Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Bunbunmaru News~ => Front Page Headlines => Topic started by: Edible on January 29, 2020, 01:59:24 PM

Title: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Edible on January 29, 2020, 01:59:24 PM
The admin of this site, helvetica, has died.  She saved this website and its community years ago and worked to keep it afloat for a long time.  This place gave me many good memories and introduced me to many long-time friends, helvetica herself included; she was almost singlehandedly to thank for that.

Thanks, TSO.  Rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Kilgamayan on January 29, 2020, 02:05:44 PM
So many Western Touhou fans owe more to TSO than they'll ever really know, myself included. This hits hard.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Tamer Anode/Cathode on January 29, 2020, 04:29:12 PM
I'm. Having a lot of trouble processing this, honestly. Helvetica meant a lot to this community and was a huge contributor to the Western Touhou community. I and a lot of others owe a lot to her work.

May she know peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: nintendonut888 on January 29, 2020, 04:44:01 PM
Helvetica gave so much to this community, and helped bring so many people together. I too owe a lot to her self-sacrifice, and I'm really sad to know she passed away so soon. May she rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: shockdude on January 29, 2020, 05:56:26 PM
oh wait what.
what.

Motk was my gateway to Touhou Project beyond just "game with cool bullet patterns". Much appreciation for all the work she's done for this community.
Rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: The ⑨th Zentillion on January 29, 2020, 07:02:38 PM
Well, so that's what happened. Rest in peace, bosslady, you did so much for us.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on January 29, 2020, 07:15:12 PM
I don't know if I can put into words how much this site changed my life. It was my first proper online community, and it was my gateway into a series I've come to love. I've made a ton of friends here and grown as a person in so many ways. Hell, if it hadn't been for this site I'd never have met my boyfriend. And TSO is the reason any of that happened.

Wherever she is now, I hope she's at peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Fulisha of Light on January 29, 2020, 09:25:51 PM
The admin of this site, helvetica, has died.  She saved this website and its community years ago and worked to keep it afloat for a long time.  This place gave me many good memories and introduced me to many long-time friends, helvetica herself included; she was almost singlehandedly to thank for that.

Thanks, TSO.  Rest in peace.
...I'm at a loss for words, I never knew. Rest in peace Helvetica.

How did she die and how'd you find out? What's gonna happen to the forums?
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Kilgamayan on January 29, 2020, 09:44:31 PM
I can't speak for how Edible learned, but I myself saw a short eulogy on social media from a reliable source. The cause of death was not mentioned; I do not currently intend to pursue finding it. For the time being, I would suggest people not ask around out of respect for privacy.

I do intend to speak to Edible at a later date about the future of this forum, but there are more important concerns at the moment.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Stuffman on January 29, 2020, 10:19:04 PM
every once in a while i found myself wondering what she was up to these days, definitely wasn't hoping to find something like this.

rest in peace font.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: DX7.EP on January 29, 2020, 11:04:32 PM
It was very shocking to receive the news on my social media feed.

Considering MotK was one of my significant internet abodes and a gateway to still-close friends and experiences, I owe quite a bit to her and her actions. RIP font ;_;7
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Zakenna on January 29, 2020, 11:08:16 PM
I heard the news from a different circle of friends and came here to verify.

It's been many years since I visited these boards. I'll miss TSO, she was pivotal to me entering this fandom. I hope she passed in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Lebon14 on January 29, 2020, 11:11:06 PM
Holy crap this hits hard. Just the other day, she was retweeting this on twitter: https://twitter.com/WholesomeMeme/status/1219983055265419266

Just when she finished going through a huge move in her life... and retweeting above pictures... I... I...  :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Sapz on January 29, 2020, 11:46:01 PM
As with many others, this forum introduced me to many good people I've been friends with for over a decade, and helvetica was to thank for that. Shocking to hear this news. Rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: KaiserKnuckle on January 30, 2020, 02:02:15 AM
This sincerely hurts to know.

