Please sign here/Open Letter - RE: Richard Dawkins Forum

[calum]

Signed it. We're on 99.

[Flora]

Copy of the forum staff's letter to Richard here:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010 ... nt-2300797

[NineOneFour]

signed! Nice note 914.

Danke

[mozg]

I signed it too. My comment is long and I won't cross post it here, but it's not really much different from what I've already said.

[owtth]

Good idea, I've added my 2c.

[Strontium Dog]

Signed.

[Varangian]

You have shattered and scattered your base supporters.

It seems like it was done because he found his supporters base...

[owtth]

You have shattered and scattered your base supporters.

It seems like it was done because he found his supporters base...

[Bolero]

I've added my voice.

Do you think any of it will do any good? Is it possible the decision could be reversed? I'm hopeful, because I'm not disillusioned (yet).

Bolero.

[Bella Fortuna]

You have shattered and scattered your base supporters.

It seems like it was done because he found his supporters base...

Hey, all our base are belong to us!

[Mantisdreamz]

For what it's worth, here's my submission:

Richard,

I was one of the (ex-)moderators on your forum. I only had the chance to work with the best moderating team I have ever seen - composed of loving, intelligent, caring, humorous and honest people - for three short months, but it has been an honour and a pleasure to be part of this great undertaking of lighting a beacon of reason in this sometimes so utterly dark world. I started a science writing competition not least out of admiration for your work.

Before I became a moderator I was a regular member for about one and a half years and I have learned more on this forum - personally and intellectually - than I have in all my time at university and school. I started studying Biology at the University of Vienna because of you and because of the great minds of this forum, such as Cali and Peter Harrison and many, many more. I aspired to once follow your footsteps and help to educate the world, or at least my tiny corner of it.
I connected with many great people, some of whom I now call friends.

Now I stand before the ashes of a place I once called my second home. My entire account - all of my posts and actions - was deleted, in a pique of rage and and anger about reasonable criticism from my side. It is as if I never was a part of this best of communities.
This was done by either Josh or Andrew I don't know and I don't care who of the two actually did this to me. It does not matter.

Since then I hoped that you would see what went wrong. That you would come in and set things right, because I thought that the one man who got me to be an outspoken atheist and a future biologist could not possibly stand for such intellectual vandalism as perpetrated by Josh and Andrew. Man, was I in for a surprise.

Your official announcement shattered my hopes. Not only that, it portrayed not only me, but all the other mods and members as spiteful, conservative children, who merely cry and whinge because someone took away their playground. People who have devoted uncountable hours of their life to further their - and your - cause.

You and your two minions have spat on reason, free speech and clear thinking, the very things you swore to defend against deluded fundamentalists.

I sincerely hope that you see the error of your ways, or that you were fed lies and didn't know what actually happened, Richard. Not because of my hurt ego and feelings, but because the world needs people like the ones you and your two hamfisted techheads have alienated in a matter of days under one banner.

I said I hope so, but I don't see a realistic chance for that. I know, it might not interest you, but you will never again see a word of support or one single cent from me. Your work in the field of Biology stands for itself, but I have lost every respect I ever had for you as a person.

This have been sad days for me and many thousands of other people and I hope that you will realise that. I thank you for what you have done for me and atheists around the globe, but from now on we will go separate ways.

I think this is very well put.

I hadn't been on that forum for very long, but long enough for me to see that there was a good thing going on. I can understand the whole idea of the change, and the outsider's view that change is a good thing. I think that the admins and RD think that all of the members are over-reacting because a fear of change. But, I don't think they realize that that is not the case. And that the main issue is the way they did it. Which still remains unacceptable.

Anyway, I will put my sig onto that posting to him. I think the posts were very heart felt, and I hope that he/they can see the true repercussions of the what their decision did and how it affected others... when gone about the way it was.


PS - Selfish question... do you still planning on bringing back the Science contest for the month of Feb, Mazille?

[Matthew Bailey]

I hate to be the man out here, but I think that there may have been an overreaction to what has taken place at the RDF.

Doesn't anyone think that maybe we should give the new discussion area/forum/whateverit'sgonnabe a chance before we condemn the place?

Matthew Bailey

[95Theses]

I hate to be the man out here, but I think that there may have been an overreaction to what has taken place at the RDF.

Doesn't anyone think that maybe we should give the new discussion area/forum/whateverit'sgonnabe a chance before we condemn the place?

Matthew Bailey

I don't think you are aware of what's happened, and you're falling for the bullshit spouted off by Richard and his Admins. This isn't just because they announced some changes to the website much as they would like you to believe that.

Have you read what actually happened or just what Richard posted?

[95Theses]

Hack from here :

http://www.rationalskepticism.org/posti ... f=40&p=222

Ensuring an accurate record :

For those who are joining the broadcast already in progress...

Peter Harrison: Death of a Forum
Peter Harrison: Forum Closure Update
Hack: Reciprocity - When You Fight Yourself

[Matthew Bailey]

OK, so what I get is that people were caught flatfooted by the admins, and then felt that the Admins behaved in a disreputable manner.

If this is the case, then it will eventually be discovered one way or another.

As for all else.... I can understand how feelings have been hurt, and that sucks big time (I'm having my own hurt feelings at the moment that may be keeping me from seeing the larger picture in this. I had to give up two cats over the week to Animal Care and Control in SF because I couldn't find new homes for them).... I would rather give Richard the benefit of the doubt and make certain in the future to take precautions against being caught flatfooted by a mod or admin again.

Matthew Bailey