Alright, I've been on GAF for over a decade now.
You know what? This whole thing sucks.
I don't know Evilore, I don't know him personally. I only know the kind of person he's been publicly on GAF, to which he's always demonstrated himself to me as a passionate progressive, a cool head who backs up his arguments with sound logic and rationality, and someone whom I very much consider an ally on many of the important issues of today. And most of all, he's the site owner. As admin of neogaf, he's helped to cultivate, manage, and guide forum policy that's shaped my favorite game website on the net. GAF doesn't tolerate bullshit or vile cockroaches, and for that I'm grateful. And so clearly he is a person I like to believe I share a similar moral compass with, a person who wouldn't intentionally sexually harass another human being.
So where does that leave me when it comes to the allegations? I feel like "I don't know" is the only answer that's acceptable for me. I'm not going to take sides, I truly don't know enough and I don't know either of them personally. I do believe his accuser had a horrible experience with him, that she felt harassed during this encounter, and I believe he made some very poor choices and judgments. But even after this bad experience she had with him, she was willing to give him a second chance -- in her words -- and continue on with a relationship. So like her, I'm giving Evilore a second chance. If some other accusation comes out, then I'll take my stand, but right now it feels more like two exes having some dirty laundry aired.
What I'm more willing to draw conclusions on is the way this whole situation was handled, and the forthcoming changes to the off-topic, which I think are terrible and detrimental to the cultural foundation of the community. I hope those will be reconsidered.
You know what? This whole thing sucks.
I don't know Evilore, I don't know him personally. I only know the kind of person he's been publicly on GAF, to which he's always demonstrated himself to me as a passionate progressive, a cool head who backs up his arguments with sound logic and rationality, and someone whom I very much consider an ally on many of the important issues of today. And most of all, he's the site owner. As admin of neogaf, he's helped to cultivate, manage, and guide forum policy that's shaped my favorite game website on the net. GAF doesn't tolerate bullshit or vile cockroaches, and for that I'm grateful. And so clearly he is a person I like to believe I share a similar moral compass with, a person who wouldn't intentionally sexually harass another human being.
So where does that leave me when it comes to the allegations? I feel like "I don't know" is the only answer that's acceptable for me. I'm not going to take sides, I truly don't know enough and I don't know either of them personally. I do believe his accuser had a horrible experience with him, that she felt harassed during this encounter, and I believe he made some very poor choices and judgments. But even after this bad experience she had with him, she was willing to give him a second chance -- in her words -- and continue on with a relationship. So like her, I'm giving Evilore a second chance. If some other accusation comes out, then I'll take my stand, but right now it feels more like two exes having some dirty laundry aired.
What I'm more willing to draw conclusions on is the way this whole situation was handled, and the forthcoming changes to the off-topic, which I think are terrible and detrimental to the cultural foundation of the community. I hope those will be reconsidered.