I believe the best appreciation is by asking and answering questions. Nothing else is needed.

If individual jellies want to make deeper relationships, they will. I know I have traded private email information with a few. It’s rare though.

I appreciate the people who left, who I like and admire. Not sure what can publicly be done on the site to commemorate them officially, and I don’t think there’s a need to do so, anyways. A lot of the former members are still talked about, and given the nature of a Q&A site, besides this, I don’t think it’s necessary to do much more than that.
It’s a site, but a social site can’t be what it is without humans in it, and as such, remembering the people and bringing them up every now and then is good enough. Most are going on with their lives, getting shit done, so let’s be happy for them. Some aren’t so lucky of course, maybe some got banned, got sick, or, unfortunately, passed away. But we can celebrate their persons by sharing our experiences with them when they were here. No need to make a monument or anything.

except for me, cuz of course, I deserve a battalion of monuments.

I think it’s a lovely idea @rosehips. There seem to have always been questions that have generated trips down memory lane with regards to people who have left the site. There are many people we have enjoyed sharing fluther moments with who have now, for whatever reason, moved on. You’re right that we shouldn’t forget how many fabulous people who contribute greatly and make us laugh or touch our emotions remain. I’m not going to name names but I would not be here if it were not for the lovely and diverse group of people who contribute here. It’s always a joy when an absent jelly pops up again, but there are people who are here every day that I value greatly.

I think all we can do to ensure we show how much we value those who contribute is to answer their questions and to post our own questions to keep the site interesting. The parties are always fun too. I know some people object to them because of the lurve system but I think they are a nice way to say ‘thank you’ for being here.

I lurve you, jellies. Past, present and future, you all have my appreciation!

I agree that would be nice.

Some people left and made me wonder why and how they’re doing. Some people left while terminally ill and just faded.

I wish there was a bit a more on some of those that left.

Maybe not for the world, but at least for us, members, who are interested.

Could we not just keep their pages open when they leave for public messages to be placed? That way we can reach out, while they don’t need to bother with looking at them.

@whitenoise, unless people are banned for some serious breach of the rules if their page shows Neptune then they have chosen to close their accounts. That’s their right. Some people also choose to come back with another name and not to let people know their previous ID. Again, that’s their right. It would be nice if people did at least leave a message to say ‘taking a break’ or ‘over and out’ or something but if they don’t I guess we (the people left behind) just have to accept their decision. Keep in mind too that some people who appear to have left have actually been banned. The page doesn’t show a distinction between whether it’s a voluntary exit or a forced exit.

@Bellatrix all you say is true and yet an open door as well. We all know what you write.

It would be nice to have an option for people to close their account in a way that they just don’t get any updates anymore. For all intents and purposes they have then left, yet… their personal page still allows messages to placed “on the wall”, so to say.

Sadly, and as I am sure you know, no updates will be made to the site so while I see your point, that isn’t going to happen. I can see it might be cathartic for those who are really missing an old Fluther mate.

One can dream…

They know. They leave for their own reasons or they are banned for their actions. I recently mentioned to one former member that people said they missed her and that her name came up, She reiterated her reason for leaving to me and wished the site well, but had no intention of coming back.

Great point, @rosehips Jellies do leave from time to time, and some I truly miss. But there are so many fine people still here, and more joining all the time. People come and people go in real life as well, but life goes on.

I enjoyed the thoughts and contributions. I suppose I have been overly and unusually sentimental as of late. The consensus seems to be right on the money.

Enjoy and appreciate the good times and move on. It is not the nature of this site to have more. Though @whitenoise is right we can dream!

Yes, i’m fantastic! ;-}

I’m Boombastic call me fanstatic she touch me on my back and says I’m RRRoo mantic.

Sorry a crossed wire from the song thread. What were you saying?