Apology from Richard Dawkins (Yes Really).

[CTC]

Clearly, it doesn't take a genius to recognize that people are given to gossip. If Dawkins wanted something that suited the goals of the Foundation, he could have set up the site to be pre-screened FROM THE BEGINNING. Like the object lessons of other forms of communication - TV, radio, newspapers, magazines - didn't exist, like every other Internet forum that has ever existed was merely some sort of aberration.

What a dumbass mistake compounded by more dumbass mistakes by the dumbasses in charge; what a dumbass excuse for it, 3+ years down the road. You want something different, make it FUCKING DIFFERENT. Don't do the same thing everyone else does and then act surprised when it turns out like everything else.

[normal]

I doubt it will ever be provided, since it doesn't exist. Maybe this would just be too much to come out and admit.

So says Kevin Ronayne, the most unscrupulous and dishonest moderator in history.

You have earned yourself a 24h break from posting. Please refrain from attacking forum members.

Was that your first banning?

No, I have already banned XC once, but that wasn't supposed to happen

[Don't Panic]

Apology accepted.

I am glad they'll get the old forum up in read-mode only though!

But the damage to some of us has already been done. (Those of us who were completely deleted.) And can't be undone, that I know of.

I still want nothing to do with the RDF. I will not be part of the new forum either. But I'm glad Richard actually read the letters, and that he decided to respond.

However, I still believe Josh is a jackass for his behavior (along with Andrew, but it seems the majority of it was done by Josh) nor will I apologize for it.

There are surely backups done of the site in the event of it crashing or being damaged, depending on how recent they are, no more than a few hundred posts, in total, might be lost.

[Azathoth]

That seems more like it. I wonder if Josh got a serious private bollocking for feeding him quote mined drivel

[Ayaan]

I don't want to nitpick, but I can see one obvious issue with the statement, namely that RD knows that the offending comments were from elsewhere after the event. So we still don't have any justification that I can see for the initial lock-down, since no evidence has been provided of any offending comments made at RD.net in the immediate aftermath of the initial announcement. I doubt it will ever be provided, since it doesn't exist. Maybe this would just be too much to come out and admit. He's going an awful long way as it is.

The most likely explanation for this is that they interpreted the mods plans to work to rule as the mods not going to be doing any moderation. When the 2-3 threads that were one user attacking another started to show up, they over-reacted and once they'd pulled the plug there was no reliable means of communication to rectify the situation.

I'm not privy to anything that went on between the mods and admins, but that sounds like a reasonable theory.

Yes, although there were no outright insults being posted before the plug was pulled, there was.. unrest. I can see why they panicked and axed it before it went on. Especially at the thought of the mods letting the forum go truly feral.

Personally, I don't really want all the nitty-gritty explained. That doesn't mean that everything is fixed now, but both sides made mistakes. I won't hold grudges.

There was a lot more unrest in Oct. '08. It got very heated at times, as people here who were on either "side" will testify. But it was kept under control with surprisingly little need for disciplinary action.

Yes there was, klr. It got quite heated and I did privately worry that the forum would be shut down. It wasn't as bad as it could have been and as much as I hated any disciplinary action we had to take, I'm very, very glad there wasn't more.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I doubt it will ever be provided, since it doesn't exist. Maybe this would just be too much to come out and admit.

So says Kevin Ronayne, the most unscrupulous and dishonest moderator in history.

Who's Kevin Ronayne?

Me of course.

Ah, I recognize you from your pictures!

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

[Blondie]

I doubt it will ever be provided, since it doesn't exist. Maybe this would just be too much to come out and admit.

So says Kevin Ronayne, the most unscrupulous and dishonest moderator in history.

You have earned yourself a 24h break from posting. Please refrain from attacking forum members.

Was that your first banning?

No, I have already banned XC once, but that wasn't supposed to happen

What is it like?

[normal]

What is it like?

Meh.

[klr]

Clearly, it doesn't take a genius to recognize that people are given to gossip. If Dawkins wanted something that suited the goals of the Foundation, he could have set up the site to be pre-screened FROM THE BEGINNING. Like the object lessons of other forms of communication - TV, radio, newspapers, magazines - didn't exist, like every other Internet forum that has ever existed was merely some sort of aberration.

What a dumbass mistake compounded by more dumbass mistakes by the dumbasses in charge; what a dumbass excuse for it, 3+ years down the road. You want something different, make it FUCKING DIFFERENT. Don't do the same thing everyone else does and then act surprised when it turns out like everything else.

Hopefully, he has also learned some important lessons, such as keeping proper control of things, not trusting people to the ends of the earth, and so on.

That seems more like it. I wonder if Josh got a serious private bollocking for feeding him quote mined drivel

I suspect so. I also wonder what will happen to the Chalkster? I'd hate to see anyone ruined over this, but if they have any sense, he will not remain in their employ. And hopefully he'll learn some lessons from this himself.

[Valden]

Apology accepted.

I am glad they'll get the old forum up in read-mode only though!

But the damage to some of us has already been done. (Those of us who were completely deleted.) And can't be undone, that I know of.

I still want nothing to do with the RDF. I will not be part of the new forum either. But I'm glad Richard actually read the letters, and that he decided to respond.

However, I still believe Josh is a jackass for his behavior (along with Andrew, but it seems the majority of it was done by Josh) nor will I apologize for it.

There are surely backups done of the site in the event of it crashing or being damaged, depending on how recent they are, no more than a few hundred posts, in total, might be lost.

But the question is, will they turn the forum back before the purge happened? I hope so.

[Heresiarch]

Ah, I recognize you from your pictures!

If you knew where the graphic in his avatar came from, pictures would be unnecessary.

[klr]

I doubt it will ever be provided, since it doesn't exist. Maybe this would just be too much to come out and admit.

So says Kevin Ronayne, the most unscrupulous and dishonest moderator in history.

Who's Kevin Ronayne?

Me of course.

Ah, I recognize you from your pictures!

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

I knew I should have stuck with the Roadrunner ...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ah, I recognize you from your pictures!

If you knew where the graphic in his avatar came from, pictures would be unnecessary.

Actually, I made his avatar, so I just might.

[Elessarina]

What is it like?

Meh.

He's power crazy!

[normal]

What is it like?

Meh.

He's powercrazy!

Quiet you!