About Reveille

[S'mon]

You know, I disagree with you. Some things need to result with permanent banning... a temporary ban is just not enough. And, as you say, he can always come on as a new name - and a fresh start (at least until he reveals who he really is).

It is, as people have said, only a forum board. You can say he is a sick individual (Which I disagree with), or at least an upset one (which I do agree with). But either way, we are not a treatment centre. We are a place for like-minded people to talk/rave/complain about Dungeons and Dragons (and other games).

Shutting our doors to him is not shutting him away from treatment, because we are not treament professionals - and we shouldn't be taking on that role. Shutting our doors to him is simply saying "what you did is not cool, and we don't want to talk to you about Dungeons and Dragons anymore".

If he wants, he can always sneak back onto the site. Whatever. More likely, he'll get his fix for gaming conversations on one of the other related sites out there. We are not the only one, after all.

So, I wish him the best, but I wish him the best somewhere else.

I agree strongly with this. ENW is not a medical treatment centre. The guy seriously hurt a lot of people, and bringing him back would have the potential to seriously exacerbate that hurt. I am not happy at these calls to un-ban him, I would ask those who have done so to think of others and not just their own feelings re Reveille.

Punishment is not easy. Sometimes it is necessary. It takes guts, more than the easy path of letting it slide - which unfortunately our society all too often advocates as being 'caring' or 'nonjudgemental'. Being banned from a bulletin board is not the worst thing in the world. Respect this person as an individual and require him to take responsibility for his actions.

 

[CleverNickName]

...

Original post deleted.

Recent revelations over in the Hive have shed some new light on the subject, so I am retracting my previous message. I support the permanent ban, because our community doesn't need this behavior.

 

[blargney the second]

Wow, that's just weird. I don't really care that it was a hoax - he's gone from having my sympathy for being in a coma to having my sympathy for being in a crappy mental place. You don't burn reputation and social stature like that unless you're in dire straits.

And the next time I read about another ENWorlder who is in trouble they'll get my sympathy as well.
-blarg

 

[Umbran]

I think everyone needs to step back and breath a little. Rev was a valued member of our community for YEARS before he did this. Sure he may have tarnished his reputation in a huge way, but he shouldn't be perma-banned for one lapse of judgment.

If I may - one bad post is a lapse of judgment. This was a premeditated, extended action. A hoax over several days - that's not just one lapse of good sense. And it isn't just Rev's personal reputation that has been damaged here.

Several folks have said that EN World is "just a messageboard". We of the moderation staff understand that, but we also think it is more than that. EN World is also a community. We're a bunch of nerds and geeks and gamers who, even if we never meet in the flesh, become friends. This is a place where, believe it or not, if you really do have a problem you've got some chance of getting some support or help. Rev actually proved that.

But, he has drawn on that reserve of goodwill under false pretenses. Now, if someone has a real problem, and actually needs to draw on the community for support, people are going to be reserved, a bit skeptical. Folks with problems may not get what they need, because everyone's going to wonder, in the back of their heads, if this is "another Rev".

His intent may not have been to be able to laugh at our gullibility, but the effect is to distance us from each other. That is not harmless.

 

[Jack99]

Something that inflicts emotional harm is not, by definition, harmless.

-O

I agree. But I see absolutely no evidence of any emotional harm coming from what he posted.

 

[S'mon]

As a police officer, I already had this one figured out a while ago. I just didn't want to say anything because personal attacks are not acceptable nor should they be. I didn't know Rev and he didn't know me so really, anything I would have said would seem like an attack. I am truly sorry however that it came to this. It's unfortunate but it certainly did reveal that people on this site care of others, which really is the point of sites like these. I'm proud to be an EnWorlder!

One reason this hoax ran and ran was that nobody felt able to express scepticism - partly in case they were wrong, which is understandable, but also I think general social pressure towards gullibility. I suggest in a future similar situation that those with particular expertise or knowledge contact the moderators, who may then be able to make enquiries and confirm or refute suspicions. If they are able to determine it's a hoax, they can then take action to end it before it runs so long and hurts so many people.

