Reviled SWG Designer Kills Himself

[Sol Invictus]

Jeff Freeman, the Star Wars Galaxies designer 'infamous' for creating the "New Gameplay Experience" that more or less destroyed the game and wrought the personal ire of hundreds of thousands of players on message boards across the internet took his own life today at the age of 39.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86552-Jeff-Freeman-Former-SWG-Lead-Gameplay-Designer-Dies

Half of the SWG players on /v/ are having a party right now. Go figure.

[Brendan]

More proof that gamers are a classless bunch.

[Robert Sharp]

Poor guy. Sounds like he was suffering with some severe depression issues.

[Incendiary Lemon]

Reviled may or may not of been appropriate in another post. Here it is very poorly chosen.

[armand v]

I used to read the SW:G forums just for an interesting read; the rage many people had towards the change(NGE) was nothing short of awesome and I can fully imagine the bearer of that hate being damaged forever and overwhelmed .

[moss_icon]

More proof that gamers are a classless bunch.

that's putting it mildly. anyone who ever got that upset about a game should hopefully acquire some perspective.

[Jonathan Crane]

Reviled may or may not of been appropriate in another post. Here it is very poorly chosen.

Agreed. Gamer rage is one thing, but this is in really bad taste.

[ryan]

Good lord, Sol Invictus, is that you posting on his blog? I'm assuming so, since the handle doesn't seem all that common. Mental note: never tell loved ones about my blog (http://mythicalblog.com/index.php/quickpost/de-niro#comments).

[stusser]

What the hell is the matter with you? His family is reading that. I'm ashamed that a member of qt3 would post that. You're a very small man. Go fuck yourself.

[MSUSteve]

I wish there was some way to march those that are posting those disgusting comments on Freeman's blog in front of his grieving family to defend themselves and their callous attitude to the death of another human being. I can't even fathom making comments like those people are posting, especially when the source of the venom is a fucking game. Those people really need to gain some perspective, but I fear that it's far too late for anyone that would actually post some of that stuff.

[Mark Crump]

I nominate this thread as "Most Tasteless Thread"

[Cubit]

way to go, sol...

[RobotPants]

Someone who obviously has issues kills himself and people are still connecting him to their nerd outrage over a fucking game? I mean, I don't demand you feel bad over someone you don't know committing suicide, but try to have just a tiny bit of perspective. It's really embarassing being a gamer sometimes. Fucking amazing.

[Rob_Merritt]

This is the first thread on QT3 that had made me wish we had mods that would delete threads. :(

[Equis]

Jesus Christ Sol, I'm embarrassed to be in the same country as you.

[mystery]

We should put this one up there with the "Hey, that Jade is pretty hot for a game producer!" thread as the BEST OF QT3

[jerri blank]

Half of the SWG players on /v/ are having a party right now. Go figure.

Based on your tasteless, tactless and downright assholish comment on his blog, I'm guessing you're one of the ones wearing a pointy party hat.

Can people be banned from here for stuff they write somewhere else? This might be a good test case.

[Telefrog]

That's really tasteless, Sol.

[Hans Lauring]

Shunning does the same without involving Tom.

Classy, Sol.

[MSUSteve]

Not to stop the Sol Invictus hate party, but shouldn't we at least halt the lynching until we know it was actually him that posted that?

[Wendelius]

I wish there was some way to march those that are posting those disgusting comments on Freeman's blog in front of his grieving family to defend themselves and their callous attitude to the death of another human being.

That.

Would Sol say that to his grieving family's face?

You're a sad person Sol.

Wendelius

[Ben Sones]

I mean, I don't demand you feel bad over someone you don't know committing suicide,

OTOH, when someone you don't know commits suicide, why on earth would you then go post on their blog? Especially something that nasty. It's not like the guy is going to read your comments--it's just his friends and family reading that blog, now. You might think that suicide is a selfish act, but dropping by his blog for no reason other than to twist the knife doesn't exactly place you on the moral high ground.

[Talorc]

Not to stop the Sol Invictus hate party, but shouldn't we at least halt the lynching until we know it was actually him that posted that?

