Wikipedia:Retiring

Sometimes active users decide to retire from, or leave, Wikipedia. Users may choose to retire after specific unpleasant experiences, or simply due to a loss of interest. Semi-retiring means a user's activity levels significantly drop, while they don't leave Wikipedia entirely. Retirement should not be confused with wikibreaks; the former is generally a permanent status, rather than a temporary break. Users who have retired may return at any point, though multiple, temporary retirements are discouraged as unnecessary drama.

Retirement
Retirement is just another way of saying that a user has permanently left Wikipedia. Users generally retire due to either a loss of interest in contributing to Wikipedia, out of necessity due to personal reasons, or a combination of those factors. Personal reasons for retiring may include starting a new job, going off to university or college or otherwise experiencing a life-changing event that will no longer allow the person to contribute in the foreseeable future. If a user expects their personal life to temporarily interfere with their Wikipedia activity, they may want to consider using one of the many wikibreak templates as opposed to a retirement one.

Complete loss of interest in Wikipedia, on the other hand, might come naturally, but it more often results from one or many negative experiences on Wikipedia. These experiences might be bitter disputes, harsh review at an RfA, being blocked or partially banned, being desysopped etc.

Regardless of the reason, declaring retirement (rather than silently leaving) can be seen as an "official" statement that a user does not intend to return; thus, unnecessary future attempts at communication can be averted.

Semi-retirement
Semi-retirement is similar to retirement, but it means that the user has become less active instead of completely inactive. What this means can vary widely; one semi-retired editor who previously made thousands of edits per month may only make a few hundred, while another semi-retired editor may only drop by to edit every couple of months. Regardless, the point is that communication with a semi-retired editor is still possible, though they may take a very long time to respond.

Pending sanctions
If an editor puts up a retired banner when being (or likely to be) the subject of a discussion at WP:Administrator's Noticeboard, WP:ANI, WP:AE, WP:ARBR or any other administrative board where sanctions are issued, it should never be used as a reason to discontinue a discussion. Because editors are not actually required to participate in these discussions (although it is recommended, see WP:COMMUNICATE), a retired banner or lack of willingness to participate will not stop potential sanctions from being issues by the community, as the banner is not a shield or defense.

Tools used in retiring

 * Retired and Semi-retired – Templates users place on their user page to announce their status as retired.
 * User EX-WP – Userbox that serves the same purpose as the above templates.
 * Not around – A template that can be placed on the talk pages of users who have been gone from Wikipedia for a long time (with no "official" retirement).
 * Nobots – A template that prevents bots from posting automated messages to a retired user's talk page.
 * Can't retire – Used for users who want to retire, but can't stay away from Wikipedia.
 * Considering retirement – For users who are considering retirement, and may or may not do so.

Essays

 * GoodBye – On sincere and insincere departures in response to conflict
 * WP:Tired – What one might do when one is simply tired of it all.
 * WP:Don't be high-maintenance – The community has little patience for "I'm gonna quit if I don't get my way" threats
 * WP:Leave gracefully - If you choose to leave the project, do so in a graceful and dignified fashion
 * Don't template the retirees - Respect retirement by considering the effects of automated tools on editors who have left
 * User:Fir0002/Retirement - An explanation by an established editor on why they chose to retire.
 * WP:WPBROKEN - A detailed essay on perceived problems with Wikipedia, by another established editor who retired.
 * WP:BURNOUT - Some editors and admins just get burnt out.
 * WP:Gravedancing - On how to treat the work of a retired editor.