Malachi Petunia is a bipolar, albino, wife beater

Approximately 2 months after I joined Second Life, I told my RL sister about the game. She joined as (*edit -deleted revelation of RL info) I was very hesitant to disclose the relationship in SL as I thought a) it was inappropriate disclosure of her RL status and b) because I was concerned that my reputation as an opinionated person had the potential to reflect ill upon her.

As can happen in any family, my sister has become displeased with me. I have now heard from multiple people in second life - some that I hadn't met before - that I am 1) a wife beater 2) bipolar 3) some other sort of insane. Everyone who I had heard these from has spoken to me out of genuine concern for me and was expressing sympathetic concern for my "condition". All of these concered people I had heard from told me that (*edited RL info) told them and that they knew she was my RL sister.

There is no way that I can stop anyone in game from disclosing real or fabricated RL information about me to third parties and can't abuse report what I'm not party to in SL. And second hand recountings hold no sway with the Lindens.

So I am doing the only thing that one can do when being slandered within a community: note that I am aware of the statements being made about me, deny their validity, and ask that people understand that there is rarely one side to any story and that they should form their own opinion about my conduct and decide for themselves what view of me they wish to take.

I don't expect nor want every one in SL to like me or even know that I exist. It is true that I am an antagonist in the forums and have engaged in some harsh exchanges of words. What I would ask is that people form their own opinions about me (as some have already) and not either approach me with pity regarding some flaw that they heard about from my sister or propogate slander about me that they'd heard from a third party.

There is a classical example of the "ill-posed question" which goes "When did you stop beating your spouse?" When people are asked that the natural response is "I didn't ... I mean I never did ... I mean I didn't stop because I never started". John Irving also had an example of this when Dr. Larch is accussed of being a "non-practicing homosexual" in The Ciderhouse Rules; you simply cannot prove such allegations false. I may be bipolar, I may be albino, I may be a wife beater. None of these are likely to affect you in SL, or for that matter, in the forums. Neither are they true, but bipolar, albino, non-practicing homosexual wife beaters are not known for their impeccable honesty.

For those who will attempt to connect the allegation of bipolar with the fact that my posts are either lauditory or derisive, please entertain the possibility that I only post on matters that I feel strongly about. I think if you survey my forum activities that you'll find them about equally split toward the pro and con. This is my second and last plea in this post. I'm pretty sure that those who know me in-game know me to be pleasant, helpful, generous, concerned, and a fashion nightmare.

Forum moderators: yes, I know that this post may violate some rule or guideline but I have endeavored to be civil and have disclosed no more of (* RL info deleted) than she had already well diseminated in game. This is not an in-game dispute brought out into the forums, it is a RL dispute that has in game effect.

Having been Mal's friend in SL and RL for over a year now I can attest to the fact that he is neither bipolar or a wife-beater nor is he albino although he is very fair of color. I have to agree with the fact that he is fashion challenged though.

Mal, let it roll off that duckie pajama'ed back of yours, we know who you are and we love you.

Trin

Thanks for the cards and letters of support folks. There was a point brought out to me that I didn't articulate but others have asked me to make more clear. That which prompted me to post was not the effect of the slander on me but the fact that people have been so inspired to question my associaites on the subject. If you are concerned about me, please address me, not people I associtate with. They know what the story is and have drawn their own conclusions.

Putting someone in a position of having to listen or respond to your heresay about me is just plain rude to them. A big part of my motivation in posting was to let all the people who are trying to help by passing on what they heard know that this ain't no secret.

And thanks for the edit Haney; I mean that sincerely. Those who know what I'm talking about know, those that don't, needn't.

Mal I'm sorry to hear of your family situation - it will pass and brighter days will follow these cloudy times. I am pleased to say I have heard nothing about any of this situation inWorld!

When I first came to SL in late Jan. 04, I met a number of people who gave me gifts of their time, energy, knowledge, resources and insights into this sometimes complex, always fascinating world of Second Life.

Mal and his sister were among those first people who set me on my journey into our community - I know them both to be wonderful people! It's unfortunate that others (if what you say Mal is true) have imposed themselves into their family affairs and have added to their inWorld difficulties.

My suggestion is to leave them both be, and do the best we can to offer support when asked.

This too will pass my friends - family is deeper than pixels.

Best Wishes to you both.

So why DID you introduce your sister to SL when she is locked up in a mental institution for the criminally insane?

Sorry to hear someone's badmouthing you, Malachi
If it makes you feel any better, anytime someone gossips about another AV I figure it's probably a bunch of spiteful nonsense and that the gossiper is one with the problem.

im SO glad to hear bipolar disorder is now an insult....i for one have been keepin my spastic reaction in check QUITE well thank you very much...<wanders off in search of some lithium>