# The final Skald the Rhymer thread...until the next one \[updates\]. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594 "2016-08-02T23:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/121 "2016-08-03T18:48:56Z")
Sorry dude, you’ll be missed! ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/122 "2016-08-03T19:09:17Z")
Best wishes **Skald** , you’ll be missed. If, hypothetically of course, you managed to finagle an extremely large screen and advanced AI system consider coming back with the winged monkeys. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/123 "2016-08-03T19:11:20Z")
The monkeys are taking a lunch break so I have time to say good luck and this place won’t be the same without you. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/124 "2016-08-03T19:22:24Z")
Well that blows. Sorry to see you go, old timer. I always enjoyed your prose. I wish you make it through surgery, and I know that if you don’t you’ll be somewhere up there spiking Athena’s ambrosia as part of a needlessly convoluted plan to nick the Aegis. And hey, don’t knock childless misanthropes fucking needy women. There’s a place for us, in fact we provide an essential community service. We stick our dicks in the crazy, so they all don’t have to :). ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/125 "2016-08-03T19:37:37Z")
Good luck Friday, and best wishes. There are readers available for computers. There are options for the visually impaired. They might require some adjustment period and may slow you down, but there are options out there. We haven’t interacted much directly, you & I, but I’ve enjoyed your (sometimes crazy) hypotheticals quite a bit ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/126 "2016-08-03T19:39:32Z")
Very sorry to hear about your condition, Skald. At least the universe rewarded you with such a loving family. Take care. ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/127 "2016-08-03T20:29:27Z")
Like everyone here, I’ll be sorry to see you go. Your threads were always great fun, or thought provoking, and usually both. The SDMB will be a less interesting place without you around. Still, our loss is your real-world friends’ and family’s gain. All the best for the future. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/128 "2016-08-03T20:34:09Z")
Good luck to you. I’ll miss your threads. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/129 "2016-08-03T20:45:02Z")
Passing on some advice from a friend who went through a similar circumstance a while back: start learning Braille while you still have a little sight yet. It makes the process easier and less frustrating. She was of an era before assistive technologies when Braille was an absolute necessity, but I imagine it’s a gateway skill to better accessibility, even now. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/130 "2016-08-03T21:38:32Z")
I don’t think we’ve interacted much, but I’m sure Ive read every thread you’ve started. I will miss you. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/131 "2016-08-03T21:49:58Z")
Best wishes **Skald** , you have set the bar so high. From now on, any post will be subject to: “Well, that’s pretty good, not up to the level of one of Skald’s, but pretty good.” Also, we can tell the young dopers, “You’d better be good or the Rhymer will get you!” Not so bad a legacy for anyone. Hoping you can come back to us someday. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/132 "2016-08-03T22:14:15Z")
I’ll miss you, **Skald**. I think there may be software available that can read websites and word documents for you. I had an intern from a program for the blind that used such a program years ago. I wish you all the best, and if I can be of assistance, you know where to find me. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/133 "2016-08-03T22:16:58Z")
You’ve been my favorite poster on the 'Dope, and I’ll miss your contributions. I wish you the best in all things, and I hope your current difficulties can be grabbed by the tail and beaten into submission. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/134 "2016-08-03T22:22:38Z")
Same here…best of luck Skald. I think you will be missed around here as your threads were always interesting and thought provoking. Plus more than slightly quirky. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/135 "2016-08-03T22:54:13Z")
Geez. ☹ Best wishes, **Skald**. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/136 "2016-08-03T23:10:55Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’ll miss you, **Skald**. I think there may be software available that can read websites and word documents for you. I had an intern from a program for the blind that used such a program years ago. > . I am really sorry to hear of this, Skald. I really did enjoy your threads and insights, etc. Sttay strong through the changes as I know it can be demoralizing and life-shattering. However, my wife of nearly twenty years IS legally blind and uses a screen magnifier at between 400-500% on a few different laptops. And she is all over Facebook and textings with a number of people. WIthout that software, she’d be SOL essentially. There are GREAT screenreaders/magnifiers, etc for the legally/totally blind groups of persons needing such. If there is the desire to use computers/communicate electronically, it can be done - but takes a bit of practice for fluency. I selfishly hold out hope that you may find something that fits your needs and wants should you actually want to retain computer-based commo here or wherever ya need, etc. I want to emphasize I am not pushing you to check this stuff out, but just wanting to let ya know about it from someone who deals with it every day (and for almost twenty years, LOL). Feel free to ask questions for specifics if ya like, or not. Enjoy what ya got left as ya feel appropriate, always 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/137 "2016-08-03T23:41:19Z")
The very best of luck to you and your family, **Skald**! ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/138 "2016-08-03T23:56:28Z")
Damn, your threads were one of those things that I expected would outlast me. I’ll miss ya, and I wish you the best of fortunes. I’ll echo **Bricker** ’s recommendation of the JAWS software, if for some reason you still desire to use a computer. It is fairly expensive, but I’ve provided support to people using the version they were distributing 20 years ago, and it seemed to work well. Failing that, I’m hoping that they’ll come up with a cheap, useful cybernetic eye. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/139 "2016-08-04T00:34:35Z")
Best of luck to you, Skald. You will be sorely, sorely missed. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594/140 "2016-08-04T01:20:19Z")
This is terrible news. **Skald** , you are one of the great characters of the board. It will be a poorer place without you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-skald-the-rhymer-thread-until-the-next-one-updates/761594.md?page=8)