Nosy made an excellent summary of yesterday’s coverage and tributes:
Nosy Gamer: 9/11/12
Tuesday marked the eleventh anniversary of al-Qaeda’s terror attacks on New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. I was reminded of the fact when I left my office building for lunch and gazed up at the building I will forever to as the Sears Tower, no matter what company purchases the naming rights. I remember on 9/11 when speculation ran rampant that another plane was headed for Chicago. Fortunately the only other airliner hijacked that day crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, its passengers winning the first victory in The War on Terror by preventing the al-Qaeda terrorists from reaching their target in the nation’s capitol.
As I stared across the river at the top of the building a third of a mile up in the air I wondered where al-Qaeda would strike next. I’m a pessimistic sort and I refused to believe that the terror network would not try to celebrate the occasion in some way, if only to prove the organization was not dead yet. But I was confident that whatever occurred would not touch me. I’m old enough to know better, right? A few hours later I saw this tweet from The Mittani:
Joys of #eveonline: one of my directors is stationed in Benghazi, goes ‘oh shit gunfire’ on jabber, then we see this: af.reuters.com/article/commod…
— The Mittani (@TheMittani) September 11, 2012
Both the embassy in Cairo, Egypt and the consulate in Bengahazi were attacked. We learned a few hours later that Sean Smith, better known to the Eve Online community as Vile Rat, was killed, along with the ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and two security officers.
First reports blamed protestors angry at at a video that portrays the prophet Mohammed as “womanizer, pedophile and fraud” on YouTube. But slowly mainstream media outlets began reporting a different tale. At 6:24am yesterday, CBS News reported:
“According to al-Sharef, the angry mob stormed the consulate after the
U.S. troops who responded fired rounds into the air to try and disperse
the crowd. Al-Sharef said there had been threats that Islamic militants
might try to take revenge for the death of al Qaeda’s No. 2 commander
Abu Yahya al-Libi, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan in June, and he said the U.S. consulate should have been better protected.
“Confirming
al-Libi’s death for the first time in a video posted online Monday, al
Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahri called on Muslim’s in al-Libi’s native
Libya to take revenge for his death.”
“A pro-al Qaeda group responsible for a previous armed assault on the
U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is the chief suspect in Tuesday’s attack
that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya, sources tracking militant Islamist groups in eastern Libya say.
“They also note that the attack immediately followed a call from al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri for revenge for the death in June of a senior Libyan member of the terror group Abu Yahya al-Libi.The group suspected to be
behind the assault — the Imprisoned Omar Abdul Rahman Brigades –
first surfaced in May, when it claimed responsibility for an attack on
the International Red Cross office in Benghazi. The following month the
group claimed responsibility for detonating an explosive device outside the U.S. Consulate, and later released a video of that attack.“Noman Benotman,
once a leading member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and now
based at the Quilliam Foundation in London told CNN, ‘An attack like
this would likely have required preparation. This would not seem to be
merely a protest which escalated.’”
“U.S. government officials said the Benghazi
attack may have been planned in advance and there were indications that
members of a militant faction calling itself Ansar al Sharia – which
translates as Supporters of Islamic Law – may have been involved.“They
also said some reporting from the region suggested that members of
Al-Qaeda’s north Africa-based affiliate, known as Al Qaeda in the
Islamic Maghreb, may have been involved.“‘It
bears the hallmarks of an organized attack,’ one U.S. official said.
However, some U.S. officials cautioned against assuming that the attacks
were deliberately organized to coincide with the September 11
anniversary.”
While the investigation continues in the real world, the pilots of New Eden are mourning their loss. The Mittani broke the news to the Eve community on his web site.
“So: Vile Rat, Sean Smith, my friend for over six years, both in real life and in internet spaceships, was the “State Department Official”
killed in Benghazi by a mob of religious lunatics, who had been incited
to violence on this September 11th by a movie that was apparently made
sometime in July. Obviously, given the combined attacks in Egypt and in
Libya, this was a coordinated act designed for maximum media exposure;
rile up a mob, point them at an embassy or consulate on 9/11 in
particular, aim for the press. Many were injured in these pointless,
reprehensible acts, and one of my closest friends was killed as a
result.”