That was him. He used to post tasteless crap like that at RPG codex as well, while he was on staff.

[Tom Ohle]

Let's drop this thread and let the less tasteless one take its place.

[Jason McMaster]

Ah, classy, here's what Sol wrote in his blog:


Never played SWG. Heard bad things about it. But whatever.

Suicide is weak and I’ll never apologize for saying that.

My condolences to the family and friends you left behind, you selfish fuck.

You really are a worthless fuck. He isn't going to read that, his family will.

[MSUSteve]

That was him. He used to post tasteless crap like that at RPG codex as well, while he was on staff.
Then let the official shunning begin!

Edit: For what it's worth, I can at least see where Sol is coming from, even though I believe it was tasteless to post that comment on that blog. I don't know if Sol has ever been personally affected by the suicide of someone close, but it seems that his reaction is the sort that one might have in that situation.

[Tyjenks]

The internet proves once again that it can bring out the inner cowardly dick in folks who would, in public to someone's face, keep their fucking mouth shut.

[André Costa]

Then let the official shunning begin!

Edit: For what it's worth, I can at least see where Sol is coming from, even though I believe it was tasteless to post that comment on that blog. I don't know if Sol has ever been personally affected by the suicide of someone close, but it seems that his reaction is the sort that one might have in that situation.

Please stop making excuses for him. This is just another "normal" post/comment from Sol Invictus.

[Adam Altmann]

Screw you guys. The real tragedy here is "wrought the personal ire".

[MSUSteve]

Please stop making excuses for him. This is just another "normal" post/comment from Sol Invictus.
Sorry for trying to be a little objective. I realize that trying to understand the root of Sol's comments has no place in a thread where we're all supposed to openly condemn him. I don't perceive that as "making excuses" for Sol and you certainly don't see me defending the detestable morons that posted utterly repugnant comments (which I will not even deign to summarize) on the blog. I just think Sol's comment might stem from some personal tragedy he suffered, and even if it doesn't, I know that others that have experienced such tragedy legitimately feel the way that Sol does. I still think it was tasteless beyond belief to post that opinion on that blog.

[Nezz]

Then let the official shunning begin!

Edit: For what it's worth, I can at least see where Sol is coming from, even though I believe it was tasteless to post that comment on that blog. I don't know if Sol has ever been personally affected by the suicide of someone close, but it seems that his reaction is the sort that one might have in that situation.
When one expresses outrage against a murderer, especially a dead one, it is safe to say that the norm-stabilizing function of such a reaction, i.e. the reaffirmation of the law in the face of its blatant violation, explains the psychological motivation better than speculation about any personal experiences.

[Midnight Son]

Uncool. Really uncool.

[MSUSteve]

When one expresses outrage against a murderer, especially a dead one, it is safe to say that the norm-stabilizing function of such a reaction, i.e. the reaffirmation of the law in the face of its blatant violation, explains the psychological motivation better than speculation about any personal experiences.
I don't know if I'm just stupid or if that questions makes absolutely no sense. Probably the former.

[Adam Altmann]

When one expresses outrage against a murderer, especially a dead one, it is safe to say that the norm-stabilizing function of such a reaction, i.e. the reaffirmation of the law in the face of its blatant violation, explains the psychological motivation better than speculation about any personal experiences.

...it's gotta be all about job creation too.

[DavidKaye]

Once again, I direct readers to this thread. (http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?t=46452)

[Jasper Phillips]

Jeff Freeman, the Star Wars Galaxies designer 'infamous' for creating the "New Gameplay Experience" that more or less destroyed the game and wrought the personal ire of hundreds of thousands of players on message boards across the internet took his own life today at the age of 39.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86552-Jeff-Freeman-Former-SWG-Lead-Gameplay-Designer-Dies

Half of the SWG players on /v/ are having a party right now. Go figure.
Nice. Good to see you have some perspective on what's important in life.

*plonk*

Why don't we all killfile this asshole?

[quatoria]

Half of the SWG players on /v/ are having a party right now. Go figure.


