Slange misrepresented the entire situation.
The actual events with the SPEAR falsifying combat logs was as follows:
1. SPEAR pulled a member of Prism in a 8v1 or something like that. The PZM member high waked out of the instance.
2. A single CMDR from SPEAR's recorded a high wake bug (a relatively frequent bug) where a high wake doesn't show up when the CMDR jumps out of instance. In his video, you could see the PZM CMDR charge up is high wake, jump out, but there was no high wake left behind. Everyone else in the instance could see the high wake from the PZM CMDR.
3. The SPEAR CMDR immediately reported the "combat log" and made a video with commentary accusing the PZM commander of combat logging.
4. SPEAR brigaded the combat log video by posting it to every available forum and discord asking that everyone report the PZM commander in game. They listed him as a combat logger on the subreddit and reported him to the community discords such as GCI. A large group of SPEAR was using the video to report the PZM CMDR to FDev for combat logging.
5. I approached members of SPEAR about the incident where I said it was an obvious high wake bug.
6. Two member groups of SPEAR agreed with me, and the rest refused to discuss it.
7. SPEAR continues to brigade the video and demands a video from the PZM CMDR (who wasn't recording himself getting ganked) and provide his logs.
8. The PZM CMDR provided his logs immediately, and I was told that Akuma refused to ask anyone to remove the video because there was no video from the PZM CMDR's side. Akuma also admitted that the SPEAR video didn't show a combat log but a high wake bug.
9. I spent the next three days asking SPEAR members to remove the video or kick the offenders, but they refused. Finally the two groups that I approached were able to convince the rest of SPEAR to stop reporting the PZM CMDR.
10. The PZM CMDR got an account warning for combat logging.
11. I asked for help from SPEAR to discuss with FDev to admit their brigaded combat log reports were erroneous and they refused. They were outright hostile to me for asking and continue to maintain that stance.
SPEAR never took any responsibility or instituted any disciplinary action. The offending CMDR didn't leave SPEAR until about 2 months later for unrelated reasons. They claim that the PZM member deserved it because he made a "your mom" joke to some of their members.
Thank you for your side of the story, Tuldaim. Since I was not as active in SPEAR as I am now, you may indeed have more of the facts. I have admitted that SPEAR made mistakes. However, there were more than two SPEAR members who decried the combat log accusation. I also did. I very deliberately added a comment below the accusatory video slamming the publishing of videos that were not properly vetted.
No one member is "in charge" of SPEAR.
The lack of immediate "correct" action is awful, I agree. However, the inaction was exacerbated by the falsely accused having repeatedly and cruelly insulting some members of SPEAR. Yes, most PvPers would agree that combat logging is "more awful" than insults in a computer game.
However, insults do take their toll and effect us emotionally. When our emotions are affected, reason sometimes goes to pot.
It was a question of doing right by someone who has hurt us, or slamming a friend who made an awful choice.
Since it is impossible to compare internal states, I can understand how you may view an insult involving the sexual activities of one's mother to be "par for the course" in a video game and of no import in comparison to clogging. But, of course, I disagree.
To my knowledge, ESCA filed a report on the falsely accused for
his insults and not for the combat log. If the falsely accused received an account warning for clogging, then 1. It was not due to ESCA 2. FDev made a mistake and gave him the incorrect reason for the account warning.
Fdev has all the telemetry and would obviously know that the falsely accused was indeed falsely accused.
I don't know what else to say except that hopefully SPEAR will learn from its mistakes and history will not repeat itself.
I understand if Prizm continues to "dunk" on SPEAR. It is your right and choice.
o7