'Vile Rat' was the 'State Department Official' killed in Benghazi
 

As many of you will be aware, a State Department Official was killed in Benghazi yesterday by a mob of religious lunatics, supposedly incited to violent retalliation to a film that was produced in July which they said insulted the prophet Mohammed.

What most of you won't know is that the person concerned was someone with whom I have, on occasion, interacted in an online 'Internet Spaceships' game called EVE Online, and that person was Sean Smith, aka in-game as 'Vile Rat'.

Vile Rat was a valued member of the Council for Stellar Management, a player-elected committee made up of players which, among other things, act as a sounding-board for the game's creators, CCP, to help shape the continued development of the game.

The CSM's former chairman Alexander "The Mittani" Gianturco has paid tribute to Vile Rat in an article on his blog at http://themittani.com/news/rip-vile-rat.

I post this here as I know that in most news items, we never get to hear veyr many details about the people who lose their lives in circumstances such as this, and I think that this tribute and many of the subsequent comments goes a long way to giving everyone a glimpse of the person behind the news headline.

RIP Vile Rat

I got drunk with Vile Rat at a Goonmeet a few years ago. He was a very cool guy. I'm really sad to hear this news. Thank you for sharing it, Paul.

I am wholly unfamiliar with the virtual world he traveled in, and work he did, but at the same time, it is clearly a shame and a travesty that animals like that can murder people in a planned terrorist attack like that.

The details of that silly movie, if it was a motivation or an excuse for a planned attack, do not in any way justify the barbarism that was shown.

Stand up people will often pay the price for being men among animals. And men who chose to act like animals may survive, but do not advance humanity. People like Mr. Smith do advance it. It is simple as that. Smith was among those who make life and the planet better, and his killers are among those who make it worse, or at least try.

My compassion goes to his family and friends at this time of their loss.

Thank you for the thoughtful words Karl.

Vile Rat left behind a widow and two children. His internet friends are organizing a donation fund at http://forums.somethingawful.com/sho...readid=3506424

A Fox news report stated that Smith, a staffer who was killed in Benghazi, had sent out emails indicating that the consulate was being photographed and the reporter indicated she felt he was trying to warn what was going to happen or indicate the problems that were starting to happen. Is emails went out just hours before the deaths.

It was the first news report that I have heard that mentioned him by name. Most speak of the Ambassador and the staff members.

There was no need for confirmation to the details in this thread, but it is nice to see at least a bit of recognition that Smith was trying to make a positive impact, and that he was aware of his situation and trying to help make his compatriots safer.