Missing reader found

May 19, 2015 • 2:30 pm

Well, here’s a great present for Book Day. We had a reader go missing from home the other day, someone who regularly reads this website. His family and friends asked me if I’d put up a post requesting that the missing chap check in at home because all were concerned, and hoped that he would see it. I was doubtful it would work, but of course put up an announcement.

And I’m really, really happy to say that the missing person is no longer missing, but is coming home. I’m also told that the post was a big factor in helping, as it was noticed. I wanted to mention this because I’m sure that the concern of many readers, expressed in the comments, was instrumental. We can all rest easy now.

68 thoughts on “Missing reader found”

  4. For all the dumb, annoying, and pointless things the internet and social media has brought with it, this ability to connect in meaningful ways one of those wonderful bright spots. fantastic news and I hope all is well with the family.

  6. Good news! Book Day, missing reader found, eurovision song contest… can this day get any better?

      1. Yes. Centuries of nationalist and religious tension are resolved at the Eurovision song contest. Every country in Europe sends a band to the contest to compete. Official Website: http://www.eurovision.tv/

          1. Netherlands and Finland did not make it. I’m sorry. 🙁 Better luck next time.

          4. Thanks, I didn’t know that. Commercial break: Get educated about many subjects on WEIT! 🙂

        4. Nobody cares about it in the UK – here it is a joke. The ‘music’ – if you can call it that – is broadly bland Europop (with the odd exception).

          And the winner pays to stage the next one…!

      2. “Excuse me? Eurovision song contest? Oy. .”

        I lived in Germany for a number of years and it’s a big deal. Like the Olympics, or World Cup of song.

        1. Though it notoriously produces dreadful songs.

          Abba won it with Waterloo and it’s been going downhill ever since…

          (Not my comment, TVNZ newsreaders’)

  7. And if Prof Ceiling Cat and us readers had all “agreed to pray for him,” one can only presume that our compatriot would still be MIA. THAT’S what the “pray for you” people never seem to get.

  8. So glad to hear this news.
    I have a great deal of love and respect for the readers here at WEIT.
    Except for that bobsguitarshop guy . . . I hear he’s kinda shady.

  12. I didn’t mean to post the performance. How does one post the link without the performance?

  13. I wonder why Mr. Williams disappeared, although I can also imagine he doesn’t want to talk about it. In any case, I would like to wish him and his family well.

  16. Amigo,

    Very happy to hear you returned and that we may have helped in that. If you think you may feel this way again, bookmark the previous post so you can come back to it. The sentiments expressed will be the same.

  19. Great news! And I’be had my email from Amazon saying the Book is on it’s way….

  24. <whew />

    Must admit, this is not the outcome I was expecting…when people go so far missing that a general call like this goes out…well, the types of reasons that sort of thing can happen are generally pretty dire.

    An happy ending in this case is most welcome!

    b&

    2. This is the second one I’ve heard of recently.

      A PhD student about to graduate from an Eastern US university went missing, but luckily he was found safe. He had a wife and children and all were worried.

      I do hope he is doing well too.

  25. Good to hear this, I really can’t say why I was so concerned, but I was. Other than being a fellow WEITer, I have no knowledge of this gentleman, but I was sincerely worried. I guess it is because we can all relate to sadness and grief. Happy it worked out. Humans are a weird species.

  27. Glad to hear the good news!

    Oh, and a BTW for Professor Ceiling Cat, last night I attended the monthly meeting of the First Coast Freethought Society of Jacksonville, FL, of which I am a board member, for a discussion by a former minister, Doug Doan, about his journey from devout Christian to agnosticism. During his lecture, he brought up that reading Why Evolution Is True was one of the factors in changing his former blind acceptance of creationism. Verification, as if any was needed, that such books only reach people who already fully agree with the content. Hurray for Professer Coyne!
    I’m not sure if Doug subscribes to this blog or not, but if so, great lecture and hope to talk with you more at future FCFS socials.

    2. Not sure but is there a typo in your sentence about verification or did I misunderstand some hidden irony? Anyway, I get your drift and like your comment.

      1. Yes, I suspect there’s a word missing here or something:

        “Verification, as if any was needed, that such books only reach people who already fully agree with the content.”

        1. Just putting it, however badly, that Jerry and other authors promoting freethought, science and reason are not solely “preaching to the choir” and Doug Doan is an example of someone who formerly accepted creationism without question but finally did question it and sought out answers that could not be found in a Christian bookstore, and Jerry’s book helped him in his quest.
          I’m sure there are many more like him, once fervid believers who come to realize their religion is nothing but a bunch of nonsense, but who remain closeted atheists or agnostics because so much of their life revolves around their involvement with their church and they risk becoming alienated from their family and “friends” and even losing their livelihood due if their loss of faith becomes known. It’s good to know there are an increasing number of people brave enough to take the risk.

          2. Just what I thought you meant. 🙂 (Still think you could have used a “don’t” in front of that “only,” though. 🙂 )

            Very nice to know of a clergyman who reasoned his way out of religion with the help of WEIT!

    3. That’s nice to hear. I’m getting a bit weary of criticism that books like mine are “only preaching to the choir”. What are we supposed to do about that–coddle up to religion and say what we don’t believe? Also, religious books could be accused of the same thing, but even more strongly, for they are LITERALLY “preaching to the choir.’ AFter all, how many atheists buy religious studies books?

      Thanks for this bit of testimony!

  28. Great news! In searching for more information about the missing man online (found nothing, except that a man of the same name had a daughter horribly murdered by a sicko in 2013) I discovered that there are several facebook pages that post on missing people – adults and kids – in the UK. Sad that so many people are missing. There is a 51yo man with a partner and 4 young kids who has been missing for more than a month. He is also called Stephen. Very sad.

      1. I had a look at the poster’s blog…the writer routinely posts depressive comments…I’d say he or she is probably not related to the subject of this WEIT post though.

  30. Very good news. For all the complaints about the nature of internet relationships, it’s good to remember that there are some very, very positive aspects of today’s culture of connectedness 🙂

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