R.I.P. ASMR!

[azurite]

Ah, it really looks like it's the end. I'm not entirely sure for what, but when it comes to fandom, all things die slowly. ASMR (aka MoonRomance.net) seems to have finally kicked the bucket-- there's not even a goodbye splash or anything; the page is just 404 down. No connection. *le sigh* It's depressing. But the last time I was there, it wasn't as if the place had been updated in ages. I had stopped really posting a lot of my fics (SM and otherwise; they DID open up to other fandoms a few years ago) there because it was so damn inconvenient. I realize Andrea and George put a LOT of effort into the archive, and for a long while, it was amazing. They also probably made a lot of leaps and bounds in terms of archives (for the era), but now it seems like they fell by the wayside.

*sniff* You will be missed, ASMR! I'm a bit ashamed I never got around to doing my "Azurite's Return to ASMR Punch!!" series of fics, but I do still have bits and pieces of things sitting around. Maybe I'll try and whip something up for TAFF Day (aka Halloween). In the meantime, there are still a number of good SM archives out there, along with mailing lists and Usenet. Anyone with suggestions or recommendations of particular ones, please let me know!

Comments

[clarify.livejournal.com]

Aw, I used to love that site. I remember when it was still relatively small. It was one of the first fanfiction sites I participated in.

Are you sure it's officially down, though? It could be that the server is down temporarily. :O *crosses fingers*

[azurite]

Well, it's already made its way around fandom as being "gone. gone for good." but you can never be sure about these things. *shrug* I'll check back throughout the day...

[seeshellirun.livejournal.com]

I hadn't been there (let alone posted there) in ages, so I was a tad apathetic when I heard it had gone down. But reading your post for some reason made me realize that it was the first place I ever posted fanfiction and really the only archive I regularly frequented until Aria's Ink when I re-started writing much, much later.

I can remember checking every Sunday for the new submissions and getting so ridiculously excited when I saw "This Kiss," my first story, listed.

Still, I haven't been active in fandom (any fandom) for a very long time and it's been years since I've checked ASMR. I'd be lying if I said I'd miss it but I will say that when it comes to my love of writing, it certainly played a sizable role in the development of that.

[azurite]

Same with me. I remember pre-FFnet, when reviewing was done through email, and I got giddy every time I got something from someone who'd read something of mine on ASMR. I also loved reading everything by whom I considered the masters-- basically all my "onee-chans" on SMRFF! And what did Meredith Bronwen Mallory call the gang? Everyone had mugshots, I remember that much.

I probably still have printed copies of the ASMR (original) guidelines, and when I review the artbooks, I remember which images were used for layouts. *sniffle* That was a good chunk of my life, right there...

[rukarioh.livejournal.com]

Hello, Azurite, this is SKL, a member of the former ASMR. :) I'd like to say that I have made a new version of it on proboards at the following link if you'd like to be able to participate in it.

http://asmrtherevival.proboards79.com/index.cgi

[azurite]

Wow, so far it looks very new and is just forums-- not an archive. What are your plans for it? Have you talked to Andrea or any of the former ASMR staff about what you're doing?

[rukarioh.livejournal.com]

I haven't talked to Andrea or George. They are practically impossible to reach, as I have found out from dejana_talis and her attempts at getting the library. I've been slowly getting into contact with people from ASMR and telling them about it, even though I just made it today.

[azurite]

Very cool. What are your plans?
Perhaps if I had a better idea of what you're trying to do, I could help spread the word.