My Resignation Letter

[don'tletmedown]

the rest of the world does not understand what I think should be called "self-decided death". The word suicide has always had a "mortal sin" connotation, no matter if one is religious or not. How to inform the population regarding why one would want to self decide death should be publicized, rather than shame and vilify anyone who already understands the why!!

 

[Crazy4u]

This is very sad. I'm so angry. I wish you all the best Marquis. Please know your website is essential to many people. NYT is garbage

 

[lost.ghost]

this is so fucking heartbreaking. thank you for the years you've spent protecting this site, and giving us a safe place to express ourselves. this site has been keeping me alive, and your work in defending it means everything. thank you for all you've done for us

 

[NearlyIrrelevantCake]

Godspeed, Marquis.

You've contributed a net positive to our world by creating this site where people can be honest without fear of repurcussions.

 

[WatermelonMel]

Thank you for everything you have done, you don't deserve any of the harassment - nobody does. I can't imagine a world where there is no safe place to discuss suicide, and it is scary how hard society is fighting to make that a reality.

 

[arelia]

The article reminds me very much of the anti-abortionists takes you see in the US. Never anything about gun control or reigning in the medical insurers (who, as we know, are the biggest source of misery and economic hardship in the country), which is how you know the author truly doesn't believe that life is precious. This article is just clickbait written by someone jumping on the emotional porn bandwagon but unfortunately that puts you in their sights.
The fauxrage I read is so reminiscent of the demise of Silk Road. Silk road was a godsend to anyone who wanted to understand their narcotics of interest and enabled people to consume with a reasonable degree of certainty that it wouldn't poison them and they were getting what they paid for. The amount of good drug education information lost because the site was taken down was criminal.
So, thank you for this site - it helped many who have passed to do so as peacefully as possible and helped those who decided to give life another whirl.
I hope your future gives you everything thing you wish for.

 

[SlipAway]

Hello, members of the community.

Today, I announce my resignation as operator. By tomorrow, this account will be permanantly deleted and I won't have any access to the site, administrative permission, or anything to do with the backend.

Since Serge isn't involved with the site and I'm resigning too, I've spent the last week transferring everything over to the new operator, someone capable and trustworthy who you will get to know very soon. They will also be a familiar face around here, too.

I do not take this decision lightly, but in light of recent events, I believe that putting this community in the hands of someone I trust and who cares about this community is the right call. My mission and desire here has always been to make sure that everyone has the freedom to speak freely about issues around suicide and mental health, topics that you can't talk openly about anywhere else. I believe this site has done good in the world and I am certain that this community has saved countless lives. Many people may not believe that, and to them I say: Ask around, you'll be surprised.

The way the NYT has twisted the purpose of this community and the good that it has done has been very damaging to everyone. Not only did they make a transparent attempt to take this site down, but they did so in the most unethical and dishonest way possible.

This place is full of caring people that are hurting, looking for someone to talk to, or looking for support in life. We are not a cult, far from it. While it is true that many people come here during their darkest moments, myself included, my main intent has always been to make this place into somewhere people can talk about issues in their life, suicide included, without judgment or without being shoved off to a crisis hotline that doesn't care about their well being.

This community has brought me peace and solace, in the fact that before I started it, I was in a very dark time of my life myself.

Community support works, and I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for this community. Although I have researched methods and at one point considered taking my own life, I was able to find some purpose and meaning in my life by being a part of this community. Thank you all for being there when I needed it the most.

I have received thanks from many members on and off this site that tell me that the forum has helped them make friends, and feel at ease about whatever bad is going on in their life. I have also had the opportunity to speak to some of those grieving over the loss of family or loved ones, and I got a chance to hear from them too. As a person that has experienced loss myself, twice in the last year alone, I know that it is not easy to get over losing a loved one. I have much sympathy for those that have gone through the same, and my condolences go out to them.

The truth is that I and many others have been painted as villains for running this community. I have been called such things as callous, dangerous, despicable, angry, or even a "murderous psychopath", but people who know me know that I am far from that, inside and outside this community. Some people may not be happy that this forum exists, but this great community has a purpose, one that started in a subreddit banned out of the blue by Reddit in order to make way for advertisers and to make their site more palatable to investors. They have long abandoned their free speech stance in order to make a quick buck. But this site will never sell out, have ads, or anything of the kind. This place is for you, and for everyone who needs a place to express themselves and feel better.

