Why is everyone leaving?

Two frequent contributors, the "Tubester" and "Bronsteinitz" have closed their accounts recently.  Other high-profile, outspoken, and popular members (such as Kenpo) have been banned in the last three months.

Does anyone have any explanation of what is happening and what this bodes for this site?

I have no idea, but this seems like an interesting thread. I'm tracking it to see what other people have to say.

just a question. how do you know that they were here? you have joined today?

Possibly detected using a chess engine and banned?  That's not an accusation, just a suggestion.

Hmm, that is an interesting observation bobby I am curious to know the answer to that myself..  As for the Tube and Bronst they were both very active posters on the Forums. Personally I always thought they were like friends or volunteers of chess.com or something as they were always so helpfull and knowledgeable about the site and things.

Please....if u are new by all means jumb in and enjoy the many interesting chess ideas .Don't make comments that reflect on a member who has elected to move on. U have no personal knowledge of them or this site.Let it go and stick w/ the chess.

Atlas Shrugged? (joking, of course)

Who is John Galt?

He's a guy who makes longer speeches than Elubas

I thought my comment avoided any accusation.  Yes, I am new here, and yes, I will refrain from any speculation.

One of the main reasons I'm new here is because I don't trust online sites to provide fair and honest players because there is no way for me, as an individual, to know if someone is playing far above their rating by using a chess engine.  I also know there have been some here who have been banished for that tactic.  I was simply looking for candidate moves, not a main line, and I specifically stated that it was not an accusation.  The alternative then as suggested is to shut up and go away, which I will do.

I didn't know that Tubester closed his account. Interesting.

Edit: TheTubester

Itis hard for anyone new to get a handle on ratings so i understand where u are coming from. Chess. coms oversite on tech. use is good,sadly too much of this goes on.I welcome u to a good site w/ many excellent chess players and availibility of many ways to improve your game.   Good luck

I didn't know the tube guy was gone. I have wondered who so many fairly good players suddenly just leave, and don't come back.

No, they just closed their accounts. They aren't on the ban list. 

I was a member at caissa.com for four years.  I loved it for two, but got progressively more bored with it during the last two.  There was a ton of churn there, so I'm not surprised to hear of it here, also.  People come and go.  

I finally followed one group of quitters and left that site, about ten years ago.  If you are here, chess is probably a passion for you.  Some passions burn slowly and can be sustained for life.  Others burn bright and flame out, perhaps to be rekindled later, or perhaps not.  People get busy IRL, too--that takes a toll.

Alien abduction. Any user called 'tubester' is ideal for probing experiments in an alien craft.

It's always a bit unsettling when a friend you got to know online suddenly disappears. It would be less so, if they would let us know before they leave; unless they are kicked off, then it is outside of their control.

The staff informs you before you are kicked off so you have time to tell people. 

Then it is thoughtless and selfish if they don't alert their friends. 

Maybe they did, and the content was deleted along with their account. Happens sometimes, but I still see content by some banned users so I'm not really sure...