On Indefinite Hiatus
I used to be the only one who did this. Now I’m not, and now, there are many, many people who do it better.
I’m not in competition with anyone, but I have to consider, seriously, whether I can do it well at all.
For me, it was never a race to see who could get the most shocking news about right-wingers up first — it was about dig-down-deep research, and presenting the most comprehensive, easily-digestible view out there, by which I mean: major snark softening the most horrible stories so that you could read them without throwing up, in order to make a point, that point being: the people who want to control and restrict your very life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, are the biggest hypocrites of all.
But in the eight years I’ve been doing this (and it has been eight years — where has the time gone?), a lot of other people have taken up the mantle and have been doing the same thing.
I want to say that I don’t harbor any resentment (although, truth be told, I think I do)… that, as I have been telling myself for the better part of a decade: it’s not who gets the credit — it’s that these stories get out there, in order to make the public aware, because we’re all on the same side… right?
Well, I’d like to think that’s right. I don’t think at all that’s what’s going on; I think a lot of people saw an opportunity to capitalize on sensational stories about teachers having sex with students and the like, for the sole purpose of garnering major Web traffic and making money.
I swear, folks, all I ever wanted to do with ConBab was to bring the hypocrisy to light. But to what end? I don’t think I’ve ever changed a single mind about the Wrong Wing. And while there’s nothing wrong with preaching to the choir — that alone serves the purpose of soothing furrowed brows, letting others know: Yes, we see it, too! — does it actually accomplish anything?
I don’t know. After eight years, I don’t know.
I have to go off somewhere quiet and think about it. I’ve been dogging the Radical Right hypocrites for eight years — and I think I’m damned good at what I do — but, like everything else in my life, even if I’m great, or even good, or even half-good, I’m still not as good as anybody else.
You know, I don’t make a dime off ConBab. Sure, I’ve got Google ads and Amazon ads up, but a year’s worth of revenue from both combined doesn’t pay for even a month’s worth of hosting.
Mind you, again: making money was never my purpose (scoff all you like, but ConBab has always been a labor of love), but the truth is, I’m drowning right now; I cannot afford to put this much time and energy into something that costs me a shiny lot every month, if it doesn’t show measurable results. And I’m not talking about money — I mean, I don’t think my efforts have made even a small chink in the armor of the Radical Right in all these years — so why do I keep pouring all this time and energy — and money — into something that doesn’t accomplish anything for The Good?
In the end, I think I know what my decision is going to be. And I think your best bet, Faithful Reader, is to enjoy what’s here now — a frozen relic of its time, for what it once was — and to go on to those who came after ConBab.
Until ConBab comes back, if it ever does, I offer my most sincere thanks to everyone who’s hung in there with us, even if you never said a word.
Although… you know… Taking half a second to post a comment (or to go to the extra trouble it would have taken to contact us after we shut down comments) would have done a lot to convince me to keep it going,
And, with the sole exception of Rev. Dan (whom we hold in great esteem), nobody did.
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