Thank you, Shog9

Question

@Shog9, a longtime Community Manager here at Stack Exchange, has just tweeted that he is no longer working at Stack Overflow:

@shog9: Well... I suddenly find myself in need of work.
If anyone's hiring: C++, JavaScript, C#, SQL + solid background in social software, community-driven development.

In light of this, I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you.

Thank you, Shog. You've been an integral part of Stack Overflow and the Stack Exchange network since the very beginning. You were among the most helpful people on the network, especially for moderators.
Losing your sense of humor, unique sense of communication, and point of view is a deep blow to SE.

Thank you for everything you've done for SE and the community. Good luck in whatever you choose to do next. *salutes*

Answer 1

No... Thank you.

My head's still spinning; nothing lasts forever, but... Sometimes we fool ourselves thinking it might. But one thing I know: I'm deeply, sincerely touched by this thread.

I've always considered y'all - the people who make up Stack Overflow - to be my boss, my leader in this job.

And... shit... y'all have been the best boss I've ever been privileged to work for. Quick with both praise and constructive criticism, never too busy to talk, knowledgeable on a seemingly infinite variety of topics but never too good to educate.

I've learned a lot from you over the years. Came into this as green as could be, but y'all were patient and understanding.

You've taught me what true collaboration is.

Thank you for allowing me to serve these past 9 years. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Answer 2

Nowadays I'm always logged out of Stack Overflow so I'm not tempted to contribute, but I have logged in for this.

The world must be crazy. Shog9 is, in large part, the embodiment of what I find amazing, inspiring and humane in this community and in Stack Overflow in general. I can't believe any sane company would let him go away.

A few things I really want y'all to know about Shog.

• At times I've been at my worst and he was the only one able to see the good in me. He helped me very much before I was hired, when I was at Stack and even after.
• He has a very fine mind and working with him on anti vote cheat tools (to say one random thing we did) was really fun.
• I am very proud to be his friend. He is one of the people I wanted to work with when I got hired. He is one of the coworkers I was always eager to meet at the few Stack Overflow meetups we had. In particular, the Denver one was... to remember.

All in all, Stack Overflow is definitely worse off today but I can't wait to see who is the lucky company where he lands next. I might apply too :-D

Answer 3

Shog,

You taught me how to conduct myself in a written form. You taught me how to convey compassion and empathy. You taught me the value of a subtle take. You taught me how to help open minds to change without trying to bend them to my will.

You taught me how to moderate.

You taught me how to make mistakes gracefully, and how to own up to them to strangers. You taught me the importance of listening.

Thank you.

Answer 4

I know I won't be the first or last, but I just wanted to say thank you for everything, Shog.

I'm going to share one of my favorite memories, too many Shogs.

May all those Shogs live on forever on Stack Exchange.

Answer 5

Logging in for this. Shog, if you're reading this, I know what you're going through and I'm here for you man. You make up a big chunk of my fond memories of SO's early years. You have shown me true kindness and humility. I have great respect for you as a coworker and a friend. We bonded over food many times. I wish you the best in your future adventures.

Here's the last photo I took of you when we hang out in person, enjoy!

Answer 6

There are folks I can't imagine this network be without. (and at this point, a few people I imagine we would be better off without). I think its pretty clear which one I consider Shog to be.

You will be missed - you had a gift for understanding the community and people. I've often said SE needed wisdom, grace and courage, and you're one of the folks who exemplifies all those qualities.

Of many baffling actions the company has done of late - I think this is one of the biggest.

We've lost too many good folks that actually knew what made this place great and made it home and yet, in the rush to build a shining city on the hill, other seem happy to pave it over.

Until recently my dream job was to be a CM here (Applied twice. They made excellent picks that were not me). There's a bunch of folks who... were, and still on the team who I consider friends. Shog? I looked up to. Even if I jokingly refered to him as a miscreant.

I've often talked of moderation as an idea of worth. I don't think Shog's could be questioned. He often made hard decisions, and occationally strange ones (that kinda worked out).

