That is a statement from me that you will never see unless I really mean it. Here is why:
It shows a fundamental disrespect to the community to claim you are leaving Wikipedia unless you are absolutely sure that you will do so.
It adds to the drama, the soap opera aspect of the Wikipedia community while not contributing anything to the building of an encyclopedia.
By announcing you are leaving, you come across as very immature when you return, especially if you do it more than once. If you expect future support for an RfA or some other leadership position, you are seriously harming yourself.
So, if you are in any way uncertain, declare a wikibreak. Take at least one week to mull over your decision and let the emotions of the situation subside before making a true final decision.
Also, consider the way in which you approach Wikipedia. You don't have to keep doing what you have always done. Write some articles instead of vandal fighting, if the latter stresses you out. Cut back the hours you spend if you think you are becoming addicted. Think about how you want to continue, you have many options.
But don't burn your bridges. At some point you may decide to return to the area that is stressing you now. Allow yourself the option to do that at some future time.
I pledge to never declare my departure from Wikipedia until I have taken the time to be sure that this is not just a temporary inclination and I am absolutely certain that I am gone for good.
Having announced I was leaving other places and subsequently coming back anyway, I know firsthand what a bad idea such an announcement is, and I certainly intend never to repeat the error, especially not here.
++
Lar:
t/
c 15:23, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
When I'm gone... I will be gone with no looking back, and leaving smoldering rubble behind me.
ALKIVAR™☢ 10:03, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
If I ever leave Wikipedia entirely, it will be as it is crashing and burning. Regardless, I will not use leaving as a political stunt. If I truly leave, you won't know, because I will simply cease to edit. Anything else just adds soap operaness for absolutely no good reason. -
Amarkovblahedits 18:42, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
I agree totally with the above. --
Deskbanana 22:34, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
I would probably just go into low editing mode rather than ever leave, therefore it makes sense that I sign this.
James086Talk 13:07, 20 February 2007 (UTC)
Long and hard. —
$PЯINGrαgђ 03:49, 4 May 2007 (UTC)
It's a bit ironic for me to sign this, because I tried to leave once before, but there were extenuating circumstances at the time. Like Amarkov, if I ever do actually leave in the future, it will be final and will be known only by the lack of further edits. --
Kyoko 13:21, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
I've had some thoughts. I won't leave, since I have no real reason to, but I wish to make clear that I will not unless I have truly made certain my decision. --
tennisman
I've tried to leave a few times to enforce a break upon myself (failed miserably ;) ), and I know that each time, I will only disappear, rather than inflicting all that icky drama upon everyone. People leaving politically is just immature.
Nihiltres{t.
l} 14:26, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
I don't think I would ever do one of these big 'I'm leaving!!!' posts, it's just not who I am. I'm sure I won't be around here forever, but I don't intend to make a big deal out of it when I eventually go.
Terraxos 04:02, 1 December 2007 (UTC)
I'm here to write an encyclopedia, not to make dramatic exits.
AniMate 22:41, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
I reserve the right to change my mind and withdraw from this pledge in a huff several times per month.
Sarcasticidealist (
talk) 01:23, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
Don't really intend to leave, but if I do, you'll know because you won't see me anymore.
GlassCobra 02:05, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
I find it highly unlikely to leave Wikipedia at any time in the future; if I do, however, it will be because of a change in the encyclopaedia so profound as to not warrant my return. (On the other hand, there will be no retirement if I die, as my heir will inherit the account.)
Waltham,
The Duke of 11:41, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
A smart editor never leaves, he just fades away.--
Father Goose (
talk) 10:27, 17 April 2008 (UTC)
Even though I have 'retired' before, I endorse this statement, albeit in an informal manner.
Rudget 11:01, 20 April 2008 (UTC)
If you hear me say the words "I'm retiring from Wikipedia," then I will truly mean it - whenever stress levels rise high, I'll just take a break, a few deep breaths, and return when I'm ready. That's the beauty of the project, nobody's forcing anything on you, you choose what to do, where to go, what to edit, how to interact, etc. It's unlikely you'll see me using
this template, because I may still make sporatic contributions every now and then. More likely I will say "indefinite Wikibreak." But "retiring" because you're pissed off at something, then coming back in a few days saying "I'm BACK! :D" is just plain immature and annoying. Seriously, if you're gonna let a little stress get to you, then you need to mature a bit before you're ready to be part of this community.
Valtoras (
talk) 04:21, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
How could I leave when I'm so good at it?
Beam 14:12, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
Agreed, leaving now is seen as a joke because people aren't thinking their actions through before they "leave".
Kevin Rutherford (
talk) 23:15, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
Aye.
this shouldn't happen.
sonia♫♪ 23:20, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
Let our patience be our strength.
Dcoetzee 07:55, 21 March 2011 (UTC)
Wikibreaks all round!