I have made many friends here, many of whom I would like to still keep in touch with after I resign.

You all have been wonderful, I'm going to miss you all.

Signing off for good,

Marquis

I'm new here, but am grateful for this forum and am very sorry to hear of Marquis' resignation.

 

[SunnyPotato]

Thank you for everything, it has meant the world to so many. It's telling how many of us have said something along the lines of how the support here has improved our lives and empowered us to carry on for longer, should we choose to. To feel understood, embraced and met with compassion when you're at the point where you seek out this forum is so immense. In my darkest moments I've felt less alone and less helpless. If there's anything in that article I can agree with is that I do see you as a hero for your part in this community. Stay safe out there, and know the heavy hearted gratitude your community feels towards you.

 

[OrcWitch]

I'm sorry it came to this.

 

[xxsweetopheliaxx]

Hello, members of the community.

Today, I announce my resignation as operator. By tomorrow, this account will be permanantly deleted and I won't have any access to the site, administrative permission, or anything to do with the backend.

Since Serge isn't involved with the site and I'm resigning too, I've spent the last week transferring everything over to the new operator, someone capable and trustworthy who you will get to know very soon. They will also be a familiar face around here, too.

I do not take this decision lightly, but in light of recent events, I believe that putting this community in the hands of someone I trust and who cares about this community is the right call. My mission and desire here has always been to make sure that everyone has the freedom to speak freely about issues around suicide and mental health, topics that you can't talk openly about anywhere else. I believe this site has done good in the world and I am certain that this community has saved countless lives. Many people may not believe that, and to them I say: Ask around, you'll be surprised.

The way the NYT has twisted the purpose of this community and the good that it has done has been very damaging to everyone. Not only did they make a transparent attempt to take this site down, but they did so in the most unethical and dishonest way possible.

This place is full of caring people that are hurting, looking for someone to talk to, or looking for support in life. We are not a cult, far from it. While it is true that many people come here during their darkest moments, myself included, my main intent has always been to make this place into somewhere people can talk about issues in their life, suicide included, without judgment or without being shoved off to a crisis hotline that doesn't care about their well being.

This community has brought me peace and solace, in the fact that before I started it, I was in a very dark time of my life myself.

Community support works, and I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for this community. Although I have researched methods and at one point considered taking my own life, I was able to find some purpose and meaning in my life by being a part of this community. Thank you all for being there when I needed it the most.

I have received thanks from many members on and off this site that tell me that the forum has helped them make friends, and feel at ease about whatever bad is going on in their life. I have also had the opportunity to speak to some of those grieving over the loss of family or loved ones, and I got a chance to hear from them too. As a person that has experienced loss myself, twice in the last year alone, I know that it is not easy to get over losing a loved one. I have much sympathy for those that have gone through the same, and my condolences go out to them.

The truth is that I and many others have been painted as villains for running this community. I have been called such things as callous, dangerous, despicable, angry, or even a "murderous psychopath", but people who know me know that I am far from that, inside and outside this community. Some people may not be happy that this forum exists, but this great community has a purpose, one that started in a subreddit banned out of the blue by Reddit in order to make way for advertisers and to make their site more palatable to investors. They have long abandoned their free speech stance in order to make a quick buck. But this site will never sell out, have ads, or anything of the kind. This place is for you, and for everyone who needs a place to express themselves and feel better.

I have made many friends here, many of whom I would like to still keep in touch with after I resign.

You all have been wonderful, I'm going to miss you all.

Signing off for good,

Marquis

Take care, we will love and miss you dearly❤

 

[DetachedDreamer97]

I've been a long time member of the community, who has been lurking in the shadows lately. But I emerge to say one thing:

Marquis, we may not have spoken to each other personally, but you've done us all a service in making this site. Cause if it weren't for this site and the community, I would've probably been more impulsive and attempted as there's no other place for me to discuss and vent as openly as it is here. Contrary to what most outsiders think, this community has always been pro-choice, and never in my life have I've seen anyone encourage one to kill themselves. In fact, if we can, we'd try to help them make life better, especially when someone is being impulsive with their decision. Speaking of which…

While it's true I'm obsessed with finding rhe perfect method to ctb, I too also regained the will to live, as I found some hidden strength, no thanks to anyone but this site and the community.