So, kind of like the party we'll throw when you finally develop a sense of introspection and follow suit, then. You are genuinely without a single redeeming human feature, aren't you?

[Cubit]

Sol, please respond to all of this in a long, explosively violent post laced with cursing. It would really make my day.

[Bill Dungsroman]

For what it's worth, I can at least see where Sol is coming from

So can I. It's called a dumpster in this part of the world.

[Charles]

So can I. It's called a dumpster in this part of the world.

Oh, see, I thought you were going to say "A pro-abortion stance."

[MSUSteve]

Half of the SWG players on /v/ are having a party right now. Go figure.


So, kind of like the party we'll throw when you finally develop a sense of introspection and follow suit, then. You are genuinely without a single redeeming human feature, aren't you?

See, I read that comment by Sol as an indictment of those SWG players that were "having a party" as a result of this sad news, not approval. I mean, I see how Sol's posts, both here and on that blog, are distasteful, but it seems like there's a bit of a witch hunt mentality going on.

[Lum]

This is quite possibly the worst display of classlessness I have ever seen on Q23.

[Staff Sergeant]

I don't want to bump, but I feel it needs to be said: Stop posting here because you want to berate Sol and his thread, please. You are just keeping it at the top.

[Bill Dungsroman]

See, I read that comment by Sol as an indictment of those SWG players that were "having a party" as a result of this sad news, not approval. I mean, I see how Sol's posts, both here and on that blog, are distasteful, but it seems like there's a bit of a witch hunt mentality going on.

No, actually, you're just pretty much broken as a human being if you can't decide what the appropriate reaction to Sol's actions are. You could all be laughing and posting LOLcat pics over Sol's bullshit and I'd still call him a worthless pile of maggot shit. Sometimes it's not the groupthink it's, you know, basic human understanding.

[Bill Dungsroman]

I don't want to bump, but I feel it needs to be said: Stop posting here because you want to berate Sol and his thread, please. You are just keeping it at the top.

Where Tom can see it.

[Matt Perkins]

Sometimes it's not the groupthink it's, you know, basic human understanding.
I'm sorry, this is the internet. We're not supposed to care and to be jaded as possible.

In all seriousness, really low, Sol. Not just classless, but nasty and crappy. Way to be a decent human being...oh wait.

[ReptileHouse]

Reviled may or may not of been appropriate in another post. Here it is very poorly chosen.

Dear Lord, yes.

[quatoria]

Not to stop the Sol Invictus hate party, but shouldn't we at least halt the lynching until we know it was actually him that posted that?

The profile of the user who posted in Jeff's blog, aside from using Sol's name, links directly to one of his sites. So either it's Sol, or it's someone trying to frame him for jackassery. Can you think of a single damned reason why anyone would need to attempt to frame him for being a piece of shit, given the way he consistently acts?

[Lucidvizion]

While what Sol said was tactless, it doesn't make it untrue. It is very possible some members of Freeman's family or friends are thinking the same thing.

Suicide is a selfish act that hurts many, many other people. But keep in mind it is often the last act of the desperate. RIP, Jeff... I hope you are free of whatever demons were haunting you.

[MSUSteve]

No, actually, you're just pretty much broken as a human being if you can't decide what the appropriate reaction to Sol's actions are. You could al lbe laughing and posting LOLcat pics over Sol's bullshit and I'd still call him a worthless pile of maggot shit. Sometimes it's not the groupthink it's, you know, basic human understanding.
Well now that you've called me a broken human being and said that I lack basic human understanding, do you feel better? I wonder what you think Sol meant when he said "Go figure." It seems to me he was saying he didn't approve of anyone celebrating Mr. Freeman's death. I just think it's unfair to condemn Sol for particular statements that don't seem to be inflammatory at all. There appears to be a lot of animosity toward the guy, and I don't know if it's deserved or not, but if you're going to pile on, at least do it based on an actual shitty statement. I'd posit both his post on the blog and the way he characterized Mr. Freeman's death in the first paragraph of his post here.

[Mike O'Malley]

This is most probably the biggest display of asshattery I've seen on Qt3. Most of the disagreeable stuff has some element of humor in it, however weak, but this is just tasteless and rude.

