Alterna publisher was target of swatting tactic
2 Comments Published by Avi Green on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 8:24 PM.
Peter Simeti, the manager of Alterna Comics, had a terrifying experience involving police after somebody used a "swatting" tactic to endanger him:
It's suspected that this may have something to do with Simeti's choice to avoid speaking negatively about Comicsgate and remain neutral, that some social justice creeps may have tried to endanger him with a false call to the cops. It's absolutely atrocious. All this over mere comic books. I hope there'll be more information about this available soon.
If there's any comics contributor who's spoken out and condemned this, it's the artist Donny Cates:
Recalling Cates once attacked the Comicsgate campaign, that's why I'd like to make clear that, if he really wants to make things better, he'd do well to stop talking about consumer revolts of any kind, regardless of whether his opinion is negative or not. Because that's what led to horrifying incidents like these in the first place, and let's not forget what Billy Tucci went through recently.
I hope Simeti's okay. This is completely unacceptable what happened to him.
Update: Game Truth's also reported about this disturbing case.
I just had two guns pointed at me tonight because someone made a call to the police and gave them my address along with a falsified report.— Peter Simeti 💬 (@petersimeti) February 13, 2019
I'm shook up, but everything is OK now.
I'm going to talk to the police tomorrow and see if I can find out more.
I was going to go back on and continue with another stream but we're a bit of a mess over here. I'll be back on later when things have calmed down.— Peter Simeti 💬 (@petersimeti) February 13, 2019
I'm grateful that the police were thorough and quickly assessed the situation. It was the scariest thing I'd ever been through, but their judgement in the situation is the reason I'm even alive right now and able to tweet this.— Peter Simeti 💬 (@petersimeti) February 13, 2019
Things could have gone much worse.
According to the police, an anonymous caller pretending to be me, called up and said that I had "stabbed my girlfriend and that I was suicidal".— Peter Simeti 💬 (@petersimeti) February 13, 2019
They gave the cops my name and address.
The sergeant gave me his card and I'll be giving them a call tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to cooperating with local law enforcement on this.— Peter Simeti 💬 (@petersimeti) February 13, 2019
Thank you for all of your kind words tonight... and the only thing I ask is to please remain calm and do not accuse anyone or any group of people as being responsible. Cooler heads will prevail. Thank you. 🙏
Update: Just got back from meeting with the police and an investigation has been opened.— Peter Simeti 💬 (@petersimeti) February 13, 2019
As a result, I can't comment further on this situation but I'm glad they are taking this very seriously and have been fully briefed on the extent of the matter.
Thanks everyone.
It's suspected that this may have something to do with Simeti's choice to avoid speaking negatively about Comicsgate and remain neutral, that some social justice creeps may have tried to endanger him with a false call to the cops. It's absolutely atrocious. All this over mere comic books. I hope there'll be more information about this available soon.
If there's any comics contributor who's spoken out and condemned this, it's the artist Donny Cates:
This should be obvious but: disagreements about comics are not worth threatening someone’s life. Whoever did this is disgusting and I hope they are found out. This shit is NOT okay. https://t.co/777FfPg4ST
— DONNY CATES (@Doncates) February 13, 2019
Recalling Cates once attacked the Comicsgate campaign, that's why I'd like to make clear that, if he really wants to make things better, he'd do well to stop talking about consumer revolts of any kind, regardless of whether his opinion is negative or not. Because that's what led to horrifying incidents like these in the first place, and let's not forget what Billy Tucci went through recently.
I hope Simeti's okay. This is completely unacceptable what happened to him.
Update: Game Truth's also reported about this disturbing case.
Labels: indie publishers, politics
"Thank you for all of your kind words tonight... and the only thing I ask is to please remain calm and do not accuse anyone or any group of people as being responsible. Cooler heads will prevail. Thank you. 🙏"
Why not follow his advice, and listen to his request? If someone was going to use gamergate tactics against people who don't support last years comicsgate fuss - a big if - aren't there people they would target in priority to someone who just remained neutral?
Well, as long as Simeti isn't publishing anything that isn't racist or prejudiced, or isn't participating in any idiotic movement made by either the left or the right, he'll do fine.