Does anyone know anything about user Edwin Ashworth? A somewhat exigent and at times infuriating stickler for standards, I find myself missing his droll comments. He's been “missing” since July.
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3One of his last comments (here) was about being found to be missing. Coincidence?– JJJCommented Oct 28, 2018 at 21:36
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1@JJJ ... that's creepy. Of course, it's coincidence.– Mari-Lou ACommented Oct 28, 2018 at 21:38
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2He’s been inactive for long periods of time before, and finally always came back. I really don’t miss him but he will eventually turn up again also this time.– user 66974Commented Oct 29, 2018 at 8:16
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@user240918 it's nearly four months...– Mari-Lou ACommented Oct 29, 2018 at 8:22
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5Sad that users should downvote someone's concern about a fellow member. What does that tell us and visitors about this community?– Mari-Lou ACommented Oct 30, 2018 at 5:28
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2@Mari-LouA +13 -2 tells us that they are in the minority, and that the community cares about its long-standing members going missing.– LawrenceCommented Oct 31, 2018 at 9:10
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1I wouldn't say you were a stickler for standards, Mari-Lou. But Edwin is.– Tim LymingtonCommented Nov 2, 2018 at 9:59
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2@TimLymington I meant him of course. But I see how it could be misinterpreted. Thank you for nit-picking and making sure standards are kept high :P– Mari-Lou ACommented Nov 2, 2018 at 11:26
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5@Mari-LouA: It tells us that this site is behaving as it always has. EL&U seems to partake of a mixture of broad collegiality seasoned with acute dyspepsia.– RobustoCommented Nov 2, 2018 at 19:16
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2@ab2 Haha! I’ll take it. Always wanted to be a bad boy, stealing hearts and riding Harleys.– Dan BronCommented Nov 3, 2018 at 3:46
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1I suppose we wouldn’t be expecting any more definitive responses unless Edwin returns, but I just wanted to drop you a note saying, “Good on you for asking”.– LawrenceCommented Nov 7, 2018 at 14:50
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1This kind of question should be asked in the chat room(s).– Arm the good guys in AmericaCommented Nov 11, 2018 at 16:41
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1@Knotell why? Are you offended? Do you think chat is more private?– Mari-Lou ACommented Nov 11, 2018 at 16:46
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1FWIW...I did a search in the obits of the Oldham Times, Funeral-Notices.co.UK, (the other rags in the area are less user-friendly), and I got nothing. So...I am thinking now it was a personal decision to leave off contributing for a while. I hope this helps put your mind at ease.– Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 14:47
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1He's back :-)– chosterCommented May 21, 2019 at 14:24
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2 Answers
There are tools to check on this. Here's a click as of this morning.
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4A few of us have already welcomed him back since his return on 17th (I think). Hooray for Edwin! Commented May 21, 2019 at 15:38
It's likely that anyone who knows would say nothing out of a respect for user privacy. Unless we hear from him personally, I think this is the answer to your question.
(From this perspective, when you ask if the two downvotes on the question show lack of concern, actually the opposite might be true.)
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5Oh, so they were telling me to mind my own business. Possible.... I suppose they could even be justified thinking that. But I would only like to know if he is well. I hope he is. Commented Nov 2, 2018 at 21:54
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3@Mari-LouA It was a kind gesture on your part, and I doubt there is anybody who would disagree with that.– MetaEdCommented Nov 2, 2018 at 22:43
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6Downvoting this question out of concern for user privacy is perverse. First, because a genuine concern when a user disappears is natural and collegial. Ignoring a prolonged absence of a prominent user is callous. Second, because, if true, it implies that the reason is an unhappy one. So, I think the downvoters are downvoting simply because they can, not for any admirable reason.– ab2Commented Nov 2, 2018 at 23:35
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@JJJ You have a point. But in the 3.5 years I have been a user here, I remember only one permanent unexplained disappearance or retirement. Possibly there were others, and I didn't know users well enough to realize they had gone. So I don't think we are at the point yet where a long absence must be shrugged off . Perhaps a good model is the Class Notes section of a university magazine, where people write in notes about themselves -- or don't.– ab2Commented Nov 4, 2018 at 1:44
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1@JJJ Science Fiction and Fantasy asked people on their Meta to write a few sentences on how they got started on the SFF site -- a delayed birth announcement, so to speak.– ab2Commented Nov 4, 2018 at 1:51
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1@JJJ "…it's not really feasible to voice concern for every user's disappearance…" do you know how many users have got off the radar since I joined? Kosmonaut for one thing. This is the first–and probably the last time–I have plucked the courage (yes, sometimes it has to be plucked!) to ask members if they have any news of a respected and esteemed member. Commented Nov 4, 2018 at 9:07
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1Meta Ed, you didn't answer the original question. You instead provided an explanation, or a justification, for the few downvotes. So, because I think you do know something, is Edwin going to come back? Commented Nov 4, 2018 at 12:52
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@Mari-LouA I answered your question, and added a related comment about the downvotes. Sorry I did not make this distinction clear. I've edited.– MetaEdCommented Nov 5, 2018 at 15:17
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2What if he is dead? Would users in the know still keep us in the dark? Is he dead? Commented Nov 11, 2018 at 16:40
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@Knotell I don't know -- or even suspect -- anything. There isn't any point in discussing this further, until someone has new information.– MetaEdCommented Nov 12, 2018 at 20:06
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1I was actually hoping someone would say that Edwin had enough of EL&U and was taking a sabbatical. Or that he was recovering from a bad case of flu or pneumonia, or he had to tend to personal family affairs, something like that. Nothing macabre. Commented Nov 21, 2018 at 9:59
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4He's back! I am so so pleased, I'd still be happy even if he downvoted my answers. I wouldn't care in the least. Edwin is well. Commented May 17, 2019 at 11:18