I will miss Shodan. He is smart, insightful, witty and amusing. He is also well-read and well-written on the topics of his choosing.
In a sense, Shodan was already gone, as long as he continued to post here. Bone laid it out pretty well when he left, except that I think it was more than just the political divide. It’s the divide between people who like controversial opinions and those who just want a comfortable place that doesn’t challenge them.
I think that this banning says more about a few people (not the mods) being allowed to direct the board culture than it does about Shodan.
I agree with Dallas Jones, Isosleepy, Crafter_Man, Fotheringay-Phipps, pool, SlackerInc and others that Shodan was targeted for his views. I also agree that it’s like walking over landmines to post here. I don’t agree with any of them on much else.
As a woman, a survivor of sexual assault, a female who was targeted for at least two rape scenarios online and someone who was relentlessly followed on a couple message boards for a time, I’m disgusted that misogyny is being used as the pretext to get rid of several posters.
But since I’m not ready to flounce yet, I’ll sit and watch in horror as the board continues in the direction it has. I watched in horror over Shodan’s warning in the Pit and his suspension, Bone’s abrupt departure and the banning of several other posters. It’s sad to see. I miss the time when just about every topic was well-represented on both sides.