The time has come for me to step down and put my diamond aside. I have had the privilege of being an elected moderator on Ask Ubuntu since June 2016. I have enjoyed it immensely, but I am afraid the current state of the SE network means I just can't continue.
Until yesterday, I was a moderator on three sites of the network. I no longer feel I can do this. I just don't believe in the company behind these sites anymore, in fact, I actively fear it. I felt that being a multi-site mod required me to be more involved with SE than I am now comfortable being.
I love the communities I belong to and I really don't want to abandon them, but I just can't be a multi-site mod any more. It feels too much like an endorsement of SE. I have therefore put down two of my three diamonds and have only stayed on as a moderator of Unix & Linux, which was my first home on the SE network. This was a difficult choice since I am also very attached to the very fine community here at AU, but I just couldn't keep more than one diamond. I don't even know how long I'll manage to stay on at U&L.
Being a moderator for sites controlled by a company so unethical as to publicly attack one of its own volunteer moderators in the press is very stressful. I don't want to rehash all of the ways SE has failed us in the past year, those interested can read the link in the first paragraph (and links therein). Suffice it to say that while I used to feel that SE had my back and would protect me, I now feel I need to protect myself and my communities from SE. While I used to feel that SE actually cared and honestly tried to be ethical, now I feel they don't give a crap about anything but the bottom line.
Feeling like this about the company behind the sites, I just can't be a moderator for multiple stacks anymore. It's taking too much out of me. So, I wold like to thank all of you, first for the trust you showed me in electing me in the first place and for being the wonderful community that you've been all these years. I leave you in the very capable hands of the remaining moderator team and I'll be seeing you around on the site!