I think it extremely unlikely that any of gus’ family members would come across this discussion. If they bothered to read this thread of “administrative discussions”, they would have had to go through several thousand posts about OTHER things to get to this thread. And yes, I suppose that they would be hurt and angry if they came across this, but the needs of actual Buffistas outweigh the slim chance that the family may see this.

That said, I don’t remember Gus very well, so I don’t have an emotional stake in this at all. What I care about is someone manipulating people that I care about. There didn’t have to be a post about him dying, he just didn’t have to post anymore. Or even that he was checking out of the board for whatever reason. Posting a fake death notice is a deliberate attempt at manipulation. If it is fake, I’m sure that “kimi” or “gus” is quite enjoying this discussion. Which is fine, because I don’t care about them, I care about the people who are mourning right now, I care about the people who are confused, who are feeling torn right now, and even Trudy, who I think is overreacting to a reasonable inquiry.

I think that Ginger’s idea

It is a small possibility that he was quite real but wished to continue to remain anonymous and "Guy Straley" is also a pseudonym.

deserves credence. I’m quite real, but if you looked for me, you wouldn’t find me. Of course, many of you have met me in person, and some of you live in my city, have been to my house, etc. But, that’s a testament to my desire to meet people, I could just as easily never have met people.

And this is very important

If there is no physical "Gus" as previously defined, the entity still existed and was loved. It begs redefinition of the term "real".

yes, there is something to mourn, but the fake death was not necessary.

For levity's sake....

While googleing myself (I do come up if you know my real name and the university at which I work) I discovered that the office that I left almost two years ago has me listed as their 2007 United Way campaign volunteer. It is a five person office.

listed as their 2007 United Way campaign volunteer

No one else could be roped into it.

I would just like to note, for the record, that should people go googling for me after I die, to confirm my reality, I am not, in fact, a high-school wrestler.

Also, I find myself suddenly very glad that I've known Aimee and MM for over a decade (I think over two, in MM's case), and they have all kinds of verification of my reality, and can (hopefully) confirm the reality of my (preferably far future distant) death.

Also, I find myself suddenly very glad that I've known Aimee and MM for over a decade (I think over two, in MM's case), and they have all kinds of verification of my reality, and can (hopefully) confirm the reality of my (preferably far future distant) death.

Uh, you know that MM will lie about the details of your demise if it makes a better story, right?

"The zombie was already eating Sean's brains but he still had the wherewithal to push the plunger and destroy the undersea labs!"

Whereas I steadfastly deny that I exist, even thought I use my real name here and dozens of people have met me.

Cindy, on the other hand, is real.

Wow. I think I want my death to involve the word "wherewithal."

Everyone knows I'm just a figment of all of your imaginations. Clovis, on the other hand, is very real.

I am, in fact, a 50 year old gay man.

Ok, so the dirty thoughts I have had about Victor are more threatening to my sanity than to a non-existent marriage. I am surprisingly all right with that.