Batten: a time to unite?

I know I'm not the only one shocked and saddened by this tragedy. I feel terrible for the vehemence with which I've attacked DDI over the last few months. I don't feel guilty or ashamed, but still, some part of me can't help but think I played a part in this poor woman's death.

But that's not why I'm posting this.

I'm wondering if we, the RPG community, should do something as a show of unity and support for the victims. I'm not sure what, exactly, or how to go about it, but if there was ever a time we should put aside petty differences and show the world that we're not all weird geeks with murderous desires, shouldn't this be it?

What about some sort of charitable drive? Perhaps the money could go to a charity of the woman's family's choice?

I just feel something should be done. Don't you?

We are not responsible for his actions. His decision was his own (and most likely totally unrelated to us or our hobby).

On the other hand, I suppose it would be nice if we would finally manage to keep focus on the victims of a crime, not on the criminal.

But I still don't feel like it's appropriate. We don't know them, why should we bother them with questions like "we have some money and want to spend it for a good deed, any suggestions?".

Kzach said:

I just feel something should be done. Don't you?

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No.

Well, I feel more people should be encouraged to read "The Gift of Fear" and understand that court restraining orders are not an effective defence against dangerous people, that the authorities generally cannot and will not protect them, and that they need to look to their own instincts for self presevation. But I don't think this has anything to do with RPGers.

So what happened? Linky please?

The loss is great, and as a memeber of the public that is aware of this travesty I'll leave my reaction as wishes and introspection. Those closest to the center of this storm are hurting but there is little a throng of online people can do to ease the tremedous pain.

Let us just please keep this civil.

http://kotaku.com/5032443/xbox-developer-dead-in-murder+suicide

heres the link - he was a senior manager for the DDI and Gleemax.

I don't think losing a murderer is anything to worry over. From the news report it seems the entire county nearly half of the married women are victims of domestic violance.

Is this king county where WotC HQ is located?

Here is one link: http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_073108WAB_redmond_murder_suicide_KC.1fbfa76.html

I hope it works on these forums. It says there had been problems with the marriage for a while and after a court order to protect her from him he went to where she was supposed to be safe and killed her then himself.

I think that county and community first need to do something about the 44% domestic abuse.

What happened to her and the other women is the real problem, but I have no sympathy for a murderer. He was just too cowardly to let the courts handle what he had done.

I hope WotC will take measures to get all employees in or about that county (or just all their employees) into some psychiatric evaluation and family/marriage counseling to hope there are not other spouses there being abused that WotC could help to prevent, and also prevent other things like this from happening.

There are so many things wrong presented in that article, that given the proper steps this tragedy could have been avoided, and I hope that someone takes the initiative in that area to do so as quickly as humanly possible.

How did he even find out a week after the court granted her protection where she was living at the time? That is one major part that worries me the most since the actual act cannot be undone.

The whole thing just fills me with anger mostly as I have been reading about it in various places.

I am not very vocal and mostly lurk around here, but couldn't let it go that people feel sorry for him for any reason as there is no excuse, as far as I am concerned, for murder.

justanobody said:

I am not very vocal and mostly lurk around here, but couldn't let it go that people feel sorry for him for any reason as there is no excuse, as far as I am concerned, for murder.

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I don't think anyone is feeling sorry for the murderer. Some might feel partially "responsible" for it, because they believe he might have broken in under pressure - but we just should not. It was his decision and his alone. There are probably millions of people under pressure or in the middle of a divorce who just don't go out kill their soon-to-be-ex-wife.

Kzach said:

What about some sort of charitable drive? Perhaps the money could go to a charity of the woman's family's choice?

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But people feel sorry for the victim and her family, and wonder if something can be done about it to show this and maybe at least comfort them.

I have some doubts we can do that.

Mustrum_Ridcully said:

I don't think anyone is feeling sorry for the murderer. Some might feel partially "responsible" for it, because they believe he might have broken in under pressure - but we just should not. It was his decision and his alone. There are probably millions of people under pressure or in the middle of a divorce who just don't go out kill their soon-to-be-ex-wife.

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Well I have seen many people saying the feel sorry for WotC's loss, and as she seemed to not work for WotC, then he is the only thing the lost. WotC should have noticed something up. So just the thought of people feeling sorry for WotC's loss seems to say they feel sorry for him. I cannot.

As you state, I do not feel responsible either, as it was his choice, and other choices that lead to it all. Jobs are tough and demanding, if you can't handle it then find another one, and don't get in debt over your head to begin with.

Off topic, but I have little sympathy for Ed McMahon either needing to pay for his $6,000,000 due to inability to work. Shouldn't have bought a house that expensive if you could have afforded something less and had it paid for already.

They both made choices and have to live...or not...with them.

I still hope WotC does something or even at the cost of D&D HasBro steps in and does something to get the rest of the employees evaluated for mental stress.

This happened less that a week after Gleemax was terminated as well, so it seems something there might be connected if someone were able to line up all the dates and information so us out of the loop would get a better picture of the events. Then maybe something could be done for the survivors and others to prevent future occurrences like this.

Kzach said:

I know I'm not the only one shocked and saddened by this tragedy. I feel terrible for the vehemence with which I've attacked DDI over the last few months. I don't feel guilty or ashamed, but still, some part of me can't help but think I played a part in this poor woman's death.

But that's not why I'm posting this.

I'm wondering if we, the RPG community, should do something as a show of unity and support for the victims. I'm not sure what, exactly, or how to go about it, but if there was ever a time we should put aside petty differences and show the world that we're not all weird geeks with murderous desires, shouldn't this be it?

What about some sort of charitable drive? Perhaps the money could go to a charity of the woman's family's choice?

I just feel something should be done. Don't you?

Click to expand...

The only tenous link we have with this case is that the perpetrator was an employee of Wizards of the Coast. He probably had friends there who are now pretty shooked up. If you really want to do something, send a note to "The Staff at Wizards of the Coast" wishing them serenity and peace after the recent tragedy. It's a company made of people*, like all others.



* - "Soylent Green" reference unintentional.