As it turns out, the Ripper Cabal is real...it's just not who you thought it was

[Magpie]

It's been ages since I've been recruited into a cabal

I remember when I was originally driven from the boards for expressing the view that the Maybrick Diary was a forgery (wtf? Yep--anyone remember those days?). Then I was part of the Paul Begg cabal for suggesting that an old forgery is still plausible.

I remember Whitechapel Student following me from thread to thread, trashing everything I posted, however minor. I remember Omlor descending like a starving pitbull on a pork chop whenever I appeared in Diaryland. I remember being co-opted into the Dan Norder Cabal because despite hundreds of posts calling me every kind of idiot under the sun, he was kind enough to praise my Rip article.

I've had Spiros call me a Tom Wescott flunkie because apparently I don't hate Tom with the heat of a thousand suns. I've similarly been criticized for saying nice things about Spiros's book. Tom has denounced me for being part of the Howard Brown cabal (although it was a very polite and short-lived denunciation, to be fair)

Allie's called me an idiot, AP Wolf called me several variants on "scum" and DVV's called me a bastard. All have also been extraordinarily kind to me on other occasions.

I've even been indirectly accused of being a pedophile supporter for being a Druittist in the wake of aspalleck's appalling behaviour. And of course according to Trenouth I am the biggest danger to world democracy since the formation of the illuminati.

I guess if all this can be directed at someone who is largely irrelevant to the world of Ripperology and is usually blissfully unaware of the offence I've cause d (most of the time), I can only imagine the crap that some of the more....forceful...personalities on the board must attract.

But it does seem to be somewhat cyclical--everything old becomes briefly new before becoming old again.

[Bridie O'Reilly]

??

Stirring doesn't get anyone one anywhere. Apart from in a cauldron of trouble. I really do not see the point of slinging arrows at people when we can make our own minds up?

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Bridie. Keep posting. You have to have so many posts to get the PM capability so that we can PM you and recruit...errr...welcome you to our cabal....err....forum. And not all of us are arguing, mainly just Ally. The rest of us are just stirring the pot until more interesting threads for discussion pop up.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Bridie O'Reilly]

??

Hi All.

As a so called manipulated newbie - can someone please explain the point of this arguement? You are all just fighting against each other. Brilliant. I thought we had moved on from Uni politics, where everyone argues for the sake of it.

[Tom_Wescott]

There is no one here, or anyone else on this planet, with 'the truth', on any subject, sat in his/her lap.

This is true. You have to first wait for Debra Arif to find it and post it or e-mail it to you.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Dave. That was creepy.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Ally]

The problem here is that reason is subjective, as is interpretation.

There is no one here, or anyone else on this planet, with 'the truth', on any subject, sat in his/her lap.

In the event Trevor follows a different path - so what. In the event he chooses not to answer questions - so what. Who knows? Perhaps he sees something you don't - and perhaps he's right. It is possible that people who think they're right actually aren't. In the grand scheme of things he may lose some credibility among the establishment - but, a thread setting the lunatics in one corner and the 'truth' advocates in another?

And while everyone is here arguing on Ally's thread, not many are posting on the subject.

I don't even care if Trevor chooses not to answer any questions. That just proves he hasn't got a single rational answer in his head. If it was once, whatever, but repeatedly being stuck without an answer, nope. What I do care about is when he refuses to answer questions but trolls the entire thread with his stupidity and nonsensical antics to deflect from any real debate amongst other people.

And you can bet that crap is going to stop now. I absolutely freaking guarantee it. They have the absolute right not to answer anything they don't wish to answer, but Trolling is against the board rules and the trolling days are firmly at an end. If the game is now get anyone banned you disagree with, aces. I don't actually break the rules. I may be the biggest witch (downgraded apparently from Queen status) but I squeak right in under the rules and I will absolutely continue to do so.

They better learn to abide by the same, because if that's the game they want to play, game on.


So Simon,

One final time. You have insinuated that I have in some way slandered, lied or behaved in a deceitful manner in regards to your person. At this time, please provide evidence of that claim or withdraw it.

[Cogidubnus]

Massage Boards

My missus (quite genuinely) does Sports Massage...We keep getting this magazine through the door called, I think, "The rapist International" - should I be worried?

Dave

[Jenni Shelden]

Heh,

Yes, Rob and I met on the Massage boards.

glad i got that right!!

[Monty]

Heh,

Yes, Rob and I met on the Massage boards.

And Tom,

Due to you turning us down, Deliverence was outta the question.

Which was a shame, I'd have made you squeal like a piggy boy.

Monty

[Jenni Shelden]

Hi Tom,

I dont think I would go s far to say I have stabbed anyone in the back. I may have come close.

Lol I am still getting used to this old girl, I guess missing the odd e is allowed (that too sounds wrong)

Jenni

ps when you say Queen Mean I think of good days

[Tom_Wescott]

The massage boards are the first point of contact for much of this. For instance Neil Bell and Rob Clack do a great deal together these days

Brokeback Whitechapel

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Ally]

She used to be Queen Mean, but now she's a dutchess at best.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

I've never even been to the Netherlands.

[Tom_Wescott]

Ripperology can be a wonderful place filled with friendship. It can also be a place filled with back stabbing and lunacy. I have experienced both sides of this in my time.

And done a little stabbing yourself, I'm sure!

Finally, I dont think Ally is divisive, at times very forthright, yes, honest in her opinion, yes, not one to beat around the bush, true.

She's a pale shadow of her former self. I laugh now when people complain of her being 'mean'. They obviously didn't see her at her prime 7 or 8 years ago. She used to be Queen Mean, but now she's a dutchess at best.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Fleetwood Mac]

It

I think in this instance that it is about the case. Very much so. It began with Trevor being confronted with a series of very good objections to his claim that Eddowes used her apron for sanitary purposes, and a request that Trevor answer those objections. Trevor didn't. He threw out silly one-liners, a few insults, and he disappeared. It's a tad difficult to avoid being personal when someone does that.

This is an example of what I'm saying.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Eddowes did indeed use the apron for such purposes. You may disagree; I disagree. But, no real problem.

Trevor may not have answered the post for a variety of reasons. One maybe time; the other maybe he has been through it before. I do recall a thread where Trevor debated the issue. Again, no problem.

I just don't see how Trevor or anyone else should be beholden to the rules of: must accept the established wisdom, or when doing otherwise must reply to other people's requests without fail. I'd imagine that were you to look back through the threads all posters will have declined to reply to a counter-argument for one reason or another.