Why do people cancel their Fluther account? Why not just stop participating?

I think some people like to end things more definitely than others. I’m kind of like that. I’m a highly organized person, so if I decide not to use a service anymore or participate in a online site and I’m sure I won’t be using it again, I always close my account. It’s just my way of being organized in my life. I’d only leave the account open if I think I might come back. Other people might do it because they were angry or for another reason, but for me it’s just a part of being really anal um, organized.

Some people delete their accounts because they know they do not have the discipline to stay away from the site and they have to for one reason or another. Some do it out of anger; some just for closure.

I would imagine, that closing it is something people do when they are angry for some reason, as some kind of protest. a kind of screw you deal. personaly, im the kind that just stops showing up in the case that i am bored, and the kind that will stay and troll if i am pissed off for some reason.

the other possibility, is they are still here. that they liked the site so much that they closed their account and opened another one with a new name.

i my self have already “quit” once, on this account. its something i will do from time to time, mainly when i have a lot of work to do, or perhaps if i am going some place. i expect i will be here 8 or 9 months out of the year until the site either closes, or gets sold on to some big company that starts to run it in to the ground *cough, youtube.

I have noticed a number of users delete their accounts when they’re angry at the site, often after a series of rants about the modding, (the term “gestapo” was used recently), or because “no one here has a sense of humor” (often those users’ “funny” quips are of the maturity level of bathroom humor). Seems like a lot of “snit-quitting” going on.

They probably want to stop getting notifications to their email

@Aesthetic_Mess ; You can turn off the email notification feature. I don’t remember how, sorry, but I managed to. Ask Augustlan or someone who knows…

I had closed my account for a few months, not because I was angry or undisciplined, but because I was feeling vulnerable with the information I had posted. I was concerned about someone I know discovering my account. Weeks after closing my account, I created another one. Having to go through the newbie probation period again didn’t feel so good, especially since I knew many jellies. I didn’t want to out my new account, so using it became inauthentic to me. Eventually I decided to resume my old account after I accepted the vulnerability that comes along with authenticity. The new account I’ve not used since resuming my old account, and I’ve not deleted it either.

@JilltheTooth Where’s Augustlan? I need to find him

Different reasons. I came from AB and so did many of my friends. Most of them left here for different reasons. Not going to be negative this early in the day….leave it there.

@Aesthetic_Mess Augustlan is a lady. =)

I just started this account and I’ve thought several times already about dropping it. It’s fun… and it’s distracting. I get on here when I should be doing work. I had a blind LiveJournal account that I used only for LJ communities and I closed it for the same reason: to get rid of the temptation and to stop myself from getting so wrought up about stupid online arguments.

@Aesthetic_Mess ; She’s probably asleep right now, she works very weird hours.
Try this: Go to “My Account”, right next to your avatar picture up there on the right. In “Account Settings” go about halfway down to “Notifications” and click. Should be clear from there. (I hope).

Because they are big cry babies.

@Aesthetic_Mess ^ like @JilltheTooth says.

I am guilty of banning myself when there are things I need to get done. Then I go groveling to @Augustlan to unban me.

Also a lot of users simply switch to a new account. I am not sure why.

I think it’s usually an emotional thing when people delete their accounts. Maybe they are angry with fluther or the moderators, or feel they have been treated unfairly. Maybe they don’t like what fluther has become. Maybe they are going through a particularly difficult time in their lives.

Letting your account go fallow for a while as you just don’t show up any more happens for other reasons. Maybe you are busy, but plan on coming back. Maybe you are trying to avoid someone. Maybe you just want a break.

You’d have to ask every person who left, however they left, why they left the way they did. I think that question would get you more information than just speculating about it.

I deleted mine purely because I needed to focus on school, and if I had kept it open I know I still would have used Fluther as a distraction.

I think you answered the question in your detail: It’s often a statement. A deliberate and irrevocable statement of firm intent.

It’s a toned-down version of the same ‘statement’ that people make sometimes when killing themselves, instead of just “leaving to find a new place in the world”.

Drama queens.

