Life as a ghost

Hmmm. I got "tombstoned" from what has become my very favorite site for political discourse.

I'm not sure I've got a cruel and unusual punishment argument on the lethal injection. I didn't feel a thing. The mods were silent, efficient, and the procedure itself was relatively painless.

Except I do miss the give-and-take of a virtual corporeal being. Oxymoron, I know.

Strangely, I'm getting these snippets of calls from the land of the living. Dave, can you hear me? Dave, are you there? Dave, turn the crystal ball green if you are receiving us.

All metaphorical, metaphysical teasing aside, no, I will not be making a statement about what (I think) caused me to get the tombstone. It would be churlish and uncharitable to the Founders, Admins, and Mods of the site. They were hospitable hosts. What kind of a total jerkoff would I be to rant and rave against their best judgment?

Those I'll miss? Oh, I won't list them. I'll miss someone or leave someone out, and then feel really bad.

But some of you have the contact info. Drop me a line. If you do it here as a comment, my only caution would be to create a different identity here, so anyone lurking won't be able to figure out it's you in the other online world. No need to attract suspicion via guilt by association.

Yes, I've received copies of some of what's being said. Yes, I know some of it is slanderous. Yes, I know some of it is libelous. Yes, I know that some of it is probably actionable.

But what would be the point of hurting a community I honestly came to care so deeply about? Fear. Anger. Hate. Suffering.

Gotta break that cycle.

Besides, the untruth of a good part of it will be apparent for most to see before March 4th.

The upside of being a ghost? I'm no longer tied to that world. I still care about it, but with a certain sense of detachment.

In real, non-metaphorical terms, that means I got many more phone calls and e-mails placed out to journalists today than I might otherwise have done.

I ran out to my favorite coffee shop and grabbed a bite and some of the good stuff.

Spring is here. Batting cages call. I'm in a good place. Don't mourn for me.

But do, every once in a while, dim the lights and hold a little seance. That is to say, if you speak to me in the Great Beyond, I'll do my best to say something interesting back.

And now we come to the worst part of the "afterlife" that I've discovered so far. Emoticons don't work. But some of you will know what this means.

:toast:

:hug:

:grouphug:

- Dave