UPDATE: Penny Arcade Smacks Down Shady PR Dude

[Sylveria]

5. Put aside your feelings towards this man and look at how vindictive the behaviour of everyone trying to destroy him is. It shows badly on our community, it shows badly on humanity itself.
Yes, it is nice that as a community we look after our own, but this is not what is going on here. This is a systemic and deliberate destruction of this man's life.
Know that should you bring him to the point where he ends his life, you, and everyone egging the mob on shall be responsible. (Go and watch the Derren Brown episode. Now.)

I hope that just a few people read this and have a serious think about what is going on here.
I hope they put aside the idea that because this man is "bad" doing anything "bad" to him is right. That may be how morality works in games, but it's not how morality works in real life.

He's an abusive thug and a criminal. If anything "bad" is happening to him, he's bringing it on himself and then asking for more. In the real world, not games, and especially as a businessman, you can not act like a total asshole to your clients and promoters and expect no repercussions to your personal and professional life. Again, he's bringing it on himself intentionally and if he is too egotistical or stupid to stop egging on "the mob" he deserves what he's gotten and what he will get.

Don't pull the "well what if he kills himself?' card. For one, it reeks of desperation by you to make a point by making an extremist hypothetical and is also profoundly insulting to him saying that mean tweets and facebook posts by people who he's never met, never will meet, will never do business with, and will forget about this in about 48hrs are enough to push him to suicide as if he were an angsty teen. It would also be very hypocritical action by him considering he didn't really start to pretend to apologize until 12yr olds on the internet started "threatening" his family, like they could pry themselves out of their chairs long enough to do anything, thus leaving them without a provider and in a publicity shitstorm.

If he showed humility or remorse for how he's behaved, and not because he got bitten for picking a fight with bigger dogs than himself, the mob would dwindle. Him bouncing around twitter names, leaving them open to become troll accounts which ARE egging on the mob, certainly didn't help things. Again, he ran from his problem instead of facing it.

What goes around, comes around. Sometimes bullies get what's coming to them. If only it happened more often, there might not be as many of them. Ultimately, all "We" are doing is making mean posts, tweets, and blogs which is harmful to no one, unless the words start shooting out of the monitor and tearing his flesh off, and the fact people are saying "we" are destroying this man, is idiotic. All "we" are doing is giving him bad press, which he earned.

The real "harm" that "we" are doing is giving the product bad reviews based on this guy's action and not the actual quality of the item.

 

[Kermi]

(snipped for length)

I hope that just a few people read this and have a serious think about what is going on here.
I hope they put aside the idea that because this man is "bad" doing anything "bad" to him is right. That may be how morality works in games, but it's not how morality works in real life.

I really agree. Don't get me wrong, I was glad to see a douchebag get his comeuppance, but after Gabe posted the "apology" email and that shit about being bullied I had to sit back and say "well hang on now..."

Other people against this guy are saying "ha! Gabe struck a blow against the jocks in the name of nerds! Huzzah!" and I have to say that while I think Paul is a lying asshole scumbag, I get no righteous satisfaction from his downfall. I am not waving a banner and proclaiming that us nerds can accomplish anything and all you jocks better just watch out. He did his job poorly and got what he deserved.

Has he learned his lesson? Probably not. He's been ruined, and regrets his bad choices, but I do not think he will change as a person. That doesn't mean we have to keep him around as our whipping boy. I mean the memes are pretty hilarious, but let's enjoy those and move on. We don't need to continue this persecution.

 

[Saltyk]

I can see where you're coming from, but I respectfully disagree. Gabe might be a bully in this case, but he's a bully of bullies. At no point in the email exchange did he get ugly or mean spirited. He simply stated that he wouldn't allow the guy to have a booth next year and clarified his position. It was Paul who crossed the line, long before Gabe got involved. You might argue that Dave is no innocent, but compared to Paul's actions, he wasn't bad.

And Paul maintained an insulting and demeaning attitude with Gabe. The most he did during the email exchange was clarify who he was and state that he would not permit Paul's company a booth at the next PAX or probably any PAX.

In the end, Gabe posted all the emails. But he removed all personal information when he did. If Paul had any semblance of decency or sense, things would not have come to this. Instead, he insulted customers, insulted the head of a convention, co-founder of a major web comic/charity and who knows what else.

