"Justin, I've made no accusations other than those based what you've said on the posts on this thread, and what you seem to be saying is that it won't do you any good to change your behavior unless others change theirs."

No, you've chosen that path Bob. You've accused me of as much from the very beginning. I'm not arguing my actions weren't wrong, I'm not arguing I shouldn't have handled it better, and in fact, I've stated that I know what I should have done, and what I would do in hindsight.

Actions speak louder than words here. Thus far I've tried to reach out to Clue, and I've offered both Ana and Tom a chance to email me and see if we can at least discuss it. Obviously, they all need time since all of these have happened rather recently, but thus far I've attempted to meet everyone at least halfway.

"The fact is that there are always going to be certain things in everybody's life that aren't the way that they feel that they should be. It's also a fact, according to you, not according to me, that it was your own behavior that resulted in what happened."

I'm not arguing that Bob. I've said from the beginning what happened to me was deserved. It was the issues that lead up to it, and the lack of action by managers both before and after that, that I am taking issue with. At least one other person who was present for the entire exchange agreed it was one-sided.

"Also, I don't know whether or not you have a legitimate beef or not, but even if you do, in this case, according to you, not me, it was your own behavior that caused you to be booted. If you feel that someone personally attacked you in chat, the proper procedure and the only one that can work is to copy the chat, and submit a copy to management. Publicly airing it on these boards is not only inappropriate but it's also totally ineffective."

Well Bob, I couldn't copy the chat because I was booted. I would have certainly done just that, but I made the assumption that since two managers were present during the entire exchange, they condoned that behavior.

Sorry if you feel that this wasn't a public issue. I felt it was. Whether that is inappropriate or not is a matter of subjective opinion, and I happen to disagree with yours.

"Also, if I understand you correctly, there were managers present when this alleged incident, your being personally attacked happened. Why then didn't you whisper one of those managers instead of reacting in the way that you did?"

They were both active for it Bob. The entire discussion prior to this, both Tom and Ana were personally involved in. That said, I believe Tom was away during that part of it, however, Ana made several comments between Clue's rants. So, at the very least, she was intimately aware of what was going on and chose to ignore it. She waited until I responded and I was booted IMMEDIATELY afterwards.

"Also, you say that you posted originally to prevent it from happening again. How is your leaving going to cause such a change to be implemented? The answer is that it won't."

I posted the original because I didn't intend on trying to fight with management on this. There's certain "stick together" mold among a small group here, and perhaps I'm too pessimistic, but given at least one manager was witness to the entire thing, I felt it would go nowhere. Thus far... it's gone nowhere. Maybe I'll be surprised and Ana will email me and we can attempt to work things out amicably. Thus far, I've seen nothing from her that would suggest that much. Call it a lack in faith but I have a tendency to believe history repeats itself.

"Also, let me compliment you for being willing to discuss this with Clue privately."

I appreciate it but I don't deserve it. I should have done that from the very beginning, however, I allowed my own frustration with the entire situation prevent that.

"Let me also say that all of us have legitimate beefs about something. We've all been discriminated against for one reason or another, and at other times, we've all received undeserved favors. That's just the way that life is, and those, who are able to move forward in life, are those who live for the moment and let the past go."

Sure thing. I'm over the issues of the past... it's the future that concerns me. Again, what happened yesterday happened yesterday. Today, my only concern is that history doesn't repeat itself once again. I'm not going to remain here if I have to walk on eggshells around one member or another, for if I happen to indirectly piss her off, I'll be subject to a verbal tirade. That's not asking for much... either way I move forward in life. I'd rather it be WITH DCS as a part of it... but if, and only if, something changes. That something means me, Clue and, if necessary in future problems, Ana.

"Also, I think that you think that this happened because Ana and Clue are friends and isn't that really the real issue, that you feel that Clue is receiving special treatment? I will tell you that I'm fairly certain that it's not the case at all."

I can assume if it quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it's a duck. Yes, the issue at hand is that Clue is receiving special treatment.

"Justin, I'm a bit unclear about the other incidents. Were you also booted then, and, if so, did you do anything to provoke it?"

No, in one of those cases Ron cooled it down in a manor that I think was appropriate (no one was booted). However, Ana did come to Clue's defense in the matter. The other one I simply went idle.

"If you did complain to management, and no action was taken, then and only then do you have a legitimate complaint."

I didn't need to complain to management because management was there. However, of the three instances the only time a manager intervened (aside from Ana's defense of Clue) was when Ron was present.

The first time, I didn't let it get to me. The second time, Ron was there to prevent it from going completely overboard, and unfortunately, the third time it managed to make it's to where we are now.

And of those three times, the only time I responded in-kind to Clue's comments, I was immediately booted. Call that what you want, but it seems to be a pretty cut and dry case of a manager acting as a "friend" first and as a "manager" second. THAT is my complaint.

I will say this much. While you may disagree with the way I presented this, I'm at the very least creating discussion. I won't go into detail, but suffice to say that this "issue" has been one that many members have privately complained about. So if I do leave, I hope at least what has happened here will only better DCS for future members.

This matter of favoritism was eventually going to become a public issue. Hopefully, more members will start emailing managers and creating discussion about this issue. Frankly, management is going to have to do something eventually... while perhaps it's only a small group that feels the same way I do, continued ignorance is only going to create more problems.

Let me extend the offer to ANY manager that would like to email me to do so. I don't know that beating this to death in public is going to get us much further... I've made my point, and now it's a matter of what, if anything, is going to be done about it.

Sorry for those of you that spent the time to read all of this.