Ironically, when folks in the company talk of "building and growing" the community, we're short of someone who was at the heart of what made this community

(also folks, I know y'all fix my spelling mistakes, but for this once, leave it be. )

Answer 7

This isn't a good news to hear at all. I'm definitely trying my best to hide my tears. Starting from when I was a new Stack Overflow moderator, till now, Shog has been a mentor and a role model to me and to others in the mod chat room. I would definitely miss Shog, and I am sure that he can never be replaced.

Shog used to work multiple extra hours just to make sure that things aren't going bad. He was one of the main people who were instrumental in getting a lot of the tag issues sorted out on Stack Overflow. Whenever we had any problem, or needed any data, Shog used to always be there and had become an integral part of our day to day lives. I definitely can't imagine how hard moderation would be without him.

Shog was also very helpful in setting up autoflagging in SOBotics, writing some of the autocomments for us. (He even spared enough time for an interview!).

Good luck Shog, I definitely know that you'd make your next employer proud.

Answer 8

Shog, the opportunity to work with and learn from you was a highlight of my 2019. Really sad to hear this news. I can't even imagine how different my experience (and hence the community's, too) would have been without the influence and wisdom you generously and patiently shared daily. The next team you work with will be a lucky one. Take care.

Answer 9

Shog9,

It's hard to imagine what this community would have been like without your guidance over the years. There's probably not a single other person who has had the same influence that you've had. Thank you for spending the last decade writing literally thousands of answers to our questions on this site specifically, and across the entire network. Thank you for your patience and your candor, your wit and wisdom, and your eloquence and grace. Most of all, thank you for your friendship.

This community will miss you, but I'm sure you'll end up somewhere great (and they'll be lucky to have you, too). We all wish you the best of luck, and I hope to see you again.

Answer 10

We may not always have seen eye to eye, but to me that's part and parcel of life.

To me, you are a huge part of what makes/made Stack Overflow (and its friends) what it is.

You will absolutely be missed.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

Answer 11

While I have not been a part of this site nearly as long as the many users who will take this news hard, I would like to contribute my two cents to the piggy bank of appreciation for Shog.

Your well-thought-out, often canonical posts on how to properly utilize the Stack Exchange network of sites have frequently guided me in my actions, and provided confidence that I was doing the right thing. Your way-too-detailed reports on experimental process changes scratched an itch I didn't know I had, as I marveled at how intricate even a narrow slice of this community was.

Your influence played a large factor in growing my interest in participating on these sites, and I know your legacy will continue to help and nurture those who come after. I wish you the best of luck on your future endeavors, and I don't think I speak wrongly when I say that we will all keep you in our thoughts.

Thank you.

Answer 12

Just a huge, monumental loss to our community as a whole. The ultimate peacekeeper, and a person I could not ever win an argument against (a good thing usually in our interactions).

Clearly his value wasn't recognized.

Best of luck good sir, you're one of the good ones!!

Answer 13

Shog, I first heard of you many years ago when I started being active on SE. Anyone who came anywhere near meta would inevitably stumble upon one of your many thoughtful, insightful and just damned fun posts. You were instrumental in setting the tone of SE and defining the way we, the community, interacted with the company. You affected me long before we ever had any sort of contact.

When I became a mod, you were the ideal I was aspiring to. I wished that one day, this little mod would grow into a full blown Shog. I would watch you handle tricky issues and upset users with a wisdom and grace I couldn't come close to matching. Wisdom is a word that is overused, but you have consistently displayed it in its most literal sense:

1a: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : INSIGHT

b: good sense : JUDGMENT

If I had to choose one word to describe you, I would go for wise. And yes, I am well aware that you are way too young for that, one has no right to be called wise until hitting at least 80. Nevertheless, that is the word I would choose.

Thank you. Thank you for all the years of effort and thankless work you have put into this place. Thank you for always trying your best. Thank you for teaching me so much, either directly or simply by example. Thank you for your truly impressive ability to cut through the chaff and identify the real issue, whatever that may be.

As others have said, that you will be missed is an enormous understatement. It's not so much that you will be missed as that your absence, more than pretty much anyone else's, will fundamentally change this network and these communities.

Fare well, Shog, fare ye well.

Answer 14

Shog, I'm sorry to see you go. Really sorry as in being sad over this. Sad for myself for losing someone I respect and value, and sad for Stack Exchange that lost its best Community Manager and its best and most solid bridge with the community, bridge that survived many storms.

