state, where all could be heard, and decisions agreed upon. I remember @AlexMurray was number 2 in the ranks. I was 0, as everyone is to begin with. My first follower was a triumph, yet it took much time for me to be heard. Yet this may be seen by hundreds.
I began my time here, in this once great, little country of writers, thinkers and poets (and politicians!) with a little fantasy story. It was only a beginning. I never finished it. I received a couple of helpful comments. Yes, not many saw it, but Opuss was still so small that it didn't matter. It still entered the minds of a couple.
But times change, and rapidly. I remember when one little boy (whose name escapes me) plagiarised work on Opuss and there was an outcry. He was hammered into the ground by the angry mob of Opuss Land. Then pity seeped in, and we realised that we were turning into monsters. We thought about it, discussed it on notice boards across Opuss. We we like a small town, and everyone knew about it.
But even that was long ago. No, Opuss is so vast that I fear we have forgotten this. We are now a huge city, where no one truly cares others. Trolling can flourish in this faceless, cosmopolitan mess. It is becoming the YouTube of the writing world. The encouragement is still there, but not as strong. We have lost our mild-mannered nature that I so loved. It is no one in particular's fault. In growing worlds his is a part of what is natural. But I do not like it.
@AlexMurray eventually took that extra leap and became number 1 in the ranks. The old ranks that barely shifted at the top. Totalitarian, perhaps, but familiar, and familiarity is something that helps maintain peace. We are not liking change. But those were in days gone. Things are different now. The intimacy is no more, the creativity all but spent.
I learned today that a few days ago @AlexMurray left us. Whether he will return I know not. He has left before, but this seems final. His last message simply said "gone". He has perhaps seen what I have seen. (Although the deletion of his first account probably didn't help matters.) He was the first person I followed. I watched his rise, and his fall. I have tried to encourage him the best I can. In fact, the last time he left us he wrote a rather touching thank you to all who had helped him. I was named. And now he has gone. And maybe it is time that I went too. This is not the Opuss I remember. This is not the Opuss I want. Perhaps you too, especially this aged veterans of Opuss amongst you, should consider perhaps leaving this world of ashes and memories, and leave it to others. Please, pass this on, repost, and let the world remember the days gone by.
Want to join the conversation? Sign in to leave a comment.