Chet said:
>>And the fact that Bob turned around and didn't put a stop to it
>>immediately sure doesn't make me feel any better either.

Bob said:
>For the record, I DID put a stop to it as soon as I discovered it,
>even staying up until 5am with my e-mails.

<SNIP>

>I'm very sorry (and flattered) about the reactions you and Ellen had,
>and even though I took the joke in stride on vegraw, I want you and
>any other dupees to know that I had no intentional role in
>perpetrating this hoax.

I think many thought you were in on it, and I am happy you can dispel
this misconception.

Bob said:
>I did see the humor in it,

The prank would have been funny if it had been done in a way so nobody
truly believed you were actually dead. As it were only you, Doug & Ward
were having fun & not duped to some degree.

Bob said:
>but also immediately recognized its potential for harm, so I made sure
>to dispel the rumors as quickly as I could.

Here is what you said in your first post after your "passing":
>>>And on the third day He rose again!!  (Mind over blood.  Yes, yes
>>>Dance away, bodhster!  I love you too, even if are the carnivorous
>>>type.)Gosh, i can't leave you guys alone for a minute, can I?  Actually,
>>>I've been working hard on preparations for the February issue of the
>>>M2M for the past few days.

The problem with the above is that you are not taking a stand on the
issue and distancing yourself to what has happened. Instead you are
with your "boys will be boys" attitude indirectly sanctioning what has
taken place and in a sense continuing in the spirit of the "joke"
thereby adding insult upon injury to the many on the list who have been
badly hurt by this very inconsiderate and careless prank, and I think
this lack of judgement on your side was what made many think that you
were in on it. Also, it would have helped if you had come out with an
independent announcement instead of almost hiding in your response to a
message. You were not put in an easy position for sure but I still
think you could have showed a little more discretion in this matter.

Chet said:
>>So self-indulgent and thoughtless on the parts of people whose
>>sensitivities I had some respect for... sigh...

Bob said:
>I agree, but I think most people who know Doug Schwartz' sense of
>humor and follow vegraw on a daily basis would have easily seen
>through the ruse.

Doug has never pulled off anything close to this stunt and had most of
the regulars completely fooled. Not by his first post alone but when
you add his second post +  Ward's post I do not see why anybody should
think that you were still alive, and I feel very let down and abused by
how they have betrayed my trust in them.

>Even so, Doug should have realized that many people drop in and out of
>vegraw and would have missed the earlier posting by Doug and me that
>would have provided the clue to the hoax.  The potential for harm was
>just too great to risk for a little humor.

Indeed. But this was not just a little humor and by calling it this you
are failing to grasp the seriousness of what has passed.

Bob said:
>The reason I didn't get up on a soapbox about how tasteless the joke
>was and instead joked around in response was because (a) I understood
>the spirit in which it was intended, misguided as it as, and (b)
>whatever damage was done was already water over the dam.  I felt that
>the most important thing for me to do was to just get back on vegraw
>and make sure everyone knew it wasn't true.  Which is what I did.

I still do not understand the intended spirit, and I feel some more
direct damage control from you was called for and in no way water over
the dam. By not fully acknowledging the extent of the damage done you
are in a way sending a message that we should be laughing at or
ignoring our anger, hurt & grief - which is in sense a way of siding
with the "jokesters".

Bob said:
>In spite of the mistake he made, Doug is a fine fellow, and deserves
>to be forgiven.

Yes, if he asks to or if he like Ward, admits to & apologies for what
he has done.

Bob said:
>Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Just now my compassion for Doug and Ward is at zero. When I have cooled
down a bit I will look at what kind of suspension will be appropiate.

Best, Peter
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