Chixe Thread: Hanging Up My Hat

Hanging Up My Hat

fray — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:20:15

Ok... I'm late for this party. (I get lost often and I have problems with directions.)

Rich: I'm glad you're sticking around in the Notes.
I sent you a new hat, it should be arriving in a few days. ;]

Hanging Up My Hat

leliathomas — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:32:50

You better still chat with me on occasion, boyo. :B

I understand your feelings of "not belonging" in some cases, but I guess it's all in what 9rules is to you. I always wanted to be a part of the community, but I also knew/know that my life can't afford much participation in it at this point, if ever. So while I sometimes drop by the forums and notes and read, I'm not as involved as many of the others. I'll comfort myself and say that's because of RL, and I'll comfort myself again by religiously denying I ever used such a term.

If you stop blogging, I'll miss your bitchy posts, but if it's what's right in your life at this point, you've no reason to feel guilty about it. Life takes us down a million roads. :) Just means you'll find more pubs.

Hanging Up My Hat

MangoFalls — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:04:09

"I'm talking about exclusive in attitude. Some people feel they and their blogs are better, and that is justification to belittle other members. That's what I meant by exclusive."

That's just life. You can't let those people get to you. In most instances they just llook foolish for behaving in such a manner.

Rich, good luck to you in whatever you decide to chase.

Hanging Up My Hat

tranism — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:03:20

I'm talking about exclusive in attitude. Some people feel they and their blogs are better, and that is justification to belittle other members. That's what I meant by exclusive.

Hanging Up My Hat

hthth — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:28:47

Glad you're staying in the Notes, RIch.

Hanging Up My Hat

Tyme — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 03:24:00

Rich, I received your email and I forwarded it to Scrivs because I was determined to take a weekend off. :)

As for your blog if you have other priorities that are more important (ie: your career) that always takes precedence and deep down don't we all know the things we need to do? The things we need to improve upon?

It takes guts to look these things in the eye, think about it and make the tough (and right) decisions on how to accomplish those goals without letting people and "things" get in the way.

Good luck on your new "projects" and I'll see you around notes.

Scrivs: thank you *hugs

Hanging Up My Hat

cooper — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:31:12

Rich, I think that in this day and age people who want to blog are making it fit, others just stop.

I started a blog thinking it would last three months.

I have less time now than I used to but post more.

Who is to say.

Recently several of the people who I met very early on in blogging, people who left - some for well over a year due to need to attend family and life situations - have come back. They seem invigorated.

Sometimes it just takes time.

Hanging Up My Hat

Michael — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:08:08

"When I started my blog I had all the time in the world, and now I do not. I need to re-priorities, and I'm not sure if there's space for the blog yet. "

I had a friend with a very similar experience. He started blogging this year and posted almost everyday. Things are different for him now. I recently rushed a fraternity with him and he's been going out more and being more social.

He hasn't really updated his blog in a while.

I think that perhaps one weaknesses of 9rules is that participating in notes, writing a blog and keeping up in the member forums takes up a lot of social energy.

I think it is possible that you might see some members leave due to a "need to move on with my life" reason.

Hanging Up My Hat

bloglily — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:01:21

I love your notes presence, Rich -- as do many people, and I also enjoy your blog. I think your voice is so clear because you write to please yourself. As long as you're doing that, then you'll be fine. I'm just glad to hear you'll still be doing that on 9rules.

Hanging Up My Hat

estarla — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:28:47

I'll see ya around in notes, Rich. :)

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ErinR — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:13:45

I don't even know what to say. Leaving the network... okay, I'll allow it. But shutting down your blog? Richard, I will not hear of it.

Your blog is sarcastic, funny, and straight from your heart. Please do not abandon it. Take a break. An extended leave of absence. A sabbatical, for goodness' sake. But do not leave it. You will regret it in the future. You know that. You do. So don't.

Glad you're staying active in the notes, though. The accumulated round-trip plane tickets to England would have gotten awfully expensive.

Hanging Up My Hat

Rich — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:01:00

Rich, you've always been the nicest, most polite, most positive and encouraging person on here :)

I actually laughed out loud, right in the middle of my office, at that.

Oops.

Hanging Up My Hat

joenewbreed — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:35:00

Rich, you've always been the nicest, most polite, most positive and encouraging person on here :)

But seriously, if you're just stepping down from "Membership" then I'm not so sad. Now, if you left Notes, I'd have to come looking for you. You make this place more interesting, to be sure.

Hanging Up My Hat

Rich — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:39:05

Stopping blogging altogether will though. Are you sure that's really what you want for the long term?

Honestly, I think it might be. The thought of shutting down my blog deeply saddens me, but I'm trying to concentrate on other priorities. Career-wise, I'm lagging, so I need to work on that. I've somehow managed to find a girlfriend that isn't horribly turned off by my addiction to the web yet still demands attention now and then - something I'd be a fool to neglect. And God damn it, I will complete Sketch Fighter!