[quatoria]

While what Sol said was tactless, it doesn't make it untrue. It is very possible some members of Freeman's family or friends are thinking the same thing.

Suffering from a serious mental illness that drives you to suicide is roughly as selfish as dying from cancer. It's no less classless to insult someone for succumbing to a mental disease than it is to insult them for succumbing to any other disease. If you feel compelled to insult someone who killed themselves, you aren't bravely speaking some daring truth - you're just revealing yourself as a person of low character, and someone who likely doesn't know a damned thing about what it's like to suffer from or deal with serious mental illness.

[Bill Dungsroman]

Well now that you've called me a broken human being and said that I lack basic human understanding, do you feel better? I wonder what you think Sol meant when he said "Go figure." It seems to me he was saying he didn't approve of anyone celebrating Mr. Freeman's death. I just think it's unfair to condemn Sol for particular statements that don't seem to be inflammatory at all. There appears to be a lot of animosity toward the guy, and I don't know if it's deserved or not, but if you're going to pile on, at least do it based on an actual shitty statement. I'd posit both his post on the blog and the way he characterized Mr. Freeman's death in the first paragraph of his post here.

Shut up, robot. Do you feel better about defending a moron? Did you miss the part where posting that stuff on Freeman's blog puts it in square view of his family? Boy, that sure is a great idea. Calling someone a "weak, selfish fuck" in a place where his grieving family can read it isn't inflammatory? And none of this is remotely out of character for Sol. None of it.

[bago]

See, that's the trick about suicide. While at one end of the spectrum you grant them absolution because they did what they want, which you generally want with your friends, but at the same time you lose a friend and won't be able to interact with them anymore. At least with murder you have someone to blame.

[biclops]

Suffering from a serious mental illness that drives you to suicide is roughly as selfish as dying from cancer
Agreed. Anyone who believes that suicide is an act of selfishness has a complete misunderstanding of depression. It's a disease, not a mood.

[Tim James]

Maybe Sol's dad killed himself and left the family in dire straits?

[MSUSteve]

Shut up, robot. Do you feel better about defending a moron? Did you miss the part where posting that stuff on Freeman's blog puts it in square view of his family? Boy, that sure is a great idea. Calling someone a "weak, selfish fuck" in a place where his grieving family can read it isn't inflammatory? And none of this is remotely out of character for Sol. None of it.

Obviously not.


I wish there was some way to march those that are posting those disgusting comments on Freeman's blog in front of his grieving family to defend themselves and their callous attitude to the death of another human being. I can't even fathom making comments like those people are posting, especially when the source of the venom is a fucking game. Those people really need to gain some perspective, but I fear that it's far too late for anyone that would actually post some of that stuff.


Then let the official shunning begin!

Edit: For what it's worth, I can at least see where Sol is coming from, even though I believe it was tasteless to post that comment on that blog. I don't know if Sol has ever been personally affected by the suicide of someone close, but it seems that his reaction is the sort that one might have in that situation.


Sorry for trying to be a little objective. I realize that trying to understand the root of Sol's comments has no place in a thread where we're all supposed to openly condemn him. I don't perceive that as "making excuses" for Sol and you certainly don't see me defending the detestable morons that posted utterly repugnant comments (which I will not even deign to summarize) on the blog. I just think Sol's comment might stem from some personal tragedy he suffered, and even if it doesn't, I know that others that have experienced such tragedy legitimately feel the way that Sol does. I still think it was tasteless beyond belief to post that opinion on that blog.


See, I read that comment by Sol as an indictment of those SWG players that were "having a party" as a result of this sad news, not approval. I mean, I see how Sol's posts, both here and on that blog, are distasteful, but it seems like there's a bit of a witch hunt mentality going on.


