Well, here is a post that even a year ago I never thought I would be writing.
I've been part of this site for six years to the day, January 21, 2014. My interest in blender caused me to get more and more involved with BSE so much so that I was one of our first three elected moderators. Over the years my enthusiasm for SE grew - this was the best place to get answers for blender questions. Slowly life moved on, and I used blender less and less (as you could probably guess from my declining answer rate); yet I was always still here, almost out of duty for this community.
Now we get to the present. I'm not going to rehash all that has transpired (the history goes back a few years, and greatly accelerated in the last four months), but the fact is that I no longer feel good about supporting SE.
So I'm resigning as a mod, and stepping away from SE as a whole.
Let me be clear, my departure has nothing to do with BSE, or any of you the users and my friends. It is solely based on the actions of SE and what kind of company SE has become.
As with anything that one embarks on for years of one's life this change leaves me saddened. Saddened for how SE has changed, and saddened because of all that I'll miss: hunting and destroying socks, helping users, interacting with other mods, but most of all the friends I gained along the way.
I'd be remiss if I did not thank some of the people that I have had the pleasure of interacting with over the years. You have helped shape this site, you are this site. Further you helped shape me. I'm hesitant to make a list like this because I know I will not be able to list everyone.
In alphabetical order a non-exhaustive list of users that have had a impact on me and this site:
batFINGER You supply endless python answers, like the ones that came before you CodeManX, ideasman42, pink vertex and many more. Your answers are filled with a lifetime of wisdom. Your expertise in python shows through the amazing volume of answers of have written.
cegaton Thank you for working to keep this site running - for years. Your endless edits, persistent comments and all around blender knowledge is a real asset to the community.
CharlesL Our activity did not overlap much, but I will never forget the ebook we coauthored, fun times. Definitely one of the most memorable moments.
Duarte Farrajota Ramos You were one of the few active users in BSE's lull. You stepped up to be a full blown mod when no one else would. I remember you pumping out good answers, seemingly on fire. Even now, you still have passion for this community - singly handily editing whole tags.
gandalf3 Wow, where to start? Back when I first joined you were the one I wanted to be like. Top dog on the site - you could answer everything. You made gifs a standard part of answers "gandalf style gifs." Your demeanor through chat was unwavering, and your keen sense for internet privacy was something I always aspired to.
GiantCowFilms First off Thank you for building (twice) blend exchange, without that service BSE would have a lot more dead blend file links littered all over the place. Now this might be a surprise but thank you for the many times we disagreed in chat, through that I better learned to see other people's perspective, and hopefully better communicate.
iKlsR BSE's longest serving mod, first appointed in June of 2013 and served this site well since. Back in the day before we graduated, you were our only active mod. You alone had to deal with all my flags and incessant pings to fix stuff, both in chat and on the meta. Also the only user who knows it all.
Jerryno Aside from having one of the coolest user ids on the site, you have provided a wealth of knowledge through hundreds of answers. I personally have learned much from you. Your contributions to BSE will always be remembered.
Nicola Sap You are the next wave of active users. I've seen you post great answer after great answer. Keep it up, just do not burn out too quickly.
Ray Mairlot You unlike many from your era are still around and active. You have done the unrewarding work: edits and comments, the work that keeps this site running. For that I am forever grateful.
VRM You were definitely part of "the old crew". Super active back in 2015 both in chat and on BSE. Your answers were always spot on and helpful. I will always remember our interactions with fondness.
X-27 The pyromaniac stalker of the renderfarm :) You are one of the users that seemingly was always in our chat, another of "the old crew". I'll never forget our fun banter, nor your stack exchange video.
Without detailing each one, many others I knew from chat:
Gwen, Scalia, Shady Puck someonewithpc, stacker TARDIS Maker, Thom Blair III, and Vader.
I leave this site with a word or two of advice.
- Remember what it was like to be a noob, the things we take for granted, many reading your answers will not know.
- Mind the tags. I was once called the tag master you will have to replace me for that job, please keep reign on those unwieldy categorizations.
- 2.8 brought a ton of new users and questions to this site (more then anything else in BSE's 6 years and 8 months history), you are going to have to find a way to filter out all the LQPs and keep the gems.
- Mods: always stay pingable in the chat room, that is important.
Its been fun, disappointing, tiring, invigorating, draining, exciting, enlightening and so on. I would not trade my experiences here away. Were I able to go back these six years, sure there are some things I would of changed, but I'd do it all again.
Farewell all.
