After taking some time to reflect, I feel compelled to post my thoughts on this situation. This is not an account suicide, nor do I think my thoughts are new to this thread. But after 10+ years here, I wanted express myself and contribute to the discussion, because historically thats what GAF has been great for.
I first joined GAF because I noticed that most of the interesting gaming news I read online was sourced from there in one forum or another. As Ive gotten older, Gaming-side has remained my principal link to the hobby I love so much, even as I have less and less time to actually play games. The OT also became an increasingly important factor in my life over time; there I learned how to make music, build computers, invest for retirement, discuss difficult issues with reason and empathy, and, most importantly, speak out for what I believe in. The up-to-the-minute relevance, diversity of thought, and sheer helpfulness of the community made it my singular must-visit-each-day internet site. It made me a better and more informed person, in addition to a passionate gamer.
That context is why seeing this situation handled so poorly hurts so badly. NeoGAF has had its flaws as a discussion community over the years, and in the past the team has taken steps to actively improve the quality of discussion; two examples are the creation of the community forums and the new news, new thread rule. These policies were explained clearly and transparently, and with input from the community. Over the course of this year, no transparent, proactive actions were taken. To then blame the communitys response to the bewildering silence (both in terms of time and the effort spent stifling discussion) on the US political climate, and therefore assert that gutting the OT is a positive step, is cowardly. And to suppose that all the mods left due to harassment and threats, and not at all because of frank disagreements with leadership actions and decision making (real and alleged) is dishonest, and shows an inability to take responsibility at best. The response to the situation has shown plainly that EviLore views NeoGAF as his community, under his control, and that he values that control more than the community itself. That remains apparent regardless of whether the allegations against him are true or not.
The actions taken in response to this situation (e.g., outright suffocation of initial discussion, subsequent refusal to allow difficult topics, reduction in moderation transparency) are not only unrelated to the allegations themselves, they are in direct contrast to why NeoGAF has historically been a special place for me. As a result, much of the community has left, and not without good reason. The forum may remain open, but it will never again be the same to me. That saddens me greatly; it feels like losing a good friend.
Im going to take some time away. I hope that over time the NeoGAF leadership becomes more transparent and community-oriented, and all manner of quality discussions are allowed to flourish.