When I started my blog I had all the time in the world, and now I do not. I need to re-prioritise, and I'm not sure if there's space for the blog yet.

Hanging Up My Hat

Rich — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:34:17

shadowsun7: I've decided that I will be, yes.

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shadowsun7 — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:32:44

Ah ... now that makes sense, Scrivs. Your post came off with a slightly defensive tone.

To Rich: Will you be continuing your my.9r activities?

To tranism:

9Rules has always been about being exclusive. It's the only way they can maintain that standard of quality you can't get anywhere else. It has already been a problem in the past and will continue to be so in the future, for those out there who don't get the concept.

my.9r were The Rulers' solution to complaints that there was a chasm between the content producers (the members) and the readers (us). And then this ugly issue popped up again. Over and over again.

But there's one point you brought up that I can't refute:

People who want to make the best out of their 9rules' experience feel alienated and it slowly becomes just another popularity club.

*scratches head, perplexed* But I suppose Mike, Scrivs and Tyme would be able to prevent that from happening ...

Hanging Up My Hat

karmatosed — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:31:31

Good luck whatever your choice is I enjoyed meeting you and hope to keep in touch whatever you do.

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Scrivs — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:10:20

Not on the defensive at all. Just trying to make sure both sides were spoken for before people got any wrong ideas.

Hanging Up My Hat

daveseah — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:08:06

Sorry to see you go, nostrich, under what seems to be a cloud of self-doubt. I was just starting to get to know and recognize you too on the forums and twitter and had considered you one of us, but maybe that needed to be more visible to feel real. It also sounds like you're looking for your own sense of mission, and that 9rules sort of resembled it but wasn't quite "it". I wish you the best of luck in finding it.

Hanging Up My Hat

Rich — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:50:59

Oh and thanks everyone else. That was more goodwill than I expected.

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Rich — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:50:16

I don't see where the confusion is either, but that is what happened.

The confusion was in not receiving any response to my email. My email was a suggestion, not a request, that I remove myself. I expected a reply, even if only a confirmation, before finding myself just removed. It's not a big deal, it just would have been nice to hear it officially before finding out myself.

saying you don't feel like you belong is kind of baffling (and then turn around and say during your tenure 9rules gave you everything that you had hoped for)

Interaction was never something I "hoped" for, it was something I expected. (In a this-is-what-the-network-is-about way, not in an arrogant way.) I got what I hoped for, which was exposure, a good learning experience and the opportunity to make a load of new friends.

Add to the fact you say you aren't getting anything out of 9rules yet you are one of our more prolific posters so again I'm baffled.

I can be "prolific" in the notes without being a member. I meant that I wasn't getting anything out of 9rules as a network member.

As has been stated, you sent Tyme an email that you were leaving and she informed me so I removed you. After how you spoke to her I can see why she would like to take the weekend off before responding to you if she hasn't already.

As I said, a suggestion not a request. But that's probably the fault of bad wording more than anything else.

I don't want this to be something that puts everyone on the defensive. I just wanted to state my reasons, and be done. This wasn't an attempt to start a fire; only an attempt to put one out. So let's drop the picking apart what I said.

Maybe I am one of the more popular members, but I know there are a lot of users that won't be sad to see me go. I'm still unsure about whether you and Tyme are in that camp, Scrivs - that's what I hoped the email would resolve. But as you said, perhaps Tyme just needed a weekend off.

Either way, as I said in the email, thanks for all the fish.

Hanging Up My Hat

Scrivs — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:50:37

Well we have been exclusive since day 1 with regards to which sites become members and we are approaching our 2nd anniversary so I don't see how that is a problem now or in the future. As for my.9rules, everyone is invited to participate to make their own impression and if this was a popularity contest wouldn't we all agree that Rich would be one of the most popular around here?

Hanging Up My Hat

tranism — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:42:27

Oh and I CALL DIBS ON RICH'S POINTS!

kidding, only kidding. :)

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tranism — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:41:15

It all does sound odd but in Rich's defense I can somewhat see where he's coming from. There is this sense of exclusivity on 9rules now although that isn't a problem, I can see it becoming one later down the road. People who want to make the best out of their 9rules' experience feel alienated and it slowly becomes just another popularity club.

Anyways, good luck with everything Rich.

Hanging Up My Hat

Scrivs — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:08:42

As it was since the beginning, 9rules is what you make of it. If you felt like an outsider all I can say is that you made yourself an outsider then. The private forums are there for interacting and you certainly made a home here on Notes so saying you don't feel like you belong is kind of baffling (and then turn around and say during your tenure 9rules gave you everything that you had hoped for). Add to the fact you say you aren't getting anything out of 9rules yet you are one of our more prolific posters so again I'm baffled.

As has been stated, you sent Tyme an email that you were leaving and she informed me so I removed you. After how you spoke to her I can see why she would like to take the weekend off before responding to you if she hasn't already.

As everyone else has stated good luck in your future. I'm curious though to know what change of direction did we have considering Notes have been on this site since last July and my.9r has done nothing but strengthen the relationships between our members and readers?

