In Progress The Giving of Thanks

Siddo

❄Snowflake❄
Staff member
Administrator
VIP
I don't celebrate thanksgiving.

That said, I'm in a giving mood and why not be thankful while we're at it?
I considered multiple ways of running this, but settled on the following:

The Prizes

5x $20 - awarded via either Giant's Lair ranks OR steam games - your prize is ~$20 total, so you can have multiple games or potentially a rank and game(s).

Entry and Victory Conditions

Each entrant can earn up to a total of 5 lots in the drawing.
Winning a prize forfeits the other 4 lots - you can only win one prize.
The extra lots just boost your odds slightly if others fulfill fewer criteria (besides, the tasks are nice things to do).

You can earn a lot by:
  1. Rating this post "Optimistic" 🌈
  2. Saying something genuinely nice about another specific community member, no sass allowed.
  3. Thanking someone or something that brought you joy this year for the difference they've made for you, whether they're part of the community or not.
  4. Sharing some kind of media that you enjoy; can be a picture, a book, a video, music, meme, etc. (don't break any rules)
    Feel free to explain why you shared it (not required).
  5. Nominating a charity to receive a $100 donation from yours truly.
    When the giveaway ends, I'll also pick and make a donation to one of the nominated charities. It can be local or global, as long as they allow online donations.
    You're very welcome to share why you nominated that particular charity as well <3

End of Giveaway​

I will draw the winners and make a donation to charity on this Sunday, the 30th of November (current year).

Good luck <3
 
2. Muffin, this guy, is absolutely cracked at CS2, one of the first games I played with him on Train he got a 100% in aim on Leetify, which is normally cheater level aim
3. a brown dog for introducing me into Town of Salem 2, then me putting about 1500 hours into it
4. That one clip of the angry pumpkin
5. DAV (Disable American Veterans)
 
  1. Saying something genuinely nice about another specific community member, no sass allowed.
  2. Thanking someone or something that brought you joy this year for the difference they've made for you, whether they're part of the community or not.
  3. Sharing some kind of media that you enjoy; can be a picture, a book, a video, music, meme, etc. (don't break any rules)
    Feel free to explain why you shared it (not required).
  4. Nominating a charity to receive a $100 donation from yours truly.
    When the giveaway ends, I'll also pick and make a donation to one of the nominated charities. It can be local or global, as long as they allow online donations.
    You're very welcome to share why you nominated that particular charity as well <3
1) @LiveLifeWithaSmile You are awesome, keep smiling!
2) Thanks to the entire community for giving me another chance
3) A few months ago I got 36 stars in Genshin's abyss after almost 2 years of grinding, and a few weeks ago I beat all of Star Rail's endgame modes with full stars(y)
wmt2bJR.jpg
5QQ9kLB.jpg
4) IFFGD
 
Don't even care if I win or not, I am im a thankful mood 🙏

2. Everyone on my team @Sure Lock Homes @Actz @YoAmTrash @anna for being awesome to work with and learn from, and being super fun on the server
3. My dad for gifting me his vinyl collection
4. This beautiful card I pulled in Pokemon TCGP:

1000131998.jpg
5. Canadian Red Cross. If anyone is interested in learning more: https://www.redcross.ca/
 
Saying something genuinely nice about another specific community member, no sass allowed.
I feel like myself when I'm talking with you @Siddo.

Thanking someone or something that brought you joy this year for the difference they've made for you, whether they're part of the community or not.
Thank you for streaming Celeste in discord @rog the dog. It genuinely means so much to me to see you continuing to play through the difficult parts.

Sharing some kind of media that you enjoy; can be a picture, a book, a video, music, meme, etc. (don't break any rules)
Feel free to explain why you shared it (not required).
This is an orchestral piece written for the film 'Liz and the Bluebird'. Beyond just how it sounds, I like it for the context of the film and the series the film is from (Hibike! Euphonium). The series catches a lot of flak for supposedly queerbaiting, but I thought it had a spot on portrayal of a particular type of aromantic relationship that resonated strongly with me.

Nominating a charity to receive a $100 donation from yours truly.
When the giveaway ends, I'll also pick and make a donation to one of the nominated charities. It can be local or global, as long as they allow online donations.
Seconding The Trevor Project.
 