 

[S'mon]

If I may - one bad post is a lapse of judgment. This was a premeditated, extended action. A hoax over several days - that's not just one lapse of good sense. And it isn't just Rev's personal reputation that has been damaged here.

Several folks have said that EN World is "just a messageboard". We of the moderation staff understand that, but we also think it is more than that. EN World is also a community. We're a bunch of nerds and geeks and gamers who, even if we never meet in the flesh, become friends. This is a place where, believe it or not, if you really do have a problem you've got some chance of getting some support or help. Rev actually proved that.

But, he has drawn on that reserve of goodwill under false pretenses. Now, if someone has a real problem, and actually needs to draw on the community for support, people are going to be reserved, a bit skeptical. Folks with problems may not get what they need, because everyone's going to wonder, in the back of their heads, if this is "another Rev".

His intent may not have been to be able to laugh at our gullibility, but the effect is to distance us from each other. That is not harmless.

Well said, Umbran.

Obviously one should take the opinions of a professed Discordian re community harmony with a pinch of salt.

 

[Truth Seeker]

If that is the feeling, then others should go for it.

For me, I met the guy, talk with him, and even took his picture.

Second time now, that I have known of someone, that has shown their 'dark soul'.

From EnWorld.

I am not happy at all.

Not happy.

I think everyone needs to step back and breath a little. Rev was a valued member of our community for YEARS before he did this. Sure he may have tarnished his reputation in a huge way, but he shouldn't be perma-banned for one lapse of judgment.

If anything you should look at what he did in this way: He showed each and everyone of use how fragile this digital existance truly is. He made us realize that if something happened to one of us it would truly difficult for anyone to know because it is easy to fabricate lies on the internet. He also showed that having purely textual relationships over a digital network is foolish since it is difficult because how much information and disinformation exists. He tought us a valid and much needed lesson, so don't damn him because you didn't get the "harr-harr" or because you felt hurt/deceived by his cry for help.

If anyone on ENWorld deserves a second chance, it's Rev.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Well said, Umbran.

Obviously one should take the opinions of a professed Discordian re community harmony with a pinch of salt.

Everything could be taken with a pinch of salt, especially those who claim they know better then others based on the philosophy embraced by that person. That said, I don't attack you for your philosophical ideas, so you shouldn't attack me for mine. Also don't assume that I want to see this website or it's community burn just because I align myself with Discordianism, because I don't. I love this site and it's community.

Sure it's was messed up what Rev did and it hurt. But I'm over it. Life's too short for me to be devastated by things that happen on the internet.

Anyways, its not our decision with what happens to Rev, it's the mod's and admins decision. I may not like it, but I can live with their choice.

 

[Wik]

If I may - one bad post is a lapse of judgment. This was a premeditated, extended action. A hoax over several days - that's not just one lapse of good sense. And it isn't just Rev's personal reputation that has been damaged here.

Several folks have said that EN World is "just a messageboard". We of the moderation staff understand that, but we also think it is more than that. EN World is also a community. We're a bunch of nerds and geeks and gamers who, even if we never meet in the flesh, become friends. This is a place where, believe it or not, if you really do have a problem you've got some chance of getting some support or help. Rev actually proved that.

But, he has drawn on that reserve of goodwill under false pretenses. Now, if someone has a real problem, and actually needs to draw on the community for support, people are going to be reserved, a bit skeptical. Folks with problems may not get what they need, because everyone's going to wonder, in the back of their heads, if this is "another Rev".

His intent may not have been to be able to laugh at our gullibility, but the effect is to distance us from each other. That is not harmless.

Alright. I guess I feel the need to clarify something. ENWorld is a bit more than a messageboard to me - I understand the community vibe (it's one of the reasons I'm PO'd about all this). But, the rest of my earlier comments stand.

This community doesn't need someone who would do that. I mean, I know at the beginning, I was ready to do whatever I could to help, and I know I wasn't the only one.

***

Now, I know I probably won't get an answer, but I'd love to hear the story of how this story broke. How the jig was up for Rev, as it were. Because I know there's an interesting story in all that.

(My guess is someone contacted the hospital to set something up... after all, as you said Umbran, ENWorld is a community, and we do things for one another).