After FIVE (+) LONG YEARS on scratch (and 3 years on this account), I have come to announce that I will be retiring as a scratcher at the end of the season. This has been a painful decision for me to make, but i believe that it has come at the right time. I believe that, in the history of the SMC, we are entering the 3rd generation of the countryball/mapping community, and after a long tenure it would only be appropriate to move on with my life (unlike SOME PEOPLE: @deet0109) However, that does not mean that I would not miss this website. Joining in 2020, I came to an SMC studio that was entering it final year of the "Golden era". The steam from the first generation had cleared and it would be clear that the studio would go into a spiral of decline after we heard some of the og's and unc's leaving. However, this time period has been some of the greatest periods to date. I could sit here and name countless memories, but I will save you the details. To put it into perspective, it was like the football (or soccer) era between 2019 to 2023. Yes, football as a whole lost its flair. Yes, the 2 GOATS Messi and CR7 were dropping form (Even though Messi still one 3 rigged balloon dor's) and the sport became more systematic. Even still, we still saw great eras and moments that will not be forgotten. Its the same on this website. Even though the site fell into that inevitable spiral of decline, I am still proud to be a part of the 2nd class. Personally, I would like to think of myself as a core 2nd Gen member when discussing the countryball/mapping community, especially in 2021, which is considered as the revive of the golden age on the SMC.
