Official Update Regarding Riley Robinson

Deoan Kakarot

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Musings on what or what should not happen on the legal side of things are just that - musings. It's not like a judge is going to peer into thread and take our opinions into consideration.

I wouldn't count on that. This forum is open to the public, and as a result, Riley, or any member of his legal defense team could take snippets of what's posted here and give them as examples to the judge as calls from the "victims" for leniency. It's conceivable that the judge *might* accept such evidence, in light of this community having such a strong online presence.

The prosecution might not make the same effort in an attempt to balance that with calls for just retribution.
 

Rhed al'Tere

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The reactions in this thread tell me that there is still anger and frustration over this; I totally understand. But please remember to whom your anger and frustration is directed, and don't let it spill over to other members. :hug

I appreciate the civility y'all have kept up to this point -- I know it's difficult, considering the circumstances. Everyone is entitled to feeling the feels they feel, wherever they fall on the scale of vengeance to justice to compassion.

I'll echo everything that's been said of our community before: I'm proud of all of us for banding together and keeping the Tower standing, and for our response in a time of betrayal and sadness, and for the responses in this thread, as well. I couldn't ask for a better community to have the opportunity to lead. :hug
 

Alora Sionn

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Regardless of intentions, a crime was committed. Though its understandable to be angry, and equally understandable to feel betrayed by someone that may have been a close friend, the fact of the matter is this was his choice and he chose poorly. Thus, he will be paying for it among legal channels. Our anger and condemnation of his acts do not change a thing.

That's not to say I'm telling people how to feel, but before this become a debate of mistake vs malicious actions, keep in mind that it's being handled through legal channels and feel content that justice will, in the end, be done.

:rolleyes
 

Bao the Wyld

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Next time the financial office becomes open, I'm totally applying! Like they say, "Mo' money No problems!"
 
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Sure, everyone's entitled to their opinion.

They're also entitled to thinking other people's opinions SUCK. Especially when those opinions trivialize very real, very personal, feelings of betrayal, sadness, anger, fear, and distrust.



Edit: You know that shocky feeling you just felt at reading something so blunt and cold? That's how I felt when Riley's actions were called a "mistake."

Eff. I'm off. I can't deal.
 
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Natalya Laragan

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I appreciate the update on this matter, Hammar and others.

May the Tower stay strong.
 

Eleyan Al'Landerin

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This event has cause our community to feel things all along the spectrum from sorrow to anger. I don't think I can reasonably ascribe where people fall based on one particular factor. I think it is okay to feel furious. I think it is okay to feel sorrow. I think it is okay to want to move on.

I have feelings too. I'm learning that, whatever it is I feel, my feelings don't have an impact on much. There are actions to take, and actions I can't take. What I feel about the people involved, what I think about the future, or what I consider to be justice don't matter at this stage. There are things we must do. There are things we can't do. Everything else is so much window dressing.

I'd rather we didn't argue about our views on incarceration and the justice system. I'd rather we not turn to arguing when someone desires a different outcome to this. I think it would be easy to slip into debating things, but it wont ever be more than an exercise. And if the debate can't change what must be done, what can be done, and what can't be done, I don't know if we can claim its productive when applied to a very real situation that still affects us all.
 

Kelgan al'Moranwin

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I'd rather we didn't argue about our views on incarceration and the justice system. I'd rather we not turn to arguing when someone desires a different outcome to this. I think it would be easy to slip into debating things, but it wont ever be more than an exercise. And if the debate can't change what must be done, what can be done, and what can't be done, I don't know if we can claim its productive when applied to a very real situation that still affects us all.
Hear hear.
 

Sela Narian

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I do hope all Board members are keeping in mind that we have been waiting for any news whatsoever about this for a long time with no information. The anger has built up in time where it might not have if we'd had even a bit more information. We barely have any now, but at least we have some, and we have an expectation of future action.

I am not disparaging the process; I understand the legal obligations for keeping to the "no comment" policy for so long. I am only saying that it needs to be taken into account when you urge us to keep calm and not turn things into a debate. I'm sure everyone feels strongly about this, board and community both. The difference is that we have been sweating this awful situation out with no relief and no expectations, while you have had time to process and understand everything for years.

