I, too, did not want to leave this forum without explaining my reasons, or without expressing my gratitude to those who have enriched my life beyond measure.
To all of you who have sent notes and personal messages, I thank you, and I appreciate the value you have placed upon my contributions here.
I want to be clear that my reasons for leaving are specific to me; they are not due to David Elmore’s moderation. I do think the moderation was warranted given his inappropriate commentary; however I disagree with the manner in which it was conducted. But that is neither here nor there.
Why I am leaving, and why I am so utterly disappointed, is that in making an honest inquiry with a question I found to be completely reasonable, said question was answered with a diatribe of insults — the likes of which I never expected to receive as someone who goes out of her way to be benevolent and careful in the crafting of her words.
The sheer hypocrisy of the action itself is laughable — that on a thread pertaining to manners, all were abandoned, and the very kind of insults that caused a person to be moderated were hurled by the moderator himself.
These were not *mock* insults. They attacked my ability to think, my understanding of capitalism, my maturity — and in the end, my integrity.
Some have told me to laugh it off, to take a few days off and let cooler heads prevail. However, my reaction is not based on emotion, but on principle. To remain on a forum where questions are treated in such a manner — and where that kind of behavior is condoned, but the similar behavior of others is not — is not appropriate for someone whose life has been committed to reason and benevolence. To be told to run lest I be caught in a spew of vomit seems no more appropriate than if my words were to be called "diarrhetic tripe."
It pains me greatly to depart from here, as I have made many friends both on and offline who have brought me an abundance of joy, and I have savored interacting with you tremendously. You know who you are, and that I will remain in touch.
However, my sadness is eased by seeing the following comment which, by default, has to include me. I will let the words speak for themselves:
How wonderful to see this article resurface at precisely the time SOLO has been temporarily overrun by poseurs, solipsists, hypocrites, cowards, pretend-gurus & morons. One glorious, golden note from Mario, which these amoebae are incapable of hearing, is enough to blast them to whatever fake, marshmallow planet it is they aspire to. Long may they stay there!
And so I shall.
Adieu.
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