It is super addicting o.o can’t… stop… checking…fluther!!! So if I were going to make myself stop I’d delete otherwise, I’d just be back the next day.. Because I’m pitiful and have no self control lol

I deleted mine once out of pure anger over an exchange with another member—but reinstated it again a few weeks later, resolving not to jump into or hang around threads that got too contentious for my taste.

“I deleted mine once out of pure anger over an exchange with another member”

Yep… Drama queens.

@prolificus What “probation period” are you referring to? There are no probation periods here.

I believe what @prolificus meant was that time when everyone “abuses” the newbie.

I have closed mine once on purpose. All you need to know about it is here.

I have closed an account two times before this one, each under a different screen name. I didn’t do it because of anything to do with the fluther or the jellies. I closed the account each time I felt co workers might have discovered my fluthering. There wasn’t any reason to keep the old accounts.

I closed my first account because 1) I wanted a different name and 2) I didn’t want to be associated with that account anymore. Wanted to start over and not be associated with anything that I had done while using that account.

I’m with @FutureMemory on that one. Drama Queens.

Some people’s emotions run high around here. What happens to them here is a very serious matter affecting much of their lives. They are the the few, the jellies, the drama queens!

Others can take it or leave it. They think the amount of emotions a person feels here is way out of whack, maybe even just plain stupid. In any case, nothing to take seriously.

To each their own, I say. Live and let live. No need to judge. All you have to do is ignore it if it bothers you. If you can’t ignore it, then you are a closeted drama queen.

I’m a drama queen and I’m proud of it!!!!

I’ve done this on other Q & A websites. First of all if I am not involved with a website anymore I have no need to keep a picture of myself nor a profile. It just seems safer that way to me.

As far as why some people may delete their accounts some people like serious answers to topics that interest them. I expect that myself and I would definately say if I do not get that on here I will delete my account as well and find something else.

Everyone has different reasons for joining sites like this. Some use them as a way to meet people or just mainly for socialization purposes. Some prefer to goof around on topics in fun. That is not me, not being able to conduct a reasonable debate (when I do not mind debating an issue) or discussion (when I do not want to debate) on topics that interest me will most certainly be a reason for me to disappear and look for better waters. Ignorant users like I’ve dealt with on other sites who are disrespectful will be another reason.

I try to feel around. If I do not feel comfortable on any site I do not see the point of keeping an account active for I would rather forget that I’ve ever found it in the first place. Kind of like Match.com.

@Dog You can ban yourself?

Yes he can, just like any of us can. Let’s hope that he doesn’t do it again though.

Right, then there will be no one to whack my knuckles with a ruler.

@ChazMaz ummm, are you sure? I thought I saw a line behind dog for that opportunity once.

@Pied_Pfeffer ; I heard it wasn’t a line anymore, but a teeming, milling mob. Just a rumor… ;-)

where’s the love

There ya go.

And another one.

Psst @Pied_Pfeffer @dog is a female.

Whoops! I knew that.

@Aesthetic_Mess Actually yes a mod can ban themselves ( which is different than disabling your account ) and then we are immediately kicked off the site. Handy if you have a serious deadline and lack willpower. :)

@chyna – probation period = having to earn stripes (aka trust, credibility, etc) and what @ChazMaz said.

I can only speak for myself. I deleted my account September 1 and just returned. I deleted it because I was dealing with a lot in my life and I was taking a few things a bit too personally here. I am a little offended by the drama queen statement.(maybe some people that delete their account are.) I’m far from a drama queen. In fact, there were a few drama queens I was getting very tired of seeing around here, and I just didn’t want to deal with it on top of my problems at home. I also deleted it to keep me from logging in, because I am a bit addicted to this site. Then there is also the fact that I hate to offend anyone by not answering a pm. This way, no one could send me pm’s and I wasn’t missing any messages.

The break did me a lot of good. I’m happy to be back.

We missed you, @jonsblond , but now I’m twisting my brain all up trying to figure out your puzzle.

@jonsblond So glad you’re back – too many good ones gone.

@janbb @JilltheTooth Thank you.

I would like to take back the statement that I’m offended. Only a drama queen would be offended. I’m not offended. ;)

I never said you were a drama queen!