Now lets get some brains here

You insult Slack, Alryssa and MG by suggesting that they are so immature as to seek the banning of someone who was victimized. Seeking the banning of the victimizer, yes, but not of those who were taken in.

You have done well to apologize to those whom you insulted and belittled in your error; kudos, it takes guts to admit you were had and were in the wrong. I'm very sure your apology will be accepted. Now, (hex) Learn from this (/hex)

Slack has posted some excellent "giveaways" that point to an Internet hoax. It seems harsh to cultivate a sense of skepticism, but that is what one must do in this world. Save her post and keep it for reference.

When someone comes out saying an online acquaintence is seriously ill, ask questions. Ask for specifics about the disease, ask where the person is being treated, ask what treatments they are or will undergo. If you are the bearer of bad news to an Internet community, be prepared: Get as much info as you can about the disease, then do web searches and find websites that will give details to the concerned. Find out what hospital the person is being treated at and get permission for condolances to be sent there. Its not always possible to get doctors' names, but for important people like domain masters and IRCops, it may be necessary (we ran into this when trying to preserve my friend's IRC channel while she was battling leukemia. Leukemia-A, for those wondering if I practice what I preach -- I do.) If you're the bearer of bad news, remember that you will be accused of perpetuating a hoax just like Libra Phoenix did; remember WHY people make such accusations. Remember that their skepticism is JUSTIFIED and don't take your anger out on them; just persevere and provide as much information as you can. Save your anger for the hucksters.

What can you do when you run into a bad-news situation, where it could be a hoax but then again it might not? Do what I do -- donate. Make a donation to the charitable organization supporting the disease, be it the Cancer Society, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Diabetes Association or whatever. That way, if the case is real, you will have benefitted the person and the person will appreciate it. If its a hoax, you will have benefitted a lot of other people, and YOU will appreciate it.

But remember, people expressing skepticism aren't being heartless, cold or cruel: They're being cautious, having learned from experiences just like this one.

Hope this helps
Is mise le meas
-==- Katzedecimal