Farewell

[[Syl]]

Surprisingly, my abrupt departure from the Tank left a few people thinking it was their fault. It's not anybody's fault. Some thought it was the Tank's fault, expressing understanding for any frustration I might have but asking me to stay at the Watch. It's not that, either. Allow me to explain.

If you look at the memberlist, there are relatively few people that have been here longer than I have. Fewer of those are still around, and of those, only a couple as active as I was. And considering that I don't post nearly as often as I used to or in nearly as many forums, that's saying something. You could probably write a pretty good research paper on why people join message boards and why they leave or stay.

For me, it was rather fun for a long time. Maybe not often much of a "whee!" kind of fun, but being able to share my thoughts had value, both in helping me to order and refine those thoughts and in a kind of ego gratificiation. And I have a pretty big ego. Even after it wasn't that much fun, I still had a sense of investment in the site. Pride and obligation. I mean, hell, if you're going to do something for ten years, why stop?

Maybe because if after ten years you're just not feeling it, why put the effort into it? I don't really lose anything I want by leaving. I have my memories, and there are better ways to keep in touch with the friends I've made over the years. There wasn't MySpace when I started here, much less Facebook or whatever the next incarnation might be.

Some have thought it was the Tank that made me quit, but it really wasn't. I was thinking about leaving months before, had actually taken a couple of fairly long breaks (for me) that nobody really noticed. But when Av asked me if I wanted to moderate the forum, I saw it as a challenge. It kept me interested. And while I wouldn't say it was a complete success or I brought my idea of the perfect Tank into fruition, I think it was worth it. Was it frustrating? Did I occasionally want to pull my hair out, or figuratively choke some posters, or just ban people for annoying me? Absolutely, but Tankers live on that. Was temporarily closing the forum by kicking everyone from the group entirely unlike grabbing a beer in each hand and popping the emergency chute? Nope, can't say it was.

Truth be known, I was just about done responding to a PM from a Tanker in which I was justifying some action I took when I realized it was so much bullshit. Not that I didn't think what I did was right, just that I really didn't care or believe in it the way I should. And if I don't care, I very well could end up being the petty tyrant some people think I am. Better to quit and hope some of the positive change I have effected will continue into its next incarnation.

A quick word of advice to the Tankers, though: for almost as long as there's been a Hile Troy's Think Tank, there have been people who say it should be closed. I've always held that it has a lot of value to the Watch and even more potential, that the failings of a few shouldn't be held against the many (figuratively speaking. I may have my disagreements with some people, but I don't think any overall problems can be placed at any one person's feet or upon any particular group). There may always be someone foolish enough to moderate the forum, but the tide may turn and the powers that be may decide that it's not worth putting up with the bullshit. When it comes to certain disputes, or ways in which we try to resolve those disputes, you may think you're right—may even be right—but you might want to ask yourself if that's the most important thing. I'm as guilty of this as anyone else—guiltier, probably—but victory doesn't always lie in the validity of your cause or the defeat of your opponents.

Without the Tank, there's not much keeping me here, especially now that Pantheon is dead and the other GT games have moved elsewhere (which I actually look forward to getting back into). The format of personal interaction here at the Watch is a little too removed and a little too stale for my tastes anymore. I'd say I could check in from time to time and post if the mood strikes me, but I know that I'm like a junkie in that I can't just dabble without being sucked back in. It's time for a clean break.

Take care, all. It's been fun. If you need to, you either know how to get in touch with me or know someone who does. And y'know, if you want to nominate me for the MIA Watchy (which, let's face it, should really be called the Syls. The Oscars aren't called the Accies), or, say, bump this post once a year or so, well, that'd be cool.
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"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner

[aTOMiC]

Syl,
Even though you may not read this I had to respond and say that you will be missed.
My own participation on The Watch has dwindled greatly as well. After 3640 days of participation I have to admit that my enthusiasm isn't what it once was but I do tend to drop in once a week just to see what's going on.
All in all its been fun and I wish you all the best.
aTOMiC
_________________

[lucimay]

whoa.

seriously?
_________________
you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies


i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio


a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~

[Avatar]

Ah Syl, we'll miss you man. I'm glad the 'Tank managed to keep you amused a little while longer. Thanks for all the years of participation in the Watch, and (frequently thankless) service of its Members.

Hamba kahle.

--Avatar
_________________
Don't believe everything you think.

[Effaeldm]

Thank you for the good company and for doing so much for the Watch.

Any chances to see you on EI more now? Sounds like that a bit from the "elsewhere" mentioned ^_^

[Menolly]

Be well, Syl.
You, and your game characters, will be missed.

And please still plan on coming to 'fest next year, even if posting here has gotten tedious for you.

.להתראות
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[ussusimiel]

[MsMary]

[Cagliostro]

Wait...you're breaking up with us?

I feel so jilted.

Is there another forum?

Is it something we've done?

Syl, take care, and thanks for 10 years of love and devotion.

Sigh.
_________________

Life is a waste of time
Time is a waste of life
So get wasted all of the time
And you'll have the time of your life

[kevinswatch]

I bet this is my fault.

...



Take care, man! Don't be a stranger.

-jay

(I think this has been my first post in months!)

[aliantha]

Sorry to see you go, Syl. Ten years is a long time, though, and I confess that lately I find myself hanging out more on Facebook (and often with fellow Watchers) than I do at the Watch.

Come on back when TLD is out, though, okay? And we'll see you in Albuquerque next year, dammit!
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EZ Board Survivor

"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)

http://www.hearth-myth.com/

[Fist and Faith]

I hope this doesn't mean I have to quit, too. Heh. Syl found me in a mIRC chat room, where I was Foamfollower. He told me to come to this place called the Watch.
_________________
We are not required to save the world. We are required to stand up as truly as we can for what we love. -SRD

[Don Exnihilote]

Free
Unfettered
Shriven
Free -
Dream that what is dreamed will be:
Old eyes clasped shut until they see,
And sing the silent prophecy -
And be -
Unfettered
Shriven
Free.
_________________
"Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position." - Gandhi

"It is not the responsibility of knights errant to discover whether the afflicted, the enchained and the oppressed whom they encounter on the road are reduced to these circumstances and suffer this distress for their vices, or for their virtues: the knight's sole responsibility is to succour them as people in need, having eyes only for their sufferings, not for their misdeeds." - Don Quixote

*The poster formerly known as Exnihilo, Exnihilo2, Exnihilotto, Ron Burgunihilo, Mongnihilo, Doc Hexnihilo, and counting...

[Hashi Lebwohl]

+1 Interwebz to Mongnihilo--that was pure genius.
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What is the secret of Zen? Burn all your Zen books.

If you can't handle losing then you don't deserve to win.