Note: The links no long work. It appears that the entire Transparency thread has been deleted. However, I have previously made a copy of the entire thread.
I am waiting for the report by Dyebat and lchris about what the records show happened last July. In the meantime, I am going to revisit one record to which I have access, the Transparency thread.
I am waiting for the report by Dyebat and lchris about what the records show happened last July. In the meantime, I am going to revisit one record to which I have access, the Transparency thread.
I spent some time recently rereading parts of the Transparency thread. It is remarkable how different it looks in hindsight, especially in light of the Board confirmation that there was no “takeover” attempt. I recommend it if you have time. Especially if you believe that the problems on the forum in mid-July can all be blamed on “database errors”. But I know most can't, so I am offering the "Cliff notes" version.
In their report, the Board of SBFII tried to pin the blame for letting in a banned member on Citroenlady. It is not difficult to figure out that she could not have done that because she had no access to either mod or admin controls at the time. The Board members were told in lchris’s report in August that the records show she did not do it. Yet they still tried to blame Citroenlady. Why? Were they protecting the person who actually did it?
The thread is very long and I can’t cover everything, but I will note the things that interested me on this later reading of the thread. Other people might have chosen other posts to highlight. I will skip over the many, many post of those who were trying to figure out what was happening, but had no idea. I will pay attention to those who seemed to “know”. Times are in Central Time.
Page 1 07-16-2010 04:18 PM
The thread starts off with Dyebat explaining that she wished to operate in an open and transparent manner. Also, that the realities of being a non-profit corporation require that the persons involved be “real people”, not just an internet screen names. Most people can understand that. Those who have worked with non-profits confirmed this. Members were supportive.
Page 2 07-16-2010 10:36 PM
Members continued to be supportive. They discussed the coming Board. Most members continued to support Dyebat. In posts #65 and 72, Hulapig questioned Dyebat’s role and stated that something seems “out of order. Staff started to question putting their information “on the web”, though that was never requested by Dyebat.
Page 3 07-17-2010 12:40 PM
Members continued to discuss Dyebat’s intention for transparency. In post #95, KateOhio said that Hulapig’s questions have the purpose of transparency “clearer”. In post #98, Waldog denigrated Dyebat and resigned. Soon Stevieboy tendered his resignation also. To much of the forum, myself included, this made no sense. Both had already publicly revealed their real names on the forum so why were they now upset about transparency? Many members posted asking them to reconsider.
Page 4 07-17-2010 02:18 PM
Members discuss the auction and who lent money. They continue to express regret about the resignations.
Page 5 07-17-2010 03:46 PM
Members comment on the NPO and transparency requirements. Maddy asks about conflicts of interest. In post #161, Catz asked “Why all the fuss?”. Why indeed? Trennie agreed in post #164. Members did not seem to understand what “the fuss” is about. I did not.
Page 6 07-17-2010 05:23 PM
In post #216, Pickled Tink said all information required by law had been provided. UKSusanFanAnn, in post #228, stated that Waldog and Stevieboy were letting the people who shout the loudest win and get exactly the result they want! It was unclear at the time who that might be.
Mirrim posted a curious comment in which she says that as a nod to members, staff had Dyebat give the final bid. It raised a question about how staff could know which bid would be final. (Post#230)
Page 7 07-17-2010 06:05 PM
Pickled Tink claimed that none of staff are involved in any “PAID” employment which would be a conflict of interest, though some may be volunteer mods on other sites. (Post #244)
Xeno asked about access to the administrative control panel. Lonni, Pickled Tink and Danileo said lchris has such access. (#248, #254, #259)
UKSusanFanAnn posted the first of many posts claiming it was the “same names” all the time. She declared we are “at war!!!”. (Post 249) In post #257, Catz asked Mirrim if she was “sending a message” with her menacing avatar. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but can’t help wondering about it now. Mirrim then posted a quote from the V for Vendetta comic series. (#265)
In post 269, UKSusanFanAnn posted that she could see what Waldog and Stevieboy mean by “hidden agenda”. If so, she was one of the few.
Page 8 07-17-2010 06:49 PM
Xeno posted to say that website owners , such as Dyebat, must keep the power to administer the site in their own hands or “chaos may ensue.” (#284) In post 287, Danileo asserted that chaos has already ensued.
In post 288, UKSusanFanAnn explained what she meant by “hidden agendas”; people wanting to stir up the forum and cause the forum to fall. With hindsight, it is clear that she has heard the false rumors about the supposed takeover. (#288)
Page 9 07-17-2010 08:33 PM
In response to my question, Pickled Tink said that she is a mod on the OS. (#332) In post #335, Danileo addresses me by my real name, although I had never given her that information. I contacted Lonni, because she appeared to be online, and asked that my name be removed. Lonni never responded, so I contacted lchris, who removed my name. Some discussion of that follows, including the claim that I had never complained and would receive an apology. Neither were true. (#355, #365 )
Page 10 07-17-2010 10:16 PM
In post 395, Pickled Tink said the fact that she was a mod on both susan-boyle.com and on the official site was not a conflict of interest.
