My final post - I retire
I retire.
Following the events that occurred in the recently closed thread, I have had time to reflect on the part that I played in these events, especially in relationship to the stated rules of the forum:
2). Make friends, not enemies
"Please" "Thank you" "Hello" and "You are awesome" are great additions to any Question or Answer. Remember, we are a community learning together. Treat everyone as a friend and as you wish to be treated. Mean, offensive, obscene, abusive, insulting, threatening, and harassing comments are no allowed. Use of such language will result in banishment from SpanishDict.
My comments were apparently offensive enough to warrant the closing of an entire thread, and I would be hard-pressed to disagree. I can do little more than offer my apologies to any who my comments may have offended. However, in my opinion this is not sufficient. Considering the theme of the closed post (obeying the rules), I feel that the most appropriate course of action for me to take would be to follow the letter of the law as mandated by the forum’s posting guidelines and “banish” myself from SpanishDict.
This will be my last post – the final act for the banjo playing cat. I relinquish my membership.
As a die-hard SpanishAddict please believe me when I say that this is a very difficult thing for me to do (in fact, in writing this, I already feel the symptoms of withdrawal which I am sure will only worsen). But I feel that it is the right thing to do.
I am truly sorry to all the people who I may have let down, and especially to all those who I have offended with my rash words. I will miss you all tremendously. However, I do not want to leave without first saying good-bye to some of the special people who have helped to make my time here so wonderful:
Marianne – What can I say – You are an inspiration. You truly are a wonderful human being and I will miss tremendously you and all your kind words of encouragement. You will always remain one of my “very special SpanishDict friends.”
Carlos – Como siempre queda el maestro. Gracias por todo lo que has hecho para ayudarme.
Goyo – Everybody knows it, Greg….You’re the Man!
Nicole-Baily – Your cheerful enthusiasm has been infectious, and I am glad to have known you.
Nila – It has been a wonderful experience working out the various nuances of the English language with you. I will dearly miss your inquisitiveness.
Qfreed and Samdie – The two of you are like the Godfathers of Spanishdict. I have always been impressed by consistency and quality of your answers.
Issabela – I don’t even know what to say other than that you are like a legacy around here. It was always a wonderful thing to be able to log on and see your word of the day and picture of the day posts.
Ian - I can’t say that I am sorry enough….I guess I should have paid more attention to the old saying - En boca cerrada, no entran moscas. I am truly Sorry, amigo.
Heidita - Maestra…amiga. Sobre todo, te voy a echar de menos más que a nadie. Lo siento mucho por haber portádome tan fatal. Me arrepiento de haber estado tan grosero. Estoy seguro de que mis acciones han bajado tu opinión de mí y eso me lastima mucho. Lo siento por haber decepcionado a una buena amiga. Gracias por todo. Además de ser mi maestra, me has sido una verdadera amiga. Extrañaré mucho nuestras conversaciones. Por la última vez…Besos desde Texas amiga.
To everybody else: Nick-Cortina, Chaparrito, Alba, Eddy, Mark-Baker, Benz, RicardoP, Sheila-Foster, Fidalgo, Janice, Webdunce, Nizhoni1, Yesero, Paralee, Mountaingirl, 4Annie, Lisbeth60, TheSilentHero, Ken Williams, Cheeseisyummy, la poetisa, Margaret-Nahmi, Moe, Jeezle, JulianChivis, LeslieW, Dandi, Galsally, Phil Mikki aka Seitheach, Ocbizlaw, Guillermo, Daniel, Sunshinzmommie, Kattya, Fredbong, Valerie, Billy-jones, Rolest, Margaretbl LatinaPunkRock , and everybody else whose names may have escaped me. It is you the people of Spanishdict who have made my time here so wonderful. I will truly miss you all.
On second thought, it appears I will partake of the hemlock afterall…
Please click on newest to see the last post, thanks.
43 Answers
This is crazy. This is unnecessary. Please don't do this.
I am in awe Izan. Please reconsider, I don't know anybody more appreciated and loved here, well, everybody is, but you are one of the best. I only said the other day that you were one of my all time favourites. I should maybe not say this in the open, but it is true.
I don't understand your decision which hopefully will change. We all make mistakes, I am the first. So if I had to leave the forum for all the mistakes I have made...I would have had to leave several times. Think, Izan, this is not a good decision, you will infringe pain on many people, and especially on the person who you think you have wronged. Maybe he will think, ok, now this has been my fault, so I am leaving too. 
