Well, if you've ever stopped by the forums, you might have had the chance to see these 3 oldies: `mooboy, `nieman and `r0b.
Since those ticks at their names make them seem pretty scary, lets have a look at what they're really like.
So here are 3 people who have been infected with senioritis!


First, the basics about them.

`nieman Josh Nieman, 24. A deviant since June 20, 2001, and I was made a senior, I believe, that winter, sometime, by Jark.

`r0b Hi, I'm Rob, from Brighton, England and I'm 23! I've been using devart since 2001. I *think* I've been a ` for about 5 years now, but I'm not entirely sure..

`mooboy Name's Bill, also known as MooBoy, and I am 38 years old, I have been on Deviantart since March 22, 2002, 5:38 AM, and I have been a Senior for about 2 years now.
...wtf was I doing up that late in the first place?!


What was your first reaction/the first thing you did when you saw that you had been made senior? (besides running around the room screaming)

`mooboy "What? I'm not an PVA anymore?!" Prior to me being a Senior, I was a Policy Violation Administrator. If you saw the Cow, you either got banned or had a bad day
...this said, I DID have more mercy than most

`nieman I saw the tick, I then noted Jark with a "wtf mate" type note and thanked him. Told him I'd do my best not to shit on the implications the symbol carries with it.

`r0b My first reaction was "WWWHHHAAATTTTTTTT.....????" I didn't ever expect to be given a `. Not in those days anyway! I was a bit of a dA troublemaker back then!


There are 600+ seniors, what makes you the awesomest of all?

`r0b I'm no way near the most awesome senior. There are loads of seniors who are more awesome than me!


`mooboy Well, we live in a world that eats over 35,000 Kgs of beef a year. Everyone loves The Cow darlin'. I supply joy and sustenance to the known world! I am a double-cheeseburger away from you loving me!
It's what I do. It's how I role.


`nieman 600? Holy fuck. Well uh.. I could throw out the typical "DURR I'M OLD SCHOOL" type of crap, but that's about lame and a half. I can't say I am any mo' betta than any other senior, though. We all have a lot of great qualities to offer, and our diversity as a community resource is the biggest asset to the site, bar none (well you know, other than there actually BEING a functional site for us to be on.. ok so bar that one) As for what assets I bring to the table? I'm one of many seniors who's actually a professional in the field I developed talent in via deviantART. I am a structural designer and drafter for an engineering firm. All those nice 3d models I have uploaded and deleted over the years, have given rise to my ability to provide accurate, construction specific, 3d models for the AEC industry, as well as providing presentation renderings and visualizations in a professional, corporate, private, or investment-meeting setting. I think art can be as successful when pointless, but to be happiest in your art, I think successful application is necessary. I'm one of many seniors who embodies that.


Some deviations by `mooboy




Has the importance or the role of seniors changed in the time you've been a senior? How?

`r0b I don't think it's changed that much. It's all about community participation above anything else! However, I've heard these days you have to sleep with a hell of a lot more people to get a ` !

`nieman Not really.

`mooboy In a way. At one time, the Seniors were the elite...the ones that are set apart from the rest, either through skill in their craft or their status in the community. The cats that have been there since the beginning, or have served people of this site in some way, or shinned above the others.
Now, it's STILL like that, for the most part, but not as much...not like the old days. Without crossing the boundaries of controversy, yes...things have changed a bit.


In this article I picked 'old' forumers. How much have the forums changed, what has been the biggest change and is anything about the forums better now then it used to be?

`nieman Gah.. well some old schoolers will tell you the content was better back then, but don't listen to them. We talked about just as much stupid bullshit as they do today. We just all knew eachother, so it seemed more meaningful, less random, and less sporadic. Less dead horse topics occured. Basically all the good things that come with low population were present, and all the bad things that come with high population were not. Most people tend to focus on those two, but the converse is also absolutely true. The good with high population was NOT there, and the bad with low population absolutely was. I say the forum is worse, on the whole, though, because the bad with high population outweighs the good. It's always been a cesspool, though, and anyone who tells you otherwise is jaded, looking through rose tinted glasses, and full of themselves. Elitism is a comfortable high horse to seat yourself upon, and can be hard to give up, even in light of evidence.

