Quote from: noisms;625762I've been paying attention to this thread off and on; I know you guys are pretty much all talk, but remember James M is a human being. He's posted on G+ about his father, and during a time like this it doesn't seem like fair play to be talking about suing the poor guy. I know this is the internet, and compassion doesn't exist on the internet, but think for a second about how you would feel in his place if you came across this thread.

He should have been more communicative with Autarch and his backers, but that's not a good enough reason to kick him while he's down.

Communication is the key for getting any sympathy. Real life happens to us all but when you are sitting on 50K of others people's money taking the small amount of time required to update those people on what is happening is the very least thing to do to maintain goodwill.

In the absence of actual information it is natural for speculation to veer toward the very worst of possibilities. For such a prolific blogger, a paragraph or two of explanation to Autarch at least, if not the backers isn't asking for the moon.

If the guy won't even be bothered to tell his business partners why he isn't a crook then he deserves no compassion.

Quote from: Exploderwizard;625785If the guy won't even be bothered to tell his business partners why he isn't a crook then he deserves no compassion.

The milk of human kindness: alive and well on therpgsite.com.

Quote from: noisms;625787The milk of human kindness: alive and well on therpgsite.com.

Speak up and ask for kindness and you may receive it. Remain silent and suffer the slings and arrows of speculation.

Quote from: noisms;625787The milk of human kindness: alive and well on therpgsite.com.

You have a point.  It's a bit of a finger-wagging, shame on you point, but a valid one nonetheless.

Whenever I see nerds on the Internet talking about suing people, I feel safe in assuming that they are talking out of their asses.  That also goes for nerds who also happen to be lawyers as well because they are almost never specialized in the area of law that the bandied-about suit entails.

That said, it is notable in James M's update about his father that he doesn't express any apologies for going silent or derailing the project he took money for.  He also still hasn't contacted his business partners even though they've been doing their best to cover his ass.  And he still hasn't processed any of the refunds people have asked for since he disappeared.  The best claim he makes is that he hopes to shake himself out of his torpor and get back to work...someday.

It becomes harder and harder to be sympathetic when there is no evidence that the milk of human kindness runs both ways.  Sympathy is reciprocal and deeply dependent on our expectations of behavior that we can actually sympathize with.

Quote from: JeremyR;625763Actually, looking at that again make me wonder if there isn't another contract. Section 5 is about Publication. It says that publication isn't part of this agreement, but then on the very next line, it says that if funded, Autarch will publish and distribute the initial release. A little confusing.

It says that if funded Autarch and JM will negotiate for terms of publishing. It's an "agree to agree" clause, which isn't very powerful. In any event we hadn't negotiated and signed that one so it's moot.

Quote from: misterguignol;625792You have a point.  It's a bit of a finger-wagging, shame on you point, but a valid one nonetheless.

Whenever I see nerds on the Internet talking about suing people, I feel safe in assuming that they are talking out of their asses.  That also goes for nerds who also happen to be lawyers as well because they are almost never specialized in the area of law that the bandied-about suit entails.

That said, it is notable in James M's update about his father that he doesn't express any apologies for going silent or derailing the project he took money for.  He also still hasn't contacted his business partners even though they've been doing their best to cover his ass.  And he still hasn't processed any of the refunds people have asked for since he disappeared.  The best claim he makes is that he hopes to shake himself out of his torpor and get back to work...someday.

It becomes harder and harder to be sympathetic when there is no evidence that the milk of human kindness runs both ways.  Sympathy is reciprocal and deeply dependent on our expectations of behavior that we can actually sympathize with.

I don't necessarily disagree with any of that, but it just doesn't really sit right with me to kick somebody when he's down (and judging from his recent G+ post, he clearly is down). There's a time and a place, etc.

I totally take your point, though: nerds talking about suing people is a bit like pigs talking about being able to fly.

Apparently Maliszewski posted to G+ today.

Not a word about his responsibilities.

Quote from: misterguignol;625792Whenever I see nerds on the Internet talking about suing people, I feel safe in assuming that they are talking out of their asses.  That also goes for nerds who also happen to be lawyers as well because they are almost never specialized in the area of law that the bandied-about suit entails.

Definitely.

The proper way of dealing with real legal issues, is face to face in person with one's own attorney.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;625823Apparently Maliszewski posted to G+ today.

Not a word about his responsibilities.

It sorta reads like the type of "death in the family" monologs I use to hear all the time from persistent boozers, when I use to work as a bartender.  (No idea if JamesM is a boozer type).

Quote from: noisms;625764Sure, it doesn't give him a free pass, but it does mean that when people talk about suing him while he goes through that situation, they are behaving in a very inconsiderate and mean-spirited fashion and should take a long, hard look at themselves.

I appreciate your voice of compassion in the midst of the riotous pitchforks and torches.  It needs to be said, even if few hear it.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;625823Apparently Maliszewski posted to G+ today.

Not a word about his responsibilities.

Indeed. If anything, there's more talk of "unplugging" and resurfacing "when I feel I am in the frame of mind to do so."

I sympathize with the guy - because I dealt with a very similar situation in early 2011. But, unfortunately, his comments (or perhaps the lack of some specific comments) are going to do nothing but rile up his opponents, and disgruntled customers, even more. RWS, Setembrinni, and YDIS will use this as more fuel for the fire.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;625823Apparently Maliszewski posted to G+ today.

Not a word about his responsibilities.

Thanks for that.  In case it disappears:


James Maliszewski
6:18 AM  -  Limited
As some of you know, my father fell terribly ill in the early summer of last year, exacerbating a previous medical condition, and nearly died. Though he survived, his memory and intellect did not; he succumbed to alcohol-induced dementia. He does not know who he is or why he is in a nursing home. His prognosis then was not a positive one: he would likely live but the chances of his regaining his memory were slim to none. My family and I accepted this and tried to deal with it as best we could, which, as it turns out, wasn't very well. As the shock of the near-death emergency wore off, I convinced myself that, though my father's body was still alive, he was gone and that I'd dealt with that reality.

Shortly before Christmas, I learned that my father's physical condition had worsened. He was refusing to eat or drink, was barely coherent, and spent most of his time sleeping. I was told to expect him to die soon, so I rushed to see him before he did so. I was not prepared for what I saw. For a number of reasons, I had not seen my father face to face in several years and, when I did so, he was barely recognizable to me. At that moment, I realized that I had not in fact dealt with my father's death, the imminent prospect of which, rattled me to a degree I cannot begin to articulate.

Since Christmas, my father's condition has fluctuated wildly, improving just enough that he remains alive, but not enough that he no longer in danger of death. Needless to say, this has done me little good. My father and I had what could best be called a "complex" relationship and that, coupled with both the suddenness of his decline and the uncertainty about his immediate future, has taken its toll on me, as those closest to me can attest. I find it extremely difficult to do anything during these past weeks other than simple daily tasks. This note is the first time I've written anything at my computer since late last year and I'm doing it only because I've been informed that at least a few of you are concerned about my absence.

I'm doing my best to shake myself from this torpor, but it's not an easy process. My father remains in danger of death and that weighs heavily on my thoughts. Finding the desire to do anything during this time is difficult for me. I know I will find it again, but, until I do, I see little point in forcing it. Better that I unplug and stick close to family and those friends who truly understand and empathize with my situation.

In the meantime, know that I am alive, if not well, and will poke my head above water again when I feel I am in the frame of mind to do so. Prayers and well wishes are much appreciated. If I have ever done anything to earn your charity and compassion, now is the time I need them most.

More generally, I strongly suspect if Dwimmermount was never a Kickstarter (or didn't get funded), nobody would give a damn or even be talking about James M's personal issues.

In such an alternate scenario, JamesM would just be another online "semi-celebrity" that disappeared for a period of time.  (Not even an online version of "Howard Hughes").

For fucks sakes, we're talking about folks being out of pocket $50 for an imaginary dungeon.

If I were James resurfacing, I think I would be talking privately to Autarch about how to handle the Dwimmermount fiasco before saying anything in public about it. So I'm going to withhold judgement until I hear from Tavis and Autarch that James still hasn't contacted them.