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We are deeply saddened by the recent events surrounding BSL and Rapid. Allowing someone to cast on stream who has been publicly banned without any sort of statement is damaging for the community as a whole, and affects other tournament organizers who abide by their own rules.
Until a satisfactory statement is made from BSL, we will be pausing all partnerships with the organization. This decision is not made lightly, but through our love for the community, and our commitment to integrity within our own events.
Signed: ash.Baal (BWCL)
nOm.Airn (CSL, NSL, BWCL)
mG[Que3n] (BWCL)
ash.Return (CPL,BWCL)
dada (CPL)
y2kid (CPL)
iRk-Camodaz (former BWCL and BSL)
nOm.Esk4l4de (NSL, BWCL, NWL, CPL, CSL)
Nicepants (NWL)
nOm.Cookimaster (NSL)
ash.ArtOfTurtle (NAKL)
Qikz (STPL)
iRk-Manadog (CPL)
ash.Green (CPL)
Jealous (NYC LAN, CPL, SSCAIT)
Tec27 (SB)
***Edit:
Zzzero replied to our request in this thread
Here is a quick summary of the facts as they appear right now:
1. Zzzero was unaware of Rapid's invitation to the event.
2. Zzzero was not the person who invited Rapid. At present we do not know who that person was.
3. Zzzero acknowledges that allowing Rapid to cast during day one of the event was a mistake. In retrospect, he regrets his decision and owns up to that mistake. He also pointed out that the situation during day one was rather chaotic and that, along other reasons, led to eventually letting Rapid cast for a limited time.
4.Allowing Rapid to cast was in no way a premature and unannounced lift of his **existing** BSL ban. It was a rushed ill-advised decision that Zzzero feels sorry about.
We thank Zzzero for addressing this issue in a timely manner.
We all greatly appreciate ZZZero's work and BSL. While we regret what happened, we are satisfied with the explanation and would like nothing more than to move past this.
```
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Right on.
Contrary to what blackmanpl said it seems way more than 5 people are concerned over the issue. Or maybe he can only count to 5... ^_._^
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Hey im not sure if it really is necessaryto make this public statement. I mean our community is so small, everyone of you guys know the BSL organizer. Why not just speak with him directly and demand a public statement from him personaly before putting so much pressure to a guy like ZZZero.
I think this wasnt necessary.
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the reverse is also true, ZZZero could have reached out to anyone or reacted in the thread or made a statement in the 4 days since this happened, yet here we are.
This is a catastrophic failure as a tournament organiser, the precedent it sets and the ramifications could have a terrible impact on every one of our tournaments, it cannot be accepted.
It doesnt matter how big or small the scene is or whether or not this is a lot of pressure on ZZZero, some actions are unacceptable and shouldnt be brushed behind closed doors. It is part of his responsiblities as a tournament organiser, and even moreso than most of us since he gets money for his work.
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As of now it looks increasingly likely that BSL17 is the last regular BSL. Well they are $5k short of the target anyway... might as well ride off into the sunset (of Phuket).
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Netherlands5213 Posts
Why was Rapid there?
Who invited Rapid?
Why did Rapid get a chair and mic on day 1 but not on day 2 and beyond?
Why did this all of this go unaddressed this far despite the tournament organizers, Rus_Brain and ZZZero, clearly reading TL each day and seeing all the commotion about Rapid randomly being there?
I put the events on the TL calendar, even double checking with ZZZero, to support this event. This was prior to knowing Rapid would be there.
For the historic value and TL still being BW's hub I was unsure whether to take off the events of the calendar or not. Since on day 2 - to my knowledge - nothing was addressed yet. I decided to take off the events of the calendar as a way of saying this whole ordeal is not cool.
Like OP & co, I am also waiting for a statement and very suprised there has not been one yet.
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+ Show Spoiler +On December 13 2023 08:18 Peeano wrote:
Why was Rapid there?
Who invited Rapid?
Why did Rapid get a chair and mic on day 1 but not on day 2 and beyond?
Why did this all of this go unaddressed this far despite the tournament organizers, Rus_Brain and ZZZero, clearly reading TL each day and seeing all the commotion about Rapid randomly being there?
I put the events on the TL calendar, even double checking with ZZZero, to support this event. This was prior to knowing Rapid would be there.
For the historic value and TL still being BW's hub I was unsure whether to take off the events of the calendar or not. Since on day 2 - to my knowledge - nothing was addressed yet. I decided to take off the events of the calendar as a way of saying this whole ordeal is not cool.
Like OP & co, I am also waiting for a statement and very suprised there has not been one yet.
I was wondering why it wasn't on the calendar.
Edit: in the interest of keeping this thread on point and not just engaging in arguments anyone who wants to discuss further @me in the other thread: https://tl.net/forum/brood-war/618831-rapidcasting-is-back-in-bsl or in FBW discord
I've said plenty. I wish more people would put their 2 cents in as well. I think we've had some good discussion on it.
