Now that's a forum stigma.

I honestly skip AC. For the reasons mentioned. XD Simply, I am sometimes over-sensitive for criticism and it's kind of sad hoping you will get a praise when you are all proud of your avvie and you all get is head shaking. XD Maybe, if I had more typical Mene style, I would try to go there more and more, but I settled down for the fact that as long as I am pleased with it, it doesn't really matter what others think of it, so no need to go in AC to ask for opinions. ^^;
I actually only stick to Charity forum, because I am used to people there and the threads. I have not found a hangout I would like to join/would remember to return to and I am generally shy about bouncing in random threads that have their mini-community formed within already.
I break otu of my shell sometimes, though, like right now. XD

Saddy, you don't need to try and fit into the narrow box that a lot of the ACers live in. You avatar's look is to please you after all, not them :)

@ Sad - most people don't mind if you just hop into a hangout... and if you're not sure if it's okay you can always PM them and ask ^^ most of us don't bite... *pokes jelly* most of us....

I like the AC sometimes because I enjoy harsh criticism because I know if I dislike their advice I can ignore it :lol:

I've gotten to the point where I run around like a chicken with it's head cut off, posting where I want. I try to make what I write worth posting, however.

Seiki I joined the AC in late 08 and it was still there. My first run of PM made me realize that they are overly picky about color balance.....but in mid 2009 a new wave of avatar making took face and its not nearly as bad as it once was in fact its actually quite lovely now......but the rep is still there and its gonna be a hard rep to break.

Hmm, I tend to skip the word games forum because my brain can't handle the complexity of it all.