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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Chasing the Wish » CTW: Interaction
EMAIL BRUCE: Dale (Email from Bruce Abbott)
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Duluoz
Boot


Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 34
Location: In the sleepy west of the woody east

 		EMAIL BRUCE: Dale (Email from Bruce Abbott)
In response to an email sent Saturday:

Quote:
Dear Sir or Madam:

It's so nice to hear that Dale has made so many friends over the last couple of years, as he certainly will need everyone's love and support in these trying times he's facing. Diana and Meaghan's senseless deaths were devastating to everyone, including myself. I have known Diana for the same length of time I have Dale, as we all met around the same time back in college. Diana was, well, it's hard to put into words how beautiful and rare Diana was. Dale was a very lucky man. Until all this happened, of course.

As one of Dale's closest friends, I can assure you, however, that those immediately around him are doing everything they can to help Dale through this. I'm not certain what particular e-mail you are referring to but I wouldn't tale anything he's written recently too serious as I'm sure you can understand the stress and trauma he's been under. If there's any particular information he passed on to you that you think I should know about, please forward it to me as soon as possible. Sometimes after tragedies like this, it takes compassion and a lot of time before a victim like Dale can come to new understanding of the world he is faced with now. Time heals all wounds, so they say.

Please pass this message on to others you may know or correspond with who also knew Dale as I do not have time to respond to all the e-mails I have received concerning this. While your concerns are all appreciated and understandable, please rest assured that Dale is in very good hands and will be in touch with his more casual friends and acquaintances just as soon as he can. In the meantime, I will certainly pass along everyone's wishes for his speedy recuperation.

Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott

Quoting Chris Jones <>:

> Mr. Abbott,
>
> I'm writing to you because I received a rather curious email from Dale
> Sprague this past Thursday. I understand that Dale is a friend and
> former colleague of yours. I was wondering if you could provide an
> update on Dale's present condition. The tone of his email was quite
> disturbing, and I am rather concerned. Thank you for your time.
>
> Chris Jones
>
>


NOTE: Edited to remove line feeds for readability. Original available upon request.

PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 9:57 am
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dmax
Unfictologist

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		Bruce to me:
From me:
Quote:
From Dan <dmax>:

Contact me, and I'll give you details. Somehow, he's letting us know
that we've made a mistake!

Dan

The response:
Quote:
Dear Dan:

It's so nice to hear that Dale has made so many friends over the last couple of
years, as he certainly will need everyone's love and support in these trying
times he's facing. Diana and Meaghan's senseless deaths were devastating to
everyone, including myself. I have known Diana for the same length of time I
have Dale, as we all met around the same time back in college. Diana was, well,
it's hard to put into words how beautiful and rare Diana was. Dale was a very
lucky man. Until all this happened, of course.
As one of Dale's closest friends, I can assure you, however, that those
immediately around him are doing everything they can to help Dale through this.
I'm not certain what particular e-mail you are referring to but I wouldn't tale
anything he's written recently too serious as I'm sure you can understand the
stress and trauma he's been under. If there's any particular information he
passed on to you that you think I should know about, please forward it to me as
soon as possible. Sometimes after tragedies like this, it takes compassion and
a lot of time before a victim like Dale can come to new understanding of the
world he is faced with now. Time heals all wounds, so they say.
Please pass this message on to others you may know or correspond with who also
knew Dale as I do not have time to respond to all the e-mails I have received
concerning this. While your concerns are all appreciated and understandable,
please rest assured that Dale is in very good hands and will be in touch with
his more casual friends and acquaintances just as soon as he can. In the
meantime, I will certainly pass along everyone's wishes for his speedy
recuperation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott


----------------


I'm not liking the tone of that "Diana was..." thing. Something between them? That's why he committed him?

So we don't duplicate effort, FYI:
I'm gonna write back and explore the medical aspect of this - was he acting mentally ill? When Diana and Bruce talked, did she express concern? Do we know of a history of schizophrenia in Dale's family?
_________________
That sounds like something HITLER would say!

PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Last edited by dmax on Fri Mar 07, 2003 4:54 pm; edited 1 time in total
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dmax
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Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		3/4 letter to Bruce
Thanks, Bruce, for your kind reply.

I passed along your message so that you're not overwhelmed by well-wishers trying to find out more. Like you know, Dale seems to have sent out a large amount of mail, looking for help. I suppose the onslaught is the good nature of those folks. I suspect that a few people will still want to talk to you about it, but I think most of the traffic will stop now.

Don't know if you're aware, but I'm a doctor. The things that struck me about Dale's story are 1) the fantastical nature of it and 2) how convinced he was that something so implausible could be true.