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On December 13 2023 06:52 earob84 wrote:
Hey im not sure if it really is necessaryto make this public statement. I mean our community is so small, everyone of you guys know the BSL organizer. Why not just speak with him directly and demand a public statement from him personaly before putting so much pressure to a guy like ZZZero.
I think this wasnt necessary.
I'm honestly really sad it came to this. I really do love working with Zero and BSL, and my time with them has been incredible. It's because out community is so small that we should keep each other honest. By calling out bad things like this, we can keep our community the awesome group of people that it is. If we don't police our community at least a bit, then we end up just toxic and hateful towards each other. And we aren't like that. Sure, we're all old school gamers who like to throw around some gamer words from time to time, but we aren't really toxic at all. If we were truly a toxic community, CPL wouldn't exist and neither would NSL. And we definitely wouldn't be crowdfunding something like BSL every year.
My hope is that Zero comes out quickly, says something reasonable, and we can all go back to being good friends and working together.
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Bisutopia19305 Posts
Was this post not sufficient?
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That statement is from 2020, we're talking about an event in 2023. If anything that X post hurts BSL's looks even more.
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United States10286 Posts
On December 13 2023 10:00 NiteKat wrote:
That statement is from 2020, we're talking about an event in 2023. If anything that X post hurts BSL's looks even more.
Agreed. There should be an explanation from ZZZero regarding his decision to rehire/admit Rapid as a caster. Perhaps there was a discussion behind closed doors where Rapid reached out to ZZZero to express his desire to return, and perhaps there was some form of apology in private from Rapid that ultimately led to ZZZero allowing him back...
Or on the other hand, did ZZZero reach out to Rapid directly? Did he initiate? Was he keeping in touch with Rapid this entire time with hopes of him returning at some future date? If so, we definitely would want some insight into his decision making as that seems extremely short sighted by him and would lead to the loss of confidence from many in the community.
A more detailed explanation is definitely in order and the community deserves to understand the behind the scenes details that led to Rapid's return.
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Bisutopia19305 Posts
On December 13 2023 10:00 NiteKat wrote:
That statement is from 2020, we're talking about an event in 2023. If anything that X post hurts BSL's looks even more.
Oh damn lol. It’s almost like they got hacked and were tricked into hiring him…
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This seems incredibly short-sighted by the ZZZero and BSL.... What the hell were they thinking having him on and what the hell are they thinking while they remain radio silent??
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XD XD XD
User was temp banned for this post.
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Hmm, what a bad timing, isn't the BSL still lacking money to start the next BSL? Desperation step? Definitely very questionable. A big thank you to the community for always bringing things like this to light.
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Russian Federation1894 Posts
It is quite evident to me that those undersigned were well aware of ZZZero's presence in Phuket until this week's end, engaged in a demanding schedule to provide top-tier content to a multi-hundred audience. Nevertheless, there appeared to be a desire to divert ZZZero's attention to satisfy the demands of a vocal minority seeking a statement. When an immediate response was not forthcoming, they publicly addressed the matter without affording ZZZero an opportunity to clarify. The act of plotting behind one's back raises genuine concerns regarding integrity.
I myself took note of the ongoing discussions regarding the Rapid rage topic on this forum. In response, I chose to shield ZZZero from this discourse for a few compelling reasons:
Firstly, I sought to prevent any distractions that might impede his commitment to delivering online content. I offered him the option of refraining from casting this tournament from the very beginning, however, ZZZero is a man of his word, and he proceeded with the online cast as he comitted years ago.
Secondly, I aimed to safeguard ZZZero's emotional well-being and overall mood, unti at least he transit from the warmth of Phuket to the harsh winter in Poland.
While I do hold in high regard the combined collective represented in this platform, it appears that some may lack firsthand experience in organizing events of such a scale, let alone offline tournaments. One must question the basis for calling for someone's removal solely on the grounds of criticism in a forum.
The offline segment of the tournament fell under my purview, with Rapid providing valuable support by facilitating the participation of Sharp and offering outstanding photography services, among other contributions. It would be a misjudgment to conclude that acknowledging this part of the statement absolves Rapid of any responsibility for his past actions. However, making these past actions public can serve as a means of accountability, at least until such actions might potentially recur.
Let me now consider the situation from an alternative perspective. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that every facet of the event was ZZZero's sole responsibility. In such a scenario, overlooking Rapid's involvement as a caster could be viewed as a form of negligence. Having had the privilege of collaborating with some of you in the past, however, I am aware that certain individuals have displayed a level of neglect in fulfilling their responsibilities that could have warranted legal action. In comparison, ZZZero's lapses appear far less severe.
In the words of the Bible, as found in Matthew 7:1
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged."
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" it is essential to reflect upon our own actions before casting judgment upon others.
As for matters of finance, let us not forget that, in the grand scheme of existence, money is but a fleeting concern. When we depart this world, our possessions will hold no sway. And for those who may have missed it, Geoff, at the very least, has departed during the time from the 20th Anniversary to the 25th Anniversary.
