On people here making dramatic exits.

[JackDragna]

I've always wondered, a bit, at people who make a big deal out of leaving here. You always have your reasons, and for most of us, a little time away from the bright, shiny box wouldn't hurt. What concerns me, however, is that any of these exits always ends up with a tirade of "DU is a terrible place!", followed by people who agree that yes, it is a terrible place.

It's not perfect. DU has its wrinkles, but that's only what's to be expected from a place that has such a large viewership. I'm no mod here, nor have I ever been, but my suggestion to people thinking of leaving is to stick around. Like most of the people I've met in the world, most of the people here are decent and good and compassionate towards pretty much everyone. Far as I'm concerned, we need everyone here who can string together a coherent sentence and continue to talk to other liberals about the issues of the day.

[meegbear]

1. Drama queens, one and all ...

they don't get the attention and/or the response(s) they want, so they make one last stand to get it.

[Wapsie B]

2. So there've been some drama queens around?

I don't catch up on many of them around here.

[leftstreet]

3. Tombstone Me Right Fuckin Now!!!!111111111

Just Kidding

[Touchdown]

4. I've taken hiatuses before. Nobody wants to hear me bray about it.

I just leave, and when I feel the urge, I come back. No need to make a big production about it.

I don't know what motivates those who have to leave in a huff and berate the rest of us with their reasons for doing so. It just seems too self indulgent to me.:shrug:

[meowomon]

5. You mean people take this stuff that seriously?

Damn, get a life.

[realisticphish]

6. since the dawn of time

people have been drama queens on the internet. On the day the last bit of humanity crumbles into dust, the last entry of human knowledge will be "fuck all of you, i'm out of here"

[alphafemale]

15. Yep. I'm sure there are hieroglyphics would that translate to that.

Cave paintings too. The Drama Addicted have always been with us.

:rofl:

[noamnety]

7. I understand it.

I think it's the same thing that was behind me deciding to talk to my boss's supervisor once I decided to quit a job, to make sure they understood the reason I was leaving.

Sometimes it feels important to stay and fight against the various types of bigotry that occasionally rises up on this board.
Other times it seems hopeless.

Walking away in silence leaves the impression that everything is okay, you just had other priorities and faded away. I think if people are leaving because of sexism, racism, homophobia, or other types of bigotry here, it's important for the community to hear that, and to understand that we are losing people because of it.

[JackDragna]

14. Nothing is going to change, though..

..unless people stick it out and fight. I know it can sound hopeless, but people who have backwards views of the world won't change unless people engage them. I've seen people here change what they believed..it's possible.

[Frank Cannon]

8. If you don't like it, get the fuck out, loser.

Just kiddin' ya. :hi:

[The Straight Story]

9. some people have a deep vested interest here (financial and otherwise)

Leaving a place that means a lot to you can take a toll on a person. Cut em some slack.

[JCMach1]

10. There is a long DU tradition of this...

[concerned canadian]

11. big exit, big ego

It's like "I'm leaving, and I'm taking all the progressive people with me."

[ColbertWatcher]

12. Is this the thread with the link to the PBS poll? n/t

[illuminaughty]

13. Great thoughts

I just posted earlier that after the 2004 election I stopped posting for a very long time. Sure, I was fed up with a share of the community, but I still dropped in at least once a week to read the amazing, intelligent posts of people that gather here. And continued to be further educated by doing so.

DU has roller coaster moments in time like any relationship, but that's what makes it fun and enlightening.

[Berry Cool]

16. There are three things that have been true about the Internets since the beginning:

1. There have always been people who barge into a forum loudly announcing that now that they have arrived, everything about it is going to be different...they are going to "clean up Dodge"...and these people have always expressed hurt and woundedness when not greeted by the regulars with candy and flowers.

2. There have always been people who, when contradicted by a large number of other posters, will say, "Well, a lot of people have emailed me privately to say they agree with me--they're just afraid to say it in public, because they know they'll get vilified like me!"

3. There have always been people who, finding a particular forum unsatisfying, cannot quietly and discreetly leave--they have to post a "suicide note" and make a big production out of picking up their toys and going home, flouncing all the way--all the time looking back to see if anyone is noticing and being made unhappy by their departure. And, of course, they always hope to take a huge group of defectors with them. Whether they do or not.

Oh, and a fourth true thing: On the occasion of #3, there will always be people who will say "Good--don't let the door hit your ass on the way out." And "On the contrary, go ahead--LET the door hit your ass."