A Fond Farewell
Date: August 29, 2008 | Author: Jon BlumenfeldCategory: Skepticism | Comments: 11 » |
It is with great fondness that I must bid a farewell to the readers of the Rogues Gallery, and this time there will be no ‘April Fools’ at the end of the story.
I don’t think anybody enjoys the public side of skepticism more than I do, whether it’s blogging here or over at the Long Run Blog – which I hope you’ll keep on visiting even without me – or doing lectures, or what have you. Unfortunately, there are times when having more than one public face means having to choose between them. I don’t mean to be vague – the simple fact is that I’ve been looking for a new job since Bear Stearns went up in smoke, and I finally found one, but a big part of the new gig is being a major component of the face the company shows clients, investors, and the public.
This is not about any disagreement my new colleagues might have about skepticism or anything specific I might have written in the past – it’s all about having a single, unified business identity. I know how that sounds, but oddly it is a product of being one of the people that the company trusts enough to be part of its public face. I have run into the same thing in the past, when I was one of a handful of people authorized to represent my company publicly and they kept very tight control over ALL my public appearances, even non-job related ones.
Believe me, I will continue to do all I can to support the SGU and skepticism and critical thinking in general. I allowed my skeptical activism to fade in the past, and it took a shocking and traumatic life event to remind that some things are too important to let slide. Meanwhile, I will leave you in the more than capable hands of Steve, Bob, Evan, Jay, Rebecca, and Mike. Thanks to everyone who read my posts, to everyone who made comments, aw heck, just to everybody who paid attention to my favorite person - me!
…and once again, let me assure you that I will be there, even if I am in the background, because what we’re doing here really is important, and not just because it gets my name out on the internet. Skeptics have to be out there letting people know that the truth matters, that good information is there for those who want it, and that the more critical thinking we can promote, the better off we will all be.
One last thing – I want to thank Steve and the Rogues from the bottom of my heart for giving me this chance to get involved, and to say I’m sorry for letting you down. I want you to know that you will always be able to count on me for support and friendship. Always.
- With love,
Jon Blumenfeld
11 Responses to “A Fond Farewell”
By Sagoober on Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
Fare thee well good sir
By Steve Page on Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
Sell-out!
Just joking, Jon.
Thanks for your interesting and informative posts on here. I wish you all the best for the future.
By Drum Billet on Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
The Illuminati got to you as well, eh? Bastards.
I’ll miss your blog posts, but I guess that other lot will have to do. Good luck with your new job!
By Ben Albert on Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
Sorry to see you go. Sorry enough to stop lurking and actually register
. Thank you for the writing you have done. One of the strengths of the SGU is the multiple perspectives, and I appreciated yours. Hope you don’t disappear completely. All the best.
By thethyme on Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
In time we all shall fall
By kelsey on Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
Your link is bung – missing an ‘n’.
By Jon Blumenfeld on Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
Fixed the link. Thanks, kelsey.
By rrichard on Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
No secret identity or anything like that to keep your skeptical mind batting for the right team?
By Jon Blumenfeld on Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
Ha ha, still batting for the right team, but I am also an incurably honest guy. I’m not going to hide behind some sock puppet identity, but thanks anyway.
By Jim Shaver on Aug 31, 2008 | Reply
Good luck to you, Jon! (Not literally, but well, you know what I mean.)
BTW, that was a nice trick, pretending to be rrichard. I won’t tell anyone.
By DLC on Sep 1, 2008 | Reply
Jon: remember that Benjamin Franklin published as Poor Richard, and Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay collaborated under the pseudonym “Publius”. There’s nothing wrong with remaining anonymous.
But, in any case, we’ll miss your writings.
Good luck to you in your new career.