Adieu, JoeUser

Thanks for the free ice cream

from JoeUser Forums
I appreciate it.  I really do.  Thanks to JoeUser, I understood blogging.  I realized that it can be an enjoyable, cathartic and at times intellectually stimulating exercise. 
 
Unfortunately, as of late, it has been none of those things.  I think about blogging and I feel weighed down.  I stop by JoeUser and am overwhelmed by the torrent of Stardock support type articles/Wincustomize cross-posts that I understand are just part and parcel of the new and improved JoeUser.  I swing by to read an interesting discussion and instead see the same old players spouting the same old, tired cliches.  I look for new blood, but instead find myself awash in nearly unreadable babble.
 
I just don't even remotely enjoy it anymore.  And, perhaps most importantly, I realize the issue really rests on my shoulders.
 
I can't stand the new JoeUser.  It is ugly.  It is not user friendly.  Everything looks the same.  "My" blog looks the same as "your" blog looks the same as "his" blog looks the same as "her" blog (I use quotation marks as I feel it is disingenuous to really consider these exercises in sameness to be personal blogs).  The truth is, I no longer feel that I actually have a blog here.  Rather, I write on one of JoeUser's generic, cookie cutter pages.  I can't customize my blog, I can't add what I want to, and I can't even write articles here and save them to publish later.
 
And the ads, the ads, the ads, ads, ads and ads!  I raise a mighty single finger salute the intrusive, offensive, garish ads. 
 
I'm tired of the community.  Most of the voices who yell the loudest continue to be the most hollow.  Again, I can blame no one but myself, as I haven't contributed any decent articles for months now.  I'm part of the problem.
 
So, I shall remove myself from the situation.  There will be no flurry of deleting old articles.  They shall remain here.  I'm not swearing the site off, as I will still use Google Reader to keep up on some of the folks here.  I just won't blog here anymore.  For a time now I have been blogging at my blog, and then cross-posting them to this site.  But it just isn't worth it anymore.
 
The fam (SanChonino and Cedarbird), Dynamaso, MasonM, Little Whip, Tova, ForeverSerenity, Texas Wahine, Parated2K, Jill and Brad, and Roy, I will still be reading.  If I see some of you around my blog, I would be honored.  If I don't, I understand.
 
Thanks for the free ice cream, I just can't stomach the flavor anymore. 
http://daddymd.blogspot.com  for the personal blog
http://progged.blogspot.com  for the colab music blog
joeuser blogging farewell
17,125 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks for the free ice cream, I just can't stomach the flavor anymore.
End of quote


If you're lactose intolerant, free ice cream is just going to make you dead.

Good luck at your other blog.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
As you well know, I feel the same way. it's been a month and a half since I've posted anything.

Oh well.

How are things, anyway? I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I certainly miss a lot of the good old days too, but hopefully there will be new good old days.

Now, I am going to try really hard at writing better blogs so I can make your list. By the way, thanks for always answering my medical letters. I am sure they are silly but you taking the time to answer is awesome.

I will pop in and check your new blog from time to time.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree, but I continue to post when bored. I'll go read your other blogs, though. Later, biggest brother.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am sad to know you won't be blogging here. I have especially missed reading your thoughts and comments on others' blogs as well because I feel like you are unique and interesting among us. A Mormon urologist and father of three who is into metal and fitness. Hehe.

I will bookmark your regular blog and start catching up! :)
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Now, I am going to try really hard at writing better blogs so I can make your list.
End of quote

You're added Kelly.  I just haven't been around for long enough, I forget who I enjoy reading.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

I will bookmark your regular blog and start catching up!
End of quote

Just be warned, it hasn't been updated for a long time as well, It was just when I started thinking of blogging again, I have the energy to blog there, but just don't want to continue to cross-post here.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

How are things, anyway? I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever.
End of quote

Good.  One of these days I will catch you online again and we will chat.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

I was thinking about you the other day, wondering what you were up to.  I understand what you mean about the "new and improved" JU.  It's not only vanilla, it doesn't allow us to add our favorite syrups and toppings.  It has become the "any color as long as it's black" blogsite.

I'll be checking out your blog at times.  I don't spend as much time online as I used to, so it will only be once in a while, but I will put it on my "things to check out" list.

We'll always have Rush! :~D

 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm tired of the community.
End of quote

I take many of your points, particularly this one. There used to be a plethora of contributors with something significant to say. Latterly, some appear to have lost their bite, others bite less often, and yet more have disappeared altogether. No doubt the vanilla-isation of the site has had something to do with this phenomenon. The result is that JU's resident non-trivial backbone has diminished noticeably, and is perhaps now below the critical mass required for the site to retain its identity.

