My original writings on Leigh Alexander are what made me. These propelled me into public visibility more than anything else. Even now, if you Google her I’m right there on the front page above even Breitbart and Milo Yiannopoulos. I still remember those old days well. Back then, the other side would frequently engage us while talking a ton of trash. This was before Hamburger Harper stumbled onto the scene with her “GGautoblocker,” of course. Things were a lot more fun is what I’m getting at. You could even get away with using Twitter the way it was meant to be used. I would tag Liquored Up Leigh in all the time, even after she blocked me. Nowadays, you would get banned quick for such behavior. Of course if you were an SJW, you’d still get away with it, but that’s a different column.

I remember her telling me once that without her, I wouldn’t have a career. I really wanted to show you that screen again, so I spent 15 minutes looking for it just now. Alas, I cannot find it. If you’d like to go search through my 5,000+ pictures on Twitter, it’ll be there. The reason I bring it up again, is because it’s undoubtedly true. Without Leigh’s abhorrent behavior, I wouldn’t have this platform. If she hadn’t threatened to put a bottle through someone’s eye, or publicly gloated about ruining careers, I might not be here with you today. If Alexander had never laughed about a young writer trying to get into the business, or talked about “hood men,” there would be no TheRalphRetort.com. OK, I’m being dramatic. It would still be here, just without any readers.

So, it feels kinda weird to be writing a column about her quitting gaming journalism. Without a doubt, I can say that I helped start her exit from the business, but I’m also not naive enough to think that this is the last we will ever hear from Ms. Alexander. She’ll be back, although there’s a lot tougher competition when you’re gunning for full talking head status. It’s not as easy to be a mainstream commentator. Gaming journalism is the minor leagues. Leigh wants to break into the majors. I’m not so sure it’s going to go that well for her, but only time will tell. I can talk all the shit I want…and I will. But she is a pretty good writer when she isn’t spewing lies and trashing young upstarts. So, we’ll see what happens. Can she leave the bullshit behind, or not?

Here’s an excerpt from her farewell column, posted on her personal site

Ten years is a long time to be doing the same thing at unrelenting spiritual cost. I think I have finally had enough. And more importantly, I think I’ve said and done everything that I wanted to say and do here. This is not to say I’ll never write about games again – so many of us try to say that and then we keep coming back — but I’d like to have fun playing again, and not have it feel like work. Or like a risk. I would like a new line of work. I would like to learn and grow and to do something different.

Ten years is definitely a long time to do anything, but we’ll always have to wonder if the woman who famously said, “I am games journalism,” would being leaving the field quite so soon if not for GamerGate. I don’t think she would be. We basically chased her out of the business, and it feels good, in mostly. It also feels oddly sad, in a way. I’m not sure how to describe it. Of course I’ve moved into writing about things other than GamerGate myself, but it still feels like the end of a chapter for me personally. Still, Leigh Alexander is done with video games, and we should all be grateful for that. In case you need a stroll down memory lane, here’s some of my all-time favorite posts about her. I think I’ve written more about Leigh than anyone else on the planet except, well, Ms. Alexander herself.

GamerGate Exposes Leigh Alexander, The Worst Critic in Gaming

GamerGate Exposes Leigh Alexander, Part 2

Leigh Alexander’s Friends Speak Out, Part 1

Leigh Alexander’s Friends Speak Out, Part 2

HIGH SOCIETY: Drunken and Drugged GDC Seems Like it’s Only For the “Cool Kids”

Leigh Alexander Reminds Me Why I Fight

NO COMMENTS: Leigh Alexander Lets Disdain for Readers Show

Based Biscuit Bombs the Boozer (UPDATE: Leigh Mocks Cancer With Tasteless Fav)

THE UNPROFESSIONAL: Leigh Alexander is a Drunken Bully Who Needs to Be Fired

Liquor Loving Leigh Alexander Leaves Gamasutra in Disgrace

HARD TIMES: Leigh Alexander’s Old Colleague Speaks Out

ICYMI: Leigh Alexander is Still a Drunken Loser

Leigh Alexander Writes Bizarre Cry-Fest About Being a Woman in Games

Why I Do What I Do

Boozy Leigh Alexander Pitifully Attacks Multi-Millionaire Anne Rice

EXCLUSIVE: Leigh Alexander’s Motto is “Fuck Ethics Get Money”

BURNED OUT: Leigh Begs Media to Stop Talking About GamerGate

SHE CAN’T QUIT US: Leigh Talks GamerGate…A Week After Begging Media Not To

Thanks, Breitbart. We’re All Laughing at Liquored Up Leigh Alexander Now.

Oh, and to finish it off, here’s the video I made about her last August.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXOWplY3DEk&feature=youtu.be&a

Farewell to The Megaphone. Gamers won’t be missing you at all, Leigh. Have one more round on me.