I haven’t heard any convincing accusation against ripster
The accusation that has gained considerable traction here is that Ripster was responsible for the "Rootworm" attack that nearly destroyed this forum a couple of years ago and permanently erased a monumental library of keyboard knowledge.
As far as I can tell, that accusation has never been confirmed or dis-proven.
Whoever actually did that thing is a horrible, petty, selfish, cruel, ugly person with a very serious problem.
Having said that, when I joined this forum in early 2011, Ripster was a figure of great knowledge and authority who was very helpful and encouraging to everybody around.
He was single-handedly responsible for much of the information in the wikis and guides, as well as excellent and informative photos. For this we are forever indebted. Personally, I attribute a sizable portion of my keyboard knowledge directly to him.
But, some months after I joined, what I had originally observed as a sharp and sarcastic wit started rapidly degenerating into something truly cruel and ugly. He picked fights and made personal attacks which got him temporarily, then permanently banned from both Geekhack and Deskthority.
I would love to hear any other facts or conjectures that based in reality and not fabrication or opinion.