As some of you know, I have a love-hate relationship with the backroom. I've described it in the past as like a car crash - horrific to look at, but you can't take your eyes off it.

I don't care for some of the people in there and their opinions (on both sides of the political divide) and I don't like what the backroom does to me as a patron - I become a poster that I don't like very much.

And its got under my skin. I can't help watching the news, or sit in a sermon, or read an article, without thinking about how it will go down in the backroom (and knowing each individual response to it).

I've tried in the past to stay away through my own will, but like an ex-smoker, I keep finding myself drawn back to it, even though I know its bad for me.

But the final straw came when I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago. Away from the internet for a whole week, I found myself awake till 2am cos I was thinking about the backroom. And that's not healthy.

So a few days ago I decided to cut off the arm that was causing me to sin, as it were, and asked Ser Clegane to ban me from the backroom, which he kindly did (thanks SG).

So farewell to you all, have fun arguing about the same half dozen core subjects, and if you need me you'll probly find me in the throne room enjoying the selfless devotion to community exhibited by the likes of econ21, TinCow and Death the Destroyer of Worlds. So, if you want to argue about politics with a bunch of strangers on the internet and really make a difference, come join the Roman Senate.

Mount Suribachi