So, a few months ago I, along with many others, had the pictos-won't-spread problem. Cue much sadness and frustration trying to connect only to end up with either a sad empty forest or a half-connected, laggy, clone-infested forest.

Anyway: I fixed it. (this might not work for everyone, but for me, it worked 100%. It also worked for Sight when she tried it, so I'm not alone)

Basically, I connected to TEF through a VPN with a proxy server. A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, and is used to, among other things, connect to private networks (for example companies) and go on the internet anonymously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server

This meant that my IP address changed, and somehow that made it work (magic??). Setting up a VPN might be tricky; I'm lucky and have a super tech-savvy sibling who did it for me.

Here's some nice and easy to read basics and I'm sorry I can't explain this any better:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/223044/vpns_for_beginners_to_experts.html

My very vague theory is that it has to do with your IP address somehow (no idea how that explains that my issues disappeared a few weeks later).

I am afraid to go into the forest with pictograms turned off because I am afraid I won't recognize someone and they will get mad at me for trying to interact.

I am afraid to interact with others in the forest, because I am fearful that they will reject my characters.

I am worried that this will make me sound like a whiny brat looking for attention.

I am nervous every time I interact with anyone in-game or out, because I am afraid to say something wrong.

I am fearful of being myself, because I am afraid that I am too much for others... or too little.

I cannot begin to describe how afraid I am when I say "I have no friends." Because I don't really know what a friend is, or who I am supposed to call a friend. I am afraid that I will call someone a friend who doesn't want to be my friend.

I am fearful of those who talk behind my back, even though I talk behind the backs of others. They have every right to be angry with me. I'm a hypocrite.

I am annoyed by those who can't look past past offenses. I can't understand how others can hold a grudge for a long time.

Sometimes I rant about others. In the end, when I am done, I feel no better than when I started. I usually wind up crying and realizing how much of a bitch I am.

I am flighty.

If I get nervous about something, I shut down.

I cry a lot more often than people would think.

To those who think I am a strong person: I'm grateful. I don't know how else to say it.

To those who hate me: You probably have your reasons. I accept that. I wish we could be better friends, though.

I'm so nervous to post this... because I feel like I am begging for attention. Honestly, I just want to bare myself so that everyone has a chance to see. I hope I help someone with this, so that I can smile and know that something has changed for someone else because I did something. THAT is what keeps me going: Making others happy.

She does not want mating type roleplay! She wants mating like in reality! You can go up to her and reproduce! If you want.

Shasha is pregnant. But I want to know: Who's the father?