This is a truly sad day. Rick, please reconsider. You know where to reach me. Your friend, Lucky 6.9 04:37, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

There is no reason to continue here, you say. Well, there's always the hope of creating a worthwhile encyclopedia. It's horribly difficult, and there'll always be a great number of trolls, braggarts, loudmouth ignoramuses and morons. Yes, an awful lot of time is spent on whack-a-mole. Moreover, normally OK people do sometimes misread the intentions and actions of other normally OK people, leading to even more exhausting arguments. But somehow WP manages to have an increasing number of articles that have a better ratio of (good) signal to noise than do the non-WP alternatives -- thanks to you and people like you. So take a break, and then welcome back whenever you feel like it. -- Hoary 04:57, 2005 Jun 21 (UTC)

Rick, please reconsider. I'll buy you a beer the next time I'm in the Bay Area if you do. Hell, I may buy you a beer just on general principle.

And if you need back-up, let me know -- I really don't have time these days to do serious editing/writing, but helping out like that doesn't take up a great deal of time. --Calton | Talk 04:59, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I know we've never spoken or worked together, but I always see you doing great patrolling and reverting work. Wiki needs you, please come back :-( Craigy File:Uk flag large.png (talk) 05:03, Jun 21, 2005 (UTC)

You've been a help to me. Illegitimus non carborundum! Fire Star 05:04, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Goodbye, Rick. I hope you'll find use for your immense passion and dedication elsewhere.--Eloquence* 06:29, Jun 21, 2005 (UTC)

I am so sorry this has happened, RickK. You're a good guy. You were the very first tireless RC patroler I ever saw in action when I first joined, my first impression of you is no different than it is today: you are a defender of knowledge against the barbarian hordes who would see it all destroyed. Please come back, when you are ready. func(talk) 06:38, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Goodbye RickK. I have not always agreed with you, but you have always acted for what you think is good for Wikipedia. One of the fundamental rights is the right to leave and so is the right to return. There is still a place for you in Wikipedia if you want it. Should you choose not to, then I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Sjakkalle (Check!) 07:05, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Rick, I too am very sorry to see you go. Your work here has made Wikipedia a far better place, even if you don't return. I hope (although it is unlikely) that my recent comments on WP:AN played no part in your decision. As I explained on the talk page, I unprotected the article so that another administrator could protect it, to avoid any appearance of administrative power abuse. Another administrator then protected it which was my desired action. I hope you do return, perhaps after taking a nice Wikivacation. If you do, I think you'll find that you don't have to fight your battles alone; others will be there to support you if you let them. — Knowledge Seeker দ 07:23, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Just to echo what everyone else has said above, you'll be missed and I hope you can return soon from your Wikibreak. jni 08:00, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I'm really sorry to see you leave like that. Please come back soon, we need people like you to stand fast against the hordes of trolls and the like. Radiant_>|< 08:22, Jun 21, 2005 (UTC)

I too hope that this will turn out a wikibreak, Rick, you do leave a gap in the phalanx. I do not think the system is flawed fatally, but it is cruel. Wikipedia prevails while users are burnt out, heroic ones and barbarian ones alike. dab (ᛏ) 08:25, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

It would sad to see one of my favorite administrators go. Please reconsider. If you're still determined to go, go with my best wishes for the future. --Tony Sidaway|Talk 11:07, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

• Wikipedia needs you. I'm serious. Don't give up. Andrew Lenahan - Starblind 11:59, Jun 21, 2005 (UTC)

You were an inspiration for me to join wikipedia. A negative one perhaps:

"Messages by anonymous people will be deleted on sight"

Ahuh, well, I'd show you!

I see you changed the message later though, that was much friendlier. I think you matured a lot in the time you were here.

You're one of The Last Of The WikiWarriors. It's been nice having you here! :-) Kim Bruning 12:54, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Heya RickK, you don't know me, and until I saw this page, I didn't know anything about you. I'm kind of distressed that you feel the way you do, though, because I'm sure that the majority of Wikipedia users are, like me, in quiet awe of the fact that Wikipedia continues to exist and thrive in the face of constant pressure from every angle. Between bias, deceit, vandalism and simple carelessness, most of us would have expected Wikipedia to fall over long ago. The fact that it doesn't is an impenetrable mystery to most of us, even those of us who contribute here and there. Good luck no matter what you do, and take care! Harmil 13:18, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Please forgive me, RickK. I will leave you alone from now on. I am the one who should leave wikipedia. 205.217.105.2 13:19, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Wow, I had quite a shock this morning. It's a sad day for Wikipedia when we lose one of our most active and important admins. Best of luck to you, and I join many others in wishing you well and hoping that your WikiRetirement will change into a WikiBreak. --Deathphoenix 13:45, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I am saddened to see you leave. I never noticed you before as you are too fast of an anti vandal person. I sincerely encourage you to come back. I hope this is a temprorary wiki-vacation. I agree with your analogy though. Vandals, trolls and malactors are given increasing respect and thats something that scares away "good" users. --Cool Cat ^{My Talk} 15:39, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Oh, Rick! Please don't leave. There truly isn't anyone else like you on Wikipedia...and I know I'll miss you, probably for a different reason than others. Please email me and keep in touch, okay? Mike H 16:02, Jun 21, 2005 (UTC)

I'm not sure that we've interacted before - and quite possibly we would hate each other, but it's impossible to be on wikipedia and not come accross your work, or not know about the huge amount of janitorial work you've done. Wikipedia has lost out today. -- Joolz 19:26, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for not blaming me this time. I agree with you that there are major flaws in the system. Hopefully they're not fatal, though.

I suggest you wait a couple months, then come back with a different username. Like myself you've made a lot of enemies here (though at least you have the administration on your side). But if you use a different username and keep a low profile, people aren't going to bother you, and you can continue actually creating an encyclopedia. anthony 22:28, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)