`mooboy Wow...good question! I use to fly in the forums...the debating, the comedy, the drama, the frustration...outstanding! Moderating them was even more of a joy! No, contrary to popular belief, I NEVER abused my power as a moderator. Now, I DID laugh and make fun of a lot of people, but never closed them down due to contrary opinions or stupidity!
Today...I am not there much. I will pop in an read a few posts, mainly staying away from the vain and ignorant political and religious debates, and look into the light-hearted or more passionate posts, which are a rarity these days. At first glances, the largest change I see forums are the lack of intelligent, passionate, and well researched debates as once were.
During my time on the boards, people had their crap together when they came to the table. Both sides came prepared and laid down a good debate! It was fun, frustrating, heated, but entertaining! Now...lol, I see people arguing the existence of God using movie quotes, pissing on about current politics using their own brand of bs news sources and saying that THEY are the most reliable, or spewing old conspiracies after they have long been debunked. Honestly folks! Grow a brain cell, read a book, and amp it up a bit! LOL

`r0b The forums have changed soooooo much! The biggest change is the shear volume of material that's posted these days! There must be a new post every 5 seconds! Plus, there seems to be a forum for everything! Deviants, Suggestions, Thumbshare, Help with Life, Help with Death, Cooking, Floral Arrangements... The list goes on! Back then, I think there was 5 forums at tops and topics used to stay in there for weeks! It was actually possible to have a interesting and informative conversation with other people on dA. There was also a way to view topics that had been posted months/years before. It was pretty amusing to go and find a topic that someone had posted while they were a n00b and then go and bump back into the main list! Oh, we did giggle


What do you mostly do when you're on dA?

`r0b You can usually find me browsing the Male Nude section in the Stock Images gallery... Or hanging out in #seniors on dAmn.

`nieman I typically check the DDs every day as there's ALWAYS something that I am impressed with within that bunch. I have my front page set to display DDs, then 3D - Scenes - Interiors... 3D - Scenes - Exteriors (the basic architectural renderings categories).. my devwatch.. then both technical drawings categories which are full of miscats and crap, but an occasional neat piece comes through.. then the last row I have is the newest 3D Models in the Resources Gallery which is in DIRE need of cleanup. Desperately. Seriously folks, it's not a place for clip art you made in a 3d gallery... it's a place for 3D Models... not renders... not pictures... models.

`mooboy After I scan the Artistic Nudes and Erotic Bovinian Photography, I usually read what has been post on my page, journal, and notes. Then scan the cats that I watch...their works, their journals, and then get in on the news articles and etc. After that, I will cruise around and look for the unknown talents out there.


Some deviations by `nieman




Are you more dedicated to the art part of the community or the community part?

`nieman Art part. You can't have one without the other, though. I feel the issues and importance of art should take precedence over anything on this site what so ever. The community will mold to fit that; such is the ways of online groups. I think molding the art side to suit the community is a drastic flaw, but it's a fine line that's hard to tread.

`mooboy To both, plain and simple. I have ALWAYS been here for the cats of this site! Always! The past and current politics of this site be damned! The "he said, she said" crap of the past, and present, annoys me. It's the people here...it's about the art, both classical AND digital, the photography, the written word, and now, the animated...and etc. The expression of emotions, good and bad, controversial OR conservative! I support THAT and I always will.
The cat in Iraq that is piggy-backing on someone else's account to upload a crappy photo of a street-scene in order to show the rest of us what life is like for HIM or HER has the SAME RIGHT to post on here as the cat in Beverly Hills or Hong Kong taking a same said crappy photo of their summer vacation to the Bahamas.
We are a community. We are artists, using various mediums to share and convey a thought, an emotion, or idea to one another! We are brothers, sisters...peers...a community! We SHOULD treat each other with respect, to grow together, and to stand by each other. We should...lol.
...so, yes, that is what I am dedicated to. The community...something that I personally think, has been on the back-burner as of late. Making money...a name, has it's place, but when you lose track of the "spirit" of a thing. Yeah...it becomes mechanical, political, and then, unwanted.

`r0b Both! I've made so many good friends through dA. And i LOVE browsing the photo galleries and finding new talented artists. I love the way that dA is a community/SN website that revolves around art. It's so much more interesting and fun to use than myspace or facebook. However, the "community" has grown so much over the last few years. Back then, everyone used to know everyone else, and what everyone was up to. It was a bit like Wisteria Lane!


What do you think about the term 'forum whores' or 'whores' in general that tends to be used a lot when referring to so-called deviantart oldies? How did the term 'whore' even come about?

`nieman It's an archaic term that predates even internet communities. People are often surprised to find out that acronyms like FUBAR, and shit like that were around LONG before the internet. No I didn't only know that because of Saving Private Ryan but the movie did help keep that tidbit at the forefront of my memory. The term is accurate, I believe, as it's my belief that "whoring" is basically committing an act in defiance of a personal moral. Not necessarily sexually based, in many contexts, just flagrant action in defiance of a moral... pretty subjective statements and many would disagree, but then again, they weren't asked, here, I was. The moral? Diligence or hard work... all the hours I spent on the forum would have been MUCH better spent studying, working, or doing SOMETHING productive. It's very slothlike to simply sit and forum your butt off... or rather, forum your butt FAT.

`r0b "Whore" used to be a Deviant Type. It was just a term used to describe the kids who used to whore themselves around the website, especially in the forums. ( ~five springs to mind!) Then it got taken off because it was non PC. I assume the labels just stuck to the oldies!

