Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.
Ralph Blum

First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus

Any of you who know me will realize that it’s almost impossible for me to keep my neatly forked tongue inside my mouth when confronted by some menial person who is invariably half my age and expects respect from me while simultaneously being incredibly rude and condescending.

Well, I’ve had as much rudeness as I can take from the kiddies who like to call themselves “Admin” or “DA Staff” (with only one exception to this, who can not be named due to the fact that he’s already in enough “trouble” with the other staff members ….makes you wonder, that the only Staff member I have any respect for is a “bad egg” as far as the rest of that lot are concerned, doesn’t it …).

Anyway, as I was saying: I find myself spending far too much time on DA and not getting nearly enough back out of it. To top that off, I’m confronted with continuous problems with regards to submitting work on DA, commenting, etc. A few days ago my entire gallery vanished … and then reappeared a few hours later. I often can’t comment because the comment boxes have vanished. My previews disappear then reappear. I don’t receive all my friends’ new work in my message centre half the time. The list goes on. Each time I send the “bug report” to Helpesk I’m given the exact same answer (templates and “copy paste” are great, aren’t they???) – “We are aware of this problem” and then no follow-up whatsoever.

At any rate, the attitude and competence of the kiddie who replied to my Helpdesk query yesterday was the last straw. If this person had bothered to actually read my question instead of simply spotting one word and going off on her own tangent, then I’d not have had to bother her. In the end she still has not answered my question, but passed the query on to another staff member, who in turn passed it on to yet another staff member …. Bah! I don’t feel the need to be subjected to having immature individuals lording it over me and thinking that they may be rude and obnoxious (this little cow actually told me not to bother her when I noted her!!!) and get away with it because of their position here on DA. I was in no way rude to her, and I EXPECT respect until such time as I no longer deserve it. As a member of DA who is asking a simple question, there is no need to be obnoxious when replying. If she’s busy or has personal problems, then tough luck; she should take a break from DA in that case and let someone who can find their manners take care of matters. Simple solution: I leave DA (after allowing my wickedly forked tongue out from between my lips, of course). No slinking away with tail between legs for me … hell no. I’m having my say and that’s that.

I’ve been rereading my past few journals and it seems that each one of them has some gripe or another regarding DA … and quite frankly I’m sick of bitching about the same old thing all the time and having nothing come of it. Half of you most likely think that I’m just looking for attention … Well, I’m the type of person who rants when I’m upset. It’s far better than ripping some deserving sod’s head off their shoulders. There’s less jail time involved, too.

I’m not about to go into graphic detail on my personal life right now, but will add that I’ve been suffering through many a situation in the last few weeks (nothing unique to me personally; at some point we all deal with these things) and the emotional stress has taken it’s toll.

I’ll be spending more time on Something Wicked and Critters, have more time to myself for doing things other than writing. My writing is important to me, but it’s equally important to spend time doing other enjoyable things, which I’ve not had chance to do lately. So I’ll take this opportunity to bid you all adios with no regrets from my side … The Deviant Art website has become little more than a thorn in my side of late and from past experience I realize that it’s time to move on …

Anyone who I am already in contact with is most welcome to continue to e-mail me, call me and sms me, as per usual. It’s not you guys who are working on my nerves … it’s … well, I’ve already said it.

I’ve made some dear friends on DA who I hope to keep in touch with … Many thanks to all you guys (who know who you are) and especially to =mdog02 for being an absolute dear and who has not tried to make me feel the least bit guilty about leaving DA and wasting his money (for the record, when Admin decide to get to it, then that refund is still under query).

This is by no means a “rash decision” and is in fact a move that I’ve been contemplating for some time now. Frustration after frustration has led me to where I am now, and that’s unfortunately … that.

PS:
With regards to the chain story, I’m terribly sorry but this will come to a halt. If anyone is still interested in seeing this to completion, then please contact *yzaz and confer with him on this.