In post #396 jayhawk fan said it was the “same people” doing all the complaining. Petty bickering ensued.
Page 11 07-18-2010 12:11 AM
In Post #430, Lonni joined the “same people” chorus and explained that “we” knew who they were and were aware of their motivation. She implied that the “people who are supposed to be helping us” (Dyebat and lchris) had joined forces with “them”. She said “they” wanted to eliminate the staff.
Later this same morning, Lonni would send out an email to some members, asking them to “post against Chris and Dyebat's actions”. She claimed that Dyebat and lchris were “in league with DJG and his followers”, who wanted to bring the forum to its knees. In one of the most ironically false statements I have seen, Lonni said that if members wanted to save the forum, they should get as much help as they could and “start posting the truth”. The problem was that her “truth” was a lie.
Page 12 07-18-2010 07:21 AM
More heat, little light.
Page 13 07-18-2010 12:13 PM
In post # 481 Kalua resigned. When members expressed dismay at this, Lonni advised them to “think about who is causing all the trouble.” (#493) Jayhawk fan posted about the “takeover”. She thought she knew who was responsible. (# 501) Did she get an email from Lonni?
Lonni claimed that “they” were receiving help from the “very people that most of you think you can trust”, Dyebat and lchris. (#501) In post 513, Lonni ratcheted up the rhetoric by claiming the site was being taken over by people who were evil.
Page 14 07-18-2010 01:07 PM
At post 521, Lonni said there were people who “want our forum and will do or say anything to get it”.
The forum is now divided into three groups; those who are sure the evil DJGers are taking over the forum, those who know that the takeover is lies and nonsense and those who don’t have a clue what is going on. From post 542, it appears that KateOhio is among those who believe the lies about the takeover.
In post #550, Dyebat explained that Kalua refused to give any identifying information and so tendered his resignation The Board would later decide it didn’t mind the site being administrated by an unidentified person and allow him to return to the position of admin.
Those who were privy to the story about the hoax takeover kept posting about it, but most members were simply confused. Some are getting frustrated with the allusions to the takeover, without specifics.
Page 15 07-18-2010 01:56 PM
In post #566, WAMcKinley posted about her experience with other forums. She stated that she had seen “no evidence” of any intent to take over or take down the forum. In response to questions about who was trying to take down the forum, UKSusanFanAnn replied that she had “no idea”, in spite of her earlier claim that it was the “same” people. (#571)
In post #576, Trennie was torn because she trusted Dyebat and lchris, but “sweet Lonni....” was telling her bad people were trying to assume control. In post #580, UKSusanFanAnn said Misha was in the minority for doubting the takeover. Those who didn’t believe in the takeover remained fairly calm, as did the ranks of the confused. Those who believed that a takeover was in progress were, as you might imagine, rather upset.
lchris sent out letters to prospective Board members. (#596)
In a post ripe with irony, UKSusanFanAnn responded to my statement that I didn’t believe Dyebat would do anything that wasn’t in the best interest of the forum. She called it “innuendoes and conspiracy theories” and wished someone would speak plainly. (#597)
Page 16 07-18-2010 02:43 PM
In post 607, RIK said he has “learned things” that were disturbing. He was one of the recipients of email from Lonni. I commend him for not jumping on the bandwagon and making unfounded accusations.
In post 608, Dyebat called for an end to the bickering and explained about the need for identification. She explained how the incorporation of the non-profit was going. There was little clarity in the subsequent posts, but most remained calm.
Page 17 07-18-2010 03:16 PM
In post 642, Mirrim claimed to have had Kalua’s information for some time.
In post 654, RIK stated that he was asked to “say something”, but added to the confusion by talking about a power struggle among admins and mods. I still don’t know what he was talking about.
Page 18 07-18-2010 03:59 PM
In post 692, Dyebat questioned Mirrim’s role and her claim to have Kalua’s information. Some members deny or doubt the takeover theories.
Page 19 07-18-2010 05:13 PM
Martha E has started a different thread, supporting staff. In post 747, Pontelle revealed that Orgonon, the cyber-stalker, has been sending out PMs. Dyebat posted supporting the staff. (#748)
In post 749, UKSusanFanAnn asked why staff were leaving and “setting up a new site”.
Page 20 07-18-2010 06:42 PM
Dyebat posts that she is committed to the fansite lchris agrees. (#761, #766)
In post #774, d’artanian claims that the answers to what is going on are there in the thread. Other members are still trying to figure out what is going on.
Page 21 07-18-2010 07:38 PM
Members continue to be confused. Support is offered for Dyebat and for staff.
Page 22 07-18-2010 08:21 PM
More frustration without answers.
It is clear that the poison spread by the cyber-stalker had done its work. Both moderators and members believed the lies. This leads me to some questions:
1) Did all staff members believe the supposed takeover was real?
2) Did they have any plans to counter or sabotage the "attack"?
3) If so, what were those plans?
It is clear that the poison spread by the cyber-stalker had done its work. Both moderators and members believed the lies. This leads me to some questions:
1) Did all staff members believe the supposed takeover was real?
2) Did they have any plans to counter or sabotage the "attack"?
3) If so, what were those plans?