`mooboy Well, aside from the sexual connotations of the word, one can only look at the obvious. A whore is, essentially, a person compromising their principles and convictions for personal gain. If you need to rely on cheap tactics, spam, or shock tactics to pimp yourself, your product, or your ideas, then you should be...well, released from this site until further notice. I have more respect for a sugar-coated-giggle-queen than one of these slap-ass morons.


Some deviations by `r0b




Honest, what's the awesomest thing about being a senior?

`mooboy The Champaign Room. No lie, that there room be the prettiest pad this side of Heaven! Oh...and personal bathrooms with the customized toilets! Yeah...that there be the price of admission!


`r0b Being able to use /kick on dAmn

`nieman Well, I like the seniors forum, as it's a more mature and concentrated crowd to bounce ideas off of where you won't see topics pushed off quickly by menial conversations. It's a good way to brainstorm with staff, once a good idea is reached, as well. The best thing is the more direct channel to staff that also allows input from other folks. We clash a lot in there so don't think it's a bunch of circle jerking. It's good to have opposing ideas, lest stagnation infest our innovation. Great think tank there.


Any seniors you'd like to see in the next article?

`nieman I dunno many no more. Most of the active ones are newer than my activity. I took a hiatus from technology a while ago and lost touch with the site. I came back to find I best fit merely as a meddler. Pick someone who's name starts with an "F" and has logged on in the last month. Spin the wheel and see where it lands.

`mooboy More than I can list here...but a few that come to my remaining brain cells...
`-kol - an unbelievable digital artist!
`bookdiva - an unbelievable human being!
`glitterdarkstar - a BRIGHT star in photography on here!
`lithiumpicnic - The one I have built a temple to!
`foureyes - The one who has stolen the very air that I breathe!
`snowmask - The one that has stolen my heart...and money, keys to my car, my house, and my espresso maker! WTF?! Butt-Muncher!!

...ahem. Sorry.

`zerocomplex - Someone that I admire and respect from a distance. The photos that he has taken...style, beauty, and most importantly, his own! He puts his own "style" in the photos he takes, and I admire that!
`lucias-tears - EVERY time I see her photos...my mouth hangs open! And SOOO not in the lustful-type way, but in awe! Check her gallery and you will understand...especially the piece, Buttermilk...but, for personal reasons




What others said about them:

About `mooboy

`mooboy was, simply put, the MASTER of the forums when I joined 4 and a half years ago. Back then he was a PVA staff member and along with `devilmech he ruled the forums with an iron fist. Everyone knew him well enough to fear him. But he's also a very smart passionate man and can hold his own in any political or religous discussion. (`dxd)

`mooboy caught my eye when I joined dA, purely because his avatar at the time was a trainspotting animation He's been through a lot in the years that I've known him but he's always shown strength and determination to pull through, and stay true to his beliefs. ($chix0r)


About `r0b

`r0b was at one point responsible for most activity in the Seniors forum, to this date I believe he holds the record for threads started in there. Although I believe `nieman is catching up. `r0b is an amusing guy and along with `nieman he provides some laughter in the quieter moments of #seniors. (`dxd)
`r0b is a wanker (`skrath)


About `nieman

`nieman loves his autoCAD! (`sodalicious)
`nieman was the dA volunteer staff slut at one point, the guy's had just about every symbol under the sun. He comes across a little mean sometimes but in reality he can be quite a helpful guy, he knows a lot about design. He apparently has a mullet and a love of 80's cheese music. (`dxd)




Any last words, comments, etc.?

`mooboy Pie...it's what makes the world go 'round! Learn it, know it...live it!
Love one another...respect, and treat each other as you would have others treat you. Remember folks, we are all in this together. We may, and most likely will, disagree on politics and religion! BUT!!! But...we ARE, and will remain, ARTISTS! We are brothers and sisters...we have a common bond! One that stands outside the boundaries of what we judge to be right and wrong. One that stands on it's own. Instead of judging each other, we should help one another grow in our craft...and then, maybe, grow as human beings. Maybe.

...but, when all else fails, another binding factor, one that is just as powerful, universal, and one that even our creator smiles upon?



Cheese!
...another product from, you guessed it, The Cow!


`r0b Yes, I was browsing the Floral Arrangements forum earlier and found out that a Tussie-Mussie is a small, compact cluster of flowers with bound stems creating an ultra-charming round bouquet. From a dainty fingertip bouquet to a more lavish creation, the Tussie-Mussie can be designed to be hand-held or slipped into your favourite vase.

It's to die for!





That's it for this time Feel free to note or comment and add your ideas as to which seniors you'd like to see interviewed next
We have some real oldies for next time


Previous articles can be seen here:
Senioritis vol.1 &
Senioritis vol.2