TLDR: I'm getting out of prison today. Torn has helped me. How has it been helpful for you?
Note: tried to add images but they didn't work out very well lol
I've played Torn for a time now, got addicted, wish I had found it sooner... It has helped me pass the time and has become the center of my social life, and since I don't really use fb for anything social I decided to share this here.
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Today I get out of prison. I was sentenced to 15 years for armed robbery and burglary as a plea deal in exchange for the charges of kidnapping, pos. Of a weapon during a violent crime, and conspiracy being dropped. Our first offer was 25 to life, so I count myself blessed.
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In my past life I was affiliated with a gang. I was an alcoholic and self destructive. I had already been arrested for attempted suicide, and for having weapons at school on another occasion. After getting to prison I started banging every drug I could get into my veins in an attempt to mentally remove myself from the reality that I'd lost everything. I had a new born daughter, but I can't pretend she mattered much at that time since I was a POS who only cared about myself.
My daughter's in highschool now. I have no idea how our relationship will be since I've been gone so long, and I've been programmed to deal with certain kinds of people in prison, and having extremely limited contact with her.
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I've lived quite rough. I used to be a scammer, an extortionists who took advantage of everyone around me. I nearly lost my life a few times in prison at the hand of violence. I was also a mental health patient being used as a guinea pig for prescription research on various medications.
During this prison time I've had only my sister and my aunt who was there for me. Which I certainly didn't deserve for anyone to be there anyways. But now I'm going into this world where people know my past but don't know who I am now. With my history people think I'm at risk of going back into all the darkness I embraced before. Yet, they don't know me or who I've become.
While incarcerated I became convinced of the gospel of Jesus. I won't go into all the details, but I'm clearly a different man now than I was before my encounter with Jesus. From drugs to sobriety. From violence, to peace and goodwill towards other. From anger, wrath, and selfishness... To love and service to others. I'm not exactly a completed work, but the differences between who I was and who I am today is OBVIOUS for anyone who knew me before, and who I am now.
I'm excited for the future. My mom is on her deathbed now and I'm blessed to be able to see her face to face at least one more time and let her see that she doesn't have to worry about me anymore. I'm blessed because I get to work with my hands to create something good and contribute to those around me. I get to be a father. I'll be a husband. So the things that matter most in life to me.
I see people on here tell others to go outside and feel the grass lol... I'm going to feel the grass now in a new way. I'll still be in Torn, although less active in my wars until my mom passes.
Anyways, I want to thank a bunch of people who have made this game enjoyable and who helped me pass the time. I've made some friends here I think I'll know for a very long time.
So first, a big thanks to the creator, the devs, the mods, and whoever pieced this thing together and maintain it for our enjoyment. I've spent a lot of time in Torn and it has helped serve as an escape from the world I've known behind the walls. I wish I had found it from the beginning of my bid.
Second to my faction, Forbidden Reapers, full of such good people. Entertaining, and consistently there, around the clock. The center of my social life.
Special mention to my Red Twin, BigRed803 who grew up in the same trailer and convinced me not to play RR with my networth and quit if I lose... And to my homeboy Hollywood803 who's still in prison for some time yet still. Get your lazy ass up and take a walk bro....
There were so many people who have made my Torn experience wonderful. I can't go mentioning everyone with clicky links because I'm about to Walk out of these gates and it's time to get this thing rolling... But you all know who you are...
My first day plans ...
1. Going to Huddle House to eat all the sausage, bacon, and eggs I can.
2. Going to get some beer.
3. Going to get my driver's permit
(Xanax train)
4. Going to drive home and see my mom and have a beer with my dad
5. Going to pick my daughter up
6. Going to shoot some pool with my daughter, sister, niece, and cousin.
(Xanax train)
7. Going to drink a beer by a fire while the kids eat s'mores, and take a video of setting these orange shorts on fire and sending the video to Hollywood803
... I'm certain I'm not the only person who has had a positive story of how Torn has helped in a way. I know of people with medical conditions who have made Torn a place to escape their own conditions. I know of people still suffering from suicidal thoughts and feelings that use Torn as a means to be connected in some way. I know of people living in poverty in countries without many opportunities who use Torn to make meaningful connections with people across the globe. We have a lot of really good people in the Torn community who are helping others just by being there.
I welcome anyone else who cares to share how Torn has been good for them to post it here with mine. We know how it can become addictive and consuming. I'd rather hear the positive side of this coin. Instead of all the complaints and all the negativity, I'd love for everyone who puts so much time into creating and maintaining this community to see the good they are also doing for people.