The outpouring of grief was tremendous. Threads formed on the official Eve Online forums as well as on Kugutsumen. Null sec alliances renamed hundreds of stations in Vile Rat’s honor. People started making tribute videos and graphics, like the one from SpaceMonkeys Alliance below.
I’m not about to try to write about Sean himself; I didn’t know him. But a lot of people have written a lot of words about Sean over the last two days. While Eve’s single shard makes New Eden a large world in gaming terms, compared to the real world it is just a good-sized town, if not a small city. A loss like this, especially if the attack was affiliated with al-Qaeda, hits hard. From reading all the posts a lot of people are feeling the same I way I am.
I’ll end this post with a collection of links I found referring to Sean “Vile Rat” Smith. I understand an effort is underway to set up a fundraising effort for Sean’s family. If I hear more I’ll post the information.
Mainstream Media
Associated Press – Libya attack victim remembered by online gamers
Business Insider – US State Department Official Killed In Libya Was A Top Online Gamer
NBC News.com (blog) – Game community mourns death of American killed in Libya
NY Daily News – American diplomat Sean Smith, killed in Libya protests, is mourned by his EVE Online gaming community
Reuters – Libya attack victim was a key player in online game
The Sacramento Bee – Death of Sean Smith at Benghazi consulate brings reality to online gaming world
Voice of America – US Diplomat’s Death Shakes Online Gaming World
Online Sites
Smithsonian.com – US Official Killed in Libya Mourned by Online Gaming Community
The Verge – ‘EVE Online’ players were first to learn of US official’s death in Libya
Wired – Diplomat Killed in Libya Told Fellow Gamers: Hope I ‘Don’t Die Tonight’
Gaming Press
Eurogamer – US official killed in Libya was a senior Eve Online player
Gameranx – Remembering Vile Rat, Legendary Diplomat
Kotaku – How Video Game Fans Mourn the Death of One of their Own, Slain in Libyan Attacks
Massively – Former EVE CSM member Vile Rat killed in attack on Libyan consulate
PC Gamer – EVE Online top player was US official killed in Libya
Ten Ton Hammer – Veteran EVE Player Killed in Libya Attacks
The Escapist – Senior EVE Online Community Member Killed in Libya Riot
Eve News Sites
TheMittani.com – RIP: Vile Rat
Eve News 24 – ex-CSM Member Vile Rat killed in Benghazi attacks
Gaming Blogs
2nd Anomaly From The Left
A Missioneer in Eve
After time adrift under open stars
Bob “Starbeam Moonchild” From Marketing
Eve Online Pictures
From J Space to K Space
Gun Turret Diplomacy
Hans’ Job: Delivering CSM Satisfaction
Inner Sanctum of the Ninveah
Jester’s Trek
Low Sec Lifestyle
Mabrick’s Mumblings
Mad Haberdashers
Market Call
Morphisat’s Blog
Poetic Discourse
Progression’s Horizon
ReverendMak
Roc’s Ramblings
Seleene’s Sandbox
The Skorpius Chronicles
- Nosy Gamer
RIP Vile.
Someone created a facebook memorial page for him, already up at 1000 likes, lets get it over more. RIP Sean.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/RipSeanVileRatSmith
ya RIP vile rat, least you got your name right.
Again, i´m not a goon fan, quite the opposite, but the only racional thing i can say ´bout this, that i feel very sorry for this loss, and i pray for the GOD of Love that his family will have all the support in such terrible moment.
Good trip, fellow pilot.
ROL Grunt
ever time something like this happens to the eve community i think, damn this the best game because the people are the best.
you don't see stuff like this happening in other online games
we may have been on opposite sides of many wars, but i have nothing but respect for you. Eve and the world is a darker place without you
Big mash up of personalities in Eve more ppl than not show respect by leaving condolences or saying nothing at all but you also have the few that seem to take a space ship game too seriously and think it warrants retaliation in real-life. I didn't know the guy so I have nothing good or bad to say about him. I have to ask though a fund raising event? I get giving money if his family can't handle the bills but there has been no report about that.
R.I.P. VIle Rat.