--
Trevj (
talk) 11:53, 10 May 2012 (UTC)
That is a statement from me that you will never see unless I really mean it. Here is why:
It shows a fundamental disrespect to the community to claim you are leaving Wikipedia unless you are absolutely sure that you will do so.
It adds to the drama, the soap opera aspect of the Wikipedia community while not contributing anything to the building of an encyclopedia.
By announcing you are leaving, you come across as very immature when you return, especially if you do it more than once. If you expect future support for an RfA or some other leadership position, you are seriously harming yourself.
So, if you are in any way uncertain, declare a wikibreak. Take at least one week to mull over your decision and let the emotions of the situation subside before making a true final decision.
Also, consider the way in which you approach Wikipedia. You don't have to keep doing what you have always done. Write some articles instead of vandal fighting, if the latter stresses you out. Cut back the hours you spend if you think you are becoming addicted. Think about how you want to continue, you have many options.
But don't burn your bridges. At some point you may decide to return to the area that is stressing you now. Allow yourself the option to do that at some future time.
I pledge to never declare my departure from Wikipedia until I have taken the time to be sure that this is not just a temporary inclination and I am absolutely certain that I am gone for good.
Having announced I was leaving other places and subsequently coming back anyway, I know firsthand what a bad idea such an announcement is, and I certainly intend never to repeat the error, especially not here.
++
Lar:
t/
c 15:23, 1 April 2006 (UTC)
When I'm gone... I will be gone with no looking back, and leaving smoldering rubble behind me.
ALKIVAR™☢ 10:03, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
If I ever leave Wikipedia entirely, it will be as it is crashing and burning. Regardless, I will not use leaving as a political stunt. If I truly leave, you won't know, because I will simply cease to edit. Anything else just adds soap operaness for absolutely no good reason. -
Amarkovblahedits 18:42, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
I agree totally with the above. --
Deskbanana 22:34, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
I would probably just go into low editing mode rather than ever leave, therefore it makes sense that I sign this.
James086Talk 13:07, 20 February 2007 (UTC)
Long and hard. —
$PЯINGrαgђ 03:49, 4 May 2007 (UTC)
It's a bit ironic for me to sign this, because I tried to leave once before, but there were extenuating circumstances at the time. Like Amarkov, if I ever do actually leave in the future, it will be final and will be known only by the lack of further edits. --
Kyoko 13:21, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
I've had some thoughts. I won't leave, since I have no real reason to, but I wish to make clear that I will not unless I have truly made certain my decision. --
tennisman
I've tried to leave a few times to enforce a break upon myself (failed miserably ;) ), and I know that each time, I will only disappear, rather than inflicting all that icky drama upon everyone. People leaving politically is just immature.
Nihiltres{t.
l} 14:26, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
I don't think I would ever do one of these big 'I'm leaving!!!' posts, it's just not who I am. I'm sure I won't be around here forever, but I don't intend to make a big deal out of it when I eventually go.
Terraxos 04:02, 1 December 2007 (UTC)
I'm here to write an encyclopedia, not to make dramatic exits.
AniMate 22:41, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
I reserve the right to change my mind and withdraw from this pledge in a huff several times per month.
Sarcasticidealist (
talk) 01:23, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
Don't really intend to leave, but if I do, you'll know because you won't see me anymore.
GlassCobra 02:05, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
I find it highly unlikely to leave Wikipedia at any time in the future; if I do, however, it will be because of a change in the encyclopaedia so profound as to not warrant my return. (On the other hand, there will be no retirement if I die, as my heir will inherit the account.)
Waltham,
The Duke of 11:41, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
A smart editor never leaves, he just fades away.--
Father Goose (
talk) 10:27, 17 April 2008 (UTC)
Even though I have 'retired' before, I endorse this statement, albeit in an informal manner.
Rudget 11:01, 20 April 2008 (UTC)
If you hear me say the words "I'm retiring from Wikipedia," then I will truly mean it - whenever stress levels rise high, I'll just take a break, a few deep breaths, and return when I'm ready. That's the beauty of the project, nobody's forcing anything on you, you choose what to do, where to go, what to edit, how to interact, etc. It's unlikely you'll see me using
this template, because I may still make sporatic contributions every now and then. More likely I will say "indefinite Wikibreak." But "retiring" because you're pissed off at something, then coming back in a few days saying "I'm BACK! :D" is just plain immature and annoying. Seriously, if you're gonna let a little stress get to you, then you need to mature a bit before you're ready to be part of this community.
Valtoras (
talk) 04:21, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
How could I leave when I'm so good at it?
Beam 14:12, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
Agreed, leaving now is seen as a joke because people aren't thinking their actions through before they "leave".
Kevin Rutherford (
talk) 23:15, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
Aye.
this shouldn't happen.
sonia♫♪ 23:20, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
Let our patience be our strength.
Dcoetzee 07:55, 21 March 2011 (UTC)
Wikibreaks all round!
--
Trevj (
talk) 11:53, 10 May 2012 (UTC)