I think a few have left because they came to the conclusion that vindictive personal attacks and insults were doing nothing to enhance their quality of life - in fact were having the opposite effect. Others have left because they have lost interest or no longer have the time.

The whole anti-bullying trend on AB is becoming it's own form of bullying, in my opinion. People need to walk away when they've concluded that someone is a jerk. There are people I don't like, I'm sure that's true for all of us. Invariably, I find that one of my friends likes the person I don't like... what should I do, form a cadre of friends and demand loyalty from all of them? A united front to deal with the person who offends me? That is what the anti-bullying trend is turning into: a divisive group that is closing ranks and declaring itself an independent Law of Answerbag: the arbiter of who is a bully and who is not, and a mini League of Justice taking it upon themselves to hand out sanctions via proxy. Let's all just calm down and return to our corners. Avoid the people you don't like. Don't whine about being downrated. Unsubscribe from threads that get too virulent. Don't waste your life on revenge campaigns of screen capture and endless re-quoting and analysis. In other words, move on and try to be helpful... let the water flow under the bridge. There's no point in turning Answerbag into Battlebag, that just makes it miserable for everyone.

I think it's both. A little of the former and a dash of the latter.

A bit of both. AB loses its grip and then a bully or group of bullies comes along and you think, why bother?

You have to be sensible on here. Some people give out far too much personal information and it can be used against them. I have no pictures or identifying information about myself and it keeps me from being a target of crazy people. I learned my lesson on a local newspaper forum and had lies and horrible things posted about me. Finally after much complaining they were deleted. You live, you learn.

I would not like to think I could be bullied off AB. But anything is possible. I think sometimes we just need a break, or we get to busy, I've also noticed ALOT of people return, such as myself!!!!1

Sometimes I get a little frustrated dealing with some ignorant people. I've thought of getting off of here several times. Sometimes when I read the questions I can't believe I waste my time.

I think that both of the options you suggested could definitely be causes for people to leave.

I think they just get tired of the same old,same old. But eventually we all find our way back except for a very few and who knows they may be still here using a different account.

I think there may be many good reasons Abers leave. I don't think bullying is one of the top reasons. Losing interest and realizing there are many better ways to spend spare time might be a top reason. There have been many times when I get really bored here and it makes me think I should take a long break.

Some genuinely have been bullied, some feel bullied but have not necessarily been bullied and some get Penalty Boxed for life. In general, i think most people leave because they lose interest, get caught up with other things or just feel like taking a break.

I think people over-react to a lot of things and call bully at the slightest disagreement. It's so much fun to point fingers and call people names in the process rather than letting a cooler head prevail. That is ever so useful. . .yeah, I AM totally being facetious. Please no more Imavictimitus :) I agree that it is most likely the latter. I find that taking breaks helps keep me from getting burned out. I would have left years sooner if I had not had ample breaks.