Well now that you've called me a broken human being and said that I lack basic human understanding, do you feel better? I wonder what you think Sol meant when he said "Go figure." It seems to me he was saying he didn't approve of anyone celebrating Mr. Freeman's death. I just think it's unfair to condemn Sol for particular statements that don't seem to be inflammatory at all. There appears to be a lot of animosity toward the guy, and I don't know if it's deserved or not, but if you're going to pile on, at least do it based on an actual shitty statement. I'd posit both his post on the blog and the way he characterized Mr. Freeman's death in the first paragraph of his post here.

Moreover, telling me to shut up and personally attacking me doesn't really accomplish anything, but have at it if you must. Sol might be a huge asshole and might well deserve all this derision. I don't know. I've said over and over how classless it was to post those comments on the blog where his family and friends will see them. I'm not "defending" Sol, I just made the apparent mistake of trying to drill down to the root of the comments he made. I'm not apt to believe that root is pure evil like you do, but that's your prerogative.

[Lucidvizion]

Suffering from a serious mental illness that drives you to suicide is roughly as selfish as dying from cancer. It's no less classless to insult someone for succumbing to a mental disease than it is to insult them for succumbing to any other disease. If you feel compelled to insult someone who killed themselves, you aren't bravely speaking some daring truth - you're just revealing yourself as a person of low character, and someone who likely doesn't know a damned thing about what it's like to suffer from or deal with serious mental illness.

That was nice of you to only quote and respond to half of what I wrote.

ETA: Please note, when I use the word selfish I do not attach any stigma to the word. You did that. Selfishness is a trait necessary to the survival to the human race... It's not bad, it just 'is'

[Cubit]

Careful msusteve, you can't fight city hall. And by city hall I mean bill.

[quatoria]

I'm not accusing you of insulting the deceased, Lucid. It's just your post that prompted me to articulate more fully why what Sol did filled me with instant revulsion, and why it's fucked up that people feel entitled to behave in that manner in the wake of a stranger's suicide.

[zengonzo]

Do you feel better about defending a moron?

Steve's a good guy. He's attempting to give someone the benefit of the doubt in the absence of a clear response and any direct personal conflicts.

There's enough misery to go around in this thread now, be nice to see it just sink.

[Charles]

I don't want to bump, but I feel it needs to be said: Stop posting here because you want to berate Sol and his thread, please. You are just keeping it at the top.

Some things deserve to be mocked in to Oblivion. This is one of those cases. Leaving it alone to settle just allows the retard in question to believe there was nothing wrong with what he posted.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather bump all day than let him think it's okay to say dumb shit like that.

[gordonrumble]

His blog is not the place to discuss suicide. That was pathetic.

[Charles]

Steve's a good guy. He's attempting to give someone the benefit of the doubt in the absence of a clear response and any direct personal conflicts.

There's enough misery to go around in this thread now, be nice to see it just sink.

Trust me, Sol Invinctard destroyed all benefit of doubt long ago. This is not the first time he's said something stupid or offensive. This is just the worst time. I expect, if he manages to miraculously persist past the end of this day, it won't be the last time.

[quatoria]

Steve's a good guy. He's attempting to give someone the benefit of the doubt in the absence of a clear response and any direct personal conflicts.

Sol posted under his own name, with a link to his own site, in a manner utterly consistent with previous statements and attitudes. Where in the hell is the doubt here? Steve may be a great guy, but he's gone to bat here for someone who isn't. Sol consistently behaves as though he has utterly no comprehension of simple human empathy, and Steve would be better served to familiarize himself with the people he feels moved to champion.

[MSUSteve]

Sol posted under his own name, with a link to his own site, in a manner utterly consistent with previous statements and attitudes. Where in the hell is the doubt here? Steve may be a great guy, but he's gone to bat here for someone who isn't. Sol consistently behaves as though he has utterly no comprehension of simple human empathy, and Steve would be better served to familiarize himself with the people he feels moved to champion.
Read my posts. I'm not championing the guy and I'm done defending myself. I should've just let the lynch mob persist without sticking my head out to even posit the idea that there might be another angle to some of it. Most of the comments Sol made are reprehensible and I'm not going to subject myself to anymore crap over the details.

[Bill Dungsroman]

Moreover, telling me to shut up and personally attacking me doesn't really accomplish anything, but have at it if you must.