Should Gabe have done it? Maybe not. But I don't feel sorry for Paul. He made his bed. Now, he can lie in it. If Gabe had tried to contact other news sources, the emails would still be published. No matter what, I feel like Gabe should have responded publicly on this. Be that publishing the emails himself or contacting other sources to get them to do so. Like it or not, doing nothing was worse than publishing the emails. He would have ignored the plea of a fellow gamer and reader of his comic. One who was being treated unfairly by a person who not only should have known better, but has an obligation to behave better.

If you ask me, having these emails published is punishment enough. I don't think anyone should do anything to Paul Christoforo personally, and I wish no harm to his family. But being able to read these emails and know what a jerk he is, satisfies me. If he loses his job over it, that is his own fault. And considering his demeanor in these emails, he deserves to. You know this is no isolated incident. Others just weren't smart enough to contact a major internet celebrity.

Like Gabe said, and I agreed. Paul is not sorry for his actions. At no point in those email exchanges does he say anything that would give you that impression.

Paul is clearly a hothead who is quick to resort to insults. But lets keep the perspective, this all started as a customer case about two controllers. Now it has escalated to something that could in theory turn out to get ugly for all parties. When someone succeeds to incite the crowd it's hard to turn back.

I understand why Gabe did it, and I somewhat symphatize with the reasons. But I don't sympathize with the methods. In this case I blame Kotaku and The Escapist just as much for uncritically being tools for personal revenge in a case that probably should have stayed in a closed circle.

I think we can both agree that this is all Paul Christoforo's fault. He is the one who caused all the problems. You're right. This was nothing more than a customer service email that went horribly wrong. It went wrong because Paul decided to be a jerk. He insulted his customer and another person who got involved to help the customer. For all he knew Gabe was an attorney (it might have gone better). Any halfway sensible person would have handled that completely differently. Gabe would never have gotten involved and his customer would have been happier.

You seem to disagree, but I feel Gabe's response was justified. The alternative would have been to do nothing. Now, Paul can't hide his actions. They are in everyone's face. Should he be personally attacked? No. Should his family? No. Should his dog be neutered? Ask Bob Barker. But now, we can all see his actions for what they are. I know what Paul Christoforo is. That is enough for me.

I'll admit, in the same position as Gabe, I would have done the same thing.

Seriously, people are defending this douchenozzle ?

No, people are attacking the mob mentality. There's a difference.

Everyone involved in this is being a dick now. Mike Krahulik had this comment on today's PA comic:

The comic today is 100% true. I was grinning all night as Paul sent me each new email. I am absolutely an unapologetic asshole, but I try as best I can to be your asshole.

This isn't some plucky little internet site battling for 'us'. This is one of the creators of one of the largest and most influential game related sites on the web coming right out and admitting he's getting a kick out of watching the internet lynch mob in action, and it's kind of worrying to me that so few people seem to care about that.

And how are you any better? You took that one comment out of context. It's only a part of the whole statement.

Here is the whole statement posted on the Penny Arcade front page:

Wow, that escalated quickly! There is even a humerous web video! Kotaku has an article that covers how this whole Ocean Marketing thing is winding down. It seems Ocean Marketing is "out of business" and Paul is no longer representing the Avenger. A new PR guy has been brought in to try and right their sinking ship. I think it's fair to try and separate Paul's actions from the actual product. It's very possible that he was simply the marketing guy here but I've also heard that he is at least a part owner in N-control the company that makes the Avenger. I'll be very curious see how this all shakes out.

I don't know if anyone is actually attacking Paul's wife and kid. Honestly I don't even know if he has a wife and kid. Maybe the mayor of Boston is his wife? Anyway, If they are real, none of this is their fault and I think we can all agree that they should be left alone.

The comic today is 100% true. I was grinning all night as Paul sent me each new email. I am absolutely an unapologetic asshole, but I try as best I can to be your asshole.

Hmm, that didn't come out quite right.

-Gabe out

He's admitting that on a personal level he doesn't care about this guy. And why should he? This guy went from insulting his own customer to insulting Mike Krahulik personally, and Penny Arcade, and even threatened him with a smear campaign. Well, Gabe can do that, too. And so much easier.

He also states that no one should attack his family. They aren't involved. And that Paul's action don't reflect the product.

He's getting a kick out of a bully and jerk getting his comeuppance. He seems to know he may not be in the right, but he also knows he is more right than Paul. This is not about the company or the product. This is about Paul Christoforo and no one else.

Paul Christoforo has apparently lost his job over this. And he should have. I'm satisfied with that. Something tells me Gabe is, too.

 

[Cavouku]

I don't know about all you guys, but all I heard outta this was "It is incredibly easy to get hired as a PR guy."

