Edward Champion's Return of the Reluctant

Voodoo Children (Slight Return)

Most in the blogosphere are nice and reasonable people. Not only are they generous enough to give you information you may never have considered before, but they are willing to present informed opinions that help you to clarify a preexisting argument. (And, of course, it goes without saying that the infoswap works both ways.) Most online denizens are in on the joke and they josh around with you. They are open and invitational and accommodating and, again, amicable. As I've said repeatedly, for the most part, I have greatly enjoyed being part of this community.

But unfortunately there are a few out there who are rude and discourteous boors, who want to turn every miniscule exchange or written phrase into a useless war, and who apparently have so much time on their hands that they feel the need to barrage me with six or so emails a day.

I don't dish this sort of dirt. I'm not going to name any names (and they probably aren't the people you're thinking). But needless to say, this latter kind of person has forced me to reconsider my online presence and take some appropriate steps that I should have taken long ago. I have better things to do with my life than to allow these sad and hateful people to eat away at my time. There are serious things going on, energies I need to devote, that require my attention.

So I'm hanging up my boots for now. I don't know how long it will be. I could be back next week. And, again, I want to assure everyone that most of you aren't like this. 95% of you, in fact. I love every single person listed on the left. (Yeah, you too, Mr. Green. Those who know me personally know that I'm not really a grudgemaker.)