There's nothing to accomplish in this thread except for people like you and some other doofs to paint a giant sign displaying your own ignorance on the subjects at hand in this thread, those subjects being primarily Sol and suicide. Aside from those being two great tastes that taste great together, I'm telling you to shut up for your own good. All you're doing is lumping yourself in with Sol, which is just not advised. But you don't see it like that, do you? All you see is the anger, right? Yeah, see. There's a lesson here, a point of subtext I'm making, maybe you'll figure it out at some point.



Sol might be a huge asshole and might well deserve all this derision. I don't know.

I do. Sol makes fun of people's sick children. No, really. I watched him do it. That is just one of several instances and points of proof about his character and tendency.



I've said over and over how classless it was to post those comments on the blog where his family and friends will see them. I'm not "defending" Sol, I just made the apparent mistake of trying to drill down to the root of the comments he made.

Well, what did you find? I found ignorance, stupidity, and immaturity cowering behind, yet emboldened by, the protective anonymity of the internet. Wow, what a fucking scintillating insight that was. I think you need to repeat that over and over some more back to us. We're just that slow.



I'm not apt to believe that root is pure evil like you do, but that's your prerogative.

I didn't say evil, I said stupid. Or pathetic. Or ugly. Plenty of words you can put in there as well, I guess evil may fit in there somewhere, but I don't really care. At best, Sol posted that vile nonsense on Freeman's blog because he has a critically poor grasp of the full psychological gamut that suicidal people may experience. But then, many people do. Many people fail to realize that a lot of people who commit suicide do so because they think the people around them would truly be better off without them, nothing selfish about it.

I'm still left wondering what the point of defending the actions of an ignorant person is. People honk their horns at a car accident because it makes them 5 minutes late in getting home from work, you want to defend that? Is there even a point?

[MSUSteve]

All you see is the anger, right? Yeah, see. There's a lesson here, a point of subtext I'm making, maybe you'll figure it out at some point.
I do get the sense that you're pretty angry, so that's definitely been conveyed. I also see that you can't make a point without being alternately insulting and demeaning. So you have that going for you.


Well, what did you find? I found ignorance, stupidity, and immaturity cowering behind, yet emboldened by, the protective anonymity of the internet. Wow, what a fucking scintillating insight that was. I think you need to repeat that over and over some more back to us. We're just that slow.
I'm sorry that you've taken my statements as direct and personal insults to you. They certainly weren't meant that way. As for what I've discovered about the root of Sol's statements? Nothing. He hasn't responded in any way. I simply said there might be something else other than meanness or ignorance behind what he said, even if the way and place he said it was wholly inappropriate.


I'm still left wondering what the point of defending the actions of an ignorant person is. People honk their horns at a car accident because it makes them 5 minutes late in getting home from work, you want to defend that? Is there even a point?
Again, I'm not trying to defend Sol. All I was trying to do was understand him. Clearly I don't have the history with this guy that you do. I don't know him to be a vile, terrible individual. I tend to think people have a rational reason for saying/doing what they do and I look to understand it. If that's not a worthwhile pursuit with Sol, then point taken. But there is no way I could know that.

[Spasticon]

Yay! Thanks for drawing attention away from what a douche Sol is with your little flamewar.

[Kareem]

I don't have much more to say but I'd love to belabor the point that yes, Sol Invictus, you are a douchebag and asshole.

[Shieldwolf]

I used to read the SW:G forums just for an interesting read; the rage many people had towards the change(NGE) was nothing short of awesome and I can fully imagine the bearer of that hate being damaged forever and overwhelmed .

More hate than Lucas received or the new Star Wars films?

[charmtrap]

I'm not as up on my QT3 personalities as I should be, but isn't Sol Invictus the same guy who's constantly posting derogatory threads about overweight people? So, maybe being a big dick about what he sees as "weakness" in others is just something that comes naturally.

I've wondered before, given his screen name and apparent attitudes, if SI isn't a follower of the neo-folk/black metal/dark ambient underground. These kind of...shall we say, national socialist tendencies are strong in those ones. (Sol Invictus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus_%28band%29), along with Death In June, is one of the founding bands of the neo-folk scene, and those people have some nutty ideas).

