My theory on why people keep threatening to leave WP

Post Reply New Topic

I speculated about this on another thread. I think its different reasons for everyone. In one thread, I started a discussion about whether I should leave, on another I just said why I was leaving without a commitment to actually leave. Obviously (I hope) on this one I was just kidding.

I think some people leave because they want to, make a hasty decision and then change their minds. Though I have to say that after some consideration I agree with hale_bopp that there is some form of quest for attention. Otherwise why start a whole thread to say one is leaving?

I think others threaten and don't leave because they are looking for people to ask them to say - another quest for attention.

There are others who have left and either not returned or not returned for a long time. Some unofficial research showed that most of the time these posters did not give notice, much less threaten to leave. They just let us know when they were back.

So for example I have been gone for a time but I didn't think it was long enough to warrant a notice, much less a thread. I was sick, and busy.

I usually am curious about why someone would leave, but only enough to read the initial post.

I've talked about leaving forums (temporarily) many times, the conscious reason being that I wanted to gain some semblance of control over my addiction. In general, talking about my self-improvement project ideas, including leaving forums, does nothing to reinforce them. If anything, it undermines them, because I'll just want to talk and think about my ideas forever and feed my ego with the compliments I get and my grandiose expectations, instead of putting in the effort to just use the dam* ideas.

*hands pbkolstimm some boiler plate*

It has been my experiance that those who are intent on leaving just do, without comment. There is not anything inherantly wrong with needing to know that your presence is wanted and a valuable contrubution. Especially on a very large forum, or one that has had some recent tourmoil as WP has.

It would be funny if the hole of WP forums just turned in to im leaving WP. Every single thread. And then no one ever left.

*stamps foot, crosses arms, pouts, and refuses to leave... EVER*

some people who say they are leaving are probly just bluffing and dont leave at all.

i threatened to leave ONCE after WP wanted donations, which i still wholeheartedly disagree with but have learned not to bother about it

so I'm not going to leave

Some people feel it is a bit deceptive for the people to do that, and resent it, but i think it is cruel that in light of knowing that someone is crying for attention to spurn them. Some people might think, "Well how else will they learn?" I dont know, but i'd rather avoid being cruel to people while they find their place to be happy. So you attention whores out there, i will gladly give you the attention you want. My AIM is Saberjinx, my security setting require me to put you on my buddy list, so tell me yours. I have all the time in the world.

I've left for short periods of time before, but I have always come back. This is what the away/back thread is for, right? I don't see there being any problem if people post a farewell message, as long as they are fully intending to leave and are serious about following through.

speaking of me, I sometimes leave for various reasons: busy with work/school, vacation, and that fiasco with Berta a while back. But you can be assured I will boomerang my way back here every time.