User talk:Balloonman/archive 28

Too much BS
This project has lost its focus and has become way too focused on beaucracy and petty bickering. We are too concerned with the letter of the law and not what is right. Everytime I turn around, there is some assinine debate over an issue that shouldn't exist. We waste too much time on issues that don't matter. I'm tired of it.--- Balloonman  Poppa Balloon 14:32, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
 * It doesn't help when sensible voices leave :) You'll be missed and I hope you'll come back. --regentspark (comment) 14:46, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I hope you enjoy your time away, and wait in hope for when you may decide to return one day. Regardless, I wish you well : ) - jc37 15:09, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Highly unlikely... if I do it will be with a new identity... I've changed the password on this account to one I won't remember and deleted the email/watchlist.--- Balloonman  Poppa Balloon 15:31, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Bugger. --Anthonyhcole (talk) 15:39, 12 June 2012 (UTC)

When I get cheesed off by what I perceive as petty disputes I do one or both of two things. 1) I take a look at WP:LAME. There's always something there that makes me feel better. 2) I think about stuff I've been involved in that has been productive. If you do reconsider, you'll make me smile. --Dweller (talk) 18:50, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I am very sorry to see you go. I very much hope you will return at some point. --John (talk) 18:34, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Hope you return someday, your contributions to Wikipedia have been invaluable, Best of luck moving forward, you will be missed.▪◦▪ ≡S i R E X≡  Talk 23:32, 12 June 2012 (UTC)


 * 1) Last decent person to leave needs to remember to lock the database.  Br'er Rabbit  06:07, 13 June 2012 (UTC)


 * You are the project, you define the issues. - When I was sick of (you named it) I wrote content such as He was despised. Please consider, Awesome Wikipedian of 21 Nov 2008, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:12, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * If you are willing and able, I suggested that the Signpost conduct an "exit interview" with you. I expect that because of your heavy involvement in various aspects of Wikipedia's administration over time, that you would have some good insights and observations. Cla68 (talk) 06:24, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I lament these tidings. Your efforts are well known, with appreciation; leaving a legacy that can not be brought asunder. I know you will be missed! I also know that you are missed already! With respect and admiration - My76Strat (talk) 06:27, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Jeez Louise, it's only a fucking web site, don't go overboard. Malleus Fatuorum 06:47, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * This is really a bad time for you to demonstrate the narrow bandwidth of your thought process. Of course this is larger than a web site for it touches on human emotion. My76Strat (talk) 07:16, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * On the contrary, it is you who has once again demonstrated the lack of processing power in whatever it is you use in lieu of a brain. Malleus Fatuorum 10:21, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Why are the opinions of retired administrators considered to be more important than the opinions of retired contributors? Malleus Fatuorum 06:45, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Who said they were more important? It's just that this is the first time the idea of an "exit interview" has come to me.  No other reason.  An exit interview shold be conducted with anyone who leaves who might have good insight into issues of WP's culture and processes.  By the way, Baloonman, I neglected to thank you for your efforts. Cla68 (talk) 06:56, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * You did. Who else have you suggested an exit interview for? Malleus Fatuorum 07:00, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * You're a decent person, too, Mally. Get back to work! Br&#39;er Rabbit (talk) 06:49, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Ain't gonna happen unless some serious changes are made here. Which they won't be. Malleus Fatuorum 06:52, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Malleus just wants to make sure that the poems people write on his user talk page every time he "retires" aren't eclipsed by someone else's seemingly genuine retirement. BMan, take a break for a few months and maybe you'll eventually want to return as a pair of fresh eyes.  -Scottywong | communicate _  21:04, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * You understand so little; I'd be seriously embarrassed if I were as stupid and malevolent as you are. Malleus Fatuorum 21:10, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry to see you go. I look forward to your eventual return.  MBisanz  talk 11:02, 13 June 2012 (UTC)

I agree with Cla68 that an exit interview would be useful. I agree with Malleous Fatuorum that, should the concept of exit interviews be institutionalized, it would be wrong to limit such interviews to admins.

I disagree with Cla68 that any such interview is a worthy subject for Signpost. By definition, the moment one leaves Wikipedia is a time when emotions run high. I think it is useful to gather data, but it becomes an anecdote. If we were to do a Signpost article, I'd prefer it to be done on a proper study. OTTOMH, multiple interviews with an assortment of people, and importantly, a follow-up interview some number of months after the departure, to determine what concerns fall into the heat of the moment concerns, and what aspects fall into more fundamental concerns, both of which may require addressing, but the solutions may be different. Obviously, this can be elaborated, but this isn't the place, so I'll close in noting my sadness at the announcement, and my hope that we take some steps to understand and address the concerns. SPhilbrick (Talk)  14:34, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * On the contrary, I left Wikipedia when emotions ran low. There are times, like Balloonman, when there was a "last straw", if you will; there are times, like myself, where burnout finally catches up.  Useight&#39;s Public Sock (talk) 19:54, 13 June 2012 (UTC)


 * I appreciate the help and insight you've offered B-Man. I hope your real life goes much better than wiki.  Best always. Chedzilla (talk) 16:27, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Hey BM, so long and thanks for all the balloons. Come back sometime when the annoyance has stopped weighing on you as much (that will happen eventually).  Anyone who really has to ask for explanations of what you're experiencing, is probably part of the problem ;-).  69.228.171.139 (talk) 18:39, 13 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Balloonman, I just wanted to personally thank you for all your contributions over the years. It's been depressingly sad watching many of my wiki-friends that I "grew up with" slowly disappear.  It's been disheartening watching the high turnover in the last year or so, but that's the way the world turns. Useight&#39;s Public Sock (talk) 20:15, 13 June 2012 (UTC)


 * I hope you come back. We haven't always agreed, but I respect you and your many contributions.--Wehwalt (talk) 22:05, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Balloonman, I haven't always agreed with you, but I'll certainly miss you. Whether you ultimately return or not, best of luck to you in your future. Seraphimblade Talk to me 22:20, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Good luck, you will be missed! Hobit (talk) 18:50, 14 June 2012 (UTC)

Today
"Sometimes surprising results", I said (27 April), I hope you see and like today's surprising good story (hidden message: "open mind"), and I hope things will turn for you as well, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:41, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

The Bugle: Issue LXXVI, July 2012
The Bugle is published by the Military history WikiProject. To receive it on your talk page, please join the project or sign up here. If you are a project member who does not want delivery, please remove your name from this page. Your editors, Ian Rose (talk) and Ed [talk] [majestic titan] 09:05, 29 July 2012 (UTC)