I was going to call you Josh to make it more personal, but this chat message from the past made me think twice and use the name you prefer, Shog.

To this day I sometimes recall the time you called me "king", and it makes me so happy each time!

You are the real king, Shog. Now without a crown, or a diamond, but you don't need those to rule. Show the world what you worth, and I wish you the best of luck wherever you go.

Shadow9

P.S.
Your coffee is getting cold.

Answer 15

Dear Stack Overflow (the company),

Please take note. This is what good will from your community looks like. This is what you've given up in your new pursuits. This is what this community is capable of when you treat it with dignity. This is what we looked like before you decided we weren't "welcoming." This is what you've destroyed.

Even though most of my encounters with Shog were trying to argue him into a different position, I never distrusted his motives or efforts, even if I thought he or his method of defending a position was wrong. Despite my disagreements, I respected that he was ultimately doing his best to create an environment that fostered a healthy community of capable individuals to make Stack Overflow the best resource for information it could be. I know he cares about this site and the people who use it.

Respect is earned, not entitled. Whatever Shog's mistakes and failings might have been, he earned our respect. You have a great deal to learn from him, and that only makes his dismissal (regardless of whether you fired him for specific actions or simply laid him off) even more poignant.

Sincerely,

A frustrated, unwelcomed user

---

To Shog:

Thank you, Shog, for everything you've done for this community! This is Stack Overflow's loss. I know it's hurtful to be suddenly removed from a position where you could help the community you care so much about, but I am certain that you will be better off going than staying in this environment.

Answer 16

There are the announcements which catch you off guard. There are the ones that come out of left field. There are the statements that seem to be spun out of thin air.

And then, there's this.

Damn.

I honestly can't really string together besides a simple "thank you". It was your guidance and involvement on Meta Stack Overflow that made me stick around for probably far longer than I should've, and I feel to some extent you've helped me look and think critically at questions, and not think that everything can be solved in the same way all the time.

With that, take care, and maybe our paths will cross again one day.

Answer 17

The incident which illustrated to me most what sort of person Shog was, was the Min-Reprex: a less awkward name for MCVE. The community overwhelmingly showed its opposition to it and Shog came back with MCVExit redux: I don't need a milkshake to know when I've missed the mark.

He listened, engaged with the community, and returned with a solution which settled folk.

That's exactly what SE is missing and will be missed with Shog's departure.

Answer 18

Unfortunately, I spent most of my "initial" years on this network just on Stack Overflow, looking into the purely technical stuff. I only came to understand the real (human) powers of this network lately. I asked about "moderation statistics" some days back, and shog9 ... just put that up. No fuzz, just the maximum amount of transparency that was possible to provide.

And now I am very sorry that more and more great people are leaving this place (MSE). Be it voluntarily, or unfortunately: not so voluntarily as it seems in this case.

I made it my policy: every time when I read a new post from model users, (or model community managers) to also read at least 2, 3 of their older postings.

And each time I learn something new and helpful about working together with other humans. And now, no new posts will come in from you.

Thus: I am very sad to see you go, and I am wondering how much can be taken away from this place before nothing of relevance is left.

And know this: in case you (and other former SE Inc. employees) will ever write up a book about your time at this place, I will happily order a paper copy of that! Meaning: don't be shy about blogging or tweeting about anything you got on your mind ...

The only sense I see in this: shog9 has the chance of finding a job in a better place now. Farewell.

Answer 19

Just, wow. Truly shocked.

Wherever you go, you will make them better by being around. And the loss here is... monumental.

You’ll be sorely missed.

Can we close shop now? Let’s all go to Quora, Reddit or whatever.

This place is looking more desolate with each minute. 😢

Answer 20

I've not yet made my mark upon Stack Exchange's network like many others have, but even I can see the impact that Shog has had.

There exists no better shining example of a community manager than Shog. Whether it's replying to recent, niche bug reports or wording a proposed (now completed) change to moderator tools, Shog has always been consistently professional and well spoken.

Despite the most obvious question of Why? burning deeply in my head... I have to focus on thanking Shog for his many, nuanced, and sometimes humorous, contributions to the site.