TSO running this forum is what brought me into this fandom, and Touhou was responsible for the kind of life I live, and what arts I pursue.

I truly know that she has done so much more for this fandom than many really know, and it pains me knowing she is gone just like that.

I know of the transgressions she had in life, but that does not matter now.

I hope she finds peace on the other side, knowing how many people whose lives she changed.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Alfred F. Jones on January 30, 2020, 02:19:04 AM
This community was a hugely formative experience and so much of what I am today goes all the way back to her work here. I owe her so much and it hurts to think I'll never get to talk to her again. Missing her already.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Aba Matindesu! on January 30, 2020, 02:25:15 AM
May she rest in peace. She (and the rest of the admins and mods) helped me live the passion of most of my high school and college life through this forum.

(If I'm connecting the dots right... was TSO also part of Snow Phoenix? If she's the person I'm thinking of that I've heard this news of from a different community, I didn't realize I could have met her at a con like last month. You really can never tell when you'll see people for the last time...)
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Kasu on January 30, 2020, 04:33:08 AM
Rest in peace, helvetica.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: ふねん1 on January 30, 2020, 05:01:21 AM
Oh my god... I'm devastated. I may not have known her much personally or anything, but I remember seeing a lot of the struggles she went through to keep this site going all those years ago, and I know myself and others have always greatly appreciated her efforts to build a place we could all call home for so many years.

Rest in peace, helvetica. We all miss you. :(
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Helepolis on January 30, 2020, 05:59:34 AM
Yesterday I was roaming the forum as usual and all seemed as any other day.

This morning (few minutes ago) I wake up to my phone's alarm and notice message from Silent Sinner in Scarlet from Twitter mentioning it. I was shocked in my morning drowsy. I don't know even any more what to write here.

May your soul rest in peace TSO. Wishing strength to your family and friends.



All I can say that this is a really depressing week for me as Death seems to be the common factor. Last Tuesday and Monday two people IRL I've known for few years also suddenly passed away.

Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Agent of the BSoD on January 30, 2020, 09:00:12 AM
This is some really sad news to have to hear. While I never personally met TSO, I knew a bit about the work she was putting in to this community. I never thought this would happen so soon. To all of those that knew her, I wish you all strength while you get through this. We will miss you, TSO. :(

This forum was responsible for me getting to meet a number of online friends back in 2011, and I still chat with them to this day in a private discord, which is how I first learned of this. I do owe a lot to this forum for that, and I have to thank TSO for helping to make that possible.

All I can say that this is a really depressing week for me as Death seems to be the common factor. Last Tuesday and Monday two people IRL I've known for few years also suddenly passed away.
I'm sorry to hear that too. I hope you and their family and friends will be able to get through this.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: aListers on January 30, 2020, 10:55:00 PM
Oh, that's sad news. I didn't know Helvetica - I don't know if I even interacted with them. Despite that I have so much to be thankful for. This website has been an important part of my life since I decided to start using it. Thank you and Rest in Peace Helvetica.
Title: Re: Helvetica/TSO has passed away (!)
Post by: Branneg Xy on January 31, 2020, 12:32:02 AM
 :o :(
I can't speak for how Edible learned, but I myself saw a short eulogy on social media from a reliable source. The cause of death was not mentioned; I do not currently intend to pursue finding it. For the time being, I would suggest people not ask around out of respect for privacy.

I do intend to speak to Edible at a later date about the future of this forum, but there are more important concerns at the moment.
:ohdear: (emoticon most similar for Being In Melancholic Prayer ).

