I've decided to use HOF for my farewell thread.

[trumad]

I know---I hate these types of farewells because 9 out of 10 don't hold up. I did one several years ago and actually lasted a couple of months. It's the lurking that pulls you back. You lurk, see some knucklehead post, and you just have to reply. Just like an addict who goes sober for a year but takes one sip of Jack Daniels at a Christmas party or one hit off a pipe.

So if I tell you ---nope---I'm gone for good---- I'd be lying.

I am leaving though and I'm going to do my best to make it stick.

I have a career, a damn busy career that needs my full attention. When work is over I have a family, I have a dog, I have a cat, I have hobbies, I have a life---and I want to smell the roses. Simply put---I want to be happy.. errr happier.

I have not been happy on DU for sometime. My personality is such that it is hard for me to abide with douchebaggery.

Let me just say right off the bat---- when I wake up in the morning and take that first look in the mirror---bang----there is my first douchebag siting of the day. I know damn well that I can be the biggest A-Hole on DU and in the past 13 years have said some stupid shit. Ain't nobody perfect and I'm far far from it.

Honestly though--- I don't want to be a douchebag. I don't want to argue with other douchebags---I don't want to argue with anyone.

It's exhausting, time consuming, and it drains your soul.

Hence me saying goodbye to my virtual home since 2001.

What I see going on here the last couple of weeks has freaked me out---actually creeped me out. I know---I know--- Put the offenders on ignore---trash the thread---etc. I can't do that---it's not my nature. If I see somebody attacking my friends, I'm going in. This is unsustainable and it is not working. The loop hole in the rules, the cleverness of the opponent, alerts, juries etc.... make it impossible to win the day.

I chose HOF to say goodbye for two reasons. One---to stick it in the eye one more time to those who continue to battle this group---and two: because you opened my eyes to your everyday struggle for true equality.

So that's it...... I'm done. It's time to smell the roses.

To my friends here on DU---friends who I know and trust---PM me and we'll find away to stay in touch.

trumad