Hello, Codeforces. Friends.
I apologize, but today I will be a bit chaotic and mix personal with public. It just happened that way, I'm sorry.
Today, my mother passed away. It's hard for me to write this. Even just seeing it in text makes it feel like something from a nightmare.
She was extraordinary. It's difficult for me to articulate it right now, but take my word for it. It felt like all the best qualities one could imagine in a mother converged in her. I don't know any other people so kind, sincere, non-judgmental, capable of love, listening, befriending, supporting, and taking joy in the world around them, and bringing joy to their loved ones. Mom, it's already hard without you, it feels empty.
She had glioblastoma. It's an aggressive brain cancer that affects only a few people out of 100,000. I believe, I hope, that science will soon be able to tackle this disease. But for now, this diagnosis is a death sentence. Maybe some of you are or will be associated with medicine. I want to say thank you, I hug you.
Perhaps this is some form of catharsis, but visiting the Codeforces pages today, I pondered why I do this. What am I seeking here?
I want to enter another world. A world free from the insoluble problems of human ambition. A world where we discuss problems, algorithms, and programming.
The world is unjust and restless. It has black, white, blood-red, and some gray shades of unclear tones. But here, on Codeforces, I'm not looking for answers to all questions. I hug all of you and wish you peace, tranquility, and joy.
You may perceive this as a whim of mine, but now I don't want to see topics here that are considerably broader than programming, mathematics, and life outside our competitions. I want a united community, an intellectual oasis.
Focus on our competitions, not on global issues, will help me personally continue to be engaged in the community, develop and move it forward.
Please refrain from making posts, comments, or any other forms of expression on contentious topics like national/ethnic conflicts, politics, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and any other topics distant from programming competitions that might lead to disputes or conflicts. We won't solve these problems here, we just can't.
Give me some time, and I will likely hide the most contentious posts on these topics. Please refrain from publishing anything that is beyond or close to the boundary mentioned above. By publishing materials that contain signs of such discussions, be prepared for read-only mode and other administrative measures.
I realize that I'm now limiting Codeforces and diminishing the community's involvement in our lives. But this is how I feel today, and I ask for your understanding. I wish you peace and love.
M.
P.S. Please cherish your loved ones while they are with you. Give them your attention. Bring joy to them, love them.
UPD 1: Friends, thank you very much for your attention. I read all the comments and am grateful to everyone who supported me.
UPD 2: Yesterday the funeral took place. Thank you for your support. With your help, it's easier for me to get through all of this.