* ( No Proselitasion or Opportunism or Offense by Religion(Christian Carholic) meant but a genuine Solidality and Spritual&Inner Help Praying Fervently and asking for Fervent Prayers,by Words&Works, for Helvetica's Soul and Person and then Other People and their Soul,be they still among earth among usor possibly being Purified in Purgatory or hopefully Entering Heaven*


You are objectively and justly right because that private reveal ought to be known to Helvetica's / TSO's,also referring in general to the ones passed away , proper and trusted ones ...otherwise it would serve no rightful purpose ,but on the contrary,to be or become overly curious instead of the proper informative&solidality like thanks to this topic/posts and in your relible source on that social medi,Kilgamayan,and Edible and Silent Sinner in Scarlet and Helepolis and.... everyone in the known participating or otherwise willing in any possible ways.


Agreed&Agreeable about the forum "Maidens of..." approach as well ; as long as the delay is reasonable and the feasible maintenance and improving may continue,not what is unfeasible ,of course , given "the more important (situational,your personal and by person)concerns" and "the exceptional cut-off of the Legal&IT Owner&Ownership with relations to Website&Web-Server Host "
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: trancehime on January 31, 2020, 08:38:05 AM
Found out on Twitter.

As I mentioned there, I am absolutely devastated by this news and honestly can't say anything others haven't already mentioned. TSO means so much more to me than most people here knew; she was one of the first people on SM.org and the IRC channel that I was able to make a real connection with, and this was over 10 years ago.

Rest in peace, TSO.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: HakureiSM on January 31, 2020, 11:40:34 PM
Hello. It's been a good while (exactly 2 years, I just checked) since I've opened this site, and there are many reasons for that which are irrelevant right now. I just learned of this via a few common friends.

It is no secret around here that me and her, we never quite got along as we disagreed in many things, but I hope it can be believed that I always had much respect for her because of all she's done, and I believe that, given all the chances she had of banning me in the several years I was active here, I think at the very least she didn't find me the worst.

I'll say this: even if my recent life has drawn me away, the Touhou franchise and this community were and continue to be a major part of my life and development from teenager to adult, and in this community I have found many lifelong friends with whom I maintain daily contact, and many more I wish I kept more in touch with, as this site has gathered many, many beautiful souls. All that is no doubt thanks to TSO's efforts in spearheading the entire western Touhou community. So I can't possibly not be thankful for that. It also warms my heart to see familiar names still here.

I hope she made a safe passage across the Sanzu river, and found her peace in heaven.

e: since it's been 2 years and I'm having a bit of mistimed nostalgia rush, I just went through a bunch of old posts and pms, and they reminded me that as a matter of fact TSO and I were in fairly good terms from about like 2012 onwards, and my memory was just fuzzy. So that's pretty good. Rest in peace, font. You did great.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Zengar Zombolt on February 01, 2020, 01:28:18 AM
There's always news that I wish never happened, and specially never this soon into a person's life.

Like most others around here, I am infinitely grateful for font's herculean efforts to keep this place trucking for so long, letting me taste the feeling of belonging in a community for the first place.

I'm staring at these words, but can't find it in myself to feel okay pressing post. Perhaps it's that no words can properly express my gratitude, or that I don't want to acknowledge this.

Nevertheless... My condolences to the family, friends, and everyone else touched by this. Here's hoping she can rest peacefully.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Rei Scarlette on February 01, 2020, 04:40:46 AM
I've never really been very good at expressing my feelings around subjects like this... it's a tricky topic for me.

Although I wanted to say, it is thanks to MotK -- and all of TSO's great efforts running this place -- that I've had some of the greatest moments and met some of the best people in my life. I may not have really been close to TSO personally, or spoke with her very much even, but I am extremely grateful for all that she's done here.