That usually equals schizophrenia, although there are other possibilities. Had you noticed him acting unusually after he left AnonymousFame, in the sense of him hearing or seeing things? I realize that you two were in less contact, and he was more driven by his new venture, but you and Diana would know subtle changes better than anyone.

In the months preceding this, had Diana led you to think that things were amiss? I'm figuring that she had noted his stress from the money troubles, but had she mentioned any other unusual behavior or occurrences? This might give us, obliquely, an insight as to the nature of his current problem and how to help bring him back to reality.

I'm sorry about your loss, as well. I imagine that it's devastating to lose someone that you knew as well as Diana. She sounds like a unique and lovable person, and I'm sorry that I never got to know her. Are you doing OK?

Sincerely,

Dan

PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 1:25 pm
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dmax
Unfictologist

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		Bruce's reply to my schizophrenia inquiry
Quote:
Dan:
I appreciate your concerns over both my and Dale's well-being, I really do.
But, even though you are a doctor, there's no way that the personal matters you
are asking about are something I'm going to share with a stranger. In fact, I'd
be somewhat curious to know exactly why you and a few others who I've also
never heard of seem so damn interested in the details of other people's lives?
Dale is in very capable hands, as I have said several times now. Me? I'm doing
fine, all things considered.
Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott



I'm not going to let it drop, but it's obvious that I need to take a less aggressive approach. I've not been blown off, and that's a good sign.

Of course, we need to let a couple of days pass before recontacing Bruce. Let's take our time and gather our thoughts and get back to him, chipping away at the stranger aspect of this. I intend to stay with the medical (not business) aspect of this and even say that I have a relative that's schizophrenic and this touches a nerve with me.

As long as he's not getting dozens of mails from other people, and it narrows down to only a couple of us, I think he'd be more likely to be revelatory, and not as annoyed.

EDIT: I mailed a reply, apologizing and suggesting that Dale asked me to help, and I felt I should. And I invited him along.
Sent it 3/7 around noon.
_________________
That sounds like something HITLER would say!

PostPosted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 8:45 pm
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dmax
Unfictologist

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		3/8 email
Here's what I sent:
Quote:
Heh. You're absolutely right, Bruce. I'm afraid I lapsed into my professional
"MD mode" without thinking further: All day long I ask total strangers to
tell me more about their personal problems so I can help trouble shoot. Wrong
forum for that since I don't know you that well and you hadn't asked for my
advice. Sorry.

But I can address what you mentioned about being curious as to why others are
so interested. I don't know what drives those other folks' curiosity, but I
can tell you a little about mine. I have a mentally ill relative, and Dale's
letter to me (remember that he contacted me for help, which is why I feel OK
looking into this) was so clear and so unreal that it reminded me of this
relative. After that, the nature of his story caught my eye. Is it real, or
is it confabulation? Of course it's probably the latter.

However, underneath all the unusualness of his unexpected contact and his
unbelievable assertions, it comes down to him simply asking me for help of
some kind. And I can't forget that I'm a total stranger, but welcomed by his
invitation into his world. It's hard not to feel compassion for a man who
feels that he is so abandoned that he has to randomly email hundreds of
people, hoping that at least one will bother to hear him and take up his
cause.

Lucky for Dale, there can be more than one. If you're willing to work with
me, it'll be even easier. What do you think? You can bail out any time.

Dan

And his reply today
Quote:

Dan:

I too am sorry if I came on a bit strongly in my last response. Dale's actions
in emailing so many total strangers has quite simply overwhelmed all of us
under a mountain of email. This has put a unfortunate strain on my civility,
but anxiety is certainly no excuse for bad manners.

As one of Dale's oldest friends, it is indeed heartwarming to know so many
individuals are willing to respond to a cry for help out of the blue. But as a
doctor, I'm sure you must recognize that Dale's actions had more to do with his
troubled state of mind than any real betrayal. Dale is very lucky to live in a
community with many friends and neighbors who also care very deeply about his
well being. Dale is being cared for now, in the best way that we know how, and
I have every reason to believe that he will come through this ordeal. I ask
that you and the others that have been contacting me these past few days just
remain patient, and let us get Dale the help he requires right now without all
these outside distractions. Hopefully, a day will soon come when Dale can thank
you and the others like you personally.

Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott

He's still playing it somewhat close to the vest. I'll hold back for a few days and then check in if there's another event that would warrant it. Contact established...

In the meantime, Bruce's response included a reference to "any real betrayal." Is that a new idea that he's brought up? I don't remember Dale contending that he'd been betrayed. Subconscious guilt coming through?
_________________
That sounds like something HITLER would say!

