we're all stories in the end

We've all seen our share of scams and fake deaths in fandom. It's reasonable to have doubts, it's reasonable to be wary. It's reasonable to want verification. I do understand that.

It is not reasonable to decide that in the absence of concrete evidence that meets your standards, you will embark on conjuring up elaborate conspiracy theories and baseless accusations that mock the dead and bereaved, with no justification beyond not being 100% certain that someone's story is true.

In response to people who fall into the first camp, it may reassure you to know that I attended fizzyblogic's funeral this week, where I met his family and paid my respects. I spent time with leanwellback, who thanks to your generosity is now in a better position to keep his home and take care of himself and his cats (who are, incidentally, very adorable) while he deals with his grief and starts looking for work.

In response to the people who engaged in the second sort of behaviour, I really have nothing to say to you. If you were genuinely concerned about verifying James's story, there are any number of people you could have approached, myself included. I hope that people who know me know that I'd never push for a cause this strongly if I wasn't certain it was true. Instead, you've ended up hurting people who are already in pain, so good job.

Comments closed - I really don't want to stoke this fire any more. If you continue to have concerns, I'm not sure what I can do about that beyond giving you my word, but you are welcome to contact me privately if you would like.

And to the vast majority of people who've been nothing but kind during all of this: thank you. ♥

leanwellback has written about fizzyblogic's passing here, and set up inmemoryofjason for the people who knew him to share messages and memories.