[Lum]

He's the person who previously posted about how he watched Bill Roper while he went to the restroom.

I'm not joking (http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?p=1460969#post1460969).

[Tom Ohle]

you guys are still bumping this stupid thread?

[Sidd_Budd]

My condolences to any folks here who knew Jeff. Losing a friend or even an acquaintance to suicide sucks.

[Brendan]

If (And we don't know for certain that it was Sol.) he posted on that blog it is in extremely poor taste. While the nature of suicide and it's impact on family is a valid discussion that blog is not an appropriate forum to discuss it and it is certainly not a venue to soapbox from.

This thread title is also rather unfortunate.

Sol, like many socially maladjusted gamers just needs to be taught the correct social response to something like this.

Then again, I did make some stupid posts about Heath Ledger so I probably don't have a leg to stand on.

[wigglestick]

Then again, I did make some stupid posts about Heath Ledger so I probably don't have a leg to stand on.

Are we talkin' Ultimate Warrior level of stupid, here?

[Kareem]

I'm not as up on my QT3 personalities as I should be, but isn't Sol Invictus the same guy who's constantly posting derogatory threads about overweight people?

Yes.

5

[Lietgardis]

Then again, I did make some stupid posts about Heath Ledger so I probably don't have a leg to stand on.

Were his family and friends reading? Then it's a little different!

[Adree]

http://i38.tinypic.com/2qdbh1k.jpg

[divorced]

Jeff Freeman, the Star Wars Galaxies designer 'infamous' for creating the "New Gameplay Experience" that more or less destroyed the game and wrought the personal ire of hundreds of thousands of players on message boards across the internet took his own life today at the age of 39.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86552-Jeff-Freeman-Former-SWG-Lead-Gameplay-Designer-Dies

Half of the SWG players on /v/ are having a party right now. Go figure.

This is an amazingly crass and low-class post. Shame on you.

[divorced]

While what Sol said was tactless, it doesn't make it untrue. It is very possible some members of Freeman's family or friends are thinking the same thing.

Suicide is a selfish act that hurts many, many other people. But keep in mind it is often the last act of the desperate. RIP, Jeff... I hope you are free of whatever demons were haunting you.

That would be true, except in the vast majority of cases involving suicide there is some significant mental health issues at stake, depression being the most prominent. From what I have read about Jeff, he was quite well-liked. My guess is his depression (or whatever) had gotten to the extent he thought he was doing his family a favor. An act out of love if you will. His thinking was faulty of course, his family would have begged for him to not kill himself. But in a situation like that, rational thought is not what is happening. I feel very sad that he felt as if this was really his best option. It's just terrible to live in an abyss like that.

[divorced]

Suffering from a serious mental illness that drives you to suicide is roughly as selfish as dying from cancer. It's no less classless to insult someone for succumbing to a mental disease than it is to insult them for succumbing to any other disease. If you feel compelled to insult someone who killed themselves, you aren't bravely speaking some daring truth - you're just revealing yourself as a person of low character, and someone who likely doesn't know a damned thing about what it's like to suffer from or deal with serious mental illness.

Thank you! You said it much better than I was able to, but it was exactly the sentiment I was going for. Well put sir!

[JPR]

Sure the tone of the first post in this thread was a little callous, and the comment on the guy's blog was pretty loathesome, but what is wrong with the title of the thread? To revile is "to attack (someone) with abusive language." "Reviled" seems like a perfectly reasonable adjective to use to describe this guy, and it doesn't have any reflection at all on him, personally. Everything anybody is writing about the guy mentions the fact that he was hated by the Galaxies community for the changes he made to the game. How is "reviled" inappropriate?

[RepoMan]

Boy, it'll be nice if Sol gets banned for this. Otherwise, every time he opens his yap here, he'll get deservedly flamed for this abhorrent behavior.

"Reviled" is inappropriate because it is not tactful. The situation deserves sympathy, not focus on egotistical gamer politicking.

