It could be a convo about documenting it in the FAQ. It probably SHOULD be in the FAQ. What I think is clear is that there's unresolved feelings, and we should resolve 'em as best possible. Without drawing drama. So, y'know. FAQ it.

I guess I just don't think anyone needs your permission to talk about what happened, anywhere they would like to. Is that what you're saying? I mean, I certainly didn't check with Margot before writing the Penlind story.

I get the issue for the board if someone were to out him and have to deal with an influx of crazy people, and wanting to protect the board residents from that kind of hassle.

You are right. No one needs my permission. That said, I don't need permission to delete my contributIon to the discussion, either.

Do what you gotta do.

I will and am.

Here's the (my) thing:

We *never* got any answers because we never asked any questions. There was, "He isn't real." and then there was infighting among our members, there were hurt feelings and feelings of abject betrayal. There was no closure.

Even with Caroma, there was at least an effort put forth to get her into the conversation about her behavior on the board before ultimately banning her. There was some sense of closure there.

I feel like the affections of the people on this board were used. I feel as though the way that the events surrounding Gus' "death" affected how we, as a board, interracted with each other. There was, it seemed to me, to be less trust and more questioning of posters intent of being here if they were newcomers.

For some, it seems to me, the wound is still open because it never actually closed. Maybe calling him out publically and getting some answers to "Why?" and "What was the purpose?" might help in the healing process or the getting over it process.

THAT is why I think that sharing the story with The Mary Sue might be helpful in possibly getting some answers.

I will and am.

Cindy, I really wish you wouldn't. Please don't. It's a little unfair to come in and make some really compelling arguments, and then when ita or Allyson challenges it, you delete it.

Nobody's saying you can't own your words, but they're good words and they are valuable, and you deleting them makes it seem like you yourself don't value them, and I know that's not true.

You're likely to never get any answers, though. I'm all for someone writing about it and putting it out in the world, because it's interesting. WEREMONKEY!

But if the point of the story is anything other than "so the dude who runs TV Tropes has Munchausen's by Internet, and isn't that fucking weird?" I just don't think there will be much satisfaction.

All Cindy basically did was investigate Gus' posts. Those posts still exist, so it's not like anyone can't go back in and challenge the same things.

You're likely to never get any answers, though.

Very true. But for me, it would help close that wound if the story was put forth so that others could be careful.

What answers do you want? Why he did it? He has no motivation to tell us why or give us closure--he's a dick. That's the problem.

Airing the dirty laundry is just that--it's not cleaning anything up.

The closure for me would be him getting a broader audience of people reacting to the truth of his lack of scruples. Needing or wanting anything more I'd think is futile. And we might not convince a single person. The internet is like that. It could end up worse than it was before we said anything.