People are saying what I'm thinking much better than usual, so I'ma repeat myself and say that I agree with Jilli, and I think victor has a good idea. Maybe table any discussion for a day?

I will say again that the only thing that surprises me is that anyone who knows the inquisitive, resourceful nature of b.org would be surprised by the asking of questions OR by the loving way they are framed for the most part.

Maybe table any discussion for a day?

You know we did this occasionally when were hashing out parliamentary stuff and things got heated, but I think this is a different circumstance.

The only person that's deviating from civil discourse is Trudy. If people don't want to talk about it, or feel like they know enough to have an informed opinion they don't have to participate any further. If people need to continue to discuss it, then why shut it down?

The thread will self-regulate.

Some people are processing it through this discussion. I don't see the point in tabling it because Trudy's going off the rails.

The thread will self-regulate.

Agreed.

And to address brenda's earlier point - the reason people quickly got suspicious is because the manner of the announcement was standard for a pseudicide, there were long held suspicions about Gus' story, and the inability to find any verifiable data about either the death or the person was a huge red flag.

I don't think people were looking to debunk or pounce. I think most people googled on his name to learn more about him, and then the questions came. That's what happened with me.

Fuck, I was the one who proposed a thread for a wake. Obviously my first impulse wasn't to attack Gus or his memory.

.

I want to believe in Gus. I do. I'm not one who had doubts about him before this, except for that grain of salt that I apply to most stories. The urge to embellish the facts to make a better story is nearly universal. For me, if it was a performance, it was a remarkably consistent and nuanced performance.

However, my stages of grief are Denial, Google, Anger, Bargaining , Depression and Acceptance. I wanted to know more about Gus. I wanted to find the best way to honor his memory. And there was ... nothing. Then these discussions revealed some things I didn't know. I had, for example, had the impression that some of the Midwesterners had met Gus. I didn't know about the other, earlier "the dog ate my manuscript" posting. So now I have doubts. I'll still miss "Gus," though.

I don't think people were looking to debunk or pounce. I think most people googled on his name to learn more about him, and then the questions came. That's what happened with me.

That's what I did. I didn't really know him until after the bite incident--and people here have mentioned that he was somewhat different. I was curious about him, not really knowing much about him or having much board interaction and wanted to learn more. I just assumed I'd find something. Anything. And when I didn't, I got suspicious. I held back from questioning because of the huge outpouring of sympathy on the board and I assumed someone from the board had met him in person--or at least spoke to him over the phone.

Some people are processing it through this discussion. I don't see the point in tabling it because Trudy's going off the rails.

Yes. This. Trudy can steadfastly maintain her own reality outside of this thread very easily and hold a vigil, memorial or whatever wherever she chooses.

I'm not saying I want to hear every single detail of someone's google search or parse every single post Gus ever made but if someone wants to continue looking and report back here, I'd like to know. I'm still curious. I'm not in edging on pissed or hurt like some people because I wasn't emotionally attached to Gus. And this isn't all Penlind baggage I'm carrying, either. It's a gut feeling I had and it's grown since other people voiced their concerns.

Personally, I wouldn't be ready to stone Gus if he showed back up here. I wouldn't like to see him continue to post. And I'll be the first in line to apologize if it turns out he was who he said he was and if he is dead. Not that apologizing to him would help.

I'm at the point, now, where I'm just waiting to see if someone can crack the mystery. I'm nodding my head a lot with quite a few posters, so I don't have much to say for myself. But when it comes down to it, this is where we discuss these kinds of things so those who want to discuss, discuss away.

Thank you Jilli. and many others.