Just so you can hear it from me

Seeing as the cat is out of the bag (thanks Sean ) I just wanted to make it official that I am indeed returning to my roots as a contributor at the end of this month. I can appreciate that you might be wondering why, but I hope you can also appreciate that my reasons are my own and I'd rather not hash it all out it in such a public venue. I do want to say that my decision was met with by kindness, understanding, and respect from everyone at iStock HQ. There are a lot of really great people there (and abroad) that I care about deeply.

I have always tried (though not always with success) to see the person behind every forum post, and respond as if we were standing in the same room. I know too well how easy it is to lose sight of that in the context of an Internet forum. I have been privileged to actually get to meet hundreds of you people--contributors, customers, and staff--in person over these 8 years, which has always made it much easier to keep that thought in mind. As real people, we all try to make the best decisions we can from our own unique perspectives, and it is no surprise that there will always be people who see things 180 degrees from our own point of view. So it goes, and all we can do is respect that, and carry on being true to ourselves. All I ask is that even if you don't understand why I am doing what I am doing that you will respect that it is what I feel is best.

This is not a good-bye, but it does mark a transition from a very visible position here, and as such is worthy of mention. I am not dropping off the planet, and I have so many connections with so many of you here and beyond that I don't think that would be possible anyway. I'm easy to find, and I'll even buy you lunch if you are ever up my way (just ask jtyler who I met for the first time in person just yesterday).

So, since you've read this far, and before they turn off my microphone, I do want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you people (regardless of what shiny bling is next to your name), for all that I have learned from you, and for all that I have received. I hope to be able to continue to give some of it back.

My thanks to you, Rob, for the little things you've done for me, unprompted. Looking forward to hearing from you in the forums, and good luck with your new ventures.

You have always been the most incredibly reasonable, rational and compassionate of people in the face of frequent upsets here. I'd just like to say a public thank you to you for all you have done for me and for this community also. Best of luck with what you  spend your extra time on, now you're not gonna have to spend it policing this particularly unruly playground.


 

That's the Uncle Rob we all know and love, and who will be missed.


Slainte mhath, and best wishes for your future ventures.

We will miss u Rob, i hope u really wont disappear!!!

+!


And a personal Thank You and good luck with your new ventures.

Thanks for all you have done for Istock and the forums.  You've always show great class and even-handedness with all who post here.  You will be missed


I wish you the best in what comes next.

Best wishes from one contributor to another.

Wishing you the best in your new venture !

You had better not try and disappear, because we will track you down.

May I join in the choir of thank you and good luck for the future.

Thank you Rob for all you've done, and best wishes to you!

Oooh...more time to write books.   If everyone you helped over the years posted here it would easily eclipse those other threads.


Thank you for all your support and all the best to you for the future.

Dude, I'm glad! Otherwise I'd be worried about gravity around Calgary


I wish I had had a chance to talk to you at the iStockalypse HQ but maybe I get to be lucky to meet you sometimes in the future. Good luck with your future endeavours!

Best, best wishes to you, Rob.

It was so great to meet you, and I will take you up on lunch the next time I am in your area! It will be hard to fill your shoes, literally!

Thanks everyone. Just so you know Stephan, I'm in New Hampshire if you are ever on the East Coast. Though gravity here is probably the same as in Calgary.

So if we buy you lunch...will you sign your book?

Alright!

Hmmm ... I blew it with jtyler. I signed her book and bought her lunch.

I now know what I will write on my cardboard sign when I hit the streets, "Will sign for lunch."

Cool! I didn't know you were in New Hampshire. If I ever manage to get up there to photograph the fall foliage I will take you up on that lunch (or buy you one)!

BTW, if you get to Florida, sitemail me.  I would love to meet up with you.  You will recognize me because I will be the one standing beside my top model

I have already expressed my sadness at your going privately and publicly, but at the risk of repeating myself, you are a great guy. You have always gone out of your way to be helpful and positive. Your reassuring presence in the forums will be missed. Hope you will pop in from time-to-time in your capacity as a contributor.


Best of luck in whatever bright future you are heading toward!

(Edited on 2010-09-25 10:29:54 by lisafx)