Posted: 28^th February 2008

So this is it.

It's been two years and three months since my first editorial as Editor of The Post. And reader, this is my last.

I've been planning this, my last address to the masses, for at least two weeks. When it comes down to it, I'm not entirely sure what to say, other than just sounding melodramatic. But I'm proud of what I've done. I think I might have witnessed more editorial changes than most Post staff members — from the time Awix helped me learn how to edit the Regulars on the job, through months of solo Posting, to this very day, characterised by a full-fledged editorial team, the most active group of volunteers we've had in years. I'd like to think I had a hand in getting us from 2005 to 2008.

Repeating those dates reminds me of what's gone on in the real world in two years and three months. When I began editing The Post, I was fifteen, in my second year of secondary school. I was reasonably naîve, I was young, and most all I knew about the world was how to avoid a comma splice. I loved copy-editing, I loved journalistic editing, and I still do. But I am eighteen years old now. I have travelled from San Francisco to Moscow, I have studied two foreign languages and higher-level mathematics, I write my own work with correctly-used commas, and in just about six months I will be leaving my home and starting a new life at university. I've already discovered that there's more to life than commas, but six months from now I hope to realise that even the entire catalogue of punctuation and grammar is not sufficient to sum up human experience. Teenagers have short attention spans: after doing the same job for two years and three months, it's time to move on.

I can't walk out the door without a few acknowledgements: to Reefgirl and Awix, who gave me my first Post editing job; to the Post's guru and patron saint, Shazz, who taught me the ropes and has come to my rescue time and again; to Skankyrich, who in recent months particularly has been a rock of unwavering editorial strength, and to all the other Post staff members who have served under my tenure, such as Terran, lil, B'Elana, the faithful Titania and I hope I haven't left anyone else out: this editorial would not be possible without you. (And, as we say in the States, our viewers like you. Thank you!¹)

So I'd just like to say good luck to my successor, Rich, and his faithful team. And with that, I will ride off into the sunset. So long, and thanks for all the fish!

echomikeromeo

• 
  The h2g2 Poem
  


'My Hubby' by lil

• 
  Warp
  


Fascinating fiction by Xarin Sliron

• 
  The h2g2 Poem
  


'My Shirt' by Ms Ob

• 
  The h2g2 Poem
  


'Thanks' by PedanticBarSteward

• 
  The h2g2 Poem
  


'Ballade of Oscar' by Awix

• 
  The Faces
  


A great short story by Tibley Bobley

• 
  Bertie and the Beast
  


Sleepless and Unsettled, Part Four

• 
  Platypus Dancing
  


Meanwhile, deep in the recesses of the canine brain...

• 
  Platypus Dancing
  


Meanwhile, at the appointed time for the weekly ritual...

• 
  Smudger Snippets
  


One Winter's Morning

• 
  Nigel's Gardening Hints and Tips
  


Spuds 'R' Us

• 
  Babe Among the Stars
  


Hang on to your scopes - Galaxy Babe's back!

• 
  Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World
  


The Beady-Eyed Hypnotist

• 
  Random Ramblings
  


The end of an era, and some interesting ideas

• 
  The Emperor's New Lab Coat
  


Science under Felonious Monk's microscope

• 
  Toubab Travels
  


The first of Skankyrich's fantastic² travelogues from The Gambia

• 
  Announcements
  


Meets, sites, events etc

• 
  The Language Thing
  


Translations and Help

• 
  Classified Ads
  


Advertise your club here

• 
  The Post Page of Links
  


Links to all places h2g2 related