Unavailable 4/8 to 4/12

[jmdarrall]

I won't be able to check in as often (if at all) from Friday to Tuesday.  My Grandmother in Indiana has passed away, and I will need to go there to tend to my family and attend the funeral.  Thank you for your understanding.  All deadlines lifted until my return on Tuesday.

[billmcdee]

Jon, to you and your family, my very deepest and most heartfelt condolences.


With sympathy and empathy...


Bill

[billmcdee]

At first I was not going to reply to the previous post.  While discretion may be the better part of valor, I'm throwing discretion out the window in this case.

stratonascar, evidently you have either never lost a loved one to death, or you have and are completely and utterly indifferent to that having happened.

It was just about one year ago that my beloved grandmother Helen passed away.  To that end, I can both sympathize and empathize with Jon and his family during this most difficult time of transition.

And while I realize and recognize that Jon is currently hosting "Remote Control" on here, that in NO WAY justifies your very flippant remarks and attitude toward Jon's loss.

Quite frankly, and it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers, I am completely outraged and incensed at your post stratonascar.  It was completely and utterly inappropriate, and it made me sick to my stomach.

"Enjoy the funeral"?  Really?!?!?!?!?

I posted on "The Last Word" that I've quit the game.   I cannot participate on a game where somebody has such a totally immature, totally carefree attitude about the death of somebody's grandmother, or the death of any loved one for that matter.

Furthermore, you owe Jon the biggest apology possible.

My mother, who died in 2001, reminded me often to "Think before you speak."  There is a right way and a wrong way to address a member's message to the rest of us about the passing away of a loved one.  My response was right, and yours was completely and utterly wrong, tasteless, rude, disrespectful, and you should be ashamed of yourself.  You really should.


Jon, MY apologies for making more of this than I perhaps should, but I could not look myself in the mirror if I did not address this post.

[GameShowNetwork]

I think I need to address two people here with this. First off, Jon, my sincere apologies to you and your family for your loss. Secondly, I need to address Jay regarding that post he made. As Bill pointed out to you, Jay, that post you made shows a complete lack of respect. Funerals are NOT something that are to be enjoyed. They are sad and serious moments, and I should know this as I have gone through family member deaths a few times myself. I can't believe you would make such a sensitive remark like that. Bill's right, you owe Jon a big time apology here. And as punishment, you are being suspended for one week, effective immediately.

[lal217]

I was saddened to read about the passing of your Grandmother. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.

[koopakid17]

My sincerest condolences to you and your family for the loss of your grandmother, Jon.

Bill, I don't think you were breaking any boundaries for addressing Jay the way you did. You echoed my sentiments exactly. Up until now, I thought the most sickening thing I saw here was Zach Coresetti's comments during Hurricane Joaquin but telling someone to "Enjoy the funeral" is very low, no question about it. Jay, you ought to be ashamed for that insensitive post.

[GameShowNetwork]

Relax Kevin, I've dealt with it by suspending Jay for a week

[blackwoodcompany]

I apologize for this situation. My thoughts do go out to you in this time. I will hope for you as much as I can in this time of deep time of sorrow.

[mringgenberg]

My condolences for your loss Jon.

[marc412]

I'm sorry about your grandma, Jon.

[jmdarrall]

Thank you to all of you for your kind words. Although you never really knew my grandmother, you all understand just what an impact grandmothers make on all of our lives. She certainly did on mine. She was there for both my and my brother's high school graduations, my college graduation (and to see my brother to back to college just three months ago), numerous holidays and birthdays, my first trip to Disney World (on which she rode the Tower of Terror with me...at 78 years old! And she loved it!), my family's Wheel watching party on the day my show aired, and my move to South Carolina, among other events. Most notably, though, she was there for me and my brother from the word "go," even making her first airplane flight in her life to help my parents living in Pennsylvania at the time.

One thing I'll always remember about her is that she had a sharp mind and a fighting spirit. Six months ago, you could've looked at her and had no idea that she would pass anytime soon. Six months ago, my family and I were speculating that she might be the first member of our family to live to 100. Now, it's like she'd aged 20 years in the last few months. She taught everyone around her to live simply and enjoy the little things in life. She taught us the value of intuition and instinct. She taught us how to explore the world (in the last 15 years of her life, she visited Alaska, the Caribbean, California, and even Norway). It is with those values that I live my life and try to live it to the fullest.

It is with this sentiment in mind that I address Jay's comment. My first reaction upon seeing that was "Wow, that's a little crass, isn't it?" Had it been any other time, or had it happened to anyone else, I probably would've exploded (it is a sick comment, to be sure). I understand that some people deal with death and dying with humor, but like any other form of humor, there's a time and place for it. Obviously, this isn't it. I decided to let it go because, ultimately, I don't know Jay or his frame of mind, and I don't want to instigate anything (if anything, I want to stay strong for my family, my grandmother, and myself). I feel that the mods' action, so far, is appropriate. I will leave it to their discretion if they want to take further action. As for my game, in light of Jay's suspension, I don't know what action I will take...I'm leaning toward replacing him for the duration of my episode; after all, I sent him a warning that any actions considered inappropriate would cause his removal from the game. He agreed to it, then chose not to follow it. I'll make my decision upon my return.

Thanks, everyone, for listening, and please keep me and my family in your thoughts and (if part of your life) your prayers. Just remember a memorable quote from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off": "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to take a look around once in a while, you might miss it."

[GameShowNetwork]

About Remote Control, Jon, I have already removed Jay from the game.