The bad reputation we have from those in the community stems largely from jealousy. We have (one of) the largest gaming communities on the entire planet. As such, we are the envy of every clan or organization that is or has tried to achieve similar status. Men crave power, and eGO is full of powerful people with dominion (no pun intended) over other players' fates within the community. They want that power, too. When their organizations fail to achieve the grandeur or sophistication of ours, a hatred is born alongside a yearning that typically will not be satisfied.
Our most precious and valuable assets here are not the servers or the website, they are the people. In eGO, if there is a problem or an issue then there is a volunteer who will offer to fix it or address it. People here will go the extra mile for others they've never met or even spoken with. The formula to create such a hard-working and thoughtful environment is complicated and difficult to replicate, and the formula used to create eGO is as unique as it is successful. That is a terribly frustrating thing that outsiders struggle to accept.
And there are others who hate us based on misguided principles... There are some that have called our system of administration "Draconian" and even corrupt. I cannot understand how a player can come to be angry over the rules and regulations set forth on our privately-rented and operated servers. They will fume and seethe over the idea of following a rule that they consider asinine. And yet they remain or, worse, pitch a fit. When they are ejected for breaking a rule, they will declare to all who will listen how evil eGO must be to regulate cursing, or block "freedom of speech" by disallowing political discussion. They cite perceived mistakes our admins have made and aggrandize them to generalize the whole community. Instead, it is they who are mistaken.
This is our house, and in this house there are rooms that were built with no doors. It was built that way so that the public may enter our house to enjoy the comforts and furnishings that we provide. They may leave whenever they please. But, so long as they stay, all we ask is that they follow the house rules. Some people just can't stand to be told what (or what not) to do, and these people would rather demonize our organization than yield to or cooperate with our policies.
Those are my thoughts on the psychology of the outsiders that would propagate ill-spirit towards eGO. They're out there, and you've just witnessed that hatred. You were the victim of a retaliatory act for an offense which you did not commit and with a cause that cannot be justified.
Just because you wore the tags.
Just because you joined our house.
Breath it in, comrades. When the competition hates you, you know you're doing something right.