If people want to leave this forum voluntarily, whether prominent or not, there should be a thread where they can express why, IMO. Not for their benefit, but for the benefit of the folks who remain. This would be an appropriate mechanism for a site that is about many people, not the one, because the many want to be a part of the organization and understand the reason for major decisions.
Folks who are kicked off the list for violating policy should not have any right to further bother the list.
Sandy King
In the abstract I agree with you. In practice it hasn't worked out that way here or elsewhere. The people who have made intelligent, thoughtful comments upon their exits seem always to do them quietly, with class and often to the stakeholder(s) Sean and or the Mods.
They knew that the message held little value with a wider audience. Messages are often things like: I'm leaving because I personally can not accept or do not feel I should have to accept <fill-in the blank>.
When said in private to Sean or a moderator action may be able to be taken. When said in public every one who does accept <fill in the blank> goes ballistic or takes offence and nothing good comes of it.
Good examples on the value of the grand exit can be found on photo net. I lurked and posted there for years -- back when it was small and enjoyable. Although, I was entertained and often agreed with the grand exit posts I doubt there was one that was not an attack of some kind or that didn't degenerate into an ugly thread. The fact that I began to agree with more and more of them was an indication that it was time for me to leave the site.
If anyone wishes to leave the site, we, the moderators and Sean, want to know about it. If the membership wants to know why people have left I think we could consider building an area where the reasons can be listed, but where comments can not be left. We would need to edit it to the point where the information might be a bit thin. Many people leave because other people have been (in their mind and maybe in truth) given too much leeway. Many people leave because of the religious war (BTZS, Zone, Anti BTZS or Zone and a dozen other concepts and cameras) zealots. Many people leave because the rules are not followed, there are too many rules or that the place is a free for all with not nearly enough rules.
Sadly, seldom are there grand, intelligent, nuanced, differences between what the site is and what the poster wants.