I don't know what happened with ziggie. Nor do I know what IMs he received that upset him enough to leave. I've become upset with various points of view that I don't agree with here from time to time. I've felt like exiting R'City from time to time as well. Despite my disagreements and words in threads, I've never gotten to the point of "hounding" someone in private communication over a disagreement in a thread. (Once, though, I over-reacted in a private communique when someone "attacked" an idea I shared. She knows who she is. She might also understand I don't know how to apologize. But I don't think I'm a bully.) Some people hate Legume. For many reasons, I suspect. I've followed his controversy(s) just about the whole time I've been a member. Just when I think I understand him, I realize I don't. I probably know about 3% of what he is. One thing I am fairly sure of is this: When he decides to jump into a serious discussion (or create one...grin), he removes all the sugar-coating and delivers. Some would say he is harsh. I suspect he is...probably due to the life he has lived. It's easy to see when he is joking and when he is serious. When he is serious, people should listen. When he is joking, people should loosen up a bit. He's about 90% right, IMHO, with his comments here. In fact, he has "swayed" some people's opinions here. It's certainly rare for people to endure physical harm by a person who one has made an enemy of here. The harm is all mental. So, comparing bullying IRL with bullying via email (etc.) IS like apples and oranges. Legume gave the best advice. Win by using the rules at your hands. Or do as I try to teach our young children...ignore name-calling...it's the best way to get the name-callers pissed off. The other 10%? Yeah, like dialyn said. Compassion is cheap. It's easy to send a digital dose to someone who needs it. So, IMHO, the recipe for helping ziggie is just what I said above...about 90% Legume and 10% compassion. One more item. Though the rules here prohibit harrassment, there is a bigger rule. Do a search on Internet Harrasment law. You will find it's a federal crime to continue harrassment of an individual when that individual has communicated to the harrasser a notice to stop. You will also find there are places to report this harrasment to state and local agencies. This, if memory serves correctly, means possible imprisonment. Not just being kicked out of R'City. So, ziggie, people care that you are upset and want to leave. But you have "weapons" at your disposal.