It -is- a lack of leadership to turn tail when things get tough, yes.
If the fandom was so unpleasant to him, then it would have been so a week ago prior to the Vanity Unfair article. Those he points to as being "holes in the fandom" did not simply vanish overnight - they've been coming and going for some time, as is normal in any fandom. His timing tells volumes about the real reason for his departure. Isn't it odd that he didn't quit until two loudmouths gave us, collectively, some bad press? I'd have far more respect for him had he resigned and left a month ago rather than now. We need people we can count on in leadership roles like con-staff.
But I agree that if someone feels "used" and doesn't enjoy things anymore, then it -is- time to move on. Me, I'd much rather stay around and continue to be a part of the genre, good and bad (as I cannot think of any hobby that lacks a dark corner.) At least I can claim that I tried when trying took some intestinal fortitude. There is many times more fun than unfun in furry. Besides, I left SF ages ago in the face of hostile action, and I missed out on 17 years of fun as a result. I will not make the same error again.
And I -still- say that people are making way too much of the article. My wife, who is the antithesis of all things furry or SF, blew the article off with a shrug. "So what?" was her main comment. "They'll print whatever it takes to sell magazines. Nobody pays any attention to it (the press) anymore."
Reality is not only stranger than we think, it's stranger than we CAN think!
It -is- a lack of leadership to turn tail when things get tough, yes.
If the fandom was so unpleasant to him, then it would have been so a week ago prior to the Vanity Unfair article. Those he points to as being "holes in the fandom" did not simply vanish overnight - they've been coming and going for some time, as is normal in any fandom. His timing tells volumes about the real reason for his departure. Isn't it odd that he didn't quit until two loudmouths gave us, collectively, some bad press? I'd have far more respect for him had he resigned and left a month ago rather than now. We need people we can count on in leadership roles like con-staff.
But I agree that if someone feels "used" and doesn't enjoy things anymore, then it -is- time to move on. Me, I'd much rather stay around and continue to be a part of the genre, good and bad (as I cannot think of any hobby that lacks a dark corner.) At least I can claim that I tried when trying took some intestinal fortitude. There is many times more fun than unfun in furry. Besides, I left SF ages ago in the face of hostile action, and I missed out on 17 years of fun as a result. I will not make the same error again.
And I -still- say that people are making way too much of the article. My wife, who is the antithesis of all things furry or SF, blew the article off with a shrug. "So what?" was her main comment. "They'll print whatever it takes to sell magazines. Nobody pays any attention to it (the press) anymore."
Reality is not only stranger than we think, it's stranger than we CAN think!