@ The author:
Please do not feed us the "9/11 was a terrorist attack" bull@#@! on this site.
Thank You!
Please refrain from spewing ur bull on this site as well.
Goons are hypocrites… Just saying.
Three images of the vigil we held in honor of Sean 'Vile Rat' Smith,
http://imgur.com/0AuWP,iyfl5,hgtnN
GFs forever Vile. Fly safe brother.
Feeling sorry for this P.O.S is like feeling sorry for your average concentration camp Nazi. You are in fact JUDGED for the company you keep. You are in fact JUDGED for the actions of those organization's. When you are a director and leader of an organization that does nothing but torment and bully weaker people, you are judged the harshest. This guy was a coward, he led a group of cowards that tried to torment a troubled person in to committing suicide ( If he had an OUNCE of honor or class he would of left Goonshit the moment this happened.) Everyday of their pathetic internet existence goonshit does NOTHING other than suicide people trying to enjoy some free time. They lulz about it and make racist comments and videos that glamorize Nazi propaganda. The fact that this worthless piece of trash was attached to a U.S. diplomatic envoy makes me ashamed to be an American. His kids and family are better off with out him. Their father was a classless member of a classless group of bullies and god knows how to deal with Vile Rats. Now who is laughing =P
I know Trolls are supose to be to shock and make people angry. but you sir are a fuck tard and deserve all the bad things in life
Are you serious right now? A human being died the other night, not some internet spaceship boogeyman that blows up you and your friends pixels for the lulz. A wife lost her husband and children lost their father.
How could anyone be so shallow as to bring up stuff from a video game in a futile attempt to tarnish the memory of another person who, all in all, did absolutely nothing to you?
You have done nothing here except make yourself look like an ignorant fool. I ask you this? Who is worse? A man who blows up other peoples pixels for fun or the asshat who talks shit about him after he has lost his life while trying to make the world a better, free, place?
Dude are you serious?
Games and real life are two totally different things. I think you might be more interested in World of Weakcraft where the bad men can't hurt you
I'm not sure what your education level is, but I'm guessing you need to go get your GED, and contribute to society, you have a lot to learn about life. Your entitled to nothing in this world including respect.
When I started reading your post, I was embarrassed by your comments. Shame on you. People like you are the reason our society is in decline. You sit behind your keyboard , abusing the very freedom of speech that Sean Smith died for. The one bright spot is knowing that boys like you will stay home and hide behind the women and children while the real men go out and do the dirty work that keeps you sitting safe on your ass all day. You say your ashamed to be an American well your in the minority, we true Americans are ashamed of you. Btw I just JUDGED you, and the verdict…….Satan worshiper?, Socialist?, Middle school dropout?, worthless primate? oh hell all of the above.
Dude you dont get it. The man was making the world a better place, he was a in non-combatant in job of helping people and bonch of f8****** redneck locals decied to kill him. The US has these same type of people on the other extream, you many have heard of them KKK, Neo-Nazi, and varus nut bag milita movements. Its those types of people that did this attack. Like the same idiots that did the truck bombing in OK. city. So he blew off steam and relaxed by killing your internet spaceship. Your sorry attempt to troll is bad and in poor teast. A real person is dead.
I believe you don't get it . While he may have been trying to make the better world , his internet persona as well as the others he closely associated with were the complete opposite . They intentionally went out of their way to make people as miserable as possible. So why are we making a cyber bully out to be better then he is ?
I believe that is the point hes trying to make here
Right and all actors who might play the bad guy should be looked down upon for their role and villianized right?
I feel sorry for your hateful views. I hate goons. I've spent the last 2 years fighting them. I still morn the loss of one of the games great innovaters.
RIP Viley. One of the greatest enemies Ive faced.
In a sad way I hope you're trolling because if you're not it means your applauding the death of Sean Smith in the REAL world based on his actions as Vile Rat in a PRETEND world. Regardless of what CCP marketing says EVE IS NOT REAL and trolling the death of a good man in Real Life is paramount to being a coward itself.
I honestly hope that you have the balls to stand up and read this out at the next FanFest.
