21-Years Ago Today...

[irishfanatic]

Patsfans is my neighborhood pub on the internet where I can always go to share conversation with friends with a common interest. Many good discussions and many good people I would otherwise never know. Thanks for keeping the door open Ian!

CHEERS and huge shout out to Ian.

 

[Triumph]

Best Pats board on the web.

Up to the minute NFL and Pats news. Plus, the other big 3 NE sports teams.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Kraft, Belichick, Brady, Ian.

Can't forget Ashley.

Ian

Great job with this site. Best in well,.......everything.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

I appreciate that, but I've had enough conversations privately to know where I've done things badly, along with having been involved with so many personal situations that I wish I had handled better. Being older, I definitely look at things differently but I'm also quite self-aware. I rushed through a lot of situations instead of being more supportive and really being more involved where I could have helped people more and handled things differently.

Although, at the same time, I was under a little more pressure back then when the kids were younger and I was trying to balance my time between work, here, and obviously around the house for the sake of keeping my family happy. Now things are a little different and like anything else, the more time you have to look back, the more you always notice the things you could have done better.

I also should have made some difficult decisions that would have been better for people collectively instead of trying to appease both sides. I was afraid to at the time because I'm one of those people who does care about trying to make everyone happy. I've obviously since learned that there are times where it just isn't possible.

But it's the personal letdowns where it still eats at me at times. I try not to dwell on them - because I can't change them - but it doesn't change the fact I still think about them and they definitely bother me.

Ian

The only thing to regret is we don't have Andy Johnson around to tell everyone exactly what is correct.

 

[Zuma]

I’ve been around here since close to the beginning under various screen names (I’m awful with passwords). I found Miguel first, and he led me to Patsfans. I had no idea at the time how much this place would come to mean to me. I had no idea that one day Patsfans would save my life.

It was October 1st 2015. My marriage was ending, and I was totally broken. Overwhelming sadness and hopelessness had brought me to the point where I had decided to get my affairs in order and to end my life in the early morning hours of October 8th. My mind was made up.

Then, while at work on the 1st, I signed on to Patsfans as I often did and still do just to see if anything was going on. “I could use your thoughts and prayers” was the thread title. Another poster was going through the same thing and entertaining the same thoughts as me, and he had the courage to share those thoughts and ask for help which he was getting in post after post from PatsFans’ members.

Imagine the odds of having decided to commit suicide only to find a thoughtful conversation on the subject had broken out on the football fan forum that I checked routinely every day? On my lunch hour, I posted my story and what I was planning. By the time I got home after work, there was post after post and multiple PMs of concern and encouragement. From people all over the world. From a soldier stationed in Afghanistan. It was unbelievable. It was a miracle.

Ian emailed me that night. He would email or text me everyday for months as I slowly got my feet back under me. I consider him a great friend. From that experience, I met an incredible young man and fellow poster who lives near me and puts up with my old man ways and stories. We’ve watched games together and it’s a rare day we don’t share a text or two. I’m so grateful for his friendship. And, the poster who originally sought some “thoughts and prayers” is now a dear friend of mine. We have helped each other keep the darkness of depression away over these last nearly 6 years.

Thank you, Ian. That you harbor any regrets about your operation of this place and your dealings with us is a testimony to the size of your heart and the depth of your character.

I remember that. I started following you then and we spoke...let you know people care. Glad your here.

 

[tasmlab]

Thanks Ian! This is my favorite site on the entire Internet.

How prescient that you started this enterprise just weeks after Belichick was hired and Brady was drafted.

 

[Hyped]

The fact that we have such an active forum in 2021 and it isn't even hosted by Reddit is a pretty huge achievement. I'm thankful to have one less reason to visit that god-forsaken site.

x2

Forums are dead these days......everyone loves 140 characters or less chatter...

 

[AQPE]

I can’t think of a better thread for my Post #1,000!

This forum has brought me so much enjoyment and so much better understanding of football, the Pats, and actually life beyond my personal bubble. Thank you Ian for making this possible, I still can’t believe this is just a hobby for you. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years to come!

Kol Hakovod and GO PATS!!!

 

[Brotherblues]

LOL, they went 5-11 the first year...I sort of felt like we put the jinx on them.

They were still getting used to having the board. Took them a year to work out the kinks.

 

[ashley]

Thank you Ian, just a great place for Patriot fans to come and chat about their team. I've met so many great people on here, actually dated someone but we won't go there. lol
But anyway, really appreciate everything you have done and keep doing to make this the best fan site on the web!!!


Ash

 

[Captain Cliche]

I too remember the old format with the cascading threads. Have I been lurking that long?
I'm a long distance from the East Coast and this site helps me keep up.

Thank you Ian for all you do.

 

[PP2]

Oh this forum is legal? Let's buy it a beer.

 

[Kontradiction]

Thank you Ian, just a great place for Patriot fans to come and chat about their team. I've met so many great people on here, actually dated someone but we won't go there. lol
But anyway, really appreciate everything you have done and keep doing to make this the best fan site on the web!!!


Ash

We kind of have to go there now. Who blew it?

 

[Pape]

Happy 21st

Thanks for keeping the site going Ian.

 

[Pape]

We kind of have to go there now. Who blew it?

there is no kind of about it... it may actually require its very own thread

 

[jimnance]

Major gratitude Ian.
I remember the original site circa 2001.
Ive been lurking or posting here for 20 years. Different screen names, like another poster said I suck with passwords.
Ive sometimes gone years w/o posting.
My life got very busy for a while. But it was always a comfort knowing patsfans was here.
Regarding @KennethSims post:
I didnt know all those details. Like the small one that a life was saved.
Mindboggling. Theres no other place on the web like this.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Thank you Ian, just a great place for Patriot fans to come and chat about their team. I've met so many great people on here, actually dated someone but we won't go there. lol

fnord, you're a bloody disgrace!

 

[jimnance]

fnord, you're a bloody disgrace!

Cmon Mike, Ashley has better taste than that

 

[NCPATSFAN1971]

I've been a Pat's Fan for over 50 Years and counting. Patsfans.com is without a doubt the best all around website and is also better than any other form of media that involves the New England Patriots. I visit this site almost everyday and enjoy reading what goes on here.

Congrats Ian!

 

[Betterthanmost]

Ian is just 21 years old?