Jesus…I’d always looked forward to reading any time he posted, and I’d wondered what happened to him. When I saw the thread title, I thought it was a joke because he’d been missing for a while. I don’t know how I didn’t hear about this when it happened. 
I loved Askia’s posts. What terrible news!
I remember sparring with him in the “Six Degrees of the BBQ Pit” thread (which I can’t find now- if anyone could, I’d appreciate it). I miss him.
Askia… how sad. I loved that guy, certainly one I would consider a friend even though I only knew him through keystrokes on a message board.
Didn’t always agree with him (hey, Black dudes can disagree!) but I respected the hell out of him. And he knew how to diffuse situations that got hot. Some posters can’t disagree without being disagreeable, and some can’t admit to being wrong. Askia did both of these things beautifully. He was a role model for how to debate and argue with strangers forcefully yet respectfully.
We talked education a lot, and I knew he was a positive influence in young people’s lives. So sad. But when someone you’ve never met can have that kind of impact on you, it’s evident that he spent his short years with us productively.
R.I.P. Askia
I’ve tasted his sword too, Scissorjack, and considered it an honor. It was all I could do to stay ‘in character’ as we sparred over the use of the word ‘nigga’. The truth was, I was a groupie debating with what I considered a lion of a man. I was even dorky enough to admit that I was his groupie in that same thread!
I have never been a dick-rider for any poster. For that man, I made an exception.
Crap. That’s just way too young :(.
A damn fine poster and a real loss to the rest of us. RIP Askia.
I could always count on Askia to challenge my ways of thinking. It is really unbelievable to me that he is gone.
The last time I saw him post was in that Michael Richards pit thread. That seemed just like yesterday.
speechless
Oh shit…damn. Just…damn.
When you have illegible handwriting like mine, I think people are grateful if you type something and then mail it…but paper is definitely best in these cases.
Poor Askia…I remember his posts being really fun to read. RIP
That’s really, really sad news. The pics of his niece and nephew made me choke up a little too.
Be at peace.
**Askia **didn’t know me from anyone, but I always made a point to read his posts. I also loved his name, I had no idea it was his given name. So cool.
This makes me incredibly sad. He had a way with words and seemed like a really amazing person.
jali, thank you for posting the pictures.
Wow.
I always thought his name was like a rare creature that asked or answered questions. Example: I climbed up the mountain to meet the oracle, Askia" Neat that it was his name.
On the off chance his Momma every reads this, Good Job. You did very well.
Fnar fnar. You know the man himself wouldn’t have passed that one up. I keep thinking “Damn, he missed the election”: that would have been posting gold for him. Thirty six. Thirty bloody six.
Ha! That’s not what I meant!
I am eager for Jali to post the pic of him. I have never seen one. Once, WhyNot posted a pic of what she thinks he would look like, and I thought it was bang-on. I am really curious if he looks anything like that picture she posted.
Has he ever posted in any picture threads that anyone can recall?
I remember him, and I’m sorry to hear he’s gone. 36 is too damn young
Oh, man.
That is far too young. R.I.P, Askia.
I think letting his family know about this place might be a great idea - I think if I lost a loved one and discovered a resource like this of his thoughts and opinions, I’d treasure it as a part of him that remains.