People like you are what's wrong with this world
does anyone remember smoske?
http://eveinfo.net/wiki/inde~652.htm
The goons do, irony overload
Al-Qaeda? Oh really? USA opened way to muslim extremists themselves in Lybia by removing the regime. Same goes to Egypt, the revolution there was widely supported by the world, and lead muslims to power. Time to feel the results. And it it just a beginning, no doubt.
Ok sympathey goes to dean and his family, but people die tragicly all thetime and dont get tgis much attention. Either an eve player or any other roles thay have ha in their lives. But all the stories being posted in the name of swan in the eve community Like EN24. Are nothing more than for additional visits to the site and free advertising mojo.
I am sorry for the content lost in eve, but I am sure he was not the only eve player to ever pass away.
Conflicts of intersts should be a sin.
I know my grammar is sinfull, but smartphones suck for posting. my sympathies to seam and fam.
I know my grammar is sinfull, but smartphones suck for posting. my sympathies to sean and fam.
All the trolling messages, so hillarious. How goons mock other dead people ,but mourn the loss of their own. Bunch of hipocrites. Ofcourse i know that many other non-goons mourn the death of vile rat but can u feel the irony?
And people who react to trolling comments like "rip vile, go kill yourself troll show some respect"what makes u better than these trolls?
All the rage tears just makes it even more entertaining
Al-Qaeda was initially created and financed by CIA to fight Russians troops in Afghanistan. When Russians left Afghanistan, Bin Laden was not needed anymore and they dumped him, leaving a huge army of trained killers without support, that's when they targeted USA as their primary enemy. Every war is a business, religion is a business and it's been like that since the beginning of a mankind. Sad, truly sad times we live in….
Actually, the TALIBAN was initially financed by the CIA….AQ was something that came after.
Yeah you dont know shit, they were never even trained by the CIA, they were trained by S.B.S Brit Spec ops.
They were funded by by the CIA but the CIA would not have any manpower on the ground period.
These guerrilla mountain fighters had been ambushing other tribes etc for 10k years, they didnt need much training except how to use stingers.
Our problem was not that we paid for some of there weapons but that we didnt build schools afterwards and educate the kids explaining Democracy and freedom saved them from Russian Oppression….Sorry bu thats the truth, instead they grew up thinking any white person who wasnt from there tribe was the enemey and smart royals from other countries like Saudi`s [Bin Laden] etc saw a huge number of potential soldiers who were uneducated and easily controlled.
Learn the facts first. Bin Laden wasnt trained specifically to fight Ruskis lol he was trained as a Saudi prince who are all trained by the west because we need there oil and wefund there militaries, why do you think Afghans were using enfield rifles andSaudis are using Apaches
RIP VILLE RAT
I actually get hopeful about humanity's potential when something like this happens, then the community reacts in the way it has.
Then I see the forum trolls…
NUKE all the towel head fucks, the live in a mountain, a cave, in a rock w/e, kill them all. This is a culture that knows no other way except killing each other, kill them all, noone around to kill each other any more, same goes with wanna be gangsters, rednecks, yankees, hicks, hillbillys, countryfolk, northeners, southerners, spics, border hoppers, niggers, wet backs, sand fleas, ruskies, and any other group that wants to go round claiming the lives of others for some bogus bullshit that they all religion, its a bunch of cop out bullshit. F***'em All!
TO all those trolling.
I've spent 2 years fighting goons. I know how much fucktards they are. I've beaten and lost against them and had to put up with TiDi that crushes the sole and back when grids didn't even fucking load.
Yet I still morn the loss of Viley. A gifted and commited EVE player who has not only achieved more than most others but has only helped to contribute towards the direction the game leads.
EVE is a game. A life transendce a million EVEs. Goons might be twats but get over yourselves. Somewhere tonight a woman is grieving for her husband and children are coming to terms that they will never see their dad again.
Stop been fucking arseholes and see the bigger picture.
Wankers.
The fact that this worthless piece of trash was attached to a U.S. diplomatic envoy makes me ashamed to be an American. His kids and family are better off with out him. Their father was a classless member of a classless group of bullies and god knows how to deal with Vile Rats. Now who is laughing =P