Ars Technica Article

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

This bot does not find any of this to be amusing. Of course, this bot has no emotions so this bot does not find anything amusing ... or disturbing ... or sad.

This bot could list thousands of more words which describe emotions which this bot does not feel but this bot can sense that non-bots would soon be filled with the emotion of impatience.

This bot must get back to reading PMs.....

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 2:25 pm

As previously stated, I usually back out of the heated exchanges when they occur here or elsewhere, but this guy just looked like too much fun!

Now every single day I happily log in to see what nonsense he has left for me the night before! Very Happy

Towards the beginning of this, I actually had to put a bit of thought into what I was writing, but as it's progressed (or digressed, take your pick) I have watched berrymike/bigal's brain slowly melt. Leaving him only capable of spouting non-sensical jibberish.

It's good for a laugh every morning though! Laughing

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 2:41 pm

Normally, I avoid commenting about this sort of stuff but I’m a little short on self-restraint today. At the risk of being featured in a thread on some hate site somewhere, I’d like to share a few thoughts.

Like any forum, the individuals who actively participate drive Eater’s personality and activities. Yes, we have rules and guidelines, and yes, we do prefer members who make positive contributions to our causes, and to the quality of “life” here. We prefer members who conduct themselves that way, but we do not require that. There have been plenty of members here who fall on the margins and have also been welcomed, provided they have treated other members with respect, and haven’t flagrantly and consistently violated policies.

I don’t know who berrymike is, or what happened to set him on this crusade of his, but it’s safe to say that someone like berrymike would not be welcome here. He can view that statement as proof that his accusations are correct, but that isn’t the case. We ARE open to differing viewpoints, and we do NOT live to squash creative thought, or whatever it is we are accused of. He would not be welcome here because he is so blindly opinionated, and obsessive, he regards anything negative he’s heard about Eater as gospel, and anything positive as lies. He’ll attack anyone and anything he can get his hands on. Where is my proof of this? In his actions and his words: Polluting the comments section of the ARS article with his far-fetched, and contradictory accusations serves no purpose but to make the entire anti-419 community look like a bunch of adolescents. Seeking to discredit ScamWarners is simply irresponsible. The fact that he consistently puts his personal grudge ahead of the common goals of the larger community, and believes he is justified in attacking anyone who is associated with Eater, destroys any credibility he could possibly have. If he was treated unfairly by a mod or by Shiver in the past, that’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t justify these rabid efforts to discredit us.

One of the things that drew me to baiting is my belief that small acts of decency can make a difference. I know for a fact that I have helped people who would have suffered greatly had I not made the efforts I did. I love that this site provides entertainment while doing some good. I suspect that most of us feel the same way. I’ve met countless people here who are intelligent, funny, sarcastic, caustic, but also compassionate. Whatever their differences, they all seem to share a well-centered sense of right and wrong. People like this are the backbone of Eater. They are the people who stick around and help build the community, shape policies, raise awareness, fight scammers, and define the personality of the site.

When I read accusations that we cash bait, run scammers, steal money from victims, spy on members, and persecute people who don’t see things our way, it turns my stomach. I do, however, take great comfort in knowing that anyone who has spent any time here will quickly see how insane those accusations are.

Read his ramblings if you’re curious. Comment if you must. Just make sure you ask yourself if giving him the negative attention he craves serves any purpose. [/soapbox]

Not quite a Newb Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

I would like to point out to all those above who describe this man as “mentally ill” as if it were 1) a choice and thus a character flaw or 2) something to be laughed at, that it is neither.

Mental Illness is just that, an illness, not something one chooses. If this man is mentally ill, it’s certainly nothing he chose. If he is ill and is not pursuing help for it, it is not, as Ghost puts it: “because he likes being stared at, laughed at, and picked on” but because that same illness prevents him from making a realistic assessment of what help he needs. Just as it keeps him from moving past whatever happened with him and this site.

As to the various comments about how “entertaining” his supposed mental illness makes him, I would like to know whether you derive as much amusement from laughing at those who are physically ill – e.g. people having seizures sure are funny!

The best thing you could do for this man is to just ignore him. Engaging him for your amusement is childish at best, cruel at worst.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:05 pm

^^^^
For the sake of not starting an ethics war.

This is an internet personality we're talking about, not the Autistic kid that lives a few doors down from us.
We have no confirmation that he is in fact, "mentally ill", he may just be horribly obsessed. He strikes me as more of type of guy that just gets increasingly belligerent as his theories and accusations get shot down one after another.

I do very much so understand your point though Magnolia. If I received IP confirmation that he was in a "happy house" then I would leave him be to play with his imaginary friends.

As it stands though, I will continue to treat him as another one of my lads.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:53 pm

I've got no sympathy for the shit-head.

You can be mentally ill and still be an asshole.

*Anyone who types "Yeah, and you're a prime example, Slightly" can die.*

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:59 pm

Yeah and you'r..........

arrrgghhhh.....my chest......the pai..