[Damien Neil]

Sol, you disgust me.

*plonk*

[Bill Dungsroman]

Again, I'm not trying to defend Sol. All I was trying to do was understand him. Clearly I don't have the history with this guy that you do. I don't know him to be a vile, terrible individual. I tend to think people have a rational reason for saying/doing what they do and I look to understand it. If that's not a worthwhile pursuit with Sol, then point taken. But there is no way I could know that.

Fair enough. I admit this thread and Sol's actions pissed me off a bit at first blush and I misappropriated some of that anger towards you. I'm annoyed by the tendency of some people on the internet to defend any act, no matter how lame, idiotic, or horrible. It's my opinion a lot of people are either deliberately contrarian by nature or like to think of themselves as somehow more sophisticated or rationally-thinking because they can ask questions about some specific instance that they think are insightful, when they really aren't.

All I can really say at this point is that it's my opinion that assuming every action every person takes is based on reason is at best a terribly simplistic view on humanity, at worst an utterly wrong one. I don't mean to be insulting nor demeaning, I'm just telling you that's the only way I can respond to that statement of yours.

Further, I think it is worth pointing out that just because a person thinks they have a reason for doing what they do, and/or even if they do have a reason, it doesn't necessarily mitigate the act if it's despicable enough. I cite the blog comments as one such instance. I don't really care if Sol's mommy didn't pay enough attention to him as a young boy, and that's why he's such a loser now. I mean, do you?

[MSUSteve]

Fair enough. I admit this thread and Sol's actions pissed me off a bit at first blush and I misappropriated some of that anger towards you. I'm annoyed by the tendency of some people on the internet to defend any act, no matter how lame, idiotic, or horrible. It's my opinion a lot of people are either deliberately contrarian by nature or like to think of themselves as somehow more sophisticated or rationally-thinking because they can ask questions about some specific instance that they think are insightful, when they really aren't.

All I can really say at this point is that it's my opinion that assuming every action every person takes is based on reason is at best a terribly simplistic view on humanity, at worst an utterly wrong one. I don't mean to be insulting nor demeaning, I'm just telling you that's the only way I can respond to that statement of yours.

Further, I think it is worth pointing out that just because a person thinks they have a reason for doing what they do, and/or even if they do have a reason, it doesn't necessarily mitigate the act if it's despicable enough. I cite the blog comments as one such instance. I don't really care if Sol's mommy didn't pay enough attention to him as a young boy, and that's why he's such a loser now. I mean, do you?
I never try to be contrarian, but I will try to politely and rationally speak my mind, even if it goes against the pervading view. I certainly don't enjoy being bashed and flamed, so I'm not sure what my motivation would be for contrarianism for the sake of it, but I realize that there are plenty out there than love that sort of attention. I am not one of those people. I'm also not trying to talk down to anyone or hold myself up as more "sophisticated" or in any way morally superior.

While I might be overly optimistic on people's motivations, I think your breakdown of my assumption that there is some reason behind people's actions as either simplistic or utterly wrong is in and of itself simplistic. Everyone has a reason for doing whatever it is he is doing. It might not be a good one, but there is some reason for it. I thought, and I guess this ties in with your comments about Sol's treatment by his mommy, that Sol might have been affected personally by suicide and that this caused him to react strongly, and inappropriately. If, like many have said, the guy is a just a callous, no-good asshole, then there was nothing to find along that path. I simply posited it as a possibility to think about before everyone piled on.

[Sol Invictus]

I'm sorry.

Suicide is simply just an issue that strikes a personal chord with me and for better or worse, I chose my words poorly when I decided to comment on it.

Reading about Freeman, who from all apparent views had a decent life going for him with friends and family who enjoyed his company, and a solid gig in the industry. In a way I saw myself in his shoes, deciding to one day take my own life, and it's a thought that resonates with me on a level that makes me feel anger and shame.

My post on the blog was driven by these very emotions, and I apologize for my behaviour. I really didn't mean to be an asshole by making the comments I made. With much regret, I should have framed my words more eloquently to have prevented this issue from erupting the way it did.