Hanging Up My Hat

Mike — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:56:13

Nowickedwitch, yes that was the official reason, he emailed us asking to be removed. I don't see where the confusion is either, but that is what happened.

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shadowsun7 — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:52:51

You'll be missed, Rich. Who else can take up your what's hot and what's not series in the music thread?

God bless and good luck, in whatever ventures you undertake in the future.

Hanging Up My Hat

alexsuraci — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:41:51

I haven't been here long as a Notes user, no one really knows me, but from how long I've been here I've also grown loads of respect for you. I hope you at least stick around in the notes section. I haven't seen you around here much, recently. Good luck, with whatever you decide to do.

Hanging Up My Hat

cooper — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:16:45

You don't know your official reasons for departure?

I thought you said you quit? Isn't that like the official reason?

Oli is probably right. I never use my MacBook.

Bad Karma.

Hanging Up My Hat

Mike — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:59:14

Hey Rich, we removed you from the network once we received your email... it only takes a couple of clicks from our end. Though you said you felt like an outsider, we appreciated your time with us and the feedback you gave regarding the site, 9rules as a whole, or anything else.

Hanging Up My Hat

JulianBH — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:24:29

We'll miss you Rich.

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chacon — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:23:01

Ditto to what James said.

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Oli — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:22:22

Drama++

Who let Tom in the thread? =P We didn't moan and groan at you when you lost your job, so if you're not being sarcastic, try and be supportive where you can.

Anyhow... You don't sound like you're really that miffed about it, Rich. I guess being removed from the listings once you've made friends and got regulars isn't going to have that much of an effect on your bottom line.

Stopping blogging altogether will though. Are you sure that's really what you want for the long term? I know I've been through my fair share of blog-depression where I can't find the energy or passion to write how I like but I also know how nice it is to come back to it all once I've had some time to rest.

I blame the MacBook. If you were using a real PC all the time, you'd have gallons of energy for blogging =)

And how could you leave Notes?! Sure the past few days have been a little tense on here but, just like blogging, it works in peaks and troughs.

Whatever you choose, I hope it works out well.

Hanging Up My Hat

jmathias — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:14:32

Rich, sorry to see you go. I've always respected you, even though I might not have come out and said it to you directly, I would have liked to get to know you better.

I hope whatever the future holds for you is good and makes you happy. Drop me a line anytime.

Hanging Up My Hat

Kamigoroshi — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:13:00

Haha, but you're still the leader of the Personal Community. That makes you unique. :)

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Alday — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:02:20

Drama++

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Rich — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:00:20

I know it's not the 9rules way to announce departures from the network, but I want to say it here anyway. I'm no longer a 9rules member.

The immediate instinct from most, I would imagine, would be to assume that it's a direct result of recent events some members will have observed. As far as I know, it's not.

I don't know what the official reason for my departure is as I haven't had any communication with Tyme about it. I sent her an email a few days ago suggesting that it might be best if 9rules and I parted company, but I haven't received any response to that. My reasons may differ from the higher-up's is basically what I'm saying.

My reasons? Put simply: I never really felt as though I really belonged. From day one, and I said as much in the member forums, I didn't feel like I really deserved it, and to this moment, I've felt like a bit of an outsider.

I never interacted with any of the other members in any great way, and didn't feel like most were particularly concerned with interacting with me either. I have my own theories about why that may be, but they're not important or relevant.

Further to that, I just don't enjoy it anymore. When I first joined, 9rules was exactly what I needed. It's not anymore. This is partially because of my own change of direction with regard to blogging, and partially because of 9rules' change of direction. Again, further elaboration isn't necessary, but I'll be happy to give it if anyone wants it.

But above all else: I'm growing tired of blogging. If you read my blog, it would be hard not to notice that my heart really hasn't been in it lately. I don't blog as much, and when I do, I don't do it with the same passion I used to. More than ever, I don't deserve to be a 9rules member.

Now, I said that my reasons may differ from Tyme and co.'s. As I said, I sent Tyme an email suggesting my departure. The only response I've received is my removal. I didn't actually even know until I noticed that my profile no longer bore the 9rules member badge. Further investigation confirmed that I'd been removed from the community listings. (And thus, I don't actually know how long it's been official.) So for all I know, my removal has been in the works for a while, as a direct result of certain recent events. I've had no official response from the guys at all. And that just enforces my decision to leave the network.

All that said, while I was here I learned a lot. I gained a lot of friends, and I discovered a lot of fantastic content. During my tenure here, 9rules did everything I hoped it would, and I have no words to describe how grateful I am for that. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mike, Scrivs and Tyme, and I hope that recent events haven't caused anyone to think otherwise.

So there you have it. I'm done.

I don't know if I'll be sticking around the notes yet. Part of me doesn't want to leave such a passionate community, but part of me knows I don't fit in here at all. So we'll see.

As Caesar so eloquently put it: Veni, vidi, vici.