This site has always been about the community. I try to share educational insights, news details, plus have fun when appropriate. I also have shared sad events that impact significant people in our industry, because - we are one large community that is impacted by the people around us.
Recently, I asked where did the Bing webmaster representative, Brett Yount, go? He basically went off the forums and we didn't hear from him for a few weeks. It turned out that Brett lost his father in January and he took some bereavement time off.
In a Bing Community thread, Brett shared this very personal event with the community. He wrote:
Hi all,I was given some bereavement leave after my Father passed at the beginning of January.
Thank you for your concern.
Firstly, I would like to wish you and your family condolences on behalf of the search industry.
There are times that I have personally said some negative things about what you say in the forums. So I would like to apologize, if any of that was taken personally. You were sorely missed during the leave and it shows how important your work is to the community at large.
Thanks for everything and may you only have happy occasions in the future.
Forum discussion at Bing Community.