The Vanishing of Flinn

[Vladyvid]

Yeah, so what alternative would you suggest?

[Derc]

Just be offended until then. It fits our time so well.

[Septentrionalis]

I am writing this perfectly aware that if Flinn comes back, he will be reading this. Sorry if I am out of line. Flinn did not take a break in the sense of communicating to others that he needs a break and will not be back in a while. Flinn, in addition to the many many other things he does behind the curtains to keep this place going, was tutoring me into my staff role and possible further involvement beyond the present staff role (depending on my behavior and commitment).

He had just told me that agreeing to be in the staff carries the requirement of letting others know if there is any foreseeable lengthy absence. He himself did none of the like but just disappeared. I first assumed that I was not important enough to be let in on the information (which would have been perfectly understandable) and that others have received that memo, but later on it became evident that trusted, long-time heavy contributors to the forum received no information either.

Eventually he came back to us with both group and personal messages. Those messages did NOT state that he is okay and that we should not worry but to be patient. In fact, he responded to a private message of mine having to do with said tutoring saying that he has not read the message that he is responding to (!). No sign of solace there.

Practically the hardest thing to befall me that I can imagine, apart from becoming physically disabled, would be that my remaining parent died and I would have to deal with all that crap with the childhood home and all. Even in that case, I would make it public that I have no time for staff duties and apologize for my absence. Given Flinn's conscientousness in this forum, the present situation leads me into assuming that something of even greater gravity has taken place in his life. That is why I said that I do not feel comfortable joking about his absence. [Too drastic; removed]

[Vladyvid]

Oh boi, while i agree its better to be cautious with jokes as we dont know whats going on and im trying myself, hitting such heavy cords i dont think is a good idea either. I would say best not to speculate such things at all, and i think i would edit that if i was you. You dont want it to be true, then i think you should not even say it. I understand you meant well, but i think thats too drastic and personal.

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

I'm really worried about this and we should give this kind of thread a longer break.

There are better suited objects for making fun about.

[Akar]

I don't think anyone here is "making fun of" or making light of Flinn or his absence. If anything, they are doing the opposite. This thread shows the extent to which the community here cares about Flinn and it would be borderline silly to get rid of this thread over some misplaced fear of something being interpreted as "making fun".

If I ever disappear for an extended length of time I give you all advanced permission to make jokes about my unexplained absence, lest those who are far too easy and quick to take offense do what they are liable to do.

Yeah, so what alternative would you suggest?

I think Derc hit the nail on the head.

[Derc]

Just don't post anything here then? Thread will die off soon enough that way. That is, unless someone like AoRun comes around and simply asks for his whereabouts. There were no jokes since then. And the "jokes" before were harmless af. My god, what a crime. But yeah, let's go ahead and cancel everything for the sake of "dignity". That's how stuff today works anyway.

Fun fact: I will quit TWC soon, and I don't care if you will make jokes about me. Do your worst.
Of course I'm not Flinn, but we jesters think alike.(*)

I would say best not to speculate such things at all, and i think i would edit that if i was you. You dont want it to be true, then i think you should not even say it.

This.


(*) Edit: ...as Akar has proven. If anything in this thread is humiliating, then it is getting ninja'd by Akar.

[Akar]

You dont want it to be true, then i think you should not even say it.

This is why I actually refuse to talk about Lord of the Rings anymore. I'm too afraid that my discussions about Morgoth and Sauron will actually bring about their very existence and end this world just as they did the First Age.

It's the same reason I wouldn't let my kids talk about magic or spells or anything, lest the very act of discussing the dark arts will itself bring about their existence.

[Septentrionalis]

Okay, I edited it a bit. I am not here to police anyone, so feel free to carry on as you wish.

[Akar]

I wish you would police me

[Septentrionalis]

Let's take that up in a more private channel, babe.

[Cookiegod]

All I can say is that Flinn's missed. I shall not make my usual jokes because they'll just be misinterpreted as always.

I kindly request everyone else to follow my serene example and join me in a serious discussion where we take turns listing how Flinn brightened our mothers mood.

Derc, you start!

[Akar]

The song "Motherlover" is based on Flinn's experiences with my mother on Valentines Day. I will never forget him for what he did to her that day.

[Vladyvid]

Thats a mothers day song, so a bit too late, but at least its not the "d in a box" song.

[Derc]

I kindly request everyone else to follow my serene example and join me in a serious discussion where we take turns listing how Flinn brightened our mothers mood.

Derc, you start!

The server wasn't down for no reason yesterday. As long as Flinn isn't there, it understood that it needs to help itself to keep clean.

[Akar]

I read somewhere that Flinn was disabling the server in morse code to get a signal out.

[Cookiegod]

OH damn, thanks for the heads up!

[Akar]

Gotta keep an eye out for the hapless downtrodden I leave in my wake.

[Sir Adrian]

My agents report that Flinn has built a time machine and travelled back to the second dynastic period of Ancient Egypt where he seeks to become an evil vizier at the court of pharaoh Khasekhemwy

[AoRun]

does Flinn already returned from his time travel?