Taking my hat and bidding farewell.

[Pab Sungenis]

The time has come for me to head off, at least for a while and perhaps in perpetuity.

I had hopes that under the new system we LGBT posters would actually enjoy some protection. For a while it looked like the randomness of the "jury" process would give us a fair shot.

But I'm starting to realize that's not the case. When one of the homophobes who actively (and gleefully) participated in the Great Purge of 2009, and made life for those of us who remained hell for the next two years is allowed to attack me with impunity and protected by "juries" on a regular basis, there is no room for someone like me.

I probably should have done this long ago. I'm in the process of preparing for the convention circuit, have a deadline coming up for revisions on my next novel and the need to start the one after that, and also have other concerns to take care of. I can't let the causal hatred of certain people on this board distract me. And I refuse to let them make my life on DU3 as hellish as it was on DU2.

So I'm logging out, moving on, and getting on with my life for the forseeable future.

Just a song before I go....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I'm sorry this is happening, and that you feel driven away...

I hope that conditions will change so you can return to our company down the road...

Safe travels!

[xchrom]

2. i'm sorry and i'm pissed.

it shouldn't be this way.

i'd say blow it off -- but i remain pissed about that my self.

hope you come back.

[DURHAM D]

3. Yep - they are still here.

As for Vera - she is also still here. From wiki:

"In 2009 she became the oldest living artist to make it to No. 1 on the British album chart, at the age of 92. She has devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer. She is still held in great affection by veterans of the Second World War and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century."

Don't go far Pab. Our fight is not over.

[MuseRider]

4. Goodbye. I am sorry to see you go

but I understand. It should not be like this ever, anywhere. Keep up the good fight wherever you go. We will all be doing the same. Man, I hate to see you go.

[EFerrari]

5. I'm very unhappy about this. n/t

[Kaleko]

19. So am I.

Found out only minutes ago about this latest exit of yet another good writer whose input has made a subtle but noticeable difference around here.

[closeupready]

6. Good luck to you!

If you change your mind, please come back - you'll always be welcome here, AFAIAC.

[yardwork]

7. It is very irritating.

Last edited Mon Apr 2, 2012, 05:25 PM - Edit history (1)

There is a tendency for privileged people to equate the lack of rights suffered by various minorities with their feelings being hurt. God forbid that a gay person should get upset. When we say something "mean," then we're the problem. We're "acting out." The rights of the majority not to have their feelings hurt by something said on the internet becomes equal to or even more important than the rights the minority is struggling to obtain.

Editing because I don't want to add fuel to the fire. It's clear that there are some folks who like to start trouble. I don't want to contribute in any way.

[JohnnyLib2]

8. Damn.

Makes me sad. Will watch for the next novel.

[ZombieHorde]

9. Leave because of the trolls, or stay because of the cool people?

I think many DUers ask themselves this question. You'll be missed.

[thelordofhell]

10. Vera

Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?
Remember how she said that
We would meet again
Some sunny day?
Vera! Vera!
What has become of you?
Does anybody else here
Feel the way I do?

[DonCoquixote]

11. Sorry to hear this

I myself had high hopes for the jury system, but like everything else, the idiots figured out how to work around that. If you need to go, I understand, but I will honestly say you shouldn't because the more people that get chased off, the louder the idiots yell, until there is NO space left.

[mitchtv]

12. I'll miss you

add one more ex DU'r to the rolls. Honestly, it;s like you need to have at least 3 jury votes to comment, kinda like cloture. I just "love" this new complain about everything attitude. It reached the height of rediculousness in a post last week asking what we can call non gay people that won't offend them. It's their fucking world and we waste breath about what won't offend! This forum is slow enough already.Sorry, I'm ranting- see you around gay brother.

[Call Me Wesley]

13. We can only make this group safe, unfortunately.

The 'juries' are the lame excuse to keep this 'community' (I'm speaking outside the group here) alive in the hand of its members. Even the definition of 'jury' is wrong, since you, as I recall it, will be given the right to defend yourself before a jury takes place. Whatever. The flaws are tedious and numerous.

And I don't want to see you go, but I'm hardly here as well, so I can't really blame you. We'll keep in touch elsewhere.

Oh, and this:

(We former mods called banning members 'nuking.' So I hope this will apply to some.)

[MNBrewer]

14. Sad to see you go

but until Mr. Obama completes his evolutionary process, I doubt very much that anything will change here on DU. The "circle-D" types will continue to bash anyone who doesn't gleefully cheer each and every affront perpetrated by the Administration.

[Fearless]

16. +1

[QC]

17. +2

[countryjake]

15. I wish you would reconsider...

and I surely hope that an explanation I gave earlier, on an alerted reply, hasn't affected the hurt you might be feeling now. I hate that I was on the jury for a post on a certain thread in H&M and that I did NOT take the advice of the alerter to examine more closely what was, indeed, a thinly veiled attack. At that time, I simply did not see it. I'd just pulled in from a weary morn of cleaning, was called to jury the second that I logged on here, and voted on what I assumed was just another dumbass alert. I was wrong.

Please don't give up just yet. We need your voice here, now more than ever!

[Zorra]

18. Yeh, the homophobes are such sad, childish, pathetic little bigot devils.

They understand that many non-lgbt folks don't always recognize their veiled homophobic intentions in their posts.

Most of them are probably republican/conservative trolls that know what they can get away with.

They're elated that they get the chance to hate and hurt, and do it anonymously.

Because that's just who they are. It's so totally pitiful.

Anyway, sorry to see you go, Pab, but I totally understand.

We're here if you need us, or if should decide you want to get back in the struggle on this front.