Toronto Star Reveals Plastic Duck's RL Identity

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Infamous uber griefer Plastic Duck's RL typist was apparently outed this morning by Murray Whyte of the Toronto Star in an article titled (Virtual) reality bites. In addition to speaking with the elder statesman of virtual journalism - the Herald's own Urizenus Sklar - and discussing the departure of the elf king, Mr. Whyte shares some choice quotes from Mr. Duck - and the identity of the Toronto resident who claims to be Plastic Duck - Patrick Sapinski.

"When I started, Linden Labs always used to pride themselves on how everyone belonged in SL - the content creators, the sexual deviants, whatever," said Patrick Sapinski, a Toronto SL resident known by his notorious in-game identity Plastic Duck.

"But what I saw was a small company trying to babysit thousands and thousands of adults. And I just thought, `What happens in three years, when there's millions of SLers and they can't babysit them all anymore? That's not going to work.'"

We are left to wonder just why Mr. Duck chose this time and place to share his meatspace identity - and what this does for his credibility. Is Mr. Duck looking forward to a tour on the lecture circuit or a lucrative career as a security/anti-griefing consultant for the metaverse? Certainly he has put the credibility of his Plastic Duck character on the line. Will the Something Awful goons still trust him now?

In any case, perhaps the best quote in the story came from Urizenus in discussing the Linden’s governance of our virtual world:

"If in five years, when many of us have migrated to these virtual worlds to work, do we have to accept that their owners have the right to be despots?"

Comments

[Nacon]

"Hi! You just found me out, I'm a big famous griefer of all time because I do not like Linden Labs!"

yeah.. that's great, who cares?

Maybe we can finally get over with it now?

"...Or as Polyester Partridge, a resident, was quoted as saying in the Herald: "Our second lives are as empty as our first."..."

Hahahhaha! that's perfect. Should be the headline in everyone's profile.

[Chocolate City]

Umm, if you didn't know Plastic Duck was patrick Sapinski, you've been living under a rock for the past year.

[Jesse Malthus]

Man, even I knew that Plastic was Patrick. It's not a well guarded secret at all.

[Ordinal Malaprop]

This "Ludlow" character sounds like something of a misery. I think he needs a few glasses of champagne. On a yacht.

[Petey]

This was also in the CBC interview the Herald linked to some time ago.

"...lucrative career as a security/anti-griefing consultant for the metaverse?"

Of course! It's been done before.

Plastic Duck for GTO Jedi.

[Eric Maelstrom]

I'm eagerly awaiting Prokofy's post condemning the outing of an avatar's RL identity.

[Prokofy Neva]

Um, Earl, don't be ridiculous, you can't out an identity that Plastic himself gave to the reporter, now can you? RL professional reporters like this one -- and I happened to talk to this one directly, but was too busy to give an interview at the time he had a deadline -- always check the issue of alts, RL names, what can be used, etc. very carefully. So Plastic authorized its use -- it's part of a pattern as he behaves more and more recklessly and with a misplaced sense of impunity, hoping to be caught.

While his RL name may have been known to Jesse, who should have reported it and may now also be involved in obstruction of justice along with others, it wasn't known to everybody, nor confirmed. Certainly my lawyers in two countries are happy to have the confirmation : )

PD is clearly feeling a sense of impunity, and is stepping up his griefing activities, and actually becoming more and more careless and indifferent and leaving more and more of a trail. It's a bid for attention, perhaps he didn't have a parent's love as a child. It will ultimately garner him the big-time negative attention he craves, which he hasn't found any other way to get.

[Prokofy Neva]

*Eric

[Harlequin Salome]

I read this and I'm amused. I hear lots about how infamous people lioke Plastic Duck are, but frankly, other than reading the Herald, I've never heard of him. I wouldn't know him if I met him.

Its a case of a media created celebrity. *shrugs* The herald showcases these people, then keeps trumpeting them as "important"

[Anon]

Live, from Patrick's mom's basement where Patrick strives to eventually possibly move out into his own place...

