We received this beautifully written email from the brave and eloquent Gillian who gave us her permission to reproduce it. 

To the geek/nerd on the other end of the wire,

I have been a fellow geek and supporter of geeks since I was old enough to understand why I was being bullied. The pain and rejection I felt throughout my life in school paved the way for a damaged, depressed and insecure person. But in this culture, this digital and tabletop world that I immersed myself in saved me from what would have been a terrible and unfulfilled life dominated by fear and regret.

So many years later I have found that some people, including myself still bear very real emotional scars from their years of abuse and torment. They may have made it out into the real world, but they are broken and uncomfortable in their own skin. I believe that what I lacked, what many of us lack, is confidence in yourself. I am trying to change that. One person at a time. 

Your platform is inspired and does so much more than I could ever do by myself. I wish there was more I could do to reach out to other gamers, geeks, nerds, LARPers, and general outcasts and tell them that they are gifted. They are special. From the person who knows every Batman villains backstory by heart, to the one who has just reorganized his six boxes of MAGIC cards again, to the person who has taken down the final boss in Molten Core more times than he can remember. 

Gaming, and geekery has traditionally been a solo act. Sure you have had some LAN parties with your friends, but all of us, need to come together. Solidarity in our awkwardness. Confidence in our mutually odd and unique talents. And the indisputable knowledge that our lives are not defined by what other people think and say about us. That our lives are defined by the value we place in ourselves.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me and so many others a forum to express our individuality and uniqueness.

Love, Gill