> > My view of the whole thing. Two annoying guys came in. They were too irritating to have actually been real, so I assumed there was someone pretending to be them. Everyone blames WW and Morris, but the admins were being all too kind to the fake names and just weird in general, so I knew that couldn't be it. I started throwing out conspiracy theories as to who was behind it (of course, I was right, as I always am. ;-) ) and then Sam kicked me for it, pretending I did something wrong. I thought it was pretty funny. People are taking this way too seriously. As far as I'm concerned, there's no reason to even be discussing it.
>
> Wasn't there, but Amen.
>
> Just a quick side note. I am a bit confused as to how anyone thought it could be anyone but Sam and Dave. That just sounds, to me anyway, like something they would pull off. And besides that, they had been using prank names and having prank conversations the whole evening. I like to think I would have known all along and would have laughed at the whole thing. (I am quite sure that, even if they were real, I would have laughed at what was going on. I tend to find humor in stupidity, especially in the form of drunken college guys, frat or no frat.) It was a joke. If you were offended, tell the person that offended you. If you offended someone, apologize. Don't make the whole situation into something it's not.
>
> Oh, and about getting kicked, I hadn't ever been kicked until the "Sleeping Victims" episode. I didn't even know what it was like in this format. However, I had been an admin at another chat room before this with pretty high traffic. I know the responsibility that goes with the power. However, I also know, as do almost all other people who frequent chat rooms of any sort, that kicking is very often a joke between friends and can be taken as a show of affection if in jest. To be kicked as a joke shows that the person kicking you feels comfortable enough to use you in a joke while thinking that you will not take it as an insult. I wouldn't walk down the street and yank someone's pants off. However, if I were in a group of friends, I would most definitely pull the same prank if the situation arose. The person might be embarrassed, but ultimately they know I was kidding and that I like them. I'm not the kind of person that does things to people out of spite unless the person has already done something to completely lose my respect. I think Sam and all other duly appointed operators in RinkChat are the same. Kicks are certainly tools for the unruly, but are more often a joke. If you don't like it, okay. But please don't take offense when none was intended.
>
> Shandar

I really tried to compose a thoughtful response to this message, and Sam's, but I keep flashing back to the fact that the mere mention of "Ginger Ale" gets Darien kicked and I dissolve into a fit of uncontrollable giggling.

Let me say this though: I have been a regular of RinkWorks for a long time and I truly cherish the "friendships" I have made here. While I may not know very many of you personally, and sometimes am absent for far too long; RinkWorks and its' regulars are an integral part of my life. I can't imagine that anything would make me want to abandon the camaraderie I have found here.

It seems to me that some people over-reacted to an innocent joke. Yes, it may have been in bad tase; and yes, it may have not been that funny, but it was just a joke! Personally, just reading the account of the prank made me laugh.

I wasn't there, so I don't know exactly what was said; but I can't imagine Sam or Dave saying anything so awful that it would cause people to abandon RinkWorks.

God gave us a sense of humor. Let's start using it.

Kel"hmmm...maybe that was thoughtful after all"ly