  1. Rating this post "Optimistic" 🌈
    • ✅
  2. Saying something genuinely nice about another specific community member, no sass allowed.
    • It's hard to pick just one, but I really enjoy @LiveLifeWithaSmile's positivity and friendliness.
  3. Thanking someone or something that brought you joy this year for the difference they've made for you, whether they're part of the community or not.
    • I'm thankful for my family members who helped me during my move this fall!
  4. Sharing some kind of media that you enjoy; can be a picture, a book, a video, music, meme, etc. (don't break any rules)
    Feel free to explain why you shared it (not required).
    • One of my all-time favorite movies.
  5. Nominating a charity to receive a $100 donation from yours truly.
    When the giveaway ends, I'll also pick and make a donation to one of the nominated charities. It can be local or global, as long as they allow online donations.
    You're very welcome to share why you nominated that particular charity as well <3

Also, thank you for hosting this @Siddo!
 
2) @Darktooth I cannot understate how much I value your friendship and enjoy your presence. I may have decided to hop on here on my own back in July but you are the reason I kept coming back to play and then met so many other wonderful people here.

3) @pigeon i'm cheating but hanging out with you playing celeste from like 3-7am is something I've counted on the past couple months. It's something that started spontaneously but we've made a thing and I genuinely think that's really cool. It means a lot to me.

@Espurr @Muffin @Noctorious @Zyp @Husky not mentioning the dnd group here would also be entirely unfair. Legitimately one of the highlights of my year.

4) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145350/Hades_II/

Play hades 2. That's all tbh.

5) https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org
If this doesn't count just let me know I'll pick a national one, I just personally know these guys do a LOT of direct good to peoples lives.
 
1) @Noctorious for sure. I don’t think it’s inaccurate to say that I may not have gotten as involved with GL as I have without your intervention, and you have a great way of helping people get to the right place. I think you’re the actual glue that holds a lot of this place together, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and getting carried in Stellaris.

2) I am most thankful for the chance to make new friends, and make…old friends? Giant’s Lair brought me opportunities at connecting with people who maybe I didn’t gel with in the past or took for granted, and that has been an awesome experience. Thank you to those who I’ve shared laughs with, thank you for your time, and thanks for sticking around.

@rog the dog @Darktooth @Noctorious @Espurr @Husky @Elvis @Pierogi @helix @titan @Uncle Dad
@Sure Lock Homes

3) Might be a little cheesy, but I’m immensely thankful for the opportunity to join leadership, and help steer the ship. I am thankful for @pigeon, who I did not know previously, for looking past my brash way of speaking and seeing potential. I am thankful for your style of leadership, although different from mine, and GL has and will benefit from your involvement. I am thankful for @Agennon not just for being a good owner, which I genuinely believe he is, but also for being very open to new ideas and perspectives that I don’t think should be taken for granted. You listen, you’re able to change perspectives, you’re creative, and you’re just a lot of fun to be around. I’m very appreciative of the chances I’ve been given to contribute here, as none of it was ever a given. Like I’ve said before, I will prove it to have been a good choice, but I’m still thankful for the chances I’ve gotten here, and I really do believe in our ability to stay around and expand, and I’m excited to be some part of that.

4) Lastly, I am thankful for the team I inherited. I could not ask for a better team to come back to. All of you are great at what you do, give me no trouble, are coachable and motivated, and are assets to me and GL.

@CelDamage - You move too fast for me, I cannot keep up with your ideas at times. You’ve got so much experience and ideas, and so much energy to give. You’re clearly intelligent and a force to be reckoned with for sure. You are carrying in terms of community engagement, you’ve definitely got a natural talent for that. Great Moderator, and I’ve enjoyed the albeit limited opportunities we have had thus far to actually get to know each other, and I look forward to continuing that.

@steve - You’re very impressive, especially for someone your age. I admire your analytical mind, always asking questions and testing concepts. You stick to your guns when you feel you’re right, but what impresses me most is how quickly you’re able to discard ideas when you’re brought a good argument. This sounds simple, but it isn’t something everyone can do. You have a good sense of humor and are fun to be around, and I think you are truly an excellent moderator. You’re also cracked at CS obviously, can’t wait to go head-to-head in CS2. You have a lot of potential as well, and I’m thankful that you’re around.

@Shaddoll - Your presences is basically a buff to positive vibes, sort of an AoE type thing. You don’t take much too seriously, and you’re great in social interactions. You’re also an elite moderator, but I think your biggest strength is your personality. You’re fun to talk to, and that is an immensely valuable trait to have. You go above and beyond to be an active face not just among staff, but reaching out to the community. You’re ALWAYS in general, engaging with any and everybody. You possess a ton of leadership skills and qualities, and you’re a very easy person to work with.

