It's the 'brave' but ineffectual speech that many people,
particularly those who feel the need to condemn others for not
having lived up to their prejudiced views of what alt.tarot is
supposed to be, make when they feel compelled to publicly announce
they are no longer going to post to this newsgroup.

It's a variation of Nixon's infamous---'you won't have Nixon
to kick around anymore,' comments. It's often dunked in
the same bucket of cant.

Over the years, the similarities of these speeches, given over
and over again in slightly different but always dreary forms,
caused us to simplify the form---OBES. When people start whining
about styles and not paying much attention to content here,
when they start mentioning the 'c' word, civility, and
complaining about the lack of same from others, those
are signs (albeit, not necessarily absolute indications)
that the person is drafting his OBES and will soon be
feeling 'obliged' to tell us all off and then won't WE
ever feel bad about it.

So far, few people have felt particularly bad about it.

In fact, OBES's can be opportunities for celebrating a sense
of accomplishment---one less sanctimonious nitwit to gum up the
'works'.

Of course a lot of these people hang around for years in
lurk mode or 'plot' mode and I suspect a lot of them reappear
wearing variations of AOL disguises, but once one has delivered
an honest-to-(G)oddess OBES, the ignominy of it rather stains
whatever remains of the dregs of his life.

You can assist yourself in not feeling obliged to make some
'brave', but lame, speech of exit, by reading the
FAQ for this newsgroup:

http://lonestar.texas.net/~r3winter/tarotfaq.html

It does explain the 'rules'. It also explains the predominant
point of view that shapes discourse here. And it will likely
teach you some things about tarot.

(jk)