Semi-Retirement Announcement

[Argammon]

After securing my second ZakStunts championship title, I've decided to "retire" at the end of this season. At the moment, I feel like stepping away for good — but I don't want to impose unnecessary constraints on myself, which is why I've chosen the word semi.

What does that mean? Like many of you, I'm in a stage of life with growing responsibilities, and I don't need additional stress factors. I won't be competing for any championship in any competition. To avoid the temptation of overcommitting, I won't take part in the first couple of ZakStunts races next season.

That said, I may still join a race here and there if the track, car, rules, or circumstances appeal to me and I happen to have some free time. The key word here is fun. If it's not enjoyable and starts to feel like a chore, then it's not worth doing.

A few words about the community When I returned at the end of 2022, @alanrotoi told me the community had changed for the better and was a very different place than before. He was absolutely right.\footnote{I admit that at times I slipped back into old patterns, and for that I'd like to apologize.}

Unfortunately, this season hasn't felt as harmonious. It's not my intention to point fingers at anyone, but I do believe things could improve if we all kept a few simple principles in mind:

• Respect differences of opinion. Disagreements are natural, especially about "rules" or "systems." But it's important not to present personal opinions as facts. For example, it's fine to argue why and how the PTB system could be improved, but calling it "broken" is not helpful. And sometimes, one simply has to accept that the majority does not share or agree with one's own opinion.. This happens to me a lot because I'm not A4 after all. 
  
  
  • Celebrate each other's achievements. When I came back, I noticed how @Duplode consistently congratulated pipsqueaks after each event, recognizing their achievements/efforts month after month. This simple gesture is polite, encouraging, and helps build a positive atmosphere. Yet some top pipsqueaks rarely, if ever, congratulate even the winner. Why not? It takes less than a minute, and it makes a big difference.
  
  Last but not least I would like to thank my team Rolling Stunts. This team accepted me with open arms and has been a great place to be. That our team worked so well is the main reason why I managed to sustain two full seasons of Zakstunts, something which I never did in the old days.

[Matei]

But it's important not to present personal opinions as facts.

It's simple actually. If you have a personal opinion, that's a fact. If somebody else communicates to you a fact, that's a personal opinion.

[MiDiaN]

First of all, I think it's a shame that we won't get to see you in every race next year. I've always thought of you as the "final boss" each month.

I have to admit I feel called out by both points Argammon mentioned. I'm a sore loser and tend to blame other things, in this case the PTB system, instead of my own performance. That said, I still stand by my opinion that the PTB should be reviewed for next season, and you made some good points about it already.

I know that acknowledging the other player is important, no matter the outcome. It's something that both I and others should work on.

[Mortimer Macmire]

Sad to hear you'll be retiring @Argammon . But I have to say you are one of the drivers that keep me motivated to better myself. Your replays are always an inspiration. Especially the PG ones (which are way out of my league).

I have to agree with you that the conversation this season are a little bit toxic to say the least. Hopefully we can resolve this because I can imagine it can scare of new drivers. And it definitely stopped me from interacting more on the forum and/or shout box.

But for now we still have three races to enjoy your participation and replays in ZackStunts!

[Cas]

Hey, team mate!  Glad to share this season with you in spite of the instabilities of this year. Your racing is as always superb and we have a good environment in our team chat. I totally understand your wanting to take a rest from this, though.

Things we've gone through this year would've been even more stressing to me if it weren't that my job is taking so much time and effort that when I get to do something in Stunts, I am only half-focused and I kind of don't feel all the bullets. I appreciate all the people who have shown their interest in putting their effort to make things more positive. Like everyone, I keep learning how to be a better member of a community. Hope the best for seasons to come and that the environment keeps improving so you feel with the energy to return.

[Duplode]

It has been a privilege, @Argammon , to race against and to enjoy many fabulous duels against you, as you reached the title (now titles!!) you've always had within you. Even if you aren't going to race the full season next year, I hope to keep meeting you on the scoreboards in the future!

On the community atmosphere: we have gone through a few turbulent months, with lots of energy being fruitlessly spent. The key thing, I'd say, is tolerance -- leaving room for different perspectives, and not jumping straight away to the worst interpretation when there's a disagreement. From a mod's standpoint, I hope we'll be wise enough to help things to keep moving in healthy directions. (And if at any point y'all feel something is going astray, feel free to reach out to me and Dreadnaut.)

[Argammon]

Thanks for the positive replies guys, I'm touched! It was an honor to race against every one of you.

[Matei]

as you reached the title (now titles!!) you've always had within you.

https://matei.one/invidious.php?v=nB8J6woEYR4

Like a flower waking up to morning light,
I find all my happiness within.

https://matei.one/invidious.php?v=svHeFdSvPL0

If its truth that you're looking to find,
it is nowhere outside of your mind.

[Spoonboy]

I agree with others when I say it has been a privilege to race alongside you @Argammon.

As a top tier driver, your laps have always been breathtaking works of art.
Effortless (at least, in the replay!)  and seamless combinations of moves that seemed impossible to me when starting out.

Then, when I had learned more, your style became less impossible for me to emulate, more just improbable! XD
Seeing great things done gives us something to aim at. Even if we can't achieve the same lap time, we will almost certainly push ourselves to achieve our own best, and end each race happy with our efforts.

I have also found that the pressures of life can make it hard to give ZakStunts the time/concentration it can require to do well. Your quality of life must come first, and I hope that you will still race occasionally. And even if we don't see you on the track as often, you know of course, that the community will always be here off-track to chat.

Thankyou for the inspiration, and may you always drive in powergear!

[HerrNove]

First, I'd like to congratulate you again for your title, Argammon.

It's a pity you have decided not to aim to win the next season. Now, dedicating less time to games and more to "real life" can be a wise choice and I don't want to dissuade you from doing that. And yet, things said and decided after a hard competition, when the adrenalin is still running high, might not always be the right ones. So I would suggest you to check your plans in a couple of months, when hopefully some of the negativity of these last months will have subsided. I think nobody will hold it against you if you announce you've changed your mind and are ready to challenge us full-time in 2026.

Whatever your final choice will be I'm looking forward to see your replays in the upcoming races!

[dreadnaut]

I'll echo HerrNove in congratulating you for the great season, and well deserved champion title! 🎆

A strong season means a lot of effort, and I can understand if you want to take it easy now. (No-one has ever won three seasons in a row, racing does take the toll!)

Hope we'll still see you around on the forum, and any races where you feel inspired by the track. Or maybe a live race for a different challenge!