Greetings, my friends.
It is with mixed emotions that I bid you all adieu and farewell after three years and put this OLGA chapter of my life behind me.
It's staggering to consider that I have probably put as many hours into helping to develop this message board resource as I have gaming at a time when the world scarcely knew that online addiction of any kind was a problem. Liz got the ball rolling and I joined her shortly afterwards, and together we worked to develop this site to be a cohesive one, despite our differing reasons for doing so.
While decisions we both made were both good and bad now and then, one thing for certain was that we only had the minds and hearts of our gamers and their families in mind. We hoped and prayed that our experiences could help others and I believe in some way that they have. OLGA was the first site of its kind and now numerous ones have sprung up to follow suit hanging on our coat tails.
OLGA is now apparently getting ready to embark in a new direction with new alliances, the specifics of which I have not been privy to. And so, this is the best time to make my break and let more "qualified" persons make their marks.
An interesting note. As some of you know, I follow the Wiccan path and so it is that Samhain/Halloween/October 31 is a day of endings and new beginnings.
What a better day to make this change, eh?
Farewell, all, Blessed Be, and thank you all for the countless hours of message-boarding and things you have taught me over the past three years.
Sincerely,
Ron Jaffe
AKA Diggo McDiggity
Retired Hobbit Druid of the Tribunal Server
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
On-Line Gamers Anonymous
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
Hi Ron,
Whilst I had little opportunity to get to know you properly, from what I have seen and read, your contribution to this community has been a great asset.
The world surrounding gaming addiction is changing and with that OLG needs to maintain its reputation in supporting game addicts by means of a diverse and exemplary approach.
I am sure that you will be missed by the community and by the large number of people who you have helped over the years.
I am sorry that I did not get the opportunity to work with you, but please accept my best wishes for the future.
Kind Regards,
Steven Larcombe
Fare Well, Ron.
May God go with you.
Leveling in Real Life
Ron, I am new here, but I will say I will miss you very very much. Honestly, you helped me, maybe in ways you didn't even realize, just by answering my posts.
There is no such thing as an expert in this; we're addicts finding our own ways. Words from someone who has done so well with his recovery is the biggest asset people newly finding their way have. People who are not addicts, no matter how close they are to people who are, just cannot help in the same way a fellow addict can. It may not be "fair" or whatever, but it just is the way it is. I don't say that to be offensive; it's just that you've btdt, and now have recovered and are healthy, and now you reach out to others and you have given me hope that I too can recover and live in RL, and not pine away for Norrath.
I am selfish, so I hope you reconsider =( If you cannot, all I can say is . . . Good luck, thank you for EVERYTHING. And realize, you've given at least this addict hope for her life back. And that is a lot.
Hugs!
Ron,
Your open mind has been the greatest asset to this board. No matter how long the board does without you, I'm sure it's success in the future will hinge on Liz's wisdom in recruiting you during its formative years.
May the Earth be kind to you, and you to Her.
Odien
Ron,
Thanks for having been here. This place will miss you I'm sure. May the Lord bless which ever path you soon will follow.
~Chris
I don't know why you had to leave. He is saying the same thing you always did.
Why do we have to take such drastic measures? We are all concerned about the same issue - gaming addiction.
I will not accept your resignation, Ron.
Liz
Edited by: lizwool at: 11/1/05 16:43
Liz Woolley
Ron ohh **** it (says my egoistical self) Have a good life and love your self and continue to be such a wonderful person.
Helene
ps Is there anything I (we, someone, something) can do that will make you change your mind?
Edited by: Medea at: 11/1/05 15:33
Ron I wish you well in whatever future endeavors you choose to embark upon. I respect your decision to go but I'll really miss your thoughtful, incisive, heartfelt and wise comments. A lot. There'll be a big hole left in these boards by your departure and I don't see how you can be replaced. Must you go?
Edited by: boredhousewife677 at: 11/1/05 17:47
Umm, may I ask why Ron is leaving? Anyone know?
~Chris
If it were me I'd have been looking for an out after one or two years. There is one heck of a lot of work involved for no pay and lots of frustration.
With what looks like new blood on the horizon, here's an out.
This is a lot of work, Odien, and Ron does put his all into it.
Really, though, you can't quit 12-step programs. They are here for life.
They are designed so we can help ourselves by helping each other. I always say, the more the merrier. I personally was getting totally burned out and really needed someone of a more technical background, which Steven has, so I was glad to have found him.
We do have the 12-steps, so we don't kill ourselves, but we also have the 12 traditions, so we don't kill each other. Here is a link to them:
www.olganon.org/About/12_Traditions/12_traditions.html
Tradition 1: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OLGA/OLG-Anon unity and Tradition 12 Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities come into play, in this situation...
You are here, first, for yourself. Please remember, we all are a little goofy or we wouldn't be here, so please, don't let someone else ruin your program.
Liz Woolley
Just a tribute to you Ron
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us, something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters
never cared for what they say
never cared for games they play
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
and I know
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters