The creator of Binge Inking, a fine UK-based blog about addiction and recovery, has decided to end his blog. I will miss reading it, but also find something satisfying and admirable in a blogger making a clear decision and acting on it. Many blogs seem to just slowly peter out, as the blogger loses interest but can’t seem to face up to the fact the he or she has said what there was to say and now it is time to move on.
I suppose a popular culture parallel is that television shows such as “Callan” and “The Fugitive” are well-remembered because their creators wrapped them up on their own terms, in each case shooting what was known to be a concluding episode that tied up the story lines. In contrast, we all can think of shows that just suddenly went off the air and left us all hanging. Most unsatisfying.
Author: Keith Humphreys
Keith Humphreys is the Esther Ting Memorial Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and an Honorary Professor of Psychiatry at Kings College London. His research, teaching and writing have focused on addictive disorders, self-help organizations (e.g., breast cancer support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous), evaluation research methods, and public policy related to health care, mental illness, veterans, drugs, crime and correctional systems. Professor Humphreys' over 300 scholarly articles, monographs and books have been cited over thirteen thousand times by scientific colleagues. He is a regular contributor to Washington Post and has also written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian (UK), The Telegraph (UK), Times Higher Education (UK), Crossbow (UK) and other media outlets.
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“In contrast, we all can think of shows that just suddenly went off the air and left us all hanging.” I can think of two really great shows that died that way - “Veronica Mars” and “The Starter Wife.” Also “Keen Eddie.”
Though technically I suppose they got killed between seasons, rather than abruptly? I don’t know from the tv business. I just know they … turned up missing.
And congratulations to the Recovered Blogger.
And of course, the exception that proves the rule — “Seinfeld.” Left hanging would’ve been an improvement.
And no mention of Fawlty Towers?
Deadwood. Deserved another seven seasons or so.