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RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 5:55 am
by KEND
Looking at 'RSF what is it' brought back memories. For the people who joined recently a brief history. RSF evolved from EmptyFlower a forum basically for Hsing yi founded by David DeVere around 2000. It was a little different from other forums, possibly a little more intellectual, covering a range of subjects outside martial arts, which may have helped it survive. David died in 2012 [obit. below] still a comparatively young man, for those who knew him, a sad day.
I joined around 2001 and found it was a site like no other, smart people with strong opinions, and I posted regularly.
After David's death the name of the site was taken by a member and there was doubt that the site would survive. Thanks to Felipe Bido and other enthusiasts it did survive and flourishes to this day.
So let us pay respects to the founder David and the members who helped the site to survive, help by posting, don't lurk in the shadows, recommend it to your MA friends, there is a lot of information here, inside and outside the martial arts

In Memory of David DeVere
September 23, 1968 - June 6, 2012
Obituary
David N. DeVere, 43, of Phoenix, AZ., passed away while in hospice from liver and renal failure, on June 6, 2012. He was a gifted artist and web designer for the film industry. David had a heart of gold and a sharp wit. One of his passions was to make people laugh. He was loved by so many people and will be deeply missed.

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 7:54 am
by Strange
keepin it real

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 9:30 am
by Bao
Thank you KEND, good being nostalgic sometimes. I visited the old EF from 2001 and became a member about 2004 I think.

Just want to add that the ol' EF was divided into two forums. One kept the name "empty flower" and the other of the fractions survived.

There are not many active MA boards today. Maybe the age of the members contribute to this forum is still such an active place. Hope it will continue to live and prosper. :D

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sun Jul 31, 2016 12:31 pm
by chud
Tom wrote:
Requiescat in pace, David. Your community lives on.


By starting EmptyFlower David DeVere did a lot to help expose many people, me included, to the internal arts of Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, and Taijiquan.

If I recall correctly, the original forum software did not save threads long term, so a lot of great stuff from the early days faded away and was unfortunately lost (I remember a thread called "Why Taijiquan?" that got me interested and started me on the path to learning Tai Chi).

The RSF forum has slowed down a bit since those days due to people leaving, getting banned, or simply using Facebook groups...but this forum still has its place in the community.

+ R.I.P. DDV +

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 3:57 am
by Morty
I stumbled upon emptyflower (the awesome web site, that is) in 2002 or so. All the old greats on the forums also helped my practice immensely. Somehow, the discussions seem to have been meatier and thicker with useful stuff back then... or maybe I'm just too old these days ;D

Old classics such as "Tighten the grain path" , "Break yo hip", "Unretouched photo", Sifu Z, and Felipe's practice images doing the eagle and bear form (not to mention the rum bottle photos) will always stick with me.

I'll drink one to DDV.

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 9:14 am
by dragonprawn
Perhaps appropriate that I post for the first time in a long time on this thread. I was on the old ef and some of you know me. Good to know rsf is still up and running. I look forward to reading some threads and chiming in here and there.

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:47 pm
by wayne hansen
If you wish to pay homage to David the best way is to make the site strong
The current bias and promotion of cliques on site is getting a lot of good people to leave
The site is becoming a forum for certain commercial endeavours and cult groups
One way to make it strong and transparent is to make sure people show what groups they belong to
It would help if people also showed not only how long they trained but when they began and when they name several arts if they were trained concurrently or consecutively
When you add up some peoples training in arts it adds up to more than their age

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 10:52 pm
by wayne hansen
Gee tom I thought what I said was reasonable
If someone else had got as vindictive as you just did you would want to call them to task
I just asked for is all to work a bit harder to make the site stronger
I like a lot of what goes on here and think in my own small way I contribute
That is obviously not your view
And to go to the old bumper sticker of love it or leave it
Please
I won't reply on this again

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:51 am
by Finny
I thought what Tom said was pretty reasonable - there have indeed always been cliques.

Ongoing negativity does no one any good.

Reform, tighter moderation, commercial additions have all been suggested over the years. The character of eF/RSF has always run counter to those ideas - the beauty of eF is the laissez-faire community approach.

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:25 am
by KEND
The forum is comparatively calm nowadays. Years ago it abounded with trolls and egomaniacs, they came they went, the level of debate has become more civilized. The strength lies in having a place to go where you can discuss your passion, the MA's but also the other things that make up your life
Incidentally I don't know if the photo archives still exist but there were some of David when ven. Fish and I visited him in,
I believe, 2001

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 8:05 am
by kenneth fish
No sooner done than said. Oh, wait a minute, that is a different activity.....

Anyway, here is a link to the photos.


http://ef.sifuondemand.com/crushing/visit/visit01.html

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:19 am
by cerebus
Wow. Seeing those pics again for the first time in.... well over a decade! That really brings back some memories of the old days on the forum...

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 10:47 am
by shawnsegler
Long time lurker, first time poster.

Wow, this place has such a history. I bet it was pretty wild back in the day.

S

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:15 pm
by wayne hansen
The only person not named in the photos is the one in the blue shirt

Re: RSF Origins

PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:35 pm
by GrahamB
I think Wayne made a good point. Empty flower was like a bar - you could talk shit and have fun. RSF has become more like a playground where everyone wants to be on the side of the bully.

RIP David - we had some great chats on the side.