GODOT'S LAST POST   When Dorothy Parker was told of the death of the famously taciturn US President Calvin Coolidge, she replied: "How can they tell?" That's what worries me about the DL. If the success of a newspaper is measured in circulation, the success of a forum has to be measured in the number of posts. Yes it needs good posts, but it also needs healthy debate and banter and there is precious little of that here anymore.   Very few members announce they are going to stop posting. It's a silly thing to do anyway because you never know when you are going to get the urge. Instead they simply give up looking in or are distracted by other things (like work as HCW suggested?). A debate such as this is always sensitive because if you suggest the best days are gone, relatively new members are pissed off because they do not have a point of comparison and it suggests that their own posts are not up to snuff. It also pisses off those who do keep on posting, carrying the torch so to speak.   I know we have had this debate before and if any mod can find it please merge the topics. I had a cursory search before apathy kicked in and that's the problem, I suspect. People are not posting because they have grown apathetic. That's my theory. The debate was also held some time ago in the Hartlepool Deadlypool and when did anyone last post there? What's happened to HPDP is happening here.   Perhaps it is time there was a bit of reform and I have some suggestions:   Moderators - yes we all know it involves some work but it should also involve a bit of leadership. If moderators can no longer be bothered to post regularly (or who have decided to get a life, I don't blame them) they should have that responsibility removed and it should be given to some who do. Honez is a good example of a mod who leads by example, with witty posts almost every day - not tons of them - but interesting posts.   MPFC posts more than anyone but someone has to and most of his posts are a good standard. Why isn't he a mod? He's a good bloke who cares about the place. It's time there was a shake up among the mods, admins please take note (if you can be bothered).   A bit of sh*t should be celebrated. When Star Crossed posted an outrageous personal attack on Lardy he was roundly condemned but Lardy of all people needs no one to defend her. At least he livened things up a bit. He'd obviously had a bad day at work. Some posters get a hard time on this site. Banshees was finally driven off when everyone thought he had a hide as tough as a rhino. Not so, it seems. Apart from Canadian Paul whose posts achieve a consistent level of dullness, most people, even Banshees have their good days.   I don't see eye to eye with everything SC writes (apart from any comment on the Big Lebowsky) and I'm sure the feeling is mutual but at least, in his own peculiar way, he cares about this place and about quality posting.   I wish everyone here who has a birthday a happy birthday, naturally, but long lines of dull happy birthday posts? Nothing wrong with it except it's the only thing that attracts posts now, that and obscure deaths of friend's ancient uncles. What's that all about? Also these dull "who's gonna die next votes" where people post their choice - boring, boring, boring. I know I'm risking the wrath of fellow posters (some of whom I count as friends, although not Windsor who is entertaining as a poster, mostly, but is a bit too odd and generationally adrift from me, comes from Fraserburgh, spends too much time on buses and allows himself to be kicked around by his employers). But, in the immortal words of Clark Gable, frankly my dears, I don't give a f'uck (and the swearfilter - an area of mod abuse that pisses off most posters should be amended for a start. If I want to say f'uck I should be able to say so like any grown up without a f'ucking apostrophe. A bit of a shitstorm directed my way is better than nothing at all, not that I will be defending any "kick Godot" posts (even if this becomes a sport to provoke a response). I'm off. I never intended to stay more than 3,000 posts. So this is my valedictory post.   Please don't read any of this as fair comment. I don't do fair comment, and I know some, as before, will detect a whiff of hypocrisy that is characteristic of my posting.   Since I am off (I really, really am) and don't intend to contribute to this thread I suppose it will drown in apathy with the rest of the site but I hope it at least shows that I care about the DL and hope those who attend the Deathcon III (that I am unable to attend) will give it some debate. Best wishes to those who will try harder than I am prepared to do to sustain the site as a fun place to visit.   I'm going to miss this place and expect I will be lurking and will be mightily tempted to contribute but I'm going to try not to lurk and to kick the habit completely. I've really enjoyed the past 5 years (nearly) of posting, or four of them at least. Death by atrophy is the worst death of all. The DL doesn't deserve that.   So long and thanks for all the squid.   Godot     Er....that's it, finito, done, ended, no more, definitely the last word from me, signed off, departed, quit, wrapped up, zipped, schtum from now on, gone for good and that's a promise, no honestly.....