I'm not confident that anyone could meaningfully replace the level of integrity, wit, and attitude that you put forward on a day to day basis.

Thank you, Shog, and good luck.

Answer 21

I've never been a community manager or even a moderator, just a user (primarily of SO initially, now others). But whenever I saw a post from Shog9, my feeling was always "The adults are here and paying attention. Everything will work out ok now."

Thank you for being the adult in the room. I'm afraid we'll miss your unfailingly thoughtful presence more in the future than we can ever imagine, even as we all proclaim to know how much you will be missed.

Answer 22

Shog9, in every capacity which brought us into contact, you served your role well. Even when we disagreed¹, I knew you were listening and trying to understand — and that's a rare talent in today's world. I cannot imagine what shenanigans must be employed to justify letting you go as being "an investment in the community". As a former moderator, I saw what you were doing for the community, and it was always a net gain.

Job. Well. Done.

_{¹ You were usually right.}

Answer 23

I ruminated some time on what to write, but didn't end up coming up with anything witty, or poetic, or worthy of the occasion. So I'll just leave with this:

I've always known you as a honest, dependable and compassionate person and community manager. We didn't always agree, but you were always fair and willing to take responsibility for your actions.

I cannot fathom what led SE to make this move, but it is to their eternal discredit. I hope your next employer will see your true value and treat you better.

Answer 24

Shog9 has been remarkable through his entire time here. Few people write as eloquently, retain as cool a head and decent a manner even when in a sea of acrimony, or can reason with the same clarity about the complex system of software and norms and people that makes up Stack Exchange. He is a loss to the company, and to us. And for him to be canned without warning, after a decade of often supererogatory service to the company, is an injustice - as was the similar canning of many of his peers.

Like a few others, I've thrown some money into the fundraiser George Stocker has set up to ensure both that Shog lands on his feet and that the company cannot financially pressure him into signing away his right to speak about his time working for them. Shog was well-loved here, and so I hope that more people will do the same.

Answer 25

Shog, wishing you much luck with your future adventures. You were a fixture and an omnipresent voice of reason for the community.

Thank you so much!

Answer 26

Someone whom I was used to seeing on meta. Your contributions to this community don't have an end. There are countless things that you have taught me (maybe all of us) and you aren't even aware of that.

Who will get people shogged in the chatrooms now?

Some things that made shog, shog for me:

• Shog's quick replies on bugs and issues.
• The ability to sum up things in simple sentences that people fail to explain
• Solving disputes, writing amazing guidelines that formed the pillars of the main SO community

Thank you!

Answer 27

A clear eye and a ready wit. Unfailingly, unflinchingly forthright. Always an understated but decisive presence; a lens collecting and focussing the meta-knowledge as it accumulated; the Merlin to our Arthur.

What a tragedy. Anyone that would dismiss you like this doesn't deserve your skills, talent, and care. I can't imagine it's easy. But no one can take this away from you:

You were absolutely fundamental in building one of the wonders of this decade. The artifact and the people could not have made it this far without you. You should be deeply proud of your time here.

All my respect. I can only hope that I am privileged to cross paths with you again on these webs. Whatever project you put your hand to next will be fortunate to have it.

Answer 28

I must say... I'm stunned and baffled. Shog9, you've been a mainstay of the community since well before I started participating. You'll definitely be missed.

Answer 29

Tons of people have said it already... But you will be missed, Shog9.

I know we didn't interact much since the relatively short time since I was elected as a mod on RPG.SE, but I learned a lot from you - whether about the Stack Exchange network, community management, or just... community interactions in general. It's always been interesting talking with you, and I appreciate your willingness to listen to people and hear them out.

You were always able to talk to people during difficult/complicated times, and (usually) get them to listen even when they didn't want to hear it. It is truly an impressive and fairly unique skill.

It's pretty obvious that you've brought a lot to this community, so I'm confident that you'll thrive wherever your life takes you next. I hope you keep making communities a better place, whether as a regular user here or wherever you work next.

Answer 30

Shog9 was one of the hard working members of the Stack Exchange network with great communication skills, who made a lot of tough decisions and helped to hold the community together. It is indeed a sad thing to see that Shog9 is no longer a CM.