Before I leave for good

Before my last big break from PQ, I prophesised two things clearly and one possible.

1.  Before summer 2018, Pssst will be known and banned from PQ   -   DONE
2.  In a year to a year and a half, (from the time of the prophesy) PQ will be forced to close permanently.
3.  (Only possibly)  Skeptiko would have a noticeable lull and then recover

I feel that soon I will be giving up the ghost but it won't be sad for me, it will be a relief.  My physical and psychological suffering throughout life was intolerable.  Regardless, here is something you should all take to heart.

2.  In a year to a year and a half, (from the time of the prophesy) PQ will be forced to close permanently.

Um... what?

So... the Psience Quest forums will close because one individual was banned...?

"Giving up the ghost" - that means something more than just leaving a forum, right? Regardless, best wishes with your journeys, Brian.

Before my last big break from PQ, I prophesised two things clearly and one possible.

1.  Before summer 2018, Pssst will be known and banned from PQ   -   DONE
2.  In a year to a year and a half, (from the time of the prophesy) PQ will be forced to close permanently.
3.  (Only possibly)  Skeptiko would have a noticeable lull and then recover

I feel that soon I will be giving up the ghost but it won't be sad for me, it will be a relief.  My physical and psychological suffering throughout life was intolerable.  Regardless, here is something you should all take to heart.

I hope that doesn’t mean that you are thinking of taking your own life? If it does then I urge you not to, and to talk to someone. I am available to talk to if you want. 

I also hope Brian doesn't leave PsienceQuest (let alone anything more drastic).

Online forums can be incredibly annoying at times, and I think I've been as guilty as anyone else in letting myself be riled by them. When I calm down, I always conclude that (1) they're not worth getting annoyed about and (2) they do sometimes prove that two heads are better than one.

I also hope Brian doesn't leave PsienceQuest (let alone anything more drastic).

Online forums can be incredibly annoying at times, and I think I've been as guilty as anyone else in letting myself be riled by them. When I calm down, I always conclude that (1) they're not worth getting annoyed about and (2) they do sometimes prove that two heads are better than one.

Speaking as someone who occasionally loses patience with this forum (as I did previously with Skeptiko), I can only say that sometimes a break is helpful. Perspective gets squeezed into a narrow focus when disagreements are intense and that extra distance maybe all that is required. We all have different tolerance levels and mine is quite low so I'm prone to depression when it seems that even this relative haven harbours what I consider to be intolerant or extremist views. This is particularly true of the political and CT sub-forums which are a minefield for my temperament. 

So lately I've been lurking far more than contributing and, in standing back, I can watch with interest as others reach their emotional tipping point. Skeptiko went too far down the CT vortex so I left and didn't return. I hope that doesn't happen here.

I have come across as a drama queen at times and there is no need.  People here are friendlier than can sometimes seem from just reading text.  I have explained to Laird in an email that I hate feeling powerless and this can make me stubborn and resentful in certain situations.  Let's put that aside because the apparent connection to my mood from the heated debate earlier is not the issue here.  There is no connection.

Let's put it like this;  I feel that a flame burned brightly in me for some time and now it has burned out.  I don't, however feel burned out per se, in fact I feel more peaceful than I have ever done before, as if a long and difficult goal has finally been accomplished.  I don't know if this means anything at all but my fallible ability to interpret events has left me wondering about things.  It might prove to be just a kind of positive and restful "breakdown" if such exists - a way of letting go that causes no harm.  I don't know what to expect to be honest but one thing is certain;  I have no fear of this.

Um... what?

So... the Psience Quest forums will close because one individual was banned...?

No Valmar.  2. has nothing to do with 1.  I suppose all things are uncertain really but sometimes one feels an unusual certainty about something one doesn't have info about via the usual means.  I hope I am wrong.  Whatever I might feel at any given time, you guys need a good platform to discuss this stuff and this is really the best platform for it.

HERE'S TO THE UNKNOWN

I hope that doesn’t mean that you are thinking of taking your own life? If it does then I urge you not to, and to talk to someone. I am available to talk to if you want. 

You surprise me.  You're the last person I would have expected to say this.

No Valmar.  2. has nothing to do with 1.  I suppose all things are uncertain really but sometimes one feels an unusual certainty about something one doesn't have info about via the usual means.  I hope I am wrong.  Whatever I might feel at any given time, you guys need a good platform to discuss this stuff and this is really the best platform for it.

HERE'S TO THE UNKNOWN

I can foresee that when the most active threads are consistently on non-psi or consciousness issues, the forum would be reaching its end.

Perhaps there simply isn't enough interest. I know that the old sceptic versus proponent game can grow pointless very quickly. What I'd love to see is more activity in the 'personal experiences' section. That is something which always seems to bring some new insights. But taken from within a limited pool of members I guess that well soon runs dry?

You surprise me.  You're the last person I would have expected to say this.