[@CurlyHaris] Positive start to 2021 so far?

[@scopey] I would say that my start to 2021 have been relatively neutral, neither positive nor negative. I haven't made any dramatic changes and life goes on the same way it always has. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but not much has changed since 2020.

[@CurlyHaris] One thing that has changed since 2020 for certain is your return to the site, and notably to the Moderator position. Is it safe to say you're here for the foreseeable future? Or does the demand for scopеY grow elsewherе?

[@scopey] hah there is not much ScopeY demand elsewhere. I have no intention of leaving the site anytime soon. I am enjoying my time here and all of the community vibes. I was perhaps inactive from the site for about a year or two, and I feel like I have some renewed energy now.

[@CurlyHaris] Well that's great to hear and I’m sure many other users would agree with me! Speaking of the community, Get Involved (Now on Volume 5) is gaining momentum, and consistently brings users together... What inspired you to want to get people involved, and were you expecting this much of a positive reception?

[@scopey] The whole thing was inspired by @VinylZombie_MCR actually. She had made a thread about what we could do to bring the community together, and that sparked the idea in me of bringing back Get Involved. I just checked, and her thread was made on June 5 while I created the first page on June 10. I didn't really expect that much, to be honest, I was just thinking of what I could do to bring users together, and I think it's been relatively successful. It started off kind of slow, but it has gained more and more momentum over time, and pretty excited about seeing all of the engagement. It's going better than I expected, so I'm real happy about that, and I intend to keep it going as long as there is some demand for it.

[@CurlyHaris] I'm glad that you mention other people such as @VinylZombie_MCR, as it is often those around us that push us to do stuff on the site, especially when we want to be lazy or stuck in a rut - something we both know all too well! That being said, you are looked up as a role model and site veteran, which is all to be expected when you're in your tenth year on the site - How do you feel about that, and has that impacted how you approach your work on Genius?

[@scopey] Of course, credit goes where credit is due. We're all inspiring each other, which is why this place is pretty neat. It wasn't something I entirely came up with myself, and I'm just building onto what greater users have done before. The whole thing is impactful not because of me, but because of everyone participating. The next 20 topics or so are all community-suggested! So, I'm not even doing anything. As for being a role model.. I don't know, I don't necessarily view myself that way, I'm just a regular dude with a lot of free time. I do understand my place here though and I know that some people might see me in that light, and of course it does come with a level of responsibility. Whether or not I actually meet those standards is up for debate, because I don't really take myself that seriously. I'm joking half the time, but I suppose the idea that people might "look up to me" does somewhat impact how I carry myself in certain contexts, so I do try to have a positive influence wherever I go. Perhaps my word can carry some weight, so it's something I should keep in mind.

[@CurlyHaris] Whilst you’re quick to pile credit onto others, I think self-recognition is also due in this case. You’ve accomplished a lot on the site, and are held in great esteem, and it sounds to me you’ll go away from this and lament on that a little more… what are your words of advice to those just starting on the site, and what would you suggest they do for the best chances of success?

[@scopey] Every morning after I wake up I look at myself in the mirror for five minutes and hype myself up, so that is all the self-recognition I need to keep going. My word of advice is just to have fun. Discover your passions, find out what you care about the most, and do that thing. Everyone has their own thing. Don't do anything because you think you have to do it, do it because you want to do it. Focus on whatever brings you the most joy, and try not to burn yourself out. It's also totally chill take small breaks from the site to renew your energy. Try to get in contact with some community members for that extra communal feel, and take things from there. If you want to be successful just talk to everyone like they are your best friend. It works wonders.

[@CurlyHaris] Modest as ever scopey! More on burning out, what are the signs of such a thing happening and what can be done to combat this? And you previously mentioned small breaks, what do you get up to when it's not Genius?

[@scopey] I suppose a sign of burn-out is just getting bored and feeling demotivated. Essentially, Genius is a hobby, so if you are no longer enjoying yourself, you should take a step back to reflect over why exactly you are feeling this way. Maybe you are doing too much at once, maybe you are doing the wrong things, maybe your motivations are misplaced, or whatever else. Everyone has their own journey. I don't really go out much, so I entertain myself with different types of media, TV shows/movies, video games, random YouTube vids, and such.

[@CurlyHaris] Excellent points, it's very easy to be immersed in the world of Genius, especially when there's so much potential and room for growth.. another reason why we seem to stick around, eh? More on the entertainment side of things.. I know you're a fan of The Office, but what else makes the cut for you for a potential favourite TV series?
[@scopey] Oh wow. There is a lot of good stuff, it can be difficult to limit to only a few shows. Breaking Bad is one of my all-time favs. First season of True Detective is amazing. Better Call Saul, BoJack Horseman, Daredevil, Dark, Mindhunter, Mr. Robot, Narcos, Ozark, The Americans are all pretty fantastic. For comedies I have enjoyed 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, Seinfeld.. I mean, that is a pretty sizable list. There are many shows that I have loved quite a bit.

[@CurlyHaris] That’s definitely an extensive list for any viewers out there! And will keep you more than occupied in your healthy breaks from time to time! And finally scopeY, what are your hopes for 2021 on the site, and do you have any closing thoughts?

[@scopey] I'm just trying to get 800K IQ so that I can finally retire. Doot doola doot doo. Check out scopeY's Get Involved initiative!