2001-04-02 - 9:33 a.m.
Good-Bye

Something happened last week that reminded me of the inherent lack of security in my life.

I turned on my cell phone one day to find a message waiting ... a message which I (erroneously thinking it to be important) immediately dialed in to hear. Instead, I found a half-minute of extreme profanity directed at me. The man didn't use any names; he simply railed at me awhile, 95% swear words, then hung up.

I got that cell phone AFTER leaving college. This means that number went out to very few folks ... my parents, my brother, my job, a small collection of the friends I thought I could trust. That leaves few avenues for the number to have gotten out.

Someone mentioned on their page, in an ill-intentioned jab at me, the name and webpage of my workplace. I don't think that's how it happened, although any close reader of my site could put that together with what I've said over the months and come right to my department, where they keep a list of staff and numbers.

It's more likely that the call was random ... or alternatively, that someone who hates me, and lives with someone who has that number, released it to someone who thought a little use of scare tactics would be fun.

Due to an email I recieved after first posting this message, I feel I should clarify ... I'm not accusing anyone in particular. There are at least two possibilities, and I DO feel that it is more likely random, or somebody I haven't thought of.

Well, I wasn't frightened. But it did surprise me a little. I didn't think there was anything about me to inspire such animosity ... I have very few enemies in my life. *shrug*

End result, though, is that I feel I should take this site down. It's served its purpose in my life. Now it's time I wrote other things, and shared with people in person, instead of pasting my thoughts up for the view of random souls I'll probably never meet, or connect with in any real way.

To continue posting would be just another way of hiding from the real world ... and also, a mild security risk that could get more serious. The benefits no longer outweigh the detractions.

It's been fun, guys ... I've enjoyed the diaryland experience. If anyone wants to talk to me in person after this, my Diaryland email links will continue to work for the next week or so, and I'll send you a better (lasting) email address. After that, this site will be nothing but a black screen with DISCONTINUED written across it.

I apologize to those who will be disappointed by this move. But it's something I need to do.

Farewell,
--Shellpatine