Forum Members Not Heard From in a Long While

[Sarushka]

In last letter Fr. Nikolai said that he wouldn't be able to access internet for a few weeks, but it's already three months...

No cause for worry -- in addition to being away from his email for the initial few weeks of the transfer, he also said that he would have infrequent internet access in general. I meant to email him at Christmas, but it slipped my mind. I'll do so now.

[Alice]

Does anyone remember Helen (not Rappaport - I believe this Helen's surname began with A?). She was very knowledgeable about all things DNA. Each time someone would appear in the Claimants forum disputing the DNA evidence, she would tirelessly (and successfully) refute their posts. It was great.

[Sarushka]

Does anyone remember Helen (not Rappaport - I believe this Helen's surname began with A?). She was very knowledgeable about all things DNA. Each time someone would appear in the Claimants forum disputing the DNA evidence, she would tirelessly (and successfully) refute their posts. It was great.

Helen Azar, maybe? I don't remember noticing her around the forum lately, either. I do see her on Facebook occasionally, though.

[blessOTMA]

I was wondering about Fr. Nikolai  the other day. Any news would be welcomed.

[TimM]

We can add Ellen AKA bestfriendsgirl to the list of those swallowed by the black hole lurking around here.  She hasn't been heard from since last September.

[Jen_94]

I remember her, Tim! I wonder what happened to her also.

[edubs31]

Did anyone reach out to Inok Nikolai recently? I believe we had talked about doing so a little while ago but wasn't sure if anyone had remembered to do it...if not, I'll shoot him a PM.

[TimM]

I remember her, Tim! I wonder what happened to her also.

I wish I knew.  As I said, she seems to have been sucked down the same black hole that got RHB and Talya.  Just POOF, gone with no warning or explanation why.

I believe we had talked about doing so a little while ago but wasn't sure if anyone had remembered to do it...if not, I'll shoot him a PM.

Let us know if you hear anything back from him. 

[Sarushka]

Did anyone reach out to Inok Nikolai recently? I believe we had talked about doing so a little while ago but wasn't sure if anyone had remembered to do it...if not, I'll shoot him a PM.

I sent an email but haven't received a reply yet.

[Jen_94]

I remember her, Tim! I wonder what happened to her also.

I wish I knew.  As I said, she seems to have been sucked down the same black hole that got RHB and Talya.  Just POOF, gone with no warning or explanation why.

I believe we had talked about doing so a little while ago but wasn't sure if anyone had remembered to do it...if not, I'll shoot him a PM.

Let us know if you hear anything back from him. 

Yes, I remember I used to email Tayla and POOF...disappeared! I'm hoping maybe they'll return someday.

[edubs31]

Did anyone reach out to Inok Nikolai recently? I believe we had talked about doing so a little while ago but wasn't sure if anyone had remembered to do it...if not, I'll shoot him a PM.

I sent an email but haven't received a reply yet.

OK I'll hold off then. I guess let us know if you hear something...thanks!

[TimM]

Yes, I remember I used to email Tayla and POOF...disappeared!

You mean she won't answer your e-mails?  So I guess that rules out the idea that she's mad at me about something (although for the life of me I can't figure out what it would be).  The same thing happened with RHB, she won't return my e-mails or PM's.  As I said, won't or can't is the question.

I'm hoping maybe they'll return someday.

I really don't think that's going to happen.  It seems when someone leaves this board, they leave, and that means severing all ties and friendships made here.  At least that seems to be the case with RHB and Talya.  The fact that Talya won't return Jen's e-mails rules out the idea that it's me alone.

I think that if someone leaves this board for good, they should do what Alixz did and delete their account.  That would definitely show that they are not coming back (unless death is the reason they're gone, such as in the case of Robert Hall, I miss that guy, he had some good insights).

[Jen_94]

No, she's not mad, we were on good terms, but for some reason, the emails stopped (I think this was a while back). Shame, because I liked her alot! Her http://naotmaa.tumblr.com/ hasn't been updated sicne Dec 4th last year. Unless she's buys with school/exams? That's my most likely thinking.  And she was last active here Nov 5th I think it was, last year.

And yep, I definitey agree. If they leave, delete the account. It shows they're not coming back, you know, as you said. I do think that

[edubs31]

I think that if someone leaves this board for good, they should do what Alixz did and delete their account.  That would definitely show that they are not coming back (unless death is the reason they're gone, such as in the case of Robert Hall, I miss that guy, he had some good insights).

Of course you are assuming that when someone leaves they are intending never to come back. I doubt that's the case in most instances. It's probably more along the lines of someone who got really busy in their lives, new interests and shifting responsibilities, and before they knew it several months had passed since they had been on the AP.

Maybe they realized one day six months later and figured it better to stop coming to the board altogether than to go through the whole "welcome back" process. Some people would rather just stay fairly anonymous.

[TimM]

Unless she's buys with school/exams?

Yes, but what about holidays and weekends?  I find it hard to believe she can't take five minutes to let you, or anyone else, know that she is okay.

Maybe they realized one day six months later and figured it better to stop coming to the board altogether than to go through the whole "welcome back" process. Some people would rather just stay fairly anonymous.

Perhaps, but I still have my doubts.  In the case of RHB, for example, we were working on an ongoing project, and she just left me high and dry with no warning, no announcement, nothing.  Is there some reason why she couldn't have posted, or sent a PM, saying that "Life is getting busy, blah, blah, blah...."  I would have been disappointed, but I would have understood.  In my mind, there was NO reason for her to just sneak off like a thief in the night.  I would never have done that to her, or anyone else, I was working on a story with.  I would have come out and explained that I was leaving, and then why.

I hate to sound angry with RHB, because, as I have said, I have no idea what happened.  I have several explanations why she vanished.  All of them bad.

1.  She died, or is serious ill or injured.

2.  Family issues arose (divorce, alcohol, drugs).

3  Personal issues (see examples in reason 2).

This is why I wish she would contact me, or log in to the board, at least  then I'd know she was still among the living.  The same applies for Talya, bestfriendgirl, and all the other friends I made here who have vanished.