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2003 12:14 pm
Last edited by dmax on Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:10 pm; edited 1 time in total
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imbri
Entrenched


Joined: 21 Sep 2002
Posts: 1182
Location: wonderland

 		in light of your email and connection, i'll hold off from responding. i got the same response he'd sent to others, though i had taken the approach of not mentioning dale but just offering my sympathies to him for the loss of his dear friend diana. the thought was maybe he'd be glad to have someone concerned about him rather than dale (posted about it last night).

i'll wait and see how your interaction goes and by then, most mail to him will have subsided and he might be feeling a little looser.

imbri

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2003 12:21 pm
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butterflyer22
Boot

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 37

 		Dmax, maybe in the future after you have gained Bruces trust you could ask to communicate with Dale physician, as a professional of course. This way you might be able to figure out exactly what is going on with Dale.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2003 12:34 pm
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dmax
Unfictologist

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		bruce
BF, I like it.

One thing I'm considering is that Bruce or the loan sharks has set up Dale, and his only way of dealing with it is to create the Wish confabulation in his head. Bruce mentioning "betrayal" makes me wonder if it's the betrayal of him committing his friend, or the betrayal of Diana, or something else.

I'm thinking that, if we get nowhere, we might ask Bruce to claim the personal effects or get the ticket data for us somehow. He IS legally responsible for Dale now... hmm. I like that more now that I've written it.

Ideas? I DONT want to bother him again this soon unless we have something concrete and rational to ask. I'd rather we have a go at solving our own loose ends (the numbers on the CP letters, etc).
_________________
That sounds like something HITLER would say!

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2003 1:16 pm
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ZeusLegion
Boot


Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 46

 		I dont trust Bruce as far as I can throw him. I figure Diana might have turned to him for help, he took advantage of the situation and attempted/succeeded at seducing her. I also think he's involved with the Marzano brothers since they ARE his client. His only client that we know of in fact and Dale said he got in touch with the Brothers via working at AnonFame. He also committed Dale and, having experienced a couple of decades long brotherly friendship IRL, I don't see how his so-called closest friend could commit him to the nuthouse.

Z

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2003 1:44 pm
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dmax
Unfictologist

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		More from Bruce
Two letters from him tonight (at almost midnight PST!):
Quote:
Dan:

Thanks for the information. I don't know what to think right now. The more I
ask questions about Ash Grove Park, the more it becomes evident that nobody in
Aglaura other than Dale -- from the Mayor on down -- appears to have ever heard
of the place. Doesn't that strike you as odd? It certainly does strike me that
way.

And by the way, I don't in any way think that you are the creator of these
materials -- I've communicated with enough of you folks that Dale contacted to
get a sense that most of you appear to genuinely mean well. But let me ask you
to consider something with an open mind. You know from the way you were
contacted that Dale was desperate to have people believe in his version of
events. You also know, or I imagine you do anyway, that Dale is a talented
website designer, capable of whipping up a functional site in a matter of
hours. It is at least possible, do you think, that Dale might have created this
site before his commitment just so that you, his helpers, could find it, and
uncover this evidence? For all we know, those videos are clips from the
family's last summer vacation to Pennsylvania.

Look, I'm not saying this is what happened. But I am saying that as time goes
on, it appears that this explanation is every bit as plausible as believing
that Dale was transported to some Brigadoon by a magical six-fingered man.

Perhaps my own trip to NJ this coming weekend will make matters more clear.

Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott
and...

Yesterday I'd written
Quote:
Mr. Abbott:

Dale had mentioned in recent conversation that he was going to make
contact again tonight (Tuesday). He hasn't, and one of the last things
he mentioned was the appearance of the circular graffiti on his house.

My concern is that Wes Keeler had noticed strange men associated with
this new graffiti as it spread. Gang symbols? Who knows... It was
disturbing but unimportant at the time.

Now, with Dale noticing the graffiti actually on his own home and him
not making contact as planned, as well as all the troubles that he's
been through lately, I worry about his safety or state of his mental
health.

Would you be averse to making contact with him, just to make sure he's
safe? If he's OK, a gentle reminder that he'd promised contact might be
nice - but it's subordinate to the primary issue, his well being.

Thanks,

Dan
dmax801 on Yahoo and AIM
to which he replied
Quote:
I'll try to give him a call -- but if he's slipped back into the depression he
was in before his commitment, he ignored the phone, and his emails, and any
attempt to reach him -- that's why I eventually had to turn to outside help. So
I can't promise anything.

Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott

_________________
That sounds like something HITLER would say!

PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:54 am
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konamouse
Official uF Dietitian


Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 8010
Location: My own alternate reality

 		Bruce is still not believing
I had posted my interactions with Bruce over in this thread
http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=831
but I'll start adding on to this one now to keep this all together.

--- eulalie @collectivedetective.org> wrote:

Quote:
> The other problem with Bruce's explanation is that
> the domain for that site was registered in Nov. so
> dale would have had to have been planning this for a
> long time .. which doesn't make any sence at all.