Thank you for everything, and farewell.

~Nathan

 

[FuneralCry]

It is important we have somewhere that respects our right to die. Thank you for everything you did for the community.

 

[angelus]

I'm still shocked and I can't believe this just happened.
You're family Marquis, and you'll be truly missed, but we're always here with you, I hope you'll always be here with us, as a member.
Your determination, perseverance and work here were priceless.
I'm infinitely grateful that you exist and that you gathered this family.
It really saved and improved countless lives, but our enemies don't care about us, about truth and reality, they're monsters and their reality and only truth is themselves.
Here I have found answers, wisdom, genuine compassion and care, but most of all I found true, genuine people, human connections, empathy, support and understanding, true friends, who I was gratefully able to support back, listen to, care about and genuinely love.
We must all protect this community to safely go on decades from now.
This is the last hope of the hopeless.
SS is my last hope and my last try in my life. My last love....

 

[sivvie]

Sad to see you go.. Thank you for all that you've done. Good luck with everything, sending love and hugs. <3

 

[Life sucks]

I'm sorry this happened. This forum is a part of me and I consider it my home and I think many members share the same feelings, when their lives are full of pain and there is no peace and on top of that, there nowhere to belong to, because most people think it's ok to suffer and provide no solution or anything to help. I feel very sad because of what happened, I wish you peace and good luck. Thanks for everything.

 

[not-2-b-the-answer]

So sorry to see you go. What you and Serge created has helped so many. There isn't anywhere else to say how we really feel. If not for S.S. I would have chosen a more dangerous method. Most likely to fail. I may not even be here anymore if it weren't for the kind people I've talked to. I wish you the best, you certainly deserve it.

Peace

 

[WrongPlaceWrongTime]

Thank you for everything, Marquis. Amidst the fucked up world that treats suicide as a sort of crime, this place gives those in despair a glimmer of comfort in being able to share their true thoughts without the fear of being stigmatized or treated as insane.

 

[maakies]

I have not been here long, but I am sad to see you go regardless. Thank you for all your hard work. I work in freelance media including news media what was written was disheartening. They are exploiting a community of people that already have nowhere to turn. I wish you the best.

 

[ayb]

Thank you Marquis.

 

[Depressed_Kettle]

Thank you for everything you have done on this site, M.

I haven't been on here long and I don't know you at all except from what I see you post but from what I've seen you have been great for this site and have never been rude. You and this site didn't deserve to be treated this way by the NYT and other organizations so I totally understand why you have made this decision. I wish you all the best.

 

[kiuya]

Thank you for everything, Marquis. Really fucked up to see that NYT would resort to doxxing you and Serge, simultaneously smearing suicidal people as the bad guys. Just proves the point that normies think that a little bit of therapy will fix everything and that we just need some counseling!
Also very weird to emphasize that we have kids here even though its clearly stated in the rules that you need to be 18+, it's even asked during the registration process.
I don't get why we cannot be just left alone. Not everyone here wants to start recovering.

 

[Secrets1]

what's really crazy about it that i think it's lousy journalism. it was an article with mainly a clear agenda without even showing the other side. i didn't expect that from a newspaper with that reputation cause this is in my opinion really closer to yellow press level of journalism.

Always loved the NYT. Called their editorial review and told them they lost a supporter for the 1 sided perspective provided and downplaying of any positive impact. It doesn't need to be said because it's understood by the community. Life is not all roses but I'm in a much better place now than when I 1st joined the site, largely because of it. My commitment towards suicide isn't active. I made an important friend who I communicate with about deeply personal issues regularly off this site and has provided support that is too great to measure. My friend has also recommitted to life and I know this site played a role.