@arcana - I remember working with you some when you were in your trial phase, and I remember leaving impressed. Our schedules haven’t allowed us too many opportunities to hang out just yet, but you are such a positive influence on vibes. You’re just a pleasure to be around, and I think everyone likes you. I really do want us to find more times where we overlap, but so far you’ve been nothing but a positive on the team and for GL. Glad to have you.

@Storm - Similar story with Arcana, our schedules don’t often align, but you also have a great sense of humor and don’t take much too seriously. Very laid back and approachable. We’ve known each other slightly for like 10+ years, and I hope we get more opportunities. You also tend to make my job easy, very low maintenance. Glad to see a fellow old-head found their way here.

And lastly but not leastly, @anna. I don’t need to say much more, ride or die homie. You’re dope as hell, glad to have been your friend for as long as we have. You know I got your back, and that’s a big responsibility. Us big backs gotta cover each other’s six.


Alzheimer’s research is a good one.
 
Last edited:
  • Saying something genuinely nice about another specific community member, no sass allowed.
    • I like Siddo
  • Thanking someone or something that brought you joy this year for the difference they've made for you, whether they're part of the community or not.
    • I would like to thank an unnamed individual, as I do not know their name myself. Helped me pick myself back up after a motorcycle accident in January and also guided me to a clinic to get supplies for the minor injuries I had.
  • Sharing some kind of media that you enjoy; can be a picture, a book, a video, music, meme, etc. (don't break any rules)
    Feel free to explain why you shared it (not required).
    • I like One Piece
  • Nominating a charity to receive a $100 donation from yours truly.
    • Doctors Without Borders, choosing the region as India https://donate.msfsouthasia.org/. May be a hassle because they want you to contact them if you aren't a national. Could go for MSF in your own region if that turns out to be an issue
 
@Noctorious I hate that I never got the chance to know you back on SGM. You have been someone I look up to and look at for guidance and assurance in most of my work here. You have been a wonderful friend. Thank you for being who you are.

I am thankful to my partner, Mattie. She has seen me grow to be a better, patient man. Shes helped me a lot through my troubling past and shes helped me understand how to manage my anger issues. My growth would have been nothing like it is without her.


 
1. Rated the post optimistic
2. There's a lot of community members I can say nice things about, but the main man is Agennon (aka Jabba). Despite the challenges and the doubters he put his mind to rebuilding the community we once had and trying to make it better than it was. I was around for years and never interacted with or talked to nearly as many people as I have since the rebuilding of the community. A community that has been there for me in what has been a very hard year.
3. Something that has brought me joy is definitely the DnD group (see rog's post), it's been an experience I've wanted for years and one that I look forward to weekly.
4.
5. https://pawsinthecity.org/donate/ Local charity focused on fostering and adopting dogs
 
  1. Rating this post "Optimistic" 🌈
    - Done

  2. Saying something genuinely nice about another specific community member, no sass allowed.
    - I would like to thank @Pierogi for all the AHG memories and for somehow making me learn propkilling aaaand @Agennon for providing me with a place to make new memories. Now that those two scrubs are out of the way.. lets get to the most important thank you.

    Thank you all for letting me RDM/Propkill you.

  3. Thanking someone or something that brought you joy this year for the difference they've made for you, whether they're part of the community or not.
    - My family for putting up with my crazy ass.

  4. Sharing some kind of media that you enjoy; can be a picture, a book, a video, music, meme, etc. (don't break any rules)
    Feel free to explain why you shared it (not required).
    - Currently one of my favourite songs:


    Tiny bonus:
    speaking of AHG memories: (+ all the stuff on vel's channel... too many links to post)
 
1. Done
2. @helix must have the patience of a saint to still be my friend.
3. Thanks to @Siddo (ironically or unironically, up to him) for the VIP rank that I won earlier this year.
4. I like the songs of the Animusic albums, especially the track Future Retro:
5. Since I'm a really big bird person, why not nominate the American Bird Conservancy:
Shorter link
Or my local injured wild bird sanctuary, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary:
 
Last edited:
Smol bump before concluding in about 10-12 hours (whenever I get around to it) <3
 
  1. @Elvis one of my best friends that I have met on the server and we have known each other since SGM. Great guy and down to earth person. Known him since the 3rd grade
  2. @anna honestly such a sweatheart on the server. She was also one of my favorite admins during the time of SGM. Anna is really nice to everyone and a funny gal. Always a positive vibe to be around and I appreciate her for that :) her positivity is allergic.
  3. Make a Wish Foundation
 
Back
Top