I'm sure there's more to it than that, but if "enthusiasm" gets you hired despite all of... well, that, then let me just print off my resume, which is written in unaltered English.

 

[Wereduck]

There's certainly something to the idea that the backlash here is excessive and out of control but in the larger context I think that's a good thing.

Christoforo thought he could ignore, deceive, threaten and otherwise betray everyone involved in his professional life and that calling it his job left him blameless.

The Avenger guys hired Christoforo because he was cheap and aggressive. They disregarded the warnings of their original PR firm because quality was less important to them than hustle and bottom line. They obviously didn't follow up on Christoforo's "industry contacts" or on how he was representing their company because they didn't want to know and they didn't think it was their problem. They thought that hiring an outside consultant would absolve them of their responsibilities.

Does anyone seriously believe that this is the first time something like this has happened? Are we really so foolish to believe that other companies aren't doing the same thing because it's cost-effective and they don't see any downside? Our society would greatly benefit if Ocean and the Avenger implode so severely that lecturers will talk about them in Business 101 as an example that deniability only goes so far. If there were more stories like this we might not need the Occupy protests because businessmen could look at the evidence and see a legitimate reason for ethical behavior. As things stand today, acting like a sociopath is just good business and that needs to change.

Christoforo's son doesn't deserve what he's getting here but his wife chose to marry an arrogant amoral douchebag. Also it's regrettable that the Avenger product has to go down the toilet along with it's manufacturer but let's not forget the real victims here are the disabled gamers and their friends/family who tried to buy it.

I have very little pity for people who thought they could lie down with dogs and not wake up with fleas.

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

Damn, how did I miss this one?

Christoforo seems like SUCH a nice guy too. What a shame.

 

[ResonanceSD]

What makes me sad is the poor guys who made this controller are going to be really effected by this. And by what I've read it's actually a fantastic piece of equipment.

There's no need for the low rating on the product on Amazon and places, just because of this one arsehole.

They didn't really excersise good judgement in hiring this guy, especially after they were told that he was trouble. He has no qualifications. It might be a good product but the governance sucks.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

There's certainly something to the idea that the backlash here is excessive and out of control but in the larger context I think that's a good thing.

Christoforo thought he could ignore, deceive, threaten and otherwise betray everyone involved in his professional life and that calling it his job left him blameless.

The Avenger guys hired Christoforo because he was cheap and aggressive. They disregarded the warnings of their original PR firm because quality was less important to them than hustle and bottom line. They obviously didn't follow up on Christoforo's "industry contacts" or on how he was representing their company because they didn't want to know and they didn't think it was their problem. They thought that hiring an outside consultant would absolve them of their responsibilities.

Does anyone seriously believe that this is the first time something like this has happened? Are we really so foolish to believe that other companies aren't doing the same thing because it's cost-effective and they don't see any downside? Our society would greatly benefit if Ocean and the Avenger implode so severely that lecturers will talk about them in Business 101 as an example that deniability only goes so far. If there were more stories like this we might not need the Occupy protests because businessmen could look at the evidence and see a legitimate reason for ethical behavior. As things stand today, acting like a sociopath is just good business and that needs to change.

Christoforo's son doesn't deserve what he's getting here but his wife chose to marry an arrogant amoral douchebag. Also it's regrettable that the Avenger product has to go down the toilet along with it's manufacturer but let's not forget the real victims here are the disabled gamers and their friends/family who tried to buy it.

I have very little pity for people who thought they could lie down with dogs and not wake up with fleas.

There needs to be a Youtube style thumbs up/thumbs down option so I can thumb up the holy shit out of this comment. I've been saying the exact same thing about his family. His son (if indeed he has a son. I'm not prepared to believe a damn thing he says) is the only true innocent here.

That being said, the threats do need to stop though. His wife isn't blameless, but her only crime is staying with this meta-**** after the domestic battery incident.

 

[Nemu]

Seriously, people are defending this douchenozzle ?

No, people are attacking the mob mentality. There's a difference.

Everyone involved in this is being a dick now. Mike Krahulik had this comment on today's PA comic:

The comic today is 100% true. I was grinning all night as Paul sent me each new email. I am absolutely an unapologetic asshole, but I try as best I can to be your asshole.

This isn't some plucky little internet site battling for 'us'. This is one of the creators of one of the largest and most influential game related sites on the web coming right out and admitting he's getting a kick out of watching the internet lynch mob in action, and it's kind of worrying to me that so few people seem to care about that.

Personally, and I'm not trying to argue with you or deny you your opinion[footnote]seriously,, not trying to troll or antagonize. [/footnote], but I look at it in a more business sense: one person has a bad experience, they tell ten people, who tell ten people, who tell ten people...

