DALnetizen - The Winner

The Winner

We had lots of great entries for our competition to write in with your best DALnet moment, with the best entry winning a $50 Amazon voucher.

It was a very hard decision, but the winner is SpyWebGreta. We chose this entry for several reasons, not least of which because it was a little different. Most importantly though, this entry seemed to embody what IRC is to many of us, a way to communicate in a medium where no judgments are made and no preconceptions created. Since the only thing you can be judged by on IRC is the way you communicate, it gives many people the outlet they need to relax, have fun and gain confidence when interacting with others.

SpyWebGreta's Amazon voucher will be winging it's way to his mailbox, and we have pleasure in giving you all his best DALnet moment

My Best DALnet Moment by SpyWebGreta

Approximately 2 1/2 years ago when I was first introduced to IRC using the mIRC client I dropped into #POPINN on DALnet as one of my very first channel joins. I'm not much of a chatter ... but I wanted to find out what IRC was all about. So finding #POPINN with the game bot running 24/7/365 was really a *find* for me.

But it did more than provide a middle aged person with some entertainment. It quite literally saved me; it saved my life.

You see, I had been recently diagnosed as 100% disabled due to a very rare illness with other chronic illnesses on top of that. My life had been about DOING, giving, interacting --- but my illness had isolated me. I was no longer a part of my community. I was no longer a wage earner. My mind is "fine" ... my body was not cooperating. Needless to say, depression seeped in; accepting my new reality was not easy. From independent ... to dependent.

Others used to look to ME for advice in business, community issues - social invitations were plentiful. I was living comfortably and earning a decent wage in a field I quite enjoyed. But, I had become but an afterthought.

When I found #PopInn - I found INTERACTION. I found "competition", I found camaraderie. I felt comfortable. This was NOT a forum that focused on "illness" - puh-lease, that is NOT what I needed. When I found my spirits sinking, and even dangerous thoughts seeping into my mind, it's then that #PopInn provided me with the distraction I needed. People actually began to "recognize" me --- and greeted me! The competition was fast & furious --- and fun. My mind was completely off of "ME" for a change. This did more for me than any *anti-depressant*.

Further, my #PopInn experience gave me the courage to embark on new journeys in *real life*. It's quite intimidating to venture into the unknown, but I KNEW that having "distractions" was essential to my well being. My physical pace was quite limited but I contacted a center that I had fund-raised for over the years. The clientele were "Super Seniors" - it was a Sr. Citizen center. I called the director and explained my circumstances to her. Despite the AGE difference, I was invited to participate in their *tight* bridge club. I had NEVER played bridge --- and was apprehensive, and I knew this group took their endeavors SERIOUSLY. This bridge group was REALLY competitive. I ended up meeting many men & women who had played with my long deceased grandmother (unbeknownst to me). They told me what a card shark she was ... and she was the most wanted partner! I have NOT yet developed her skill level but I've ! improved considerably. They think of me as the "kid". Within my physical limitations and areas of business expertise I have developed additional programs for the Srs. based on our "bridge talk". I've set-up free tax assistance for the Srs.; I've put in PC programs at the center to "make your own will" which is permissible in our State. And I've my hands in a few other perspective ventures... I'm GIVING BACK in a useful way.

Without #PopInn ... and the effect it had on my psyche ... I would have NEVER ventured out to play bridge with Sr. Citizens! It wouldn't have appealed to me. The little bit of socialization it provides twice weekly has lifted my spirits considerably. I've been invited into a round-robin Pinochle group. I'll give it a try --- if my energy levels permit.

Thanks DalNet. Thanks #PopInn for helping me find my way back to living!