Returning the Torch - Future of LowEndSpirit

Mason · May 2

Hey everyone, Mason here.

Writing this with @mikho to share some important news regarding the future and management of LowEndSpirit.

Mikael and I took over LES from @AnthonySmith back in 2021 (side note: I swear that was just a couple years ago... nope, 5! Holy smokes!). We had big plans for the community and future of LES and made some (small) strides, but ultimately fell short on bigger projects due to work/family/life events for both of us.

To be completely candid, Mikael and I simply haven't had the time or energy required to give LES the active management and attention it truly deserves. Over our time at the helm, we’ve pretty much made zero significant changes to the website or the community -- I bet the wayback machine can attest. Whether that was for better or worse is up for debate, but we did keep the lights on and the servers humming. This is, without a doubt in my mind, in large part due to the insanely talented, level-headed, and brilliant moderators that have donated countless hours of their time back into the community to keep Ant's original vision alive -- shout out to @FrankZ, @bikegremlin, @MichaelCee, and @AuroraZero for all their hard work over the years!

We are extremely proud to say we kept our biggest promise to you all: we kept this community entirely ad-free, and we made sure it cost absolutely nothing for participating providers to advertise with us here (cough... unlike some other places... cough).

Now... with all that said... some astute observers have already noticed we slapped the Admin tag back on Anthony. After some discussion between the three of us and now that Ant is back in the low end hosting game, we have decided that we will be passing the LES torch back and will be transitioning ownership of LES and its assets back into his hands. We believe this to be the best possible outcome to give LES the much needed attention that will be required to remain fresh and relevant.

The transition of Admin duties and ownership will take place gradually over the next few weeks. Mikael and I aren't vanishing, we will be around to help out however possible to ensure a smooth handover.
Thank you all for keeping the Spirit alive over the last few years. Please join us in welcoming Anthony back to the helm!

-Mason & Mikael (@mikho)

Chievo · May 2

Long live to the LES and his members

AnthonySmith · May 2

A couple of years? more like a couple of months it feels like haha.

Just a quick reply as this caught me just as I was on my way out the door for an appointment.

I really appreciate this. I am not really sure what to say at this stage except to thank you. Although when I had to step away, I honestly thought it was permanent. I always kept an eye on the community, although I did not participate as much as I wanted to due to conflicts of interest etc.

I always felt the hand over was permanent, I never expected to "take it back", and I never asked for it or any special treatment. I really did pass it over with no expectations, terms or conditions, and it very quickly stopped feeling like something I started and took on the life of the community almost instantly.

In my new position in life, I would be telling lies to say the thought never crossed my mind, but I would have never asked, when the offer was made, I can't begin to tell you how happy that made me.

I think you guys did exactly the job you needed to do and I think for the most part the community made that possible.

I have some big thoughts and ideas, how many of them will happen, or how quickly, I don't know, once we finish the transition and full handover, I will do a bigger community consultation on what we 'could' do and then decide what we will do.

Thank you and again 1000 times, thank you!. I never had ANY fear that LES would go the way of LET.

I will do my best.

Ant.

WSS · May 2

Now kiss.

Mason · May 2

@WSS said:
Now kiss.

That's all I get after 5 years?

WSS · May 2

@Mason said:

@WSS said:
Now kiss.

That's all I get after 5 years?

#Dicks

imok · May 2

Keep up the good work!

FrankZ · May 2

Mason & Mikael thanks for all the good times.

WSS · May 2

Fire this weirdo.

Not_Oles · May 2

Congrats to everyone on the Admin and Mod and Dev teams behind LES!

LES is great! Long may it continue!

_MS_ · May 2

M&M:

AnthonySmith · May 2

I can eat more spicy food than anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices than you people would believe.

SocksAreComfortable · May 2

@AnthonySmith said:
I can eat more spicy food than anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices than you people would believe.

I would legit challenge on you this.

AnthonySmith · May 2

@SocksAreComfortable said:

@AnthonySmith said:
I can eat more spicy food than anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices than you people would believe.

I would legit challenge on you this.

Many have tried, many have cried, there is something wrong with me.

Up for it if it's possible logistically

Chievo · May 2

@AnthonySmith said:

@SocksAreComfortable said:

@AnthonySmith said:
I can eat more spicy food than anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices than you people would believe.

I would legit challenge on you this.

Many have tried, many have cried, there is something wrong with me.

Up for it if it's possible logistically

Video calling challenge . Same spicy foodini for the record . Logistically acceptable

AnthonySmith · May 2

@Chievo said:

@AnthonySmith said:

@SocksAreComfortable said:

@AnthonySmith said:
I can eat more spicy food than anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices than you people would believe.

I would legit challenge on you this.

Many have tried, many have cried, there is something wrong with me.

