Candlelight vigil for Techman.

I enjoyed our arguments.
I wonder if the Higher Up needs his computer fixed? The bugs removed.
He has tech support now.

Damn. Just....damn.

Heh, I think I was one of the ones who with him the most on issues, 'specially from the TNZ days.
Gotta admit, he held his ground.
And despite myself, he won my respect.
I remember one time, things had gotten particularly in RR, and I was feeling kinda afterwards, and then, as if nothing had happened, in GR, he complimented one of my Workshop stories, and my talent overall.
Stopped me dead in my tracks, I was like "...who IS this guy ".
From then on, I knew I was dealing with someone a bit more complicated than the cartoon I had in my head.
Oh, we'd still from time to time, but after awhile, I just kinda accepted him warts and all, and my needling was more along the lines of oke: and I'm pretty sure he knew it.



Y'know?
I dunno.
Not good with...stuff.

I thought for a moment that I'd really have to feign sadness over this.

I mean, Techman and I almost never ever *ever* got along, agreed on anything, had a good word for each other, or didn't take the chance to snipe at one another for a good long time.

And then in chat a few months ago we kinda clicked and I even started repping him on occasion - he made me think about things in a new way, and even then I often didn't agree, but there was an actual respect between us, or at least the beginnings. I really wish that had had a chance to flourish.

I am sad, we lost a strong focus and personality and while I am sure he's missed by his friends; he's also missed by some who he pissed off. In the end he always stuck to his guns; he was someone you could trust to say what he meant and mean what he said - and on the 'net that's a sign of integrity that few had as well as Techman.

I'll miss you

D'oh! Forgot to mention all the times he was awsome to me in chat!
(Fuggin Dickynoo, swiss cheese memory...)
Well he was.
Ironic his stance on cannabis, considering all the peace pipe that got smoked there.
Think we all have memories of him being a big time chat fixture.
He was Normie there too.

I honestly don't know what to say because I feel like I was always a dick to the guy, unfairly so. I used to rag on him for the stupidest shit. And I feel pretty bad about it right now. I don't know if I'm tearing up because I have pink eye or because this really sucks. A big part of WF has been taken away, far too early. It really makes me regret some of the stuff I said...even though I doubt he cared, I doubt he was hurt...but now... Makes you think. What's the point? OK so I disagree with you, so I think what you say is retarded, and your worldview is fucked...but you're probably a nice guy...you all are and what do we do? We flame away. We troll. We belittle and break each other down. We get carried away. And sure, at the end of the day, we're still WF and we're still a community...that's a nice way to think of things...but recent events show me that it really isn't 100% true. People do get hurt, pissed off, and pushed away. And then this happens and you've got to ask yourself...why?

I don't know if Techman and I had much in common. I know we both have old rangers and love them a lot. I know that we are both charter WF members and love this place a lot. I know that he had a fiance and loved her very much and was lonely when she was not there.

I know I'll miss him.

I'm so sorry.

I didn't really know him, but I would like to pay my respects.
I am so sorry for the loss.

R.I.P

Words fail me.

Godspeed soldier. See you on the high ground.

For anybody who doesn't already know, there are memorial threads for Tom at both TK and TBBS. He was liked by almost everyone who knew him, and he is missed everywhere he went.

I have very much underestimated the power of our community, and my affection for the folks who post here, for this has hit me hard.

I wish I hadn't just seen that lightbulb picture.

I owe you a lot of rep for this post, and when I'm recharged, you'll get it.

Nice that Bonzie put up a TBBS thread - I didn't think Tech had been there for so long that most of the crowd wouldn't remember him, but it's drawn quite a few comments from the old guard.

I remember when I first came here, I ragged on him a lot about his stance on homosexuality - his responses to mostlyharmless at TBBS seemed like trolling, but after you got to know the guy you realized he was just stating his beliefs... bluntly. I still disagree with him on that one, but I can't fault him for holding an honest opinion and sticking by it.

What a shame.

It's funny how only in death do we truly realize how important certain people were in our community and in our lives.

RIP

"algeinotera gar andri ge phronema echonti he meta tou malakisthenai kakosis e ho meta rhomes kai koines elpidos hama gignomenos anaisthetos thanatos."