I don't know the circumstances on which this happened, and respectfully I will not pry nor look into it, but I hope that in the end she was able to rest peacefully.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: axman36 on February 01, 2020, 05:56:48 AM
Only found out awhile back from a few buddies of mine and it's left me shocked, this is really depressing news. I never really interacted much with TSO myself, but what she created here's what gave me some of the best friends in my life during one of the strangest parts of it, and I'll forever be grateful for that. I hope for the best for her loved ones and everyone else that was close to her. Rest in Peace TSO, and thank you for everything.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Gesh86 on February 01, 2020, 09:37:44 PM
This is really depressing to hear  :(.
While I did not have much contact with helvetica on the site itself, MotK was the first bigger forum centered around Touhou that I found. It was a significant factor for me to look deeper into the fandom at a time when I was very new to it. Touhou might have gone away for me as a short-lived phase without helvetica's hard work and I'm now extremely grateful that wasn't the case.
Thank you so much for what you have done for us, for bringing so many people together, helvetica. Rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Think Komachi with a Rifle on February 01, 2020, 11:53:09 PM
I happened to randomly revisit the site today. MotK is one of the only online spaces from my teen years still going, and a large part of that was TSO keeping it going.

Rest in Peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Kurzov on February 04, 2020, 04:47:41 PM
Oh gosh. I didn't hear about this until just now. (haven't been on this site since the most recent certificate expired even) Thank you Helvetica/TSO, and RIP. I have not nor was I ever all that involved into this place, especially as of late (not really a forum person), but it was thanks to MoTK, with involvement of /r/touhou and others, that I discovered Touhou... My condolences to her family and friends.


~ Kurzov/NCFriend
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Fumi on February 04, 2020, 07:33:22 PM
This... hit me hard, I read it from a tweet and while I have been lurking these forums for a long time I knew how much Helvetica has done for this community.

It's hard to process this, I hope she finds peaceful rest.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Silent Sinner in Scarlet on February 06, 2020, 02:33:52 AM
I never personally knew Helvetica, but I can say this forum has a strong significance to me since slightly more than ten years ago (well, my current MotK account is less than a year old, but I used to post here under a different username which for now I will remain silent on). Because this is where I first got to know about N-Forza?s Kourindo service (long before Tenso was a thing). And last year when I made my reboot here, this was the place where I got to know other musicians like Z_A & Benjo, visual artists like allawalatown, programmers like Tom & WishMakers, and even Helepolis (up to some extent).

Yes, I am the person who tweeted Helepolis about this sad news, because Twitter is my only means outside this forum where I could contact him (I can contact others via Discord instead). And, although I reiterate I never personally knew Helvetica, learning that she sacrificed herself to keep this nostalgic forum alive gave me some kind of empathy towards her, and learning that she died at an age younger than my current age saddens me even more. Also, I feel sad about other things surrounding this whole forum, but I am advised not to talk about them here in this public forum that can be read by anybody without an account.

So, I wish her a peaceful rest and a better afterlife.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Link on February 06, 2020, 06:01:39 PM
Hey guys. I haven't been a part of this community on either IRC or these forums for many years, but I was very close to helvetica/TSO/Gwen for over 15 years online, at many anime conventions, and in the Columbus area where we both live(d). Just got back from her funeral where her loving friends came out to support her. She was such an incredibly kind, wonderful person with a beautiful heart who was endlessly talented. Not only did she run the first English Touhou community but also created Snow Phoenix, a globally recognized rhythm arcade organization, from nothing but a bunch of old cabs... and so much more than that too, like image boards! Her talents in engineering, coding, community outreach, and so much more were immense. She touched so many people all across this crazy goddamn world. I'm going to miss her so much.

RIP Gwen. I hope you're playing Melty Blood somewhere for as long as you want.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Mеа on February 08, 2020, 03:16:14 AM
What terribly sad news to catch on the headlines, scrolling through. I've never interacted with her, but this place was one I loved to hang around during my teenage years, all those good memories all revolving around touhou and this forum. Good times. I wanted to throw in my thanks along with everyone. Rest in peace. 人
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Tom on February 08, 2020, 08:14:40 PM
This is depressing news
We didn't really have much contact other than some brief conversations back when I was active in IRC but the MotK community is what got me interested in touhou beyond 1CCs and I know she worked really hard to build and keep this community together.  My condolences to her family and friends.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Mesarthim on February 09, 2020, 08:45:49 AM
I've been off the Touhou scene for the most part for years (I dabble with them still). But I reset my password to say Rest in Peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Raikaria on February 10, 2020, 04:04:39 PM
I'm a little late on the news, but as a long-timer here; I feel the need to play my respects. Didn't personally know Helvetica or anything, or really interact with them, but still.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: SomeGuy712x on February 11, 2020, 06:45:30 AM
Oh, dear... I only just found out about this today (I don't check the Front Page Headlines very frequently). It's always so sad when someone passes, even if you didn't know them personally. I hope she has a good afterlife or maybe reincarnation, if that's possible.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: WindyKitsune on February 13, 2020, 11:27:29 AM
I haven't personally known Helvetica still this news saddens me, since this forum has been my first contact point to the Touhou community. I appreciate she and other people have maintained this place lively and clean for these years.
May she stay in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: akj on February 13, 2020, 12:15:39 PM
You were a good person, and you were such an inspiration. Rest in peace, font. I'm sorry about how things ended up.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: qMyon on February 14, 2020, 01:52:39 AM
It's quite a shock. I only drift around here on occasion now, but this was a fun place for me for several years. Rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Lepetit89 on February 14, 2020, 10:10:26 PM
Difficult to find the right words here, but even though I don't recall many direct interactions with her and we didn't exactly see eye to eye on some things, I did get a very strong feeling that she really wanted to protect the people here from harm as good as she could and give them a place to have friendly and peaceful discussions; for that, I definitely am thankful to her because I did have an awful lot of great discussions here.

Nonetheless, as sad as it is, I hope that everyone affected by this will find the strength to get through these trying times, I am certain they lost a great friend and family member.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Arcorann on February 15, 2020, 03:17:07 AM
I have very little to add that hasn't been said already, but I can say that I was as shocked as everyone else when I found out. May she rest in peace.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Cadmas on February 15, 2020, 03:36:23 AM
Merely showing up to pay respects. I found out on discord just this day.  RIP TSO
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Nemo★Ma on February 15, 2020, 07:27:19 PM
... ...
Just learnt this from one of my Discord Servers.

This.. is really unexpected.

There's a term usually used in Chinese online circles: "我的青春结束了。" (My teenage life is over.), it's used when a long-time celebrity passed away, or a long-term works came to an end, or something similar.

And for me, hearing this news, my teenage life is indeed over.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: VTPHOENIX on February 17, 2020, 10:02:53 PM
helvetica, we love you. not only for how much you contributed to motk, but for the amazing person you were. rest well now; you totally deserve it.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Firestorm29 on February 18, 2020, 12:58:55 PM
I just heard about this in a random chat the other day... it's something I'm still having a hard time coming to grips with. Just doesn't feel right.

Been seeing a bit about that anime she had in her banner, Helvetica Standard. Think I'll binge watch that as a bit of a respect kinda thing to her.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Fujiwara no Mokou on February 19, 2020, 07:41:51 AM
How terrible. This community was my gateway as well. I have Helvetica and all of you in this community to thank for that.
Title: Re: helvetica has passed away
Post by: Tengukami on February 19, 2020, 10:53:18 AM
I've been on this site since 2008 (maybe earlier?), initially to find Touhou fans who weren't on Desuchan. I hung out mostly in TARC for the first few months, eventually making my way to Cirno's Caf?. And what a breakthrough that was.

In this community, I found a lot more than just a place to talk about flying magical girls. I made some actual friends here, a few of whom I've met and hung out with in person. It gave me an outlet to exercise fiction. It saw me through as my marriage fell apart and I began questioning my gender identity.

There's been high drama and romance and fun and rage and just all the things you'd expect from a good online community, and font was to thank for all of these things.

I'll always think of her fondly. See you on Discord.