quote:

---

Originally posted by hilikuS:
Any of you guys use cardshark.com? Is there any way to dispute a feedback/should I bother? I'm trying to slowly work my way up on their site as far as the sort of ranking system they have. Dude gives me less than a perfect score for not putting the cards in sleeves, despite making sure they're secured in a toploader which was taped tightly shut. In a bubble mailer, and with DC which he didn't even pay for.

Definitely first world problems, but I was just wondering if anyone knew what was up.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by yakusoku:
Apparently, at GP Indy, a player - Gerald Freas (aka dr8sides on Twitter) - managed to harass several players via Twitter.

He'd take pictures and post rude comments about players. He was suspended for 18 months.

Allegedly, he had done this before and was asked to stop, but kept going at GP Indy, so Wizards stepped in, and Helene Bergeot put out a statement to make it clear that they do NOT condone this kind of action and people will be punished accordingly.

---

FREE GERRY!!! (I know him IRL hahaha)

quote:

---

Originally posted by AlmostGrown:
FREE GERRY!!! (I know him IRL hahaha)

While I admit that some weren't in great taste, almost all of them were funny. Its also interesting to note that they responded to this much faster than they respond to accusations of cheating WITH proof.

---

I'm sure the reason why they reacted faster is because this kind of stuff is easier to prove than cheating (the guy posted it on his twitter feed).

quote:

---

Originally posted by Speed Demon:
Getting 18 months for that is just ridiculous.

---

The same as Alex Bertoncini, and six times as long as Edgar Flores.

I don't care if he's a dick, that's still overkill.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DerangedHermit:
The same as Alex Bertoncini, and six times as long as Edgar Flores.

I don't care if he's a dick, that's still overkill.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by DerangedHermit:
The same as Alex Bertoncini, and six times as long as Edgar Flores.

I don't care if he's a dick, that's still overkill.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Volcanon:
What's worse for losing sales? Some idiot harassing many people or some "pro" player who you'll never play against cheating?

---

1. The problem is, he isn't outright harassing anyone.
2. He isn't threatening anyone.
3. IMO, This is over stepping WotC jurisdiction
4. I have heard worse at local FNMs to people's faces and they don't get a ban (or even a warning).
5. Bertonicini indirectly harmed way more people.
6. Bertonicini directly harmed way more people.
7. Bertonicini stole from people.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Speed Demon:
4. I have heard worse at local FNMs to people's faces and they don't get a ban (or even a warning).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by gaeacradle:
While I agreed with you on other points, there is a clear difference between what is said vocally and what is being posted publicly on Twitter. The former can be a case of "he said, she said" if the judge is not there, but the latter one is easily seen by everyone.

---

I'm sorry, but this is still wrong to do.

Also, an 18 month ban for this? This would be the equivelent of an NFL player getting an 24 game suspension tweeting "NFL Players are barbarians".

Do you think that would happen? No chance. At worst, this player gets a $10-100,000 fine, and MAYBE 1 game suspension.

The rampant cheating that goes on in the magic community (especially at the top levels (and top ptq levels)) is disgusting and way more off putting to me than some idiot making an idiotic statement.

If we're going to talk about putting people off, then we should ban AJ Sacher for calling me an idiot and a giant troll and ban Brad Nelson for calling me a creep. But of course, that won't happen, and why should it. Pro players rarely get banned unless they do something atrocious.

If WotC is going to monitor and ban us based on what we post on twitter, what's to stop them from banning us what we post on public forums, facebook, and video streams. If WotC banned everyone for 18 months for saying something bad to a general group of people, then holy jesus the ban list will get quite long (you should see the comments left by people on facebook about the looks of SCG people).

If I said MTGO is a pile of **** for a program (which it is and has been for the last 8 years since the release, you guys have been getting raped by it), do you think it's justified that I get banned for a year and a half (or more) for my comment? What's worse, a general statement about magic players, or slamming a company for producing a D- product?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Speed Demon:

Face it, WotC justification for this ban is non-existent.

---

that don't need one. If you don't like how they sanction play don't play. If you've seen worse point it out to wizard. Make stink about it something may happen.

This was happening at GP Indy, A big magic stage so they made a big point about it. They have every right to do that. He got warned. He didn't listen, He got nailed, boohoo

quote:

---

Originally posted by TimeBeing:
that don't need one. If you don't like how they sanction play don't play. If you've seen worse point it out to wizard. Make stink about it something may happen.

This was happening at GP Indy, A big magic stage so they made a big point about it. They have every right to do that. He got warned. He didn't listen, He got nailed, boohoo

If you see cheating everywhere tell someone, become a judge, do something about it. Last time the Internet got up in arms about a cheater he got suspended. Can happen again if needed.

