I'll chime in here from the perspective that I like JSJ, or at least the character of JSJ, and had a great deal of respect for him before the truth was discovered on this matter. I still like JSJ but have some concerns about him and the situation that are probably shared by posters who if they voiced them would be dismissed because of their douchebaggery.
As I said, I liked JSJ before I knew of his other dealings, I still do. But I can't trust him at the moment, and perhaps never will be able to again. In my mind, trust is the currency--a fiat one of sorts--of the forum. I come here and post because I trust I'm talking to real people, not socks, not clones, not actors who show one position on the boards (save some sort of clearly defined game section), not some cleverly programmed bot that's almost sentient. Its no fun otherwise. The challenge and intellectual stimulation of coming to this forum is that I can attempt to convince others of my positions value, and be convinced of theirs. Call someone out on their bull and be called out on mine. By real people.
This is not the first time a trick like this has been pulled (albeit in different variations) on this board and while I doubt anyone's suffered some sort of emotional damage--I can't say I have--BUT it undermines my trust--whatever trust one could have on ze interwebs--in the forum. This incident should be a reminder that while I am sincere and hope you take me as such, and that I presume everyone else to be sincere, its all essentially an illusion. But an illusion fails when it is no longer believable.
I still really like JSJ if he, not withstanding his sockpuppetry, is the person he has been on the boards and claims to be. Faults and all. We're all imperfect. In the grand scheme of life, what has he done? Its not like he's stolen money from anyone or slept with anyone's wife. Do any of us have wives here? Girlfriends besides your right or left palms? I don't think its necessary that he is banned, at least at this juncture, or that he walk away. I'd rather see him stay and rebuild what social capital he has lost.
That said, some posters have gripes with JSJ that I can't help but think have been someone legitimized through this whole affair. I also can't help but think that given the nature of the forum, both ideologically and tempermentally, that had the source of Coburn and KTC been anyone not sharing JSJ's political views or personality or within a certain variation of it, that we as a forum would be looking at this situation much differently.
Just food for thought. JSJ's still a nice guy, in my view, and I hope we can move on from this and be a little bit wiser.
^^^^^
Great post, well said.
What I want to know. Why the hell create that second sock. Specially at that point of time, with everybody sensitized to socks posting here.
That was just asking for detection, wasnt it?
Especially without retiring Coburn first. If Coburn wasn't an active poster he wouldn't have been caught.
