come away o human child
to the waters and the wild
with a faerie hand in hand
for the world's more full of weeping
than you can understand

I will miss him so much.

NO!!!! I just found out. I never really knew him that well here. He was a friend on the book of faces. I always enjoyed his comments to my posts. He will surely be missed.

*quality

Awarding enoch with one star point for this contribution to VideoSift - declared quality by chicchorea.

Rest in peace, Schmawy.

We love you Schmawy.

You have left behind many who loved you.

He was such a lovely person, both online and in the flesh. I cannot believe that he is gone.

Such a cool cat. Will miss him deeply.

That's terrible. He was truly a nice guy, a great mediator, and a cheerer-upper.

I have no words. The last thing he wrote to me was "You beated me. Damn Skool busses...oops! wrong chat. Hope you're well! Talk later!"...he has been there for me for the last 8 years, every other month I was sure would be the day I'd met up with him. So bizarre to know someone and be close to them, having them literally in the palm of your hand in a device for 8 years and never having physically met. I feel so...so...sad.

He was always a joy and kind as can be. You will be missed.

Such a class act, creative beautiful soul, artist, cool cat and all around human being... and I didn't need to meet him in real life to know this. We miss you Schmawy.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Really sad to hear this. Schmawy was always good counsel for me. He tempered a few decisions with a moderating voice back when the Sift was more volatile.

He seemed to me to be very wise and kind, and even though I never met him in person I always valued what he had to say and was really glad that he was out there.

Rest in peace, clever man. You made me feel like a soul mate.

I'm in shock and heartbroken to hear this.

Schmawy was a deep, wise soul and someone I always enjoyed talking to and had a great respect for...

Very sad day.

Obviously much loved and admired here. I feel I missed out on 'knowing' this kind soul ... may he rest in peace knowing what a positive impact he left behind.

Damn, sorry to hear about this. Schmawy was one of the first Sifters I interacted with back in the day. I didn't always agree with everything he said, but I did always enjoy reading his opinions and ideas.

Rest in peace, you crazy cat. The Sift won't be the same without you.

I plan to raise a glass to the memory of videosift's coolest cat. RIP @schmawy.

WHAT?!?!?! :~( I was wondering what happened to him. I guess he was sick? :~(

Motorcycle accident.

Oh geez. :~(

Is this our first official death of a VS member?

....*heartbreakinglytragic.

Oh my god, I don't even know what to say. I loved this picture he made for me, and so did everyone else I shared it with - including my mom, who printed it out and framed it. My son always got a kick out of his shopped images too, and he was about 10 (seven years ago) when I took this picture of him to share with schmawy.

I regret losing contact with him years ago, and now it's too late. You are definitely missed, brother. Rest in peace.

*sticky

Stickying this post at the top of Sift Talk - sticky requested by kronosposeidon.

I don't even know what to say. I'm just so shocked. He was the last person on this earth that I wanted to pass on. He was just so steady and so kind. He reached out to me when everything went to shit in my life. I just.. I just don't understand why the best ones go so soon.

He talk to me with mutual respect.

He was someone I wish I had in my immediate life.



Smaws would appreciate it.

Maybe he can meet me at the cross roads. That would be nice.

Awful, awful news. I didn't have a lot of interection with Schmawy, but he seemed like a genuinely friendly smart and honest guy.
A shining example of what makes a great Siftizen.

Same here.

So very sad. He is missed.

Arrrrgh, brutal news. He always seemed like such a good guy. I loved the way he'd pick a theme of videos to submit and change his avatar to match. Really felt like the videos he sifted reflected his own personality, rather than just submitting whatever's popular on digg or something.

Very sad to hear about @schmawy Thank you for the beautiful eulogy, @enoch. He will be missed by everyone here I'm sure

Schmawy was a friend I never met. He suggested it when I lived back east – said if we each drove a few hundred kilometres we could meet in the middle, somewhere in Vermont or like that. We never tried that expedition, probably because I didn't try hard enough, and eventually I moved west, and in emails we still sometimes mentioned the possibility of meeting. I thought we had decades in which to meet and that one day, very naturally, we would. No more.

As I wrote elsewhere, I didn't know that I would have a heavy heart over the loss of somebody I never saw in real life. Much as Dag said, I liked knowing the world had Schmawy in it. He was put there, it seemed to me, to balance out a great many who were indecent and unwise and dull – put there as if by a law of nature. You can see why I thought he'd be around for a long time.

