Or whatever the hell he's calling himself these days.
Randy had one of the best entrances of any "newbie" in the ten years this site has been around. He was immediately different, with a strong preference for No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, Kylie, and Garbage. If Randy was a color, he would have been purple - a groovy purple. He told us stories of his life, like how he lived somewhere in Texas/Arizona (the lies were so many, I can't remember where). He was immediately liked, and quickly gained the respect needed to become moderator. And that's when he started to change ...
... Or become more of who he was. Turns out *Randy* was really Emanuel (right?!?), a Mexican who loved - LOVED - everything urban. Somehow, he was still allowed to be a moderator.
Best Moment: His personal countdown was legendary, but probably the fact that he started the Post Your Pics thread.
Worst Moment: When he ratted me and Tina out. (He was "sleeping" while we were chatting away - turns out the little sucker was copying/paste everything we were saying, and using it against us.)
Thanks for the mention, and for calling my ****down legendary
BUT:
1. There are 2 M's in Emmanuel
2. I became a moderator 2 YEARS after I told the truth about myself. In fact, the only reason I became a mod was because I'm Mexican and bilingual.
It may seem hard to believe now, but there was a time wherein ATRL was straight. Or, at least that's the way it seemed. There were a lot of undercover ****, but not that many that were out and proud. There was Scott, who I've already talked (and purged) about. There was also Frozen - the first Madonna stan, and from what I've heard, an altogether terrible kid. There wasn't a lot of positive representation.
But there was Nick.
It's hard to put into words the importance and impact that Nick has had on this site without turning him into some kind of messianic figure. He's far from it; he's just a regular guy. But he introduced so many things to ATRL: a recognition and dedication to preserving grammar online, the first inklings of appreciating camp ...
And being the first functional gay poster. He set the prototype for every teenage boy who came/comes to this site ostensibly to discuss their favorite pop divas, but who really came to find themselves. That might sound a bit too hokey, but when kids are dying exactly because they feel like they can't be them, anyone who opens the door deserves some sort of thanks.
He set the mold, and all you girls owe him more than a debt of gratitude.
How can anyone describe a man like Ryan? You can't - but I'll try.
The premiere rock fan here at ATRL, Ryan has always stood out from the crowd. Fiercely protective of his opinions, but also deeply willing to engage with others - he was, and is, the what all posters on a forum should aspire to. Ryan doesn't type his ideas out into a vacuum, and loves to be challenged.
He was also one of the longest-lasting moderators we've ever had. It's funny to think about Ryan's growth - when I arrived, he was a sorta sullen, easily arousable young man of questionable sexuality. But he grew, he changed, he evolved. And as ATRL gets older, it's imperative that someone like Ry-Ry - a man who, more than anything, is here to learn - doesn't become forgotten.
Best Moment: An original poster, Oliver, created Fantasy Billboard - a sub-forum where we created our own artists. Many posters flourished, but I remember Ryan's contributions the most.
This man has become, in effect, our eternal father - always a little ornery, but still the one who keeps the lights on. He is the alpha, and the omega. One of the first to reach out to the indie crowd. Never turns his back on his pop roots. Stans for middle America, but has a cosmopolitian attitude. You all could never.