I don't even know what to say....you are really hurting me and all of us with this. And I really and truly don't understand. 
Ok, what's more, as this all happened on my thread, where more than one maybe did not keep calm, I am the one to blame. So, if you are leaving, Ian will leave, if Ian and you are leaving, I have to take the blame and leave too.
Which is of course not going to happen, neither Ian nor I nor you are leaving this lovely and friendly site, so ...no way at all I am ever going to forgive you if you do.
Let The Punishment Fit The Crime
As I write this comment, 12 others have given their own opinions. In a way, the jury of 12 of your peers has spoken.
Your suggested punishment for the crime of speaking out when asked to do it does not fit the crime, if there was one. It would be better if you were to accept the judgement of your peers.
We have many times expressed the view that we are a community of multinationational, multi-racial, multi-religious indivduals intent on learnig one of two languages, Spanish or English. You have been a major contributor to the goal, purpose and mission of this nearly family of people. Your loss would be unrecoverable. In my view, the loss of members like Lazarus, James Santiago, and Robertico to name a few, is unrecovereable. More recently I believe I observed that Gus has left the house. Those of us who are left, are truly left to mourn their leaving. You must not expose us once again to this series of losses.
You have judged yourself. Twelve of your peers and now me believe that your judgement is excessively harsh.
Let the punishment fit the crime. Tell us that for a period of, say, six months you will not participate in those threads or posts that ask for opinions on delicate issues that require the application of the utmost in judgement and discretion as between individuals, races, cultures, religions or world politics. Just be silent when you feel compelled to practice influencing public opinion in a particular way.
There is an expression about not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Here, we see you wanting to flush yourself down the sewer with what you have harshly judged to be your own crap. You must not do this.
Give yourself a weeks time away. Meditate on what you have really done, why you did it and whether or not you have alienated others to the point where you must voluntarily leave our company. Twelve others, and now me, have spoken out against your heartfelt self flaggelation.
You have proven your worth. We have recieved and enjoyed your contributions. You have proven that as regards the goal and mission of this community, you are there both for us and with us. You must not leave us. Our loss would be too great for the mischeif, if any, that was done.
Let the punishment fit the crime. Banish yourself from any similar topics that may come up. I have already done this. But do not withdraw from us.
I hope my judgement is not too late and that you are still observing these replies.
The punishment you would bring on yoursel does not fit your crime, if there was one.
Ira,
No puedo creerlo. Amigo, que puede haber ocurrido que sea tan grave cómo para retirarse. Eres un caballero, todos lo sabemos y todos podemos cometer faltas alguna vez. ¿Que mejor hidalguía que reconocerlas?
Por favor, reconsidéralo. En cualquier caso, tienes mi respeto permanente, cualquiera sea tu decisión.
Un gran abrazo
Carlos F.
Iza - you really should not do this. The rules are made for someone else to ban you - not for you to do it to yourself.
WE don't want want you to leave - mate - buddy - friend - amigo
Ira,
I am almost in tears reading your message.
This is crazy. This is unnecessary. Please don't do this.
We all exchanged words on the thread that you mention and we all had strong opinions about the subject. Yes, I understand that you thought that you spoke some inappropriate words; however, you apologized for those words! That is the absolute best a man can do when he feels he has erred.
Please, please, please tell us that you'll reconsider your decision to leave.
We need you too much on this forum to lose you. Please stay for our sakes if not your own.
HI Izanoni1 although You don't know me and I don't yet know you I sense in my heart a sadness that you are leaving. I share in the views of those who have expressed a regret that you are leaving Do you really have to go?
We all do things in life that we later regret when we have had more time to reflect on our actions and none of us are perfect.We cannot change the past we can only learn from it and move on/forward. 
There is no point in punishing yourself and others too who would lose out from not enjoying your company here.
Please reconsider your intentions to leave and change your mind and return and more people will be able to benefit from your experience. I would dare to hazard a guess that no one will benefit from your decison to leave and many will lose out.
Best regards
Feliz77
Oh, dear. Please, Izan, don't go (a gentleman does not refuse so many women, does he...). I know people come and go, but I still miss those who have left... and don't join the "I-still-miss-them" club. Pretty, pretty, pretty please!
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I do not know you, but after seeing this post, I read the thread which I believe you are reacting to (the one about Muslim headscarves). You said something that really needed to be said in that thread, and for that you should feel proud, regardless of whether or not your view is that of the mainstream. If that statement made you enemies, that reflects more upon your enemies than you. You should not have to retire for simply having expressed a view that is at odds with many others.