In this day, those initial ten people are online, have Facebook and Twitter accounts, and now anyone who has access to those accounts knows.

While I agree that resorting to attacking the guy in his personal life (ie: phone harassment, "stalking" his family) shouldn't be condoned, I absolutely agree with the idea that because that guy has shown repeatedly that he is BAD at his job, he should be punished through that job.

I mean, if one chef peed in your soup, would you want him fired but then cooking elsewhere? If Paul has learned his lesson, good, he SHOULD be able to move on. But from all appearances he hasn't, shows almost NO remorse (other than getting caught) and is still blaming other people. Who's to say that in the future he isn't going to treat another customer the same way? Unless he IS really good at his job and he IS generating more business as a result, but I seriously doubt it. It's a black cloud he's got to deal with for the rest of his career.


Additionally, I've had a hard time believing that a guy in the business of gaming (even from a PR standpoint) has NO idea who PA is. I mean, I NEVER go to that site, it's just not amusing to me, but I still know that PA = PAX. He's got excuse after excuse for trying to out-muscle a guy who just wanted info on his purchase, name dropping and impersonating people in the process. Financially, he gets what he deserves, because THAT is how people in this era respond to reputation. Taking a man at his word now is a lot more than townsfolk shunning a bad seller because the internet is a MUCH bigger community.

[/soapbox]

 

[Gisty]

There's certainly something to the idea that the backlash here is excessive and out of control but in the larger context I think that's a good thing.

Christoforo thought he could ignore, deceive, threaten and otherwise betray everyone involved in his professional life and that calling it his job left him blameless.

The Avenger guys hired Christoforo because he was cheap and aggressive. They disregarded the warnings of their original PR firm because quality was less important to them than hustle and bottom line. They obviously didn't follow up on Christoforo's "industry contacts" or on how he was representing their company because they didn't want to know and they didn't think it was their problem. They thought that hiring an outside consultant would absolve them of their responsibilities.

Does anyone seriously believe that this is the first time something like this has happened? Are we really so foolish to believe that other companies aren't doing the same thing because it's cost-effective and they don't see any downside? Our society would greatly benefit if Ocean and the Avenger implode so severely that lecturers will talk about them in Business 101 as an example that deniability only goes so far. If there were more stories like this we might not need the Occupy protests because businessmen could look at the evidence and see a legitimate reason for ethical behavior. As things stand today, acting like a sociopath is just good business and that needs to change.

Christoforo's son doesn't deserve what he's getting here but his wife chose to marry an arrogant amoral douchebag. Also it's regrettable that the Avenger product has to go down the toilet along with it's manufacturer but let's not forget the real victims here are the disabled gamers and their friends/family who tried to buy it.

I have very little pity for people who thought they could lie down with dogs and not wake up with fleas.

I signed up to make a post along these lines, but you're said it so much better than I could have.

I watched this whole situation unfold over the past day or so and have had my thoughts on it vary considerably. Until I saw Christoforo's "apology" on Kotaku.

He was caught completely in the wrong and rather than putting his hands up and saying he was wrong, he's gone into douchebag mode again using such great lines as "It was humbling a little bit" and "I trust everybody until they give me a reason not to respect them.I?m not a tough guy, not a bully, but at same time not going to take s*** if it?s uncalled for." Fuck him, and everything he stands for.

 

[iRevanchist]

this guy beats up women
http://courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov/CISPublic/casedetail?casenum=DVN14325&casesite=NC&applcode=D
cristoforo deserves none of our mercy. we shall spam him till he begs for mercy!

 

[RJ 17]

For the people defending this guy, here's something to think about.

He represented a company that made a product designed for people and children with disabilities.
What if he treated those people with the same kind of attitude that he treated Dave with?
What if he said the same sort of things to people, children and parents of those children that he said to Dave?
What if Dave was a person that suffered from a disability like that? That he needed that controller in order to game?

Would you defend that sort of person?

Everyone agrees that Paul is a horrible person, and everyone agrees that he should be punished. What some of us don't agree with is the thought that he should be getting harassing phone calls and death threat emails (even though at this point in time, death threat emails have essentially become the internets middle finger) are a bit much. Dave brought this guy's behavior to the attention of the gaming community and thrust it into the spotlight. From the sound of things, he has consequently been fired from his job and every company that was in any way associated with this jackass cut their ties with him. Leaving him as another broke, unemployed person. Add to that the fact that he's likely considered to be so toxic that no one in the industry will even consider hiring him, thus ensuring that he'll either have to find a new career path or remain jobless for quite some time, and I'd say that's punishment enough.

