I’ll say first of all that I’m not taking sides on this conflict, because even though I was once a fan of Maddox’s writing, I find it believable that either side has misbehaved in at least one way over the course of this drama.

Maddox has published a video on YouTube that is over two-and-a-half hours long, making the case that there has been a long effort on the part of Dick Masterson to harass Maddox, and bait Maddox into a response. In the video, Maddox calls Masterson “Fanboy”, in an obvious effort to reduce him while referring to him.

Embedded here is the video in question. Don’t worry, I’m not placing the onus on you of watching the whole thing. Just know that this video provides the context for the opinion that I offer on it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ic6oqqw89U

Earlier in his online career, Maddox was frequently targeted by fans who have developed an unhealthy obsession with him. This is a hazard that comes with fame, including online fame, a game which Maddox was early to. When you have a website that’s been read by millions of people, you’re likely to get a few with ideas of reference that believe that your words were somehow intended specifically for them.

There are many, many flavors of crazy out there, and in today’s connected world, it’s simple for some of them to reach back to content creators. Don’t give me that look.

As Maddox explained, part of the motivation for making his video was to raise a big stink, explaining that that’s the kind of thing that you have to do to get social media companies to care. Apparently, his reputation being at stake was not enough of a motivation, though he did make a fair point when he pointed out that when someone backbites against you, you have a choice between saying nothing and taking a hit to your reputation, or saying something and giving the trolls what’s they’re looking for.

Still, it’s hard to imagine anyone besides Maddox is going to care about his reputation if he’s not willing to defend it, himself. It’s true that a person doesn’t have to speak in his defense in every case (the expression “don’t feed the trolls” exists for a reason), but when your livelihood and reputation are significantly impacted, to answer your accusers seems expedient.

Considering the damage that has been done to Maddox’s reputation over the course of years, it’s a valid question why such an answer was so long overdue, and why Maddox didn’t take a more proactive approach to defending his online reputation. After all, his online reputation is central to his online career. His brand is impacted, for better or worse, based on his online reputation. That he was as silent as he was for as long as he was expressed a highly misplaced belief in the benevolence of his his accusers to eventually realize their wrong in continually berating him to no apparent consequences, and decide on their own that it’s time to move on to something else.

I’m speaking as someone who has been slandered, on more than one occasion. It happens to everyone. Every playground has a piece-of-shit kid who invents rumors about other kids, because that’s the worst thing that he could do to them with the least potential for immediate backlash. Preferably, you don’t have to deal with such threats to your reputation, but life doesn’t guarantee ideal circumstances, and sometimes, the best course of action is not clear.

Now that Maddox has finally come forward with an answer to his accusers, one of the chief weapons in his arsenal is to wage an accusation right back. And not only that, it’s the grand F.U. of all accusations: to call someone a pedophile.

He does bring evidence. For one thing, the projection that asserts that every male has a secret desire to do things with 17-year-olds, which isn’t true, and merely an assumption about the desires of other people based on one’s own desires (that’s what makes it projection).

The other, more flimsy, inference is that “Fanboy” likes stylized cartoon drawings. And for some reason, Maddox continued to refer to the flimsier reasoning, rather than the use of projection that most thinking people would consider the stronger evidence.

By the way, Masterson could have exercised more discretion in sharing his preference for lolicon. Like masturbation, just because it’s legal doesn’t mean that you tell everyone about it. Among the reasons being that not everyone gives the benefit of the doubt. Think of all the people who assume that playing violent video games means you secretly want to commit violent crimes.

While it might sound like a slight to Maddox, it can be pointed out that since the falling out with him, Dick Masterson has gone on to enjoy more fame than even Maddox himself. This seems to have a lot to do with a willingness to ride the wave of the algorithm, which may have rewarded him for talking about Maddox. People are drawn to drama, and the algorithm boosts what gets engagement.

Maddox doesn’t seem as willing to do this, which may be a matter of principle, like when he refuses to place ads on his website, due to his sheer unwillingness to self-censor. While one can respect a willingness to be so principled, it’s a fact of the modern world that such principles have potential to be seen as a liability. And in Maddox’s case, it’s cost him a lot of money in the long term.

There’s a lot to be said for remaining principled, even to one’s detriment. But not everyone might see that as a virtue.

But returning to Masterson, there’s a lot to say. I know that he’s a comedian, which gives someone license for a bit of edge. But if what Maddox said about “rape lists” is true, and if Masterson was sincere in his defense of sexual abuse, then that would explain why Masterson’s performances aren’t recommended to me. And I would avoid listening to them to spare my hearing in the same way that not huffing turd fires would spare my nose.

The cancellation, doxxing, and apparent attempts to recruit his own audience to fight his battles for him does not put Dick Masterson in good light, to say the least. Particularly the doxxing.

Yet through it all, Maddox has come out looking like a punching bag, even though he handled matters in the recommended fashion for those who are being bullied online. But while it’s true that it’s usually best to not answer the people who are trolling you, it’s also true that there are certain fights that one is better off not avoiding. Sometimes, the best course of action is not clear, which can be deeply unsettling.

I suppose that Maddox’s overly-macho online persona makes it difficult to pity him.

But finally, the whole drama between Maddox and Masterson has turned from being entirely one-sided, with an answer from Maddox. And true to his style, Maddox’s answer was lengthy and sardonic.

I suppose it’s likely that soon we’ll be hearing a reply from Masterson. I think it’s obvious how he’ll likely answer, based on what I’ve been hearing about his opinion about Maddox, even though I don’t follow him or care for his routine, in much the same way that I don’t have to smoke cigarettes to know what they smell like. It happens too often that some yutz will light one up right by the door, unaware or not caring that that shit will just blow inside.