Also we must remember Xander died and Nadia and Mank said they really liked him (my opinion: they didn't) and she said how worried she had been that he was lonely (because she is so kind, you know), except she'd never actually met him, never invited him around, and he lived about 4 miles away from them at one point, and near nanny di later (according to various sources).
Great post and I agree.
I just logged on today and was very shocked to read about his death. This is very sad and tragic.
I remember him as being a very colourful and provocative and polarising person (maybe deliberately so?).
He definitely courted controversy and generally seemed to enjoy his spats with people? (In my opinion).
I never heard him refer to himself as a victim (or feeling victimised) and for such a forthright man he definitely would have been vocal if he believed that the evil trolls were out to get him? (Don't you think so Mark?)
This is despite living with some pretty severe long term health problems but Xander seemed to me to have bigger fish to fry than turning himself into a professional victim (take note mark).
He was trying to say something about the state of the world (especially politics) and his place within it?
His opinions were not to everyone's taste but he always had the courage of his convictions in voicing what were quite unpopular opinions (especially in media circles).
So he was someone who stood his ground (maybe a bit too much!).
That's why maybe he could be rigid and inflexible and let's be honest a bit rude?
Mark stroked his ego and gave him a position of unofficial doorman vetting comments and members that was a step too far imo.
He no doubt felt indebted and included by Nadia and mark but there is no doubt that they (particularly mark used that to their own advantage)
He deserved better than being their top flying monkey sadly maybe his own insecurities led him to being attracted to having that position.
It's a clique they run it's nothing to do with equality and we all know that cliques run on exclusion (and not inclusion).
So for Mark to use his death to make yet another veiled threat to trolls is really exploitative and in bad taste (imo).
Rip should mean exactly that peace not another internal sub war which is then turned against the so called trolls.
Pathetic a new low!
I was never a fan of Xander and his behaviour (he could be a nasty bully when he felt slighted or his place in the adderley hierarchy threatened.
Having said that and acknowledging that mark and Nadia actively generate in my opinion hate views (for which he played a part) they are not at all innocent
I'm sure that Xander himself would never have claimed to be whiter than white or holier than thou?
He always came across in his own way as pretty street wise and strong minded and if he gave it out then I'm sure he could take it on the chin as well.
In his own way I think he liked the attention (yes even negative attention) and liked to generate a bit of drama?
He was after all in his better moments a flamboyant sardonic mischievous man who I think knew exactly what he was doing and how to create an image/persona and how to have an impact.
He wasn't the shy retiring type after all and enjoyed his place on a media platform where he was in a way the top dog (of the subs).
Again (sorry for repeating myself) that's marks little hierarchy yes (with the obvious drawback of the bullying that always will be a part of that set up).
Was he a bit of a guilty pleasure in a car crash kind of way yes (for me at least) he was in that his outrageous antics had me cringing shaking my head in disbelief and yes sometimes laughing?
He was a larger than life character (for good and bad) but sadly someone who didn't know how to rein himself in.
Again we all know that their you tube channel attracts people with little sense of boundaries and I think ultimately he was a clever and interesting man who really had some definite potential and talents that he sadly never got the chance to explore.
Although he most definitely tried!!
He went for life he had an appetite for it and while he was here he tried to live it to its fullest.
I think that's how he should be remembered and not as a footsoldier in marks never ending war on the trolls (or life itself).
We are all more than trolls mark there is so much more to life.
So instead of being involved in Marks personal drama/inner demons I wish that he'd maybe used his talents to further his own life instead of being an observer of other people's (dysfunctional lives).
We are not defined by others (especially not mark and Nadia eekk!) but by our own actions.
I hope he didn't suffer and I hope that he passed away peacefully both in body mind and spirit.
Away from negative influences online and hopefully surrounded by real family and friends who really knew him and loved him.
RIP