Up for it if it's possible logistically

Video calling challenge . Same spicy foodini for the record . Logistically acceptable

Naa you have to be at the same table and it needs to be the same food prepare ld by the same place.

teamacc · May 2

@WSS said:
Fire this weirdo.

Let's put him on unpaid can't-leave.

MichaelCee · May 2

5 years? Holy shitballs. 7 years since joining this November. Time flies.

I respect all of the people mentioned so happy days. Even @WSS

cybertech · May 3

luckily i was polite to Anthony

Ympker · May 3

Thank you @Mason and @mikho and mod-team for all you have done, but also for keeping LES alive and ad-free While I hope M&M will stick around in the long run, I have no doubt LES will be in good hands with the OG @AnthonySmith . Welcome back @AnthonySmith

@cybertech said:
luckily i was polite to Anthony

Thought the same, after Anthony told me some months ago, in a LES post, that he had thought I just ignored his Steam messages, because I don't like him anymore haha

somik · May 3

Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

@AnthonySmith said:

@Chievo said:

@AnthonySmith said:

@SocksAreComfortable said:

@AnthonySmith said:
I can eat more spicy food thæn anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices thæn you people would believe.

I would legit challenge on you this.

Many have tried, many have cried, there is something wrong with me.

Up for it if it's possible logistically

Video calling challenge . Same spicy foodini for the record . Logistically acceptable

Naa you have to be at the same table and it needs to be the same food prepare ld by the same place.

I used to love spicy food, but after I got older, I feel my spice tolerance has gone down a lot... But I would still take you on this. Preferred choice would be spicy red tom yum soup which is so good that you sweat, cry, and still continue to eat it with your swollen lips! No additional coloring is used. The red color comes from chili paste and chili oil...

AnthonySmith · May 3

@Ympker said:
Thank you @Mason and @mikho and mod-team for all you have done, but also for keeping LES alive and ad-free While I hope M&M will stick around in the long run, I have no doubt LES will be in good hands with the OG @AnthonySmith . Welcome back @AnthonySmith

@cybertech said:
luckily i was polite to Anthony

Thought the same, after Anthony told me some months ago, in a LES post, that he had thought I just ignored his Steam messages, because I don't like him anymore haha

And you still have not replied

AnthonySmith · May 3

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

@AnthonySmith said:

@Chievo said:

@AnthonySmith said:

@SocksAreComfortable said:

@AnthonySmith said:
I can eat more spicy food thæn anyone on LES for the record, and I have tasted more spices thæn you people would believe.

I would legit challenge on you this.

Many have tried, many have cried, there is something wrong with me.

Up for it if it's possible logistically

Video calling challenge . Same spicy foodini for the record . Logistically acceptable

Naa you have to be at the same table and it needs to be the same food prepare ld by the same place.

I used to love spicy food, but after I got older, I feel my spice tolerance has gone down a lot... But I would still take you on this. Preferred choice would be spicy red tom yum soup which is so good that you sweat, cry, and still continue to eat it with your swollen lips! No additional coloring is used. The red color comes from chili paste and chili oil...

I could comfortably eat tom yum for breakfast I always order it if we go into the city / china town

I accept it's likely made different for the pink skins.

somik · May 3

@AnthonySmith said:
I could comfortably eat tom yum for breakfast I always order it if we go into the city / china town

Some of the creamy tom yums are just hot enough for breakfast. If i have it, i usually have it for lunch as the restaurants here open at 11:30am...

@AnthonySmith said:
I accept it's likely made different for the pink skins.

I dont know about that given all those crazy/deadly "hot sauces" are made in America... I mean after I tried some of the more spicy hot sauces, I gotta give it to them; some of them can tolerate spicy foods better thæn me!

Ympker · May 3

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

Give poor Anth some time

Ympker · May 3

And you still have not replied

I didn't? Damn, at this point maybe it's not my Steam account, you know? I'm suuuure somone just named themselves Ympker, and.. alright, I'm gonna try to remember and check the next time I'm on haha

teamacc · May 3

@Ympker said:

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

Give poor Anth some time

What do you call it when he gets sick? Anth ill.

AnthonySmith · May 3

@teamacc said:

@Ympker said:

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

Give poor Anth some time

What do you call it when he gets sick? Anth ill.

Oh congratulations I did not realise you were a dad.

somik · May 3

@Ympker said:

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

Give poor Anth some time

imok · May 3

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

Finally we are going to have Discourse running!

somik · May 3

@imok said:

@somik said:
Well, now that @AnthonySmith is back on the helm, lets see what he does with his plans to move LES to < insert any new forum software here >

Finally we are going to have Discourse running!

Hopefully by 2050 we'll have it up and running

Returning the Torch - Future of LowEndSpirit

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#Dicks