I'd encourage others to contact NYT by phone, provide courteous feedback that their article is biased and does not respect my life. They suggested to write an email but I don't want to get involved in any potential future story. It's a quick, easy process. Their # is 800-698-4637. I'm so disheartened a newspaper that I respected and thought maintained higher ethics than their counterparts, whose values are related to free speech took such an approach. Literally sick to my stomach. Won't be checking general news related to the outside world much at all now. Covid, whatever. I'm in NY state and not vaxxed. Just a roll of the dice if it makes its way towards me.

Marquis, thank you for protecting the site, its members and responding to these attacks in such a professional manner. I deeply hope you aren't subject to excessive harassment by anyone in light of this article.

 

[VoidDesirer22]

Marquis your legacy in my life is easily in top 5 most impactful. Before finding this site I was despairing about how 8 billion people couldn't produce even a single global community united on peacefully returning to where we were forcibly extracted from. I love you man. Thanks for everything.

 

[DocNo]

I always loved the NYT. Called their editorial review and told them they lost a supporter for the 1 sided perspective provided and downplaying of any positive impact. It doesn't need to be said because it's understood by the community. Life is not all roses but I'm in a much better place now than when I 1st joined the site, largely because of it. My commitment towards suicide isn't active. I made an important friend who I communicate with about deeply personal issues regularly off this site and has provided support that is too great to measure. My friend has also recommitted to life and I know this site played a role.

I'd encourage others to contact NYT by phone, provide courteous feedback that their article is biased and does not respect my life. They suggested I write an email but I didn't want to get involved in any potential future story. It's a quick, easy process. Their # is 800-698-4637. I'm so disheartened a newspaper that I respected and thought maintained higher ethics than their counterparts, whose values are related to free speech took such an approach. Literally sick to my stomach. Won't be checking general news related to the outside world much at all now.

The slant of this article is beyond the pale given how legal euthanasia is gaining support internationally as a compassionate, sometimes appropriate act.

If Marquis reads this, thank you for protecting the site, its members and responding to these attacks in such a professional manner. I deeply hope you aren't subject to excessive harassment by anyone in light of this article.

pretty much the same story i have. i also became very close friends with somebody and we share our deepest personal issues. and we both also have a more positive outlook at the moment. without the site it would be much more likely that both of us would have ceased to exist already.

one thing this site did teach me which i think we always have to remind ourselves. life is a very grey area. nobody should forget that before playing the good/evil game. cause lack of empathy only leads to spirals of escalation which is damaging for everybody.

 

[mlha]

Thank you Marquis.

 

[Tintypographer]

I think that there are dozens of us who would gladly take over this site. I would personally give my real name and details to the fix the 26 to let them research my back ground and see what they can find. They will find me a truly hurting, successful, churchgoing business person with almost no online presence at all besides being kicked out of the suicide forum website for being down enough to question therapy as a treatment method and desiring to end my life .

We have no place to go to discuss our thoughts and emotions and I truly appreciate this site. I can understand completely their hurt, I lost a daughter to suicide and my family has familial severe depression. This is it when you face treatment resistant depression whether or not someone in the media and on a loud forum wants to be challenged or not. I choose not to challenge them because they give up arguing and make me feel terrible when I can't be treated.

Thank you for running this site.

 

[Sherri]

I'm devastated reading this, Marquis you have done so much for the site, I'm so sad you are leaving. Sigh… can't you change your mind its just a crazy article. Hurts to see you go , you have done so much for me and for so many. I'm about to cry, the master , the captain is leaving us. Speechless, a big hug to Marquis, thanks for saving many lives including mine. I wish you all the best in your life and for me you will be the face of SS. Much love and respect to you, it's weird not seeing your avatar, hugs. Marquis, you will be missed by 20k users.

 

[TotallyIsolated]

Terribly sad but understandable. Thanks for standing up for us Marquis.

 

[Blue_mist]

Thanke you Marquis! You created a sanctuary for all of us from this brutal life. You will be missed here.
Guys let's all boycott NYT.

 

[StarryStarry]

Thanke you Marquis! You created a sanctuary for all of us from this brutal life. You will be missed here.
Guys let's all boycott NYT.

I wouldn't wipe my butt with that rag.