The Dark Watcher has been around a long time, and has graced quite a few boards...Just some things to note:
When you first join a community like NGEmu it is new and refreshing. You spend the first few posts learning the do's and Dont's. You stick around a little longer, and finally find your niche. People start to know your name. This essentially becomes your "Golden Age"..So the "Golden Age of NGEmu" will vary from member to member.
When a person joins a community, and get's past their "n00b" stage, they usually bring refreshing views, content, and interesting posts. This drives a community...you can't post unless there is something to post about. This also seems to happen with newly appointed Admins and Mods....They try to spur interesting topics, or are highly motivated to assist with questions..
Eventually, you become that "older veteran member". It begins to seem like everything that is worth discussing has already been discussed. Where you were once motivated to assist, you now grow frustrated by the "n00bs" who so saught your knowledge (Typically illustrated by the "Read the F&*^ Manual" responses

). Since nothing seems interesting, the members begin posting topics that are normally not discussed in everyday life (and are usually controversial).
The perfect analogy would be the difference between first meeting a lover for the first time, and then being married for 50 years. In the beginning there is so much to talk about, afterwords you respond to each other with grunts and nods
Essentially, The very same "n00bs" that are usually frowned on become the lifeblood of the community. If they stick around, they bring fresh perspectives and topics. We all were "n00bs" once

As for "Old NGEmu Vets" like ourselves...Many usually move on, and leave the community. They need something new and refreshing. They do this to once again become "The new Guy" or "n00b" to another community. The cycle begins again. Some...like us..stick around. Although we are bothered by some posts, we occasionally step in to lend assistance, or share wisdom that only someone with our experience can share. We stick around to sometimes talk of what some call "The Golden Years of NGEmu"..
In short....We old timers are the historians of the past, and the "n00bs" are the lifeblood for the future.
Hope our rant has enlightened...