[Petey]

ATTN Prokofy I knew about Pat as well so you might as well add that to your list of imaginary lawsuits to file against me.

[Urizenus]

or perhaps its all a complex ruse to keep us off the scent of the *true* Plastic Duck. In the hall of mirrors that is the metaverse, we may never know.

But I agree that that guy ludlow sounds like as much fun as hemorrhoids.

[Prokofy Neva]

BOLSHEVIKS

[Ickabod Humphreys]

Slow news day huh?

[Wilma Flintstone]

At the in-world book launch party for the new SL guide written by Aimee Weber and others, an avatar named Plastic Dix showed up, and at one point in open chat with dozens of avatars present in the room requested something to be sent to him in RL, giving the name Patrick Sapinski and a street address (in Thornhill if I recall). His profile said something to the effect of "I'm exactly who you think I am". So, not exactly a secret.

[Wilma Flintstone]

At the in-world book launch party for the new SL guide written by Aimee Weber and others, an avatar named Plastic Dix showed up, and at one point in open chat with dozens of avatars present in the room requested something to be sent to him in RL, giving the name Patrick Sapinski and a street address (in Thornhill if I recall). His profile said something to the effect of "I'm exactly who you think I am". So, not exactly a secret.

[Vanilla Suburb]

Proko:
""While his RL name may have been known to Jesse, who should have reported it and may now also be involved in obstruction of justice along with others, it wasn't known to everybody, nor confirmed. Certainly my lawyers in two countries are happy to have the confirmation : )""""

Umm, no Prok, you dingbat. Lemme give you the laymans definition.

Modern Obstruction of Justice, in a common law state, refers to the crime of offering interference of any sort to the work of police, investigators, regulatory agencies, prosecutors, or other (usually government) officials.

Prok m'dear, you ain't no police officer, investigator, or goverment agency. Learn to read laws, plz.

BTW read up on the Consitiution Right to Remain Silent and such, kay.

[Prokofy Neva]

Vanilla, you need to do a little reading yourself, hon, and I'm afraid you can't know everything about the context in which this applies : )

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001513----000-.html

Failure to report a crime is one kind of offense, if someone fails to report a crime. That may apply; the right to remain silent isn't some absolutist right, as public safety may be one of the concerns involved in not ensuring it. Canada has less protections than the US.

Obstruction of justice, a separate but in some cases related offense, has to do with a huge variety of possible contexts. You're not a lawyer, nor do you even play one on Second Life.

[Strawberry Ghetto]

Actually, Proko, the right to remain silent ***IS*** an absolute right in the US. Explainations as follows:

Canada:
The right to silence is protected under section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It protects an accused from answering questions that may be incriminating from the moment of arrest up until the accused is provided with legal counsel. Outside of this period there is no right to silence, which is often confused with the US right which persists after access to counsel is given.

USA:
In the United States, the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution (part of the Bill of Rights) codifies the right to silence. The Supreme Court has ruled that suspects must be told of their rights in what have become known as Miranda warnings.
However, if the state feels the need, a suspect or subpoenaed grand jury witness may be given a grant of immunity and compelled to give testimony under oath. This is not considered a weakening of the right, but rather a balancing of one individual's rights with the rights of others for a properly functioning justice system. The interplay of local, state, and federal law is also complicated in this area.

To break this down to the lowest possibile level. PD has the right to remain silent until provided with legal counsel after his arrest. I, as a citizen of the USA, have the right to remain silent until compelled under grant of immunity to give testimony under oath. Even if the Feds were to call me tomorrow, demanding Mr. Sapinski's information, I could happily tell them nothing and break no laws. Obstruction would only come in if I deliberatly misled them.

[Io Zeno]

This is news? He hasn't been hiding his name.

