# So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 22, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009 "2010-01-22T17:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/21 "2010-01-22T23:48:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You’re welcome. Your efforts and those of the other mods are appreciated. Although I can’t speak for anyone else, I do believe it is only a noisy minority that regards the mods as power-mad thugs. I don’t know what motivates people not only to volunteer for the position but to stick with it for years as some have. It’s possible that they’re motivated by altruism, masochism, penitence, boredom, or any number of other things. Assuming that they can only have nefarious reasons shows a failure of imagination, at best. Overall, I think the mods do a great job, but alas I’ve never been motivated to open a thread saying “Great job, mods!” On the other hand, I’ve never felt it necessary to start a complaint thread either. However, I can think of a couple of mods, one old and one new, who are awfully quick to shut down discussion. I do think that for the most part it should be left to the community to determine what direction threads take. But hey, not my message board, and if the administration is happy with the direction it’s going, I’ve got bigger things to worry about. And even if it’s not perfect, I’m still spending a hell of a lot more time here than I should. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/22 "2010-01-23T00:04:46Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Your efforts and those of the other mods are appreciated. Although I can’t speak for anyone else, I do believe it is only a noisy minority that regards the mods as power-mad thugs. I don’t know what motivates people not only to volunteer for the position but to stick with it for years as some have. It’s possible that they’re motivated by altruism, masochism, penitence, boredom, or any number of other things. Assuming that they can only have nefarious reasons shows a failure of imagination, at best. > > Overall, I think the mods do a great job, but alas I’ve never been motivated to open a thread saying “Great job, mods!” On the other hand, I’ve never felt it necessary to start a complaint thread either. > > However, I can think of a couple of mods, one old and one new, who are awfully quick to shut down discussion. I do think that for the most part it should be left to the community to determine what direction threads take. > > But hey, not my message board, and if the administration is happy with the direction it’s going, I’ve got bigger things to worry about. And even if it’s not perfect, I’m still spending a hell of a lot more time here than I should. [Disregard Name]You’re welcome.[/Disregard Name] ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/23 "2010-01-23T01:21:35Z")
You were always aces in my book, Sam. Keep in touch and keep us posted! ---
**Author:** ![Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b77776/32.png) [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothy_Mantooth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/24 "2010-01-23T02:40:49Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I know nothing is forever, but it would be fun if the old Board was able to resurface and survive a bit longer. To which ‘old board’ are you referring? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/25 "2010-01-23T02:55:39Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Food for thought, I hope, for TPTB. I know nothing is forever, but it would be fun if the old Board was able to resurface and survive a bit longer. > [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](#): > > To which ‘old board’ are you referring? I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but he, like many of us oldtimers, remember when this Board was new and fresh. Like many things in life, when you’ve been there a while, it becomes a bit stale. But only in retrospect. Life goes on, kids grow up, marriages come and go, friends leave, new ones come along. You get wistful for what you remember. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/26 "2010-01-23T03:41:27Z")
Siam Sam you’re one of my favorite posters. You’re most welcome to join me in permanent Guestdom but don’t you dare go too far away. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/27 "2010-01-23T04:03:18Z")
Adios Sam. Not that you have a clue who I am as I rarely post, but I’ve always enjoyed your contributions when I’ve come across them, so enjoy your guest status! Come to think of it, I guess I’ll be headed that way soon myself. In my case it’s simply a case of not posting enough to be known, but also not turning heads with an unfeasibly low post count. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/28 "2010-01-23T04:03:22Z")
You will be missed. I hope you will return someday. Rick ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/29 "2010-01-23T06:26:53Z")
I hope this isn’t over that thread where people were complaining about a mod closing a post which had no real content and your name came up (and you were defended by others, including the mod). Your posts always seem worth reading, and don’t you have the longest-running thread here? Hey, you have our needs to think about too, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/30 "2010-01-23T11:27:05Z")
Take care. You’ll be missed. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/31 "2010-01-23T13:45:13Z")
> [@Silverstreak\_Wonder](#): > > Why would anyone moderate for no pay for a profit making, non charity firm … Er, because they love the board and are happy to be able to put something back into it in return for all the enjoyment they’ve derived from it over the years? Is that really so strange a notion? Sorry to hear you’re not resubbing, **Siam Sam**. I haven’t interacted with you but I’ve always enjoyed your posts. Stay well, and don’t be a stranger. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/32 "2010-01-23T17:29:12Z")
Well, Sam, DS, I understand your feelings and will miss your posts, if you choose not to keep posting. If you ever need a hand, duck back in and send a PM or open a thread. I’ll still be around, somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/33 "2010-01-25T07:53:05Z")
Do come back. We kind of got used to your being here. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/34 "2010-01-25T13:21:46Z")
Sent you a PM Sam. Please keep in touch. In response to a comment above, I believe that the Mods and Administrators do a great job even though there are those I do not see eye to eye with. I do not envy their position. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/35 "2010-01-25T13:25:11Z")
**Siam Sam** , I am very sad to see you go. I love your entertaining and fascinating threads and updates, and I love that you (and **Ale** ) connect me in a current way to a country that I love so much. I also think that personally you are an asset to the board. Please can I ask you to reconsider? ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/36 "2010-01-25T14:45:11Z")
Won’t someone please think about the pigeons? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/37 "2010-01-25T15:25:52Z")
Mmmm…pigeon pie. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/38 "2010-01-25T19:39:11Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Please can I ask you to reconsider? Reconsider what? He just said he is not going to pay to post anymore. All you people saying “Please don’t go” obviously did not read far enough to see this: > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > If I participate in the future, I can do so just as easily as a Guest. And I’ll probably pop in again, especially if I have any questions. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/39 "2010-01-25T19:50:31Z")
I don’t understand - I let my Charter Membership expire almost a year ago, and I’m more active now than I was then. Just don’t pay, it doesn’t have to change your posting habits. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009/40 "2010-01-25T20:23:31Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I don’t understand - I let my Charter Membership expire almost a year ago, and I’m more active now than I was then. Just don’t pay, it doesn’t have to change your posting habits. I think you’ve got it backwards. He’s changing his posting habits (since he doesn’t like the moderation), so he no longer sees any reason to pay. ETA: The guest bit is just to say that, even if he does feel withdrawal and wants to post again, he’s still not going to pay and just use his guest status. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/526009.md?page=3)