They say you can’t pick your family. They’re wrong. Let’s elaborate with a short story. The other day I went up to Guildford for my preview of Top Gun at doublesix. You probably aren’t aware of this, but the train from Hastings to Guildford can involve taking a few odd dog legs. On the way back the PR guy who’d been at the preview ended up getting the same train as me, and we had a bit of a chat about the industry in general as well as how awesome TheSixthAxis is. We somehow got onto why I like writing for TSA, rather than seeking somewhere where I can earn cold hard cash. Now I do like cash, I can buy important things like food with it. However after thinking a moment I simply said that “TSA feels like family.”
That’s basically what it boils down to for me here. Whilst, obviously, I love each and every one of our lovely readers, to me the staff feels like an extension of my family. You’ve got Alex as the dad, bossing us all about. Of course this makes Michael the mum of our little family, a position he fills pretty nicely. Peter is more like the lovable uncle who sneakily gives you some sweets when your parents aren’t looking, and most of the rest of us are a bunch of mischievous kids; hoping that the grown-ups don’t notice we’ve broken a few of the mugs and built a fort out of the sofa cushions. We’ve even got that cousin who went off somewhere to try and make it on his own in the form of djhsecondnature, the owner and editor of MediaKick, former TSAer, as well as my flatmate and very good friend. Hell I even got birthday presents from some of the family.
The simple fact of the matter is I don’t know if I could ever completely leave TSA, in the same way I’m not sure I could ever cut my parents or younger brother out of my life. Sure sometimes I bicker with other staffers, but I bicker with my actual family as well. At least no-one at TSA is trying to convince me to buy a house.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t like to make some money for writing, I enjoy writing and maybe one day someone will be crazy enough to even offer me cash for what I do. The real issue is I don’t know how I’d respond if Eurogamer – picked as they’re Brighton based – were to see my writing and try to take me from TSA. I love writing for TSA, it absorbs my time and was a contributing factor to me leaving my last full time job. The ideal solution would be that TSA somehow rakes in enough cash to pay some of the staff. Hopefully if all of you guys and gals click on adverts and spread the good word of our community we will one day.
I don’t know what’s brought on this out-pouring of love for my adopted family, perhaps it’s the growth of Alex’s actual family. Perhaps it’s because I’m once again considering how to make some money and where my life should go from here. Should I try and grow my writing to the point where I make money? Should I write about non-gaming things as well? Perhaps I should take up a small business opportunity that’s recently come my way.
Honestly I don’t know, but I don’t see myself leaving the TSA family any time soon. I’m happy here and for some reason I’ve never quite figured out they keep pushing me further and further up the editorial ladder. Either I’m a competent, talented writer who shows a flare for creating original content and guiding other writers forward, or no-one else is dumb enough to actually take the jobs that come with things like responsibility and stress. I think the odds are about 60/40 at the moment.
So there you have it, TSA is a family. There’s probably even a few family feuds boiling under the surface that I don’t know about. I suspect that someone stole Alex’s toys at some point, which would probably explain the grumpyness.
No, they say you can’t choose your family. They have no idea just how wrong they are.
djhsecondnature
:-) I think I can safely say that I’ve never really left. Al and Peter still get enough emails from me.
mynameisblair
As a newly adopted member of the family, I completely agree.
It’s a thing that few sites have, but luckily, I’ve had this with the sites I have been a part of.
I’ve really got some great friends on the internet.
CaptainMurdo
And they are even becoming real friends! (or family, in the sense of the article)
mynameisblair
Yes, I welcome this!
(For anyone that doesn’t understand, I’m good friends with Murdo and Colin, and we’ve met up… IN REAL LIFE!)
Colinbarr66
You stole our cookies!
Raen
Or real family. I hear civil partnerships are all the rage
Gastos84
I’m currently going through some family problems that are taking their toll and I actually said I was quitting TSA but Daddy Al and Uncle Peter have been brilliant and allowed me to stay on even though I can’t dedicate a lot of time. It is like a little virtual family. Tis a great place.
<3
CaptainMurdo
They did the same for me. Couldn’t be more supportive!
gazzagb
Awww! I think this is one of the reasons I love TSA. It just feels right. There isnt another website that I know where I can consider people that Ive never met in real life to be good friends of mine.
Roynaldo
Love you too TSA
*Grunt* *Slobber* *Fart* *Guzzle* *Burp*
Yeah, I feel more manly now
BioEye
Sshh! Don’t mention the mugs! I spent ages gluing them back together.
DJ-Katy
OMG I got emancipated from the family :( *cries*
Raen
Oh come on, you’re totally one of the mischievous kids. You and Tuffcub are the most mischievous.
Tuffcub
Even though I’m the oldest(I think)
DJ-Katy
Damn right you are, I’m 14 :D
But, I’m just an ostracised little bear-ess. I didn’t get invited to the TSA Staff party :( Now I am going to kill them all. With badly rendered axes.
bunimomike
Gutted to think that some of my favourite TSA staff (djhsecondnature and Gastos) don’t write as much these days but would always wish them well regardless. Then again, it’s great to see them posting here.
Kris – top article and even from a forumite/member perspective, one I totally agree with. Nowhere like it on the planet.
Raen
Well djhsecondnature isn’t actually on staff any more. He still continues to be bad ass at MediaKick
Dexter17
We’re family? So that means that me, Mike and TheShockWave are related? *shudders*
Daywalker
O_o :P
give up
I love TSA too, it definitely has the best unification between the community and the writers, it just feels like you know everyone and their mannerisms.