Invisible Adjunct

No worries. Do what you need to do.

I'll miss you terribly, but understand completely. I can't remember when I last blogged -- I think it was at the beginning of Fall Quarter. I've always admired the level of thought and effort you put into this, and totally understand your needing to step back for a bit. Good luck and all the best -- ADM

What Dorothea and ADM said. I hope you decide to come back. I'll miss my daily IA.

(Are you over your flu?)

Why do people take blogging so seriously? Just keep it as an idea tank.

If you're worried about keeping the forum open, another possibility would be to turn this into a group blog. But if you're tired, you're itired -- and you should enjoy your "vacation."

I'll definitely miss you...hope to see you back in a couple of weeks with renewed energy.

Nooooo! Er, that is to say, by all means, take whatever time off you need. Missing you will just make us more grateful for the time and work you've put into this irreplaceable site. Enjoy real life (whatever that is... I think I used to know...) and come back refreshed.

You'll be missed! But you're under no obligation to those of us for whom you're providing a free forum. This should be a fun thing, not a responsibility that weighs on you.

Besides, we'll still be here to kvetch and gripe and anonymously slander our colleagues when you return...

You will be missed IA. But along with everyone else, I surely empathize with the need to step back, or away for a time. That said, I cannot help but say, selfishly no doubt, that I hope your hiatus is not permanent.

Out of curiosity I started reading through some of the archived posts and discussion threads, many from before I joined in this conversation last May. They make for a compelling and thought provoking read, and I urge any others who were not here for the beginning to do so. IA, your blog is by far the most informative, intelligent, considered, and literate that I have seen since entering into the "blogosphere" last May. Thank you.

Just to chime in - this is a great blog, a pleasant community. Thank you very much for all the thoughts, which took more time and effort for you to write than for me to read. No obligation to return, hope real life is even better than b-life and that you no longer be treated as invisible. Still, I will miss you.

Chris - great suggestion, I will try the archives.

Things won't be the same without you. But *good luck* with your projects. Hope to see you soon!

I've been on a three week hiatus from IRC, and haven't really felt like going back yet; it's done wonders for my ability to blog.

I'd like to strongly recommend my personal viewpoint on blogging, as a possible salve that could obliviate the need to "take a break" entirely: Just Do It. To elaborate:

1. Post when you have something to say; don't try to fill the void.
2. Post irregularly; don't feel obligated to be posting once a day, week, or month.
3. Post to improve your writing; don't get trapped into trying to write for an audience of thousands.

I've been posting irregularly for probably close to a year now, and it's never served me badly; there's been a couple 3- or 4-week gaps, and I'm okay with that. Each of those gaps can be associated with relevant life events.

I think something that makes this easier for me, as opposed to others, is that I've drawn an invisible boundary between my social relationships and my blog. I treat my blog as a 'zine, filled to the brim with crazy ideas and opinion columns -- but rarely if ever do I write there simply for the purpose of creating social connections. That's why I leave comments more often than I post, I suppose.

Good luck with your hiatus; I hope to see words from you in my RSS reader again.

Perhaps you should advertise for volunteers to be the new IA, and become a guest blogger or a commentator like the rest of us. I burned out on my own site completely after 18 months, and I dragged out the death throes for 6 months, but now I'm happily guest-blogging whenever I feel like it.

No, I'm not a volunteer.

When this sort of thing gets to be an obligation rather than an enjoyable extra, it's time to take a break. Hell, even when you're busy, it's time to take a break. Not that this blog is unappreciated: quite the contrary--I think it's been a major contributor to the steady rumblings of reform. Gonna be hard not to check in here and have something to pontificate about regularly...

I've been watching blogs for this sort of thing. In many ways, blogging is like a newsgroup or bbs presence, many of those have a definite lifecycle. A blog is the same sort of thing, except instead of posting on a group site, one posts center.

You've hit the natural resting point and I think the break is an extremely healthy sign.

I think you have a duty to continue this wholly insignificant and personal grouse against life (not an insult if you recognize the description...).

The guest blogger idea is great.

So IA has announced a pause -- and yet I find myself repeatedly clicking on this bookmark to see what is new here. Oh, the horror of addiction! (And I, too, better attend to urgent work.)

Alack! Just as I discover this wonder of a blog-and-forum, it retreats! At least I have some time to piece through the archives...

Rest well, IA.

Sometimes a break is needed. *sigh*

On the other hand, daily posting can become a little much -- intermittent posting gives more frequent breaks.

I'll look forward to your return and will keep trying to advance the flag a little while you're away. We're all in this together.

Go for it. Blogging has to be about 15th on your to do list. Thank you for all your time and effort. I have enjoyed reading your blog. But seriously, if you want to take a break, do so.

Based on the dates of the entries above, it appears that you have found stopping to be easier said than done. I had a similar experience. Eventually I found that I could step away from making regular entries. It was nice step away and lose the feeling of "having" to blog, but it did have a negative impact on my readership. Of course this did allow me to ultimately realize that what was really important to me about blogging was the writing, not the being read.