[Nacon]

Of course it's a "news" for SL Herald since they can hardly do anything worthy enough to be an "news reporter" or an actual "herald". Example... it wasn't even hard for Murray Whyte to figure it out... yet, hardly been in Second Life as much those people who run in SL Herald. I know Prok wanted to figured out which Nacon I am... which isn't hard to begin with.... still haven't figured out on her own. Also told Pixeleen that there's something coming up in Second Life... testing her to see if she can pick up her radar... still haven't figured out till Linden Labs posted a blog about VOICE. SL Herald is about 6 months behind.

In case you haven't noticed, SL Herald is mere for bloody fart-jokes. Try not to be confused SL Herald for an actual publication news. If you want an ACTUAL publication news, look up on CNN, FOX News, CBS, etc. etc.. Not someone's little blogging site.

[Guess]

Nacon, is that you Vinny baby?

[Jesse Malthus]

Oh my. I've obstructed justice, despite the fact that I've never been contacted by any sort of law enforcement, nor have I witnessed any sort of crime involving Mr. Sapinski.

[Urizenus]

Nacon you dingbat, of course we knew who Plastic Duck was. There is a report in the Herald from when we met him at a bar in Toronto. The difference between the Herald and lesser sources is that we *protect* our sources. Indeed, we would go to *jail* for our sources. But we won't drop the soap in the shower for our sources. Well, maybe if you throw in a carton of cigarettes we would...

[ArseBringer]

Is he actually a duck?

[shockwave yareach]

>>>BOLSHEVIKS

Geshundheit. Nasty allergy there, Prokofy :)

[Prokofy Neva]

>Even if the Feds were to call me tomorrow, demanding Mr. Sapinski's information, I could happily tell them nothing and break no laws. Obstruction would only come in if I deliberatly misled them.

I think you're completely out of touch with reality as to law and practice. Hope you have a good lawyer : )

[Prokofy Neva]

>Not someone's little blogging site.

Why don't you head on over to CNN and post there then, champ?

[Nacon]

Uriz said: "The difference between the Herald and lesser sources is that we *protect* our sources. Indeed, we would go to *jail* for our sources."

Aww boooo hooo... actually, it's a bit of crime not to report in a criminal than being sued for breaking in sources... that had an actual use. He only can sue you for abusing his name and private life into public as an attack on him.

"EL NO! dropped my soapy bar!"
Ya wussy in the shower.

Prok said: "Why don't you head on over to CNN and post there then, champ?"
Honestly... you really think they don't mind me cracking negative crap on their site? ...oh btw, they don't accept comment posts, idiot.

[Blueberry Highway]

Prok:
I think you're completely out of touch with reality as to law and practice. Hope you have a good lawyer : )

Prok, are you the same sort of person who says yes when a Law Enforcement Officer asks if they can ask you some questions, and/or search your vehicle?

[Prokofy Neva]

>Prok, are you the same sort of person who says yes when a Law Enforcement Officer asks if they can ask you some questions, and/or search your vehicle?

No, but I'm the kind of person who understands that there are concepts like "probable cause" and "past record" and "national security" which must be balanced against other abuses like "driving while black" and "racial profiling". You sound as if you never met a law enforcement you liked, and you believe in anarchy and licentiousness for all. Since that's what takes away everybody's freedom, I can't subscribe to that.

Your right to "remain silent" doesn't deprive law enforcers from investigating credible claims of crimes and finding witnesses and corroborative evidence to build their case. As they say, tell it to the judge *shrugs*.

[Maxwell]

Yet another topic where all the posters are suddenly experts on a topic where there are no true experts.

[Boysenberry Freeway]

Prok:
You sound as if you never met a law enforcement you liked, and you believe in anarchy and licentiousness for all.

I actually am a LEO. Sorry Prok, you failed at internets.

[Nacon]

"Yet another topic where all the posters are suddenly experts on a topic where there are no true experts."

You got that right... come on, Prok, enough with pretending crap and "I know everything and power on me" type ego. It's not helping to solve a case here.

(there's no case, btw)

[Anonymoose]

THESE CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES ARE THE HOLOCAUST

[dmx]

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin.