Destructoid / IndieGoGo Scam Controversy

I don't know how to link on an iPad, but Allistair Pinsof got terminated. Niero updated the original Destructoid thread.

lol video game journalism.

And right when the topic name got changed...

Amazing how someone who commits fraud can come out smelling like roses while the person outing them gets fired.

Well, it's one of those things where you say to both parties involved, "you fucked up, but let's help you."

Once again, the core reasoning behind this is that the person being outed had a very fragile mind and doing things the normal journalist way would result in her killing herself. Which she was crazy enough to actually attempt. That, and trying to do all this behind the boss's back.

edited 20th May '13 5:42:04 PM by Nettacki

And it's not like journalists have never kept elements of a person's identity a secret for confidentiality reasons.

Niero did point out that Pinsof disobeyed a direct order to stay off twitter under suspension. I have a feeling Pinsof just didn't want to work there anymore. Hope he lands somewhere else, though that'll be difficult.

I'm pretty sure nobody came out "smelling like roses" on this one...

edited 20th May '13 10:47:10 PM by Blissey1

Or smelling good at all, for that matter.

edited 21st May '13 4:51:28 AM by VeryMelon

It's a horrible mess. I have been in the situation before where I've known someone who was threatening suicide over a particular secret where said secret was the reason for their instability, but revealing it to anyone else to get help would likely have resulted in going through with said suicide. In that case, it had to do with mental illness in someone in the armed forces (It's not the original Catch-22 situation, but within the armed forces in the USA, the only way to get help for mental illness is to admit to it, but admitting to it is often a one-way ticket for getting thrown out for mental instability, something world-ending for the career-military types). I know that most people in those situations are sincerely between a rock and a hard place, but sometimes it feels like they're burdening you with their problem just so they can make sure they're not the only ones suffering.

Of course, the other issue, of course, is that conflict where the general message is "It's perfectly normal to be this way. You're not a freak. But don't tell anyone or they will condemn you as a freak." Kind of a mixed message, you know?

You know, in my opinion, the only party who will actually be damaged from this ordeal isn't the one who wrongfully used Indie Go Go or the one who outed the secret. I think the way Destructoid handled the whole situation could have done a lot better, and I would have to agree that it just seemed like that person just didn't want to work there anymore.