First off, i want to point out that i am one of many who left this guild. So before you judge myself and the rest of us, you need to know the whole story, (parts left out by the GM).
I was a rescent addition to this guild upon a 4 month vacation from wow, playing rift. Upon coming back to the game, me and my crew found a new server which seemed promising due to high numbers in population and nice economy. One of my crew found this guild and gave it a shot, and the rest of us soon joined. Some, not all of us quickly joined the ranks of raiders. My crew has been playing together since vanilla, so with that being said, we have seen our share of just about anything you can imagine when it comes in the form of guild drama.
This raid leader "Eddie" was still around when my crew joined and never really said much in guild chat that would be considered condisending or down right harsh. However, shortly after his return from basic training, he came in full force with insults, racism, threats, you name it.
For the most part, me and my crew tried to ignore it and let it be. Yet on one fateful day, my own MILITARY background came out in guild chat. After seeing this kind of blatent bashing of guild members on a daily basis, i had enough. I was seeing from what i could only say, was a form of PTSD coming out in this "Eddie" person. Constently insulting lower ranking guild members and putting them down, trying to break them so HE could mold them back into the "Soldier" HE wanted them to be. This is exactly what happens to anyone who goes through Basic Training. Trust me, ive been through it myself. Anyway, as i stated earlier this kind of behavior is very close to a borderline case of PTSD, from bootcamp mind games. So, in guild chat, i pulled Military Rank on this "Eddie" guy and told him to act his rank, and stop insulting people. I also told him he needed to seek help for his obvious PTSD issues he was having. I reminded him of the oath he took when he joined the Military and that insulting civilians was not in that oath.
Immedietly upon saying these things, i get told by the GM in guild chat that i would be kicked if i continued "as he so delicatly put it" insulting his officer. I immediately got numerous whispers from many of the guild stateing, "it's about time someone put him in his place, called him out on his crap, etc". I also recieved many whispers from the current Officer base in guild, that if i got kicked, they were leaving the guild, and that they were tired of this favoritism by the GM towards this one Officer "Eddie". I then whispered the GM himself and simply explained my concerns for his Friend? / Officer. I also told him that it was not right for him to allow one of his Officers to disrespect people like "Eddie" was doing. Shortly after that i seen in guild chat, one of my crew say " respect is earned not demanded" The GM ended the conversation in guild chat and whispers shortly after that, threatening to kick any and all who disobey his words.
That same weekend is when the @#$% hit the fan so to say, the officer base tried to talk to the GM about this again, yet, only praise was given to this "Eddie" guy by the GM. He forgot the other officers and contributing players who helped get his guild up and running and into FL content. Needless to say, after they were left out of his so called loop of trusted opinions. They had enough as well and quit. Me and my crew quit as well, being as when we logged on that sunday morning, we found the guild message of the Day stating "Casual Racism is Permitted - Phob"
So now that you know the whole story of what "really" happened to this guild. Maybe you can see our point in quitting.
No one should have to log onto a game that they play for fun and entertainment and endure the kind of Harsh, obscene, vulgor, racist, disrespectful, language that this ONE officer was allowed to get away with. Joke or Not, it is uncalled for, and not to be taken lightly. We as gamers forget that most of the time our true nature comes out in these avatars we play in a fantasy world. So if you want to feel sorry for what this GM who allowed this to happen to his guild, feel free. It only shows that you, as well as him and his only trusted Officer share something in common.
I truely hope that once you have all read this now, you can empathize with those who left this guild on a road to self distruction.
As for the Death of our in game friend, we all are grieving him. And what the GM said about him not putting up with the drama and BS that the GM himself allowed to go on, i agree. He would have left with the rest of us and been a most enjoyed ally in the ranks of our new guild.
This player will be missed greatly by us, for he was a root to common sense in every raid i ran with him. Always a voice of reason, and level headedness.

Now you know the truth.