And while you've had these years, it's been just days for us since this thread started, after a very long wait. Maybe don't try to keep a lid on our discussing the details and the possibilities and our hopes and our strong opinions. We've been stifled for a long time with no news, with no area to talk about an upheaval that affected us deeply.

Will hashing things out back and forth make a difference in whether he goes to jail? No. I know that. Will it make a difference in how we process this violation and how well we heal from it? YES. It will. Disagreement, even strong disagreement, is not a conclusive indicator of non-productive communication. It is a natural consequence of the subject and it is beneficial to this community's health that we be allowed to express ourselves in this betrayal that grieved us so profoundly.
 

Eleyan Al'Landerin

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I understand where you're coming from. I still don't think that debate about what is deserved, particularly when it results in our members judging one another for their thoughts and feelings on the matter, is productive.

It is a natural consequence of the subject and it is beneficial to this community's health that we be allowed to express ourselves in this betrayal that grieved us so profoundly.

It's beneficial, I think, so long as it doesn't further alienate people because they are processing this differently. Sadness, frustration, anger, regret, even ambivalence is understandable. There is certainly a place for righteous indignation, but it isn't at each other. I'm just asking that be aware. We can all use kindness right now.
 
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Considering roughly the same groups responded roughly the same to one another over the "integration" issue, over allowing multiple bonds, and over other major community concerns, I think I can safely state that the tension and frustration being expressed between posters in this thread has always existed. Riley is simply providing the most current convenient conduit for each group to express their feelings about the other's behavior.

I don't think that tension is going to go away; in fact, in my experience the constant effort to make it disappear just makes it (and the accompanying drama) WORSE.

My last .02 before I check out for good. The sanctimonious preaching earlier in this thread makes my teeth hurt.
 

Enya Tawarwaith

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Thank you for the update.

Just a thought, people here come from different contries, even continents. We've grown up and are used to different legal systems with different focuses, different notions on how to carry out justice. Combine that with a portraying of the American system that's generally not very flattering (ours ain't perfect either btw). I know it colors my own feelings here. Just something to keep in mind
 

Ty al'Djinn

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New Mexico has one of the better justice systems in the country. I trust it a hell of a lot more than if Riley were in Arizona, for instance.
 

Alyria Ess

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Considering roughly the same groups responded roughly the same to one another over the "integration" issue, over allowing multiple bonds, and over other major community concerns, I think I can safely state that the tension and frustration being expressed between posters in this thread has always existed. Riley is simply providing the most current convenient conduit for each group to express their feelings about the other's behavior.

I feel quite strongly that the back and forth over this is light years away from the arguments over other community concerns and that we're talking apples to oranges here.
 

Jalen te'Kreg

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I don't believe we should restrict anyone's expression in here as long as it doesn't violate community guidelines. So talking about penalization (hee hee, penal) seems perfectly appropriate to me, especially because we haven't really had a place to express that stuff before.

However - a few recent posts have been arguing about historical argumentation in the tower...it's getting a bit meta. So I can kiiiiiiiiind of see the need to watch the scope of conversation and stroke it gently toward a more positive outcome.
 
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You can stroke me gently in any direction you like Ian.
 

Kiana a'Jadein

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As long as Ian says things like "stroke" and "penal," I think there's a certain population that'll be happy.

(Otherwise, hear hear to Sela, and if anyone takes my Warder up on his accounting services, I'm happy to provide quality assurance spot checks for a similar fee.)
 

Aria Kakarot

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I don't believe we should restrict anyone's expression in here as long as it doesn't violate community guidelines. So talking about penalization (hee hee, penal) seems perfectly appropriate to me, especially because we haven't really had a place to express that stuff before.

However - a few recent posts have been arguing about historical argumentation in the tower...it's getting a bit meta. So I can kiiiiiiiiind of see the need to watch the scope of conversation and stroke it gently toward a more positive outcome.

Ian, I would trust your services any day.
 
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