Very good point - that, coupled with site changes and
emails from "Brent" during Dale's stay at Klepsydra,
may help sway him more toward our side.


I got a very similar response as dmax (with a little personalization at the
and b/c of my flirting attempts). Here is my letter from Bruce (with my
original below):

Heather:

An interdimensional amusement park? That would be
quite something. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to take
that much of a leap of faith just yet. The more
I ask questions about this Ash Grove Park, the more it
appears that nobody in Aglaura -- from the Mayor on
down -- has ever heard of this place. I don't know
what to think now.

Perhaps you need to keep an open mind too. Think about
how desperately Dale wants us to believe his story.
Remember that he is a very talented web designer,
capable of whipping up a fully functional site in
hours. Do you think there is a possibility that Dale
in his panic could have created all this material just
so that you -- the people he contacted for help --
could find it? For all any of us know, those videos of
Meaghan could have been taken last summer while the
family was vacationing in Pennsylvania visiting their
relatives.

I just don't know -- but I need to find out soon.
Perhaps my weekend visit to New Jersey will give me
the answers I'm looking for (and no, it was not
I who picked up Dale's things -- I have been too busy
over the past few days to catch my breath, much less
take a two hour trip each way by car.

Thanks for the kind thoughts and the kiss . . . I'd
love a nice relaxing massage, but unfortunately have
no one in my life to give me one right now. Not
there aren't nice young ladies who occasionally show
interest -- but I'd really like to find a special
someone to share life with.

Take care of yourself, and think about what I
mentioned. You seem to have a level head on your
shoulders, and I'd like to know what you think after
you take a moment to reflect.

Sincerely,
Bruce

> Hi Bruce.
> Some friends of mine have speculated that Ash Grove
> Park may be an interdimensional place. We've been
> able to access their web pages, and have had some
> email conversations with their webmaster (Brent
> Bowers) for a few weeks. Then, poof, yesterday all of
> their sites went down and cannot be found on the
> internet. I guess we have no proof anymore (except
> what was archived by some my friends). I'm sorry I
> didn't contact you sooner.
>
> You mentioned the Hospital...did you go to Greatwater
> General this past weekend? Someone picked up Dale's
> effects before he was released from Klepsydra. Was
> that you?
>
> When you do speak with Dale, please keep an open mind.
> Let Dale explain from start to finish what happened.
> He'll explain with the type of detail that isn't
> typical for hallucinations.
>
> Meanwhile, how are you doing yourself? You must be
> feeling some stress since you have to manage Dale's
> financial issues for the past few weeks. I'm sure he
> had some bills from the hospital, as well as his
> normal household bills of which to keep track. I was
> out of town for two weeks and had a huge stack of
> bills to deal with when I got back. Anyway, I hope
> you have some means of stress release (my favorites
> are either quiet, like massage, or noisy, like good
> music with dinner and dancing).
>
> Happy thoughts, and a kiss,
> Heather
_________________
'squeek'
r u a Sammeeeee? I am Forever!

PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:21 am
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monkeypants
Boot

Joined: 26 Sep 2002
Posts: 56
Location: Wisconsin
Quote:
Anyway, I hope
> you have some means of stress release (my favorites
> are either quiet, like massage, or noisy, like good
> music with dinner and dancing).
>
> Happy thoughts, and a kiss,
> Heather


Quote:
Thanks for the kind thoughts and the kiss . . . I'd
love a nice relaxing massage, but unfortunately have
no one in my life to give me one right now. Not
there aren't nice young ladies who occasionally show
interest -- but I'd really like to find a special
someone to share life with.


I think we need to start calling you Die FlirtyMouse Laughing

-m

PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 1:47 pm
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Miztrezzz
Greenhorn


Joined: 14 Mar 2003
Posts: 4
Location: Denver

 		get bruce
Quote:
Thanks for the kind thoughts and the kiss . . . I'd
love a nice relaxing massage, but unfortunately have
no one in my life to give me one right now. Not
there aren't nice young ladies who occasionally show
interest -- but I'd really like to find a special
someone to share life with.


does anyone else think there could be door here to Bruce? ala internet love chat, calm in the storm after tragic events?

i think it might be good to explore.. kona?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:37 pm
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dmax
Unfictologist

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1387
Location: Location: Location!

 		but
NO one could take the place of Diana...

(but i agree that the door has been left open for you to try.) Wink
_________________
That sounds like something HITLER would say!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 1:15 am
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kimer
Unfettered

Joined: 01 Mar 2003
Posts: 400
Location: South of Oz

 		Re: Bruce & Heather Kissing In A Tree
Yes! I think Bruce is smitten with Heather. Of course this is going to break Angie's heart but I say go for it! Twisted Evil
_________________
Success is a Journey NOT a Destination!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 4:29 am
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