In short: the gaming industry has recognized this jackass as a problem and removed him, that's punishment enough and we should all just move on with our lives and let him do the same. He already has suffered the consequences of his moronic actions, we as the gaming community don't need to keep piling on. Taken to the extreme, your statement is like saying that someone who murders a disabled person should get lethal injection and then sent to the electric chair after he's already dead. There's no need for such overkill when the first punishment takes care of the job.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

What. A. Fuckwad.

I remember reading about him a few months ago about some immense blunder he caused with his arrogance, now this? How are morons like him even hired? Words...cannot express the sheer stupidity of his existence! EVERY company knows not to charge a product unless its been finalised and (in this event) shipped.

He's the epitome of a real life troll. he honestly is.

 

[Nergy]

I think people have misinterpreted why Mike Krahulik mentioned being bullied in his post. It's not about some sort of "revenge". This has been example of how we've grown up learned how to properly deal with them. Paul was a bully, he threatened, called people names and tried to throw his weight around, just like bullies did in school.

The way people responded is how you deal with bullies, you show them you're not going to take the threats and show you aren't intimidated. A tiny, TINY minority took it a bit over the line by digging up personal details. Re-read the emails, it's clear Paul was only sorry he got caught. At first he is all apologetic for basically being caught and then starts throwing his weight around again by saying insulting PA's site and threatening a smear campaign.

The interview with In-Game on MSNBC was just horrible to read, as well as back-pedelling, Going from "PAX is a tiny convention" to "PAX is a great convention", he claims Mike was a bully (apparently because Mike said "That's fucking Nasty, you're not coming PAX") and carefully omits the fact he threatened to use his business to smear Penny Arcade(incidentally, a lot of people defending him seem to have forgotten that he did that too)

I can't defend the actions of those who dug up his personal details, but stop painting everyone with the brush of the minority. Just because they went to far, doesn't mean everyone else did.

 

[Cyrus Hanley]

I like how quick people are to defend Mister Christoforo from a "mob" of angry Internet nerds tapping aggressively away at the keyboards in front of their computer screens.

Really? Who's defending the guy?

Sixcess [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude#13572268]

Flying Dagger [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=3#13573480]

mcnally86 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=3#13573923]

The Philistine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13574881]

Bostur [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13575091]

TownTattle [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13575111]

 

[Freaky Lou]

I like how quick people are to defend Mister Christoforo from a "mob" of angry Internet nerds tapping aggressively away at the keyboards in front of their computer screens.

Really? Who's defending the guy?

Sixcess [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude#13572268]

Flying Dagger [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=3#13573480]

mcnally86 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=3#13573923]

The Philistine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13574881]

Bostur [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13575091]

TownTattle [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13575111]

They're not defending Christoforo at all; just attacking what they view as an overzealous response to the whole debacle.

 

[BakedZnake]

Nerd mob mentality strikes back- sounds like a good game, I'll buy that for a dollar

[http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/151/computerbettermaintaine.jpg/]

 

[Cyrus Hanley]

I like how quick people are to defend Mister Christoforo from a "mob" of angry Internet nerds tapping aggressively away at the keyboards in front of their computer screens.

Really? Who's defending the guy?

Sixcess [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude#13572268]

Flying Dagger [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=3#13573480]

mcnally86 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=3#13573923]

The Philistine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13574881]

Bostur [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13575091]

TownTattle [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.336115-UPDATE-Penny-Arcade-Smacks-Down-Shady-PR-Dude?page=5#13575111]

They're not defending Christoforo at all; just attacking what they view as an overzealous response to the whole debacle.

I never said they were defending Christoforo's actions, I said they were defending him from a "mob" that he doesn't need defence against.

I like how quick people are to defend Mister Christoforo from a "mob" of angry Internet nerds

 

[Navvan]

The guy was bad (understatement) at his job, was outed on the internet at being bad at his job, and no longer has his job and unless he lies through his teeth/uses a different identity is not going to get a PR job again. Likewise he will have a tough time finding any job as a result of this, and any job he does get will likely be fairly undesirable. I can't be happy about that last part no matter how bad of a person he was as its worse than being a convicted felon who has served his time.

 

[Ariyura]

http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/28/9770514-chastened-gaming-rep-responds-to-internet-infamy

An interview with Paul. It reads pretty badly. Like he only feels bad he got caught and not for the whole thing overall.