goodbye, columbus

well, i just don't think i can take this place on a regular basis any
longer. the level of vitriol began increasing this fall, and the most
recent political threads have simply pushed it over the top. it is a sad
thing, in my view, to watch folks whom i have observed in perfectly pleasant
real life interaction become bitter enemies with the tap of a "send" button.
hardly anyone seems immune from either attacking or being attacked, and the
closer we get to elections, the worse it will get.
i just will be damned if i will lose a friend over disagreements about
politics, philosophy, or religion; or, for that matter, one's preferences in
photographic media.
visiting this place has become tantamount to watching endless replays of
ali-frazier in manila, and i never was much for blood sports between
friends.
i hope you will all email from time to time, if something
nonconfrontational arises that you think might be of interest to me. and,
of course, i will find it impossible not to lurk on a more or less random
basis, hoping against hope that things will become less draconian around
here. truth is, i am not optimistic; after all, r.o.f.f is nothing, if not
darwinian.

your friend in the old north state
wayno