---

Except the last time THE INTERNET had to get all up in arms because the cheater had not been banned after the DCI had VIDEO EVIDENCE for 3 months. If drew levin never published that article, it is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that Alex bertonici would still be playing magic today.

It is amazing that once the internet had solid proof (i.e. video evidence), it only took the DCI to ban this guy within a week but they couldn't have done it within the 3 months they had the video evidence?

Face it, this is just the nanny-state of WOTC acting up. I am pretty sure I could get away with rampant cheating (not that I would) and get less time than this guy.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zakman86:
I can't believe that anyone's actually defending this guy...

Edit: Wait, just saw who was posting. Makes MUCH more sense now.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bagbokk:
Cheating is something that they actually need to investigate because punishing someone suspected of cheating if they can't independently corroborate the accusations would be a bad move. This situation is much easier to prove.

Whether he deserved a 18-month suspension, *shrug*. I believe that he does especially if he has been told in the past to cut it out. It certainly doesn't defy "logic and reason" to believe that he deserves some sort of punishment for his actions. On the other hand, it's fairly illogical and unreasonable to believe that your opinion is the only one that matters and is absolutely correct when there are clearly other reasonable people that disagree with you.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bagbokk:
Cheating is something that they actually need to investigate because punishing someone suspected of cheating if they can't independently corroborate the accusations would be a bad move. This situation is much easier to prove.

Whether he deserved a 18-month suspension, *shrug*. I believe that he does especially if he has been told in the past to cut it out. It certainly doesn't defy "logic and reason" to believe that he deserves some sort of punishment for his actions. On the other hand, it's fairly illogical and unreasonable to believe that your opinion is the only one that matters and is absolutely correct when there are clearly other reasonable people that disagree with you.

---

Okay, I am sorry if I didn't come across clearly. Obviously, as a person who does not work for DCI/WotC I don't have all the fact to the case (besides reading wotc told him to knock it off). I have no problem with SOME punishment, I do have a problem with the punishment he got. 1-3 month ban would be "okay" depending on how long this was going on. However, rampant cheating and scumbaggery gets 0 time unless they actively catch you.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zakman86:
Getting nailed to the wall as an example of behavior that won't be tolerated is always a good decision, in my books. I don't want those kinds of players at my events; quite frankly, most decent human beings don't either.

---

This is the like the Cop giving you a warning for speeding and then you go ok and then speed away. He had his warning he didn't take it seriously so they used him as an example.

quote:

---

Originally posted by WeedIan:
Speed Demon doesn't get it.

This is the like the Cop giving you a warning for speeding and then you go ok and then speed away. He had his warning he didn't take it seriously so they used him as an example.

I've been to magic before where people have been asked to leave stores because they are verbally harassing players.

---

Except this is the equivalent of throwing the guy in jail for a year in a half.

Please show me someone who gets 1.5 years in jail for speeding twice.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Speed Demon:
Okay, I am sorry if I didn't come across clearly. Obviously, as a person who does not work for DCI/WotC I don't have all the fact to the case (besides reading wotc told him to knock it off). I have no problem with SOME punishment, I do have a problem with the punishment he got. 1-3 month ban would be "okay" depending on how long this was going on. However, rampant cheating and scumbaggery gets 0 time unless they actively catch you.

Again, Punish, fine. 18 months? No.

---

I agree with you that 18 months is a little bit harsh, but I also agree with WOTC. Again, they want to set an example to deter future offenders. It is IMPORTANT enough for them to make an announcement on DailyMTG. Does it suck to be banned 18 months for something like this? Yes, it does. But that's what happened when you are being made as a clear example.

quote:

---

I have no problem with SOME punishment, I do have a problem with the punishment he got. 1-3 month ban would be "okay" depending on how long this was going on.

---

We could just agree to disagree on this, but the analogies are starting to get a little over the top. How is 18-month suspension equivalent to being thrown in jail? It's not like he suddenly can't play Magic at all or continue to buy/sell/trade stuff or playtest for when he's off suspension, etc. I'm pretty sure WeedIan was referring generally more to the point that if you ignore a warning and do the exact same thing you were just warned about, the punishment is going to be harsher than it would have been otherwise. And yes, there are such rules pretty much everywhere, including our criminal justice system in terms of throwing repeat offenders into jail for life if they screw up enough (three) times.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zakman86:
Yep, I'm on a Beta All the Duals kick.

---

How far along are ya?

I went on the have at least 1 Dual Beta and the rest FBB kick awhile back.

Thankfully I started it before the big dual jump.

I'm 2 FBB Scrublands and 2 FBB Bayous away from finishing it.