I gather Schmawy wasn't much for talk of the afterlife, but he is one of the people I like to think I may see there. If I do, I'm sure we'll ride motorcycles, just as we would have done, could have done. Goodbye my friend. It's hard to believe you're gone.

This is the shittiest deal. This good die young thing is fucking outdated. I miss you Schmaw and I loved you. See you on the other side kiddo xxxxxxx

I'm deeply saddened that Schmawy passed away and my hope is that it was swift and painless.

He was one of the few people who seemed to make friends with everyone and keep a balanced, mellow outlook. He will be missed and remembered.

I didn't know him much in real life other than a casual facebook friend (slightly more real life than videosift), but on videosift he was a big presence and losing his voice has made the place a little colder.

Good bye, Schmawy, it was fun.

If not for schmawy I would have passed on by this site. Maybe I'd have been a digger or *shudder* a redditer. Oh wait, I am a redditer.

schmawy promoted the hell out of my first couple sifts and was like a combination bad cat / father figure to me. Weird combination, now that I reflect upon it... shine on, you crazy diamond. (Thanks for setting the mood, enoch.)

Highlight: I'll never forget the time he pooped in my bed.

Damn, I was feeling sentimental a month ago and posted on his profile... I feel really bummed out that he's gone. I really needed some words of wisdom or aloof cat behavior -- one or the other; didn't matter which. Listening to Pink Floyd and thinking about his death is making me cry a pool's worth. I have ZERO alcohol and weed in my house to make up for this sudden saddness. Maybe that's a good thing... I will remain sober in memory of shmawy!

"Death is but a door, time is but a window, I'll" -- oh wait, that's a quote by Vigo the Carpathian. Uuuhhhh...

*poops on shmawy's bed*

I did it in his honor! COME ON!

Lurking in the shadows for years I became familiar with many here and many gone. Some stood out for various reasons. Indeed, some that have been through here the last days to remember a good friend. As strange as that still seems to me in this alternate reality online there are those that touch others lives by the power and strength of there essence and do so in a wonderful and warm manner that may be held as rare. schmawy was and is such a being.

I was lucky enough to experience that warmth. He, much to my delighted surprise, responded to posts on his profile page and allowed me to feel a friend and honored of it. I, as others, now wish I had basked more in that light.

Many have left here. I have experienced far more here than I had ever expected and bargained and for that I am thankful. Thank you. When some who have moved on come through and reach out while here I am thrilled. It is with sorrow I cannot look forward to hearing again from my friend schmawy.

I wonder, @dag and @lucky760, and @everyone perhaps, if it might be something to be considered that a memorial to schmawy be devised. Perhaps an icon, a cat in a hat for instance or some such could be issued. One of dag's songs maybe. Perhaps a poll?

In any case, it is notable that schmawy in passing has brought so many here together as did he when he was here.

Thank you for being you, schmawy. The world needs more genuine souls, not fewer.

Wish I could've known him better... but for comfort, the last time I talked to him, he gave a blessing to my new kitten, which I'll cherish.

"A bounty of kibble be upon thee. Let thou never be beset by tick or flea. Meowmen."

I'll be damned if I don't make that happen, and will love the shit out of him in your honor. Better luck on the other side, schmawy.

I didn't run into schmawy much here, but he was always around. I will miss that presence. Take care in the everafter, wisdomkitty.

Terrible news. Seemed like a genuinely positive person and as much a part of this site as the videos themselves. RIP man

Yep. We need a VS memorial or something. Or maybe this Sift Talk would be it? Definitely keep his account around here forever. Although, maybe disable his account and e-mail notifications since it would pointless since he is no longer with us in this world?

RIP in peace, Schmawy.

Sweet dreams Schmawy. You will not be forgotten.

RIP Schmawy, I'm shocked and saddened by this news. I enjoyed the few interactions I had with him and was always eager to hear his take on things. He will be missed.

*unsticky

Unstickying this post from the top of Sift Talk - unsticky requested by eric3579.

Sad to hear this! I fondly remember the time Schmawy was telling a story with his submissions and avatar and how we were discussing our ideals for building a community and promoting video diversity...RIP.

Fuck Schmawy was always kind and good to me. He'll be missed.