I have to say I really dislike the concept of a "valued member" it implies there are (as you point out) members who are not valued.
If you're not creep or an arsehole and you don't break the site rules then I think the site values your presence and contribution whatever it may be.
And that's part of what's a little skewed about this discussion, the valued members in question will undoubtedly be missed, I'll miss some of them myself personally, though I'll keep in contact with a couple of them, but they're mostly forumites and it's mostly forumites who're mourning their departure.
There are all kinds of ways of enjoying this site not all revolve around the forums, and anyone who contributes to that enjoyment in whatever part of the site they prefer is of worth.
*Sigh*
Please do not say that you are misunderstanding me as well, Hilaire...
Ok seeing as how I am obviously not being clear...
Ya know how mega-chains say "for our valued customers"? You know that they are not speaking about any one in particular, but all who walk through there doors. Thats what I am meaning. Of course everyone here is valued in there own way by a vast group of people. But some...
Ok I can see myself getting misquoted or being quoted out of context so i will try to make this as clear as possible.
With an analogy!
So i worked in retail. I worked in the Men's Dept and there were quite a few customers who came through. Some we only saw once and may or may not have bought anything. They may have exchanged some friendly conversation, and possibly brightend my day, and perhaps, those of my Men's coworkers. Some customers were regulars so we had long standing and deep relations with them. Some were
like friends, some
were friends. When they would leave and not return, sometimes I was the only one who noticed. Or maybe a few people in my dept, or a few scattered throughout the store. They were valued to those of us weho noticed on a deeper level than the once in a while, or once and that's it people.
Sometimes, they would be missed by those of us in Men's and no where else, though maybe Shoes, as these were the departments they frequented. But just becuase they were not regulars in the other departments, didn't mean that they were less valued to the store.
What has this to do with my thread?
Well you brought up a good point: we all contribute in different ways. Some of us on the forums. These can be broken down to Thread originators, posters, and veiwers. Some do this on multiple forums some frequent one or two. Then there are the people who are almost excluisively active in chat. They may frequent the forums once in a while, but chat is there main place. Then are the Bloggers. Some are exclusive bloggers who haven't made a single post, yet there contribution is very much valued. Others may exchange PM's and then move to private email, so some of us do not see them much.
So I was not meaning to degrade anyone here. I am sure some have left that i was never aware of, if only becuyase we were in different departments, to reference my analogy. Just as if I never went into chat again, the vast majority would neither notice or care, ubless the were forumites. And thats ok. :smile:
So there are people who hold, in each of our estimations, a more general value, and a more personal one. And we may even hold some in a middle ground: we love what they say, but do not interact much per say (the equivlent being a customer who smiles and is pleasant, but you don't
really talk to {some we knew the names of the grandbabies of, dating, you name it},cuz you just hadn't gotten around ot it, or were shy or whatever)
So there may be a vast exodus happening at times and I am not aware of it simply because our paths hadn't crossed or not enough times for a friendship or admiration to set in.
Hope that clears it up.