Why you shouldn?t post an ?I?m leaving eGO? thread

[Monkeybits]

From time to time, we see a thread about how someone?s leaving eGO. Please don?t. If you?re interested in why, please read on. I realized we do see them because people don?t think about it, so here?s a chance to think about it just a bit, then go back to having fun.

(1) It?s in poor taste

Would you throw your own funeral just to see who showed up? You probably won?t if you?re emotionally mature. You recognize it serves no purpose and has the potential to do harm. We?re a mature gaming community, and expect you to understand the concept of mature behavior, even in forum.

(2) It makes it harder to come back

Most people realize that they enjoy their association with eGO, and in time want to come back. When you do a huge post about leaving, and get a lot of, ?Oh, we?ll miss you? replies, it looks a little silly coming back. We usually welcome back former members with open arms.

(3) It?s not going to accomplish anything

Some people don?t agree with a decision by leadership. That?s fine; not only do people have different opinions, but leadership is human. That means they make mistakes, too. Let them know politely in a PM, suggest your ideas, and let it go from there. Not only will a big post about it mean you?ll be banned from website and servers, but your post will be removed, as any ?I?m leaving post? is removed by policy, because of point (1) above. Why banned? Think about it: if you quit your job in a huff, your boss is not going to allow you to post grievances in the break room or invite you to hang around to disrupt ongoing operations. It?s simply bad business to do so.

When you calm down, you may also realize you were in the wrong. One of the oldest rules of the internet, which I first heard in 1992 or so, is ?Never post in anger.?

(4) There?s no penalty for being inactive

Many people have things in life that make them unable to fully participate in the community for a time. Sometimes you lose interest in a game. That?s perfectly normal and expected. However, you?re very likely to at some point come back at least on a casual basis. Anyone who plays Warcraft or Starcraft probably fires it up from time to time just for fun. You?ll very likely do the same with TF2, so don?t post anything about leaving, just PM your friends that you?re going to be less active for a bit.

If you need to take a break from gaming, or choose to move on from eGO, we?re going to miss you. We value our members. PM a few of your friends and your division leaders to let them know what?s going on, and that serves as sufficient notice. Those who care about your absence will be able to find out what?s going on with no need for a thread about it.

 

[RedFlag]

Good post Monkeybits! This should probably be stickied in the General Forums..

 

[Macaroni]

Good points.

 

[The Shape]

I agree with all of your points Monkeybits. I'd like to make one suggestion though.

Say 3 people leave the community in one month on good terms. Come the next month, could there maybe be a news item or a brief mention about people who've left the community in a vent meeting? It doesn't have to be explained why they left, just that they left the community on good terms. There's people that I don't see anymore and it makes me wonder where they are. I can't see the harm in doing this as long as it was on good terms. Please think about it

 

[Monkeybits]

Shape, you give me too much credit, but I'm sure SixxGunn and DuckDastardly will see this post and consider it.

They key with people leaving on good terms is we don't want to make a big deal of it, because they're very likely to come back and we don't want them to feel awkward when they do. We want everyone to feel welcome.

 

[MrQ]

Another excellent post from the editorial desk of Monkeybits. Love it!!

 

[Monkeybits]

Editorials are what I do best, as evidenced by my TF2 player ranking!

 

[NinjaFluff]

That you do, but that monkey in your sig is kinda creepy

 

[Sixxgunn]

I agree with all of your points Monkeybits. I'd like to make one suggestion though.

Say 3 people leave the community in one month on good terms. Come the next month, could there maybe be a news item or a brief mention about people who've left the community in a vent meeting? It doesn't have to be explained why they left, just that they left the community on good terms. There's people that I don't see anymore and it makes me wonder where they are. I can't see the harm in doing this as long as it was on good terms. Please think about it

This again goes back to his point of not making a big deal about it. I don't see what will be accomplished by telling everyone so and so has left. If that weren't an issue, we'd just let people continue to post their goodbye threads. This would be doing the same thing.

As for people you don't see around anymore, I understand where you're coming from. I have a lot of them myself. However, if these are people you actually talked to, shouldn't they be on your steam friends? Or perhaps an IM? If not, then I would assume you didn't talk to them much or at all and you've just noticed their absence. Not to just shoot down your idea, but this isn't going to happen. But your suggestion IS appreciated.

6.

 

[Sixxgunn]

Moved. Stuck. Nice job, MB.

6.

 

[Kabatra123456789]

LOL never mind... i answered my own question .... Great post though Monkey!!!

 

[JohnnyOnTheSpot]

Thanks Monkey that's an excellent post and very well written

 

[Purple.Huskies]

I see and agree with your point Monkey, but I have to disagree. I don't think all goodbye posts are immature posts.

I used to play off hours a lot, and played with night owls and people outside of the us. It is not easy to even be online at the same time with many of these players since my current job is regular 8-6. I don't know when but eventually I will get bored with TF2 and decide not to play it any more. I will be in the clan for a long time by then, and I am sure would like to say goodbyes to people. You can say it is less personal but the forum provides easier and simpler way to say goodbyes to everyone, especially you enjoy being the part of the clan.

I have never spoken to JohnT in person for example, but I would like to know if he is leaving. It gives me an opportunity to show my appreciation for all he did for the community. The forum posts give you a chance to say goodbye to players you only know from playing with/against. I would like to acknowledge him/her that I enjoy playing with/against them.

Just my 2cent.

 

[Monkeybits]

Huskies, I'm not going to start an argument in forum. Suffice it to say it is seen as immature, and the thread will be removed. It was the policy before I posted a thread to try to help people understand, and it is likely to continue to be the policy.

There's no need to clutter forums and seek attention in that way. If it's too much work to send PMs, then it's perfectly acceptable to slip away quietly.

 

[Viper]

You nailed it man, really good points.

 

[DuckDastardly]

locking this thread before it becomes an argument of opinions.

Council has laid down the law on 'Goodbye posts' long ago and that is they arent acceptable and as soon as someone that can move it, sees it, they are to move it to the closed section of the forums.