The punishment you would bring on yourself does not fit your crime, if there was one.
Thank you Moe, so wise as usual.
There was no "crime" in the first place, if there was one, it was my opening the thread in question.
There was a "problem", the apology was accepted.
And the punishment you would bring on us as a forum and as people who love you...that is really undeserved.
Wow Iz, I bet I know which post that was. One I stayed away from intentionaly and I have to give you credit for having the &@!!$ to argue your points. All I can say is please reconsider. I've read all of the answers and comments and see you to be an even more important forer than I previously thought.
Gary
Hi Iza - here is my 2 cents. First of all remember that there is an actual very good reason that some clubs and organizations have a ground rule that one must not talk about religion or politics. Just that fact alone tells us that an awful lot of people have had problems keeping cool when addressing those topics. I personally live in a so called multi-cultural society but almost daily I hear someone (often someone who I am friends with and actually care for) make a statement that makes me shake my head mentally. I have been asked why I personally am very open and non-judgemental about pretty well everyone and everything. I truly believe that it is because I went to school in rural Saskatchewan (long ago) and was lucky enough to not be 'taught' racism - since there was absolutely no one in our community to be racist against. Everyone was whitebread. Now - we are all kind of 'thrown' into a melting pot and we must try our best to understand and even tolerate ideas/cultures which are perhaps strange to us. My idea is that it's all good, and I mean all of it. Disenting ideas are good too - sometimes the best perhaps because they are what teach us the most. Guess what Iza, your ideas are welcome here, if the post had to be closed it was probably getting a bit heated and, so fine, if you feel you let yourself down somehow I don't see others complaining. But they ARE saying that you should stay. Why not take a week and then forget about it? (forgedddddabouddd it?) Ok? Life's too short. We need you. mbl
Hi Izanoni1, even though I do not know you personally, I believe you should stay. Sharing ones thoughts and opinions is what makes us different and unique. Not to mention, it gives us a chance to understand the diversity of humans. If you truly regret some of the things you might have said, that is good since not many are able to accept their mistakes. I am pretty sure that no one here blames you and if they do they have probably forgiven you (your apology is more than enough). I have recently joined SpanishDict. and therefore hope to have the guidance of everyone here. I strongly believe that you should rethink your decision. Because of some of f of your opinions I have read, I have come to respect you. It would be great to have someone like you guide and help us youngsters.
Best wishes,
Sunrise
No puedo ser. Por favor dices no es verdad.
I generally avoided that thread but scanned it once or twice, maybe like someone watching NASCAR waiting for the big wreck.I think I saw the wreck.It didn't hurt me.But I am sorry it happened. If the person you feel you offended and apologized to accepts your apology, then honor that person by accepting their word.
We all take the chance of perceiving words as needles shot through our pupils to embed in our brains when we read internet messages.When the adrenaline subsides then we need to be willing to mop up and repair damage.I am sure I have inadvertently run through someone's cyberyard and tore up their garden.I have heard from some and tried to make amends.
It would hurt me more to watch you jump from the screen into cyberspace. You have actual Spanish skills to offer people that we would lose.Any cat that can learn to play a banjo has to have learned how to recover from an error.
So like a person addicted to the A=Z games that logs onto the thread when it hits "W" Choose "whiski", down a shot and come back into the fray!
Two days ago you said, and I quote, "The day that I can express myself like that in Spanish, I will retire from SpanishDict...Between you and me, I think that it is probably safe to say that I will likely never retire."
Obviously no one can force you to stay, Izan, but I would certainly like to hold you to the above statement. You are not fluent yet, my friend, and that is what this site is about. And if, upon occasion, we happen to learn some other lesson than Spanish, then wonderful.
It would truly be a loss, if you do not stay with us. I've learned just as much about translating on Heidi's killer threads in the last couple of months from you as I have from her because of your incredible command of the English language.
If you really insist that some further punishment is needed for any error on your part (and in my opinion it is not) then ban yourself from general discussion threads and focus on the Spanish. To exile yourself from a community who obviously has no hard feelings against you and from a site that's main purpose is to teach you a language is utterly ridiculous.
The mere fact that I am taking the time to express an opinion more than two lines long on this general discussion should alone tell you that it's important to me that you stay.
Sincerely,
Dawn