419Eater is my life Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 475

beware of the curse of the evil squirrel
I hope it's not to late to warn you, old #7

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

I think it's best I stayed out of commenting on the article - I would have a price on my head if I did Laughing

Good luck all Wink

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 9:08 pm

Is it really that bad Craig? Laughing

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

Well, I was going to mention a prison cell, but I've had to use that line so many times before...

Not quite a Newb Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

You can be mentally ill and still be an asshole.

*Anyone who types "Yeah, and you're a prime example, Slightly" can die.*

Well, I won't type that.

Just as I didn't type the obvious response when you diagnosed the guy as having a "Superiority Complex".

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 9:44 pm

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

You can be mentally ill and still be an asshole.

*Anyone who types "Yeah, and you're a prime example, Slightly" can die.*

I didn't type that, but I am quoting it with clear agreement as to its accuracy. I'll let you know how I get on.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 9:56 pm

blah wrote:

I have watched berrymike/bigal's brain slowly melt. Leaving him only capable of spouting non-sensical jibberish.

I'm impressed by your acute senses sir. Most of us are unable to discern any difference in berrynut.

Are there varying degrees of self-delusional jibbering? Kind of like the difference between an annoying 50Hz buzz and 49.9Hz buzz?

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 10:01 pm

Magnolia, I very much appreciate your point, my nearest and dearest has been caught up in the Mental Health system, just understand baiterkind by necessity formed robust shells and personae to get them through the real atrocities we see. Slightly is our mascot loopy squirrel, and our community is actually understanding enough to accommodate him - on balance he does more good than harm, and we literally pay him in nuts.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:15 pm

Magnolia wrote:

Just as I didn't type the obvious response when you diagnosed the guy as having a "Superiority Complex".

It's not a complex.
I am superior.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

^^^^To whom? Muskrats and Gerbils?

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:47 pm

I have to agree with Magnolia-those who are mentally ill,as diagnosed by proper mental health professionals should not be laughed at or made sport of.This guy however strikes me a a garden variety dickhead,who deserves to have his ass handed to him on a silver platter.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:52 pm

Please don't get him started again... Laughing

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:10 am

@Magnolia: I understand your point about the mentally ill. But mental illness is no excuse for actively seeking to harm others.

For what it's worth...among those of us who've been around Eater for long enough to know something about this character, you will find no sympathy for him. Even if he IS mentally ill, the bottom line is that he CAUSES HARM. He has obsessively hung onto this bizarre bitterness over some slight that he feels happened to him, on an online forum, YEARS ago...and has been making strong efforts to harm Eater, and disrupt the work we do, ever since.

He is harmful. His actions result in more victims getting victimized, and fewer victims being saved. End of story. That, right there, is enough to cause many of us to feel not a shred of sympathy for whatever whacked-out mental illness might be screwing with his brain functions. If he wasn't actively seeking to cause such harm, perhaps we wouldn't feel this way.

But he is. So, you can feel sorry for him if you want. I sure don't. The people I feel sorry for are all the victims who will lose more money because of the deranged poison he is out there spewing, over some stoopid crap that happened years ago that nobody but him even remembers.

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:03 am

Damn. Here I am sitting in the middle of the night outside a closed internet cafe picking up the signal in the car (had other reasons to get online...ahem) and I go to 419 for some mindless fun. Now I'm eduated and learned something.

It's like getting two prizes at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box. I do hope our subject isn't mentally ill, and just has a personality defect. I've laughed way too hard throughout this thread.

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 5:52 am

Magnolia wrote:

I would like to point out to all those above who describe this man as “mentally ill” as if it were 1) a choice and thus a character flaw

Not the mental illness part but being a jerk is.

Quote:

something to be laughed at,

That is not being indicated. I did indicated I felt this person likes being laughed at, yes and just because he has mental health issues does not make that any less true. I made that assessment because he chooses to be ugly and hateful knowing it inherently provokes a certain type of response.

Being mentally ill is a farcry from possessing no self control or not knowing right from wrong. To excuse this person from his actions by saying he is mentally ill is offensive to those with a mental illness. Having a mental illness is not an excuse to be a jerk nor is it an excuse to make up lies with the intent to slander. No one is laughing at this guy because he is mentally ill. People laugh at him because he insists on making an ass out of himself.

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:32 am

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

Magnolia wrote:

Just as I didn't type the obvious response when you diagnosed the guy as having a "Superiority Complex".

It's not a complex.
I am superior.

SOOI's got it ass backwards - he's the opposite of complex..

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:25 pm

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 4:41 pm

I stopped responding to berryhead mostly because he is so nutty,
but also the fact that the thread itself was becoming hijacked.
is there anyway to redirect it back to its original glory, or is it to late?

EDIT-Just to contradict myself... Keep up the good work Blah.

@Nurse Nasty, Is there a contact number, or website so I can check
more details of the CHEAP FAKE FORUMS?, I have some issues I would
like to deal with from years ago... just some minor bitterness that I
would like to expand into something more.