Thanks, Sophia. I support you all in my head, if not in email.

---

You don't have to show ID to sign for a FedEx package.

And you can deposit checks through an ATM to your account and they'll stick even if isn't your name on the check.

---

AFAIK, anyone can get a DBA (doing business as) bank account and use it like a real name, signing for packages and cashing checks. Many sole proprietors of businesses do that. So the fact that he could "sign for Fedex packages and cash checks under the name of Guy Straley at the address we have" doesn't prove it was his real actual name.

---

I was dark from late morning Friday (board time) until early yesterday evening. So I didn't see things unfold in anything close to real time. I've stayed silent, mainly because I couldn't think of any way to say what I wanted to say. And because, with my limited experience of Net boards, this is the first time I've seen such a situation.

But I think Trudy has a point, even if it isn't quite what I hear her saying. When I logged in yesterday, this was the second busiest thread over the last 4+ days. This thread was busier than Bitches. And virtually all of it in 2 days. While I haven't kept track, this thread has continued to be extremely busy over the last 24 or so hours since I logged back in.

I think the community has overanalyzed this to death. OK, I know, we're Buffistas. Overanalysis is what we do. But I'm not sure how much more can be accomplished at this point.

Not to say there aren't legitimate questions. And I don't have any quarrel with the tone -- if it's been a lynch mob (and I don't think it has), it's certainly the most polite lynch mob I've ever heard of. But it's reached the point of diminishing returns.

---

certainly the most polite lynch mob I've ever heard of

Fred, I'd like to tag this, if I may?

And, well, I think this has to run its course. It hasn't, quite, yet.

---

Fred, even more than most, I think. that's got to be a decision by the participants in the discussion.

---

I was thinking that if we could somehow Godwin this, it would stop. But I couldn't figure out how.

---

Fred, I'd like to tag this, if I may?

Feel free.

And, well, I think this has to run its course. It hasn't, quite, yet.

And I know there's no way to stop it. Without, at minimum, naked Spike. Which I don't have available.

---

I'm not saying Cass not posting as her real name is the problem, because it totally isn't. But if Cass created this elaborate, even if well-sustained, persona, and then created situations like a disease, a debilitating accident or whatever, one that created sympathy and upset in others.... well, that's kinda shitty. But with Cass, I'm certain she has not.

I'm being passive aggressive and shitty on the internets!

(Okay, I've been wanting to have a reason to post that for about ever. Bless you, Kat.)

You all remember that one time, back in like 2002, when a friend of mine didn't hear back from me via email (I was on a road trip) and looked up the Buffistas admins and emailed them to find out whether I was dead?

The Stompies were gracious and merely forwarded the email to me. But, it's funny in retrospect that one internet friend (whom I had met in person) emailed my other internet friends (whom I'd also met at that point) to verify my continuing state of livingness.

I think of that often actually.

Makes me smile every time. And then check in with people if I've gone a little too introvert and into my cave so they don't have to do the same thing.

---

Which I don't have available.

Pity.

---