As for those newer contributors who have seeped in to fill the gaps left by the dearture of the old guard ... well, no offence, people, but by and large we've heard it all before, and generally with rather more substance, wit and eloquence.

All the best, BlueDev.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Good luck with your practive Blue Dev...I am adding you to my sidebar so I can just pop over and read you anytime.

I'll miss you.

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I came to JU from another site where I saw people abusing their admin powers to delete or block people from speaking their minds. I found great articles, wonderful peoples and excellent arguments on JU and I was quickly hooked. But like you and so many others, I too feel the site has gone downhill since, slightly before the upgrade but mostly because of the update as well. I have yet to find a new place to check out since I just haven't been looking around. I liked it here a lot and stuck around hoping to see life come back to it but it has been slow to do so.

Hope all goes well in your new adventure. Will check out your other blog tonight.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Sorry to see you go.  At least you didn't burn any bridges and proclaim that you'll never be back.  You can always give it time and stop back by.  Just as things have changed in an unfavorable way for you, maybe they will change in the future and attract you back.

I haven't blogged much in a long time due to lack of time and too many distractions.  Perhaps when school starts and I get back into a routine, I'll have more time to write.  I'll be sure to check your blog out too.

Best wishes.

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

Ah DrDev, yer one the good ones around here and I am gonna miss yer musings, Twas a pleasure the "see" you struggle through med school and beyond.

be at peace, always.

 

Elie

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

I hate to see a good contributor leaving, as it doesn't help Joeuser moving forward.  However, I hope you decide to come back and share your thoughts again.

 

And the ads, the ads, the ads, ads, ads and ads!  I raise a mighty single finger salute the intrusive, offensive, garish ads.
End of quote

I do want to address this real quick.  JoeUser is a free site, and as with any site it costs money to develop, maintain, etc.  Ads are necessity due to this.

 

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Hey Peter, good luck and thanks for being a great addition to us here at JU!  I definitely will miss you being on here, and I do understand. Like Jill said, I'm glad you haven't sworn off us!

I'll be sure to bookmark you! I used to pop in now and again since I have you on my IM but I've not even been on MSN in a while!  Take care of you and that lovely family!;)

Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top

Peace out, and good luck

Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

I don't spend as much time online as I used to, so it will only be once in a while, but I will put it on my "things to check out" list.
End of quote

Thanks Ted.  I appreciate it.

On the rare occasions I do post a new thread these days, it's quickly buried under the skinning/impulse/latest stardock offering avalanche.
End of quote

Yeah, I know.  That is a huge part of what makes it too tiresome to come here to read.  I have to sift through 3 pages of chaff to find the wheat.  Let me know if you get something set up at Voodoo Chat for us JU refuges.

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

All the best, BlueDev.
End of quote

Thanks FC.  I appreciate it.

I'll miss you.
End of quote

I will still check your blog out Tova, so I won't be completely absent.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

I do want to address this real quick. JoeUser is a free site, and as with any site it costs money to develop, maintain, etc. Ads are necessity due to this.
End of quote

I know IslandDog.  I really do.  But how can that be considered an acceptable response when there are plenty of other free options that are more feature rich and don't accost the user with a minimum of 3 obnoxious image ads and a handful of text ads?  I support Stardock's decision to subsidize the cost of running the site with ads.  That is fine.  I just hate it, and so felt the better solution, rather than incessantly whine about them, was to use one of those other free sites.  No loss to Stardock, no loss to me.

But I will say, the previous version of JoeUser was not even remotely as heinous in its ad presentation as this current version.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

be at peace, always.
End of quote

Many thanks Elie.  Peace to you through your life as well.

Like Jill said, I'm glad you haven't sworn off us!
End of quote

Naw, I don't want to do that.  Too much drama.  ;)  I just wanted to let those who might care know I intend to continue blogging, just elsewhere.  Thanks for your support FS.

Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

I don't blame you one bit. I hate the "new and improved" JU intensely and for the same reasons you cited. But I, for some weird reason, just keep hangin' on.

Anyway I for one will miss you here. I wish you Good luck and good fortune in all you do.

Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree on the "sameness" of the blogs. I keep on wishing and hoping some sort of customization options will become available.

Best wishes to you. Honestly, I hope this isn't the last time we see ya around. It's always kind of sad to see a well liked regular leave.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top

Echoing Jill's "sorry to see you go," in a way, I'd just add that JU is like a fast food restaurant.  You come by, order a burger, and drive off.  Eventually, you don't want burgers everyday, so you go somewhere else.  It's cool.  Who wants the same meal every day?  (Unless it's pizza hut and waffle house, but I digress...)

 

JU has its own menu, and I hope you drive through once in a while.  Perhaps after you've eaten at the other place for a while, you might just get a hankering for JU home cookin' :).  When you do, we'll be here.

 

Until then, best wishes, and be very well.

Ock