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February 28, 2005

Pulling the Plug?

So, I run this little online community and I think it's time to pull the plug.

pullingtheplug.jpg

Why?

Is it losing focus? Is it less popular than it once was? Does it no longer serve a purpose?

Quite the contrary.

Instead, it's more popular than ever, requiring more and more and more of my time in terms of moderating, hand-holding, hacker-proofing, and general upkeep. And I don't want to do it anymore. I want to be a visitor at someone else's site. I'm tired of being a list mommy.

Yet I'm struggling with pulling the plug. Somehow I worry about leaving people in the lurch, when they need someplace to call their online home. Why can't I just hand over the keys to this place to someone who cares more right now and stop by from time to time as whim allows?

Is this common moderator drama? Is there a list owner support group I need to check into before doing something so drastic as ending this version of the group and hoping its members are smart enough to pick up and reassemble somewhere else under someone else's watch? And why am I causing myself so much stress worrying about what everybody else wants on this site? Can't I pull a total brat move and say, "It's too much work. I'm done. Bye!" without then worrying about what everyone else is saying/thinking/feeling?

Sheesh!

What is WRONG with me?!?

Posted by bonnie at February 28, 2005 07:16 PM

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Comments

Yeah, but Bonnie. If it's not fun then why? If it's bringing you down, then why? Can't go wrong if you're honest with the group and then do what you need to do.

Posted by: rebecca mccullough at February 28, 2005 07:38 PM

Good call. It's done. Thank you, Becca. I'm amazed at how much more drama the "deciding what to do" issue was than the ACTUAL DOING of it. Funny like that, eh?

Thanks again.

Posted by: Bon [TypeKey Profile Page] at February 28, 2005 09:09 PM

Good for you, Bon! You did what you had to do. Thank you for all your caring and sharing and TIME!

Posted by: Denise Winsor at March 1, 2005 01:56 AM