Let us strive for understanding, empathy, and unity in our interactions, both online and offline.
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I show my empathy towards victims of sexual abuse.
Did he use unwanted sexual advances and use manipulative behavior to solicit sex?
Is that a person who would be worth associating with?
Why is it so difficult to just receive a stance on whether you think he is a sexual abuser or not. My concern is the safety of the people who attend, not the event itself. I understand that Zzzero is busy running the tournament and I didn't expect any statement until after the event. But it doesn't take a genius to go "hey, this guy doesn't have a good history, maybe we shouldn't allow him to take part in the event without addressing the big fucking gap is his history of Sexual abuse." I don't want to fuck around with people who have patterns of abuse without there being any movements towards doing better.
I wanted to have empathy for Rapid when the statements against him came out. I waited in hopes he would say anything about the accusations. I wanted to hear him say "hey, these things I've done were immature and wrong and I know it now." or "I did not do the things that are being accused against me."
Again no followup whatsoever and I'm supposed to believe he's a changed person. That I have to look at the good when I was already let down 3 years ago.
I actually liked rapid once. I was happy to hear him during ASL Casts because it was English casting. I can accept he doesn't have much brood war strategy knowledge but he was calling out plays as they unfolded. He even did some translations for the interviews. I wanted so fucking badly to hear him say anything. But he left. I bet he was hoping we would all forget about it too. I didn't forget.
Offer up a statement about his return instead of asking us to just blindly accept him, otherwise Fuck off Rus_Brain.
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United States996 Posts
On December 13 2023 12:36 Rus_Brain wrote:+ Show Spoiler + It is quite evident to me that those undersigned were well aware of ZZZero's presence in Phuket until this week's end, engaged in a demanding schedule to provide top-tier content to a multi-hundred audience. Nevertheless, there appeared to be a desire to divert ZZZero's attention to satisfy the demands of a vocal minority seeking a statement. When an immediate response was not forthcoming, they publicly addressed the matter without affording ZZZero an opportunity to clarify. The act of plotting behind one's back raises genuine concerns regarding integrity. I myself took note of the ongoing discussions regarding the Rapid rage topic on this forum. In response, I chose to shield ZZZero from this discourse for a few compelling reasons: Firstly, I sought to prevent any distractions that might impede his commitment to delivering online content. I offered him the option of refraining from casting this tournament from the very beginning, however, ZZZero is a man of his word, and he proceeded with the online cast as he comitted years ago. Secondly, I aimed to safeguard ZZZero's emotional well-being and overall mood, unti at least he transit from the warmth of Phuket to the harsh winter in Poland. While I do hold in high regard the combined collective represented in this platform, it appears that some may lack firsthand experience in organizing events of such a scale, let alone offline tournaments. One must question the basis for calling for someone's removal solely on the grounds of criticism in a forum. The offline segment of the tournament fell under my purview, with Rapid providing valuable support by facilitating the participation of Sharp and offering outstanding photography services, among other contributions. It would be a misjudgment to conclude that acknowledging this part of the statement absolves Rapid of any responsibility for his past actions. However, making these past actions public can serve as a means of accountability, at least until such actions might potentially recur. Let me now consider the situation from an alternative perspective. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that every facet of the event was ZZZero's sole responsibility. In such a scenario, overlooking Rapid's involvement as a caster could be viewed as a form of negligence. Having had the privilege of collaborating with some of you in the past, however, I am aware that certain individuals have displayed a level of neglect in fulfilling their responsibilities that could have warranted legal action. In comparison, ZZZero's lapses appear far less severe. In the words of the Bible, as found in Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" it is essential to reflect upon our own actions before casting judgment upon others. As for matters of finance, let us not forget that, in the grand scheme of existence, money is but a fleeting concern. When we depart this world, our possessions will hold no sway. And for those who may have missed it, Geoff, at the very least, has departed during the time from the 20th Anniversary to the 25th Anniversary. Let us strive for understanding, empathy, and unity in our interactions, both online and offline.
I expect you're mistaken that the opinion represented here on TL represents a vocal minority, even if the posts are from a select number of people. The overlap between people who watch BW and the people who support the MeToo movement is probably rather large. When you give someone a platform to spread their influence and reassert themselves in a community without even acknowledging a variety of complaints, you send two messages: (1) people can either avoid or buy their way past previous transgressions (e.g., bringing a pro to a tournament, other services), and (2) it is acceptable to work with this person again. Given that the MeToo movement was purposed, in part, to shine a light on people using their power to escape culpability for their actions, you can imagine many people's continued ire in BSL's choosing to work with Rapid and their desire to remediate the situation as quickly as possible before further harm was done.
I don't want to speak for others, but I'm not looking for Rapid to prove his innocence in total. Rather, I'm just looking for some sort of accountability, be it through acknowledgement or statement to the community he appears to be looking to reenter, and then people can decide for themselves how they feel about it.
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EPT