"For it is more painful to a considerate man to be made bad by cowardice, than to die painlessly in a state of strength and fresh hope."

(-- Pericles in Thucydides' Peloponnesian War.)

When I saw this news, I knew I had to come back, if only for a few days, to post my thoughts.

I probably was closest to Techman, in distance I mean, and I knew him from TBBS to here, and knew he lived close by. I remember one time, when we were really get into it over gay rights or something, he really pissed me off and dared me to come by his house to challenge him on his beliefs.

I nearly did. Hell, I still have his address saved away somewhere, cause I thought later on I would like to meet him someday.

I've never gone to any meet-ups, never seen someone face-to-face that I've met here, and after this, I just feel...hollow. I wanted to meet Techman. Not to fight with him, but because he seemed like an interesting guy, the sort of fellow I'd enjoy chatting with, even though we disagreed on nearly everything.

I think I will always regret never taking the time to go visit him. Now that I can't, I'm left regretting it a great deal. I always thought "Well, there's no rush, and I have so much on my plate right now anyway. I'll see if he wants to meet for lunch some other time."

And now I'll never get to.

I am truly saddened by this loss, in a way I thought it was impossible to feel about someone you've never actually met. I think about how he was planning to get married, and it makes my heart ache. He was getting ready to start a whole new chapter of his life, halfway through it would sadly only seem, and I was genuinely happy and excited for him, though I never told him. I didn't know him well enough.

And there's the crux of it: I did not know him as well as I'd wanted to. I always thought I'd have the chance to get started on it, and now I won't.

And it makes my heart ache. I'll miss ya, Tom. I'll miss ya like hell.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.
Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, Soldiers must go to their beds
Always true to the promise that they made.
While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.


Bye, Sarge...

http://www.strategypage.com/gallery/images/tapswithorchestra.mp3

R.I.P.

I probably argued with him a lot, but that's why most of us come to WF - so he did his part to make the board a better place, and he'll be missed.

It's a beautiful place.


and again


That final piece of machinery by his final resting place.


I almost didn't take that last photo, but I thought of how much he would want to get on that Bobcat and dig something with it, it seemed appropriate somehow.

He loved this community, you guys were his friends and family....


This is shamelessly stolen from Donovan over at TK

mm

Was that a Ford Ranger in the background?

If so, it was very fitting.


And I'm trying to keep my composure until I get home, but that last pic almost undid me.

From "Roll Call For the Absent"

Before we part and go upon our way,
We pause to honor those we knew so well;
The old familiar faces we miss so much today
Left cherished recollections that time cannot dispel.
Softly call the Muster,
Let comrade answer, “Here!”
Their spirits hover ‘round us
As if to bring us cheer! Mark them ‘present’ in our hearts.
We’ll meet some other day
There is no death, but life etern
For our old friends such as they!

fuck

i have nothing to add to what others have said, but to say i'm going to miss reading his comments a great deal and i wish i'd had the honour of meeting him in RL.

my condolences to mm and his family, rest in peace tech, you'll be sorely missed round here.

Per his request that it be posted here, DarthSikle sends his condolences.

I came back to pay my respects. Techman and I argued a lot but it doesn't change the fact that he was a great guy who will be missed, part of me keeps waiting for his name to pop up and post something but I know that isn't going to happen. Thanks for all that you taught us! We will get to meet someday, until then rest in peace my friend.

Jenna

I'm mostly a lurker but I always enjoyed his posts even though I disagreed with them.

RIP man!

I saw Tasvir over at TK, and he wanted to extend his sympathies with us as well. (Tamar, if you're online, he mentioned that he'd like his account opened to post in this thread):
http://www.trollkingdom.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1135269&postcount=54

Woops, Anna already posted it!

I can't top what's been said, so I'll just sum up how I feel:

He was a good man, and we are all better for having known him.

I know you didn't believe in Him, but vaya con Dios. You are missed, sorely.

Wow, very sad news indeed.

Goodbye, Techman.

If the Painter needs a machine master, he knows who to call.

:usa::usn: