I HEREBY STEP DOWN FOR NOW

[Res Ipsa]

Look, I think some serious fence mending is in order and sugar coating what happened won’t get us there. The posting to and about Shades that led him to step down was pretty ugly. It was the day the trolls won.

No, the trolls were using Shades. They lost when he stepped down.

I don’t think you understand trolling at all.

[Xenophon]

Look, I think some serious fence mending is in order and sugar coating what happened won’t get us there. The posting to and about Shades that led him to step down was pretty ugly. It was the day the trolls won. They succeeded in dividing the community here — in this case turning it against the founder. This is a badly wounded community. It needs healing, and I agree with Chap that conversations that need to take place would best be held privately.

I hate what has happened and I hate the position I’m in. I’m angry at Mike and Binger, I’m angry at those who turned on Shades, and I’m angry at Shades for letting a problem fester until it became a crisis and then dumping it in my lap. And I’m angry at myself for not being able to prevent a train wreck.

All that’s okay. I get to feel angry. I don’t stay angry long and I’ll process it and move on. In the meantime, I’ll keep doing what I’ve been asked to do out of respect for Shades and for what he has tried to create. And I’ll mend my own fences once I’m in a better place emotionally.

QFT

[K Graham]

No, the trolls were using Shades. They lost when he stepped down.

I don’t think you understand trolling at all.

Hey, don't take my word for it. Mike is the troll, is he not? It should be obvious he's not happy at all with the outcome here.

[Some Schmo]

I'll just say for my own part that it was never my intention to get Shades to step down. What I really wanted was for him to moderate his board, or at least let necessary moderation take place. He said he was busy/exhausted. I don't condemn him for that, but it seemed reasonable to ask him to do whatever was necessary to save this place from the people trying to destroy it. He decided to step down, and that's likely the best thing for him right now, given what he's told us he's going through, but it wasn't what I was after.

I'm not sorry for asking for something to be done.

[Marcus]

I'll just say for my own part that it was never my intention to get Shades to step down. What I really wanted was for him to moderate his board, or at least let necessary moderation take place. He said he was busy/exhausted. I don't condemn him for that, but it seemed reasonable to ask him to do whatever was necessary to save this place from the people trying to destroy it. He decided to step down, and that's likely the best thing for him right now, given what he's told us he's going through, but it wasn't what I was after.

I'm not sorry for asking for something to be done.

Agreed. And although he stepped down as head moderator, he still is moderating*, so I don’t think it’s as dire as people make out.

*as a moderator, he closed a report at 230am, Friday, 3/18/22.

[Res Ipsa]

I don’t think you understand trolling at all.

Hey, don't take my word for it. Mike is the troll, is he not? It should be obvious he's not happy at all with the outcome here.

Of course he is. We gave him what he wanted.

[Schreech]

[Marcus]

Hey, don't take my word for it. Mike is the troll, is he not? It should be obvious he's not happy at all with the outcome here.

Of course he is. We gave him what he wanted.

It was a no-win scenario, sadly, in that context. Trolls get to troll, they are happy. Trolls get banned, they are happy because they can brag they were so powerful they had to be banned. Either way, they get attention, which is what they want.

In a different context though, consider that Shades’ rules were supported and the wholesale disruption of a community was countered. That’s a win.

[K Graham]

Hey, don't take my word for it. Mike is the troll, is he not? It should be obvious he's not happy at all with the outcome here.

Of course he is. We gave him what he wanted.

He wanted free reign of the forum which is what Shades gave him. That's gone now, which is why he's expressing his frustration with the fact Shades stepped down. Not sure what evidence you're using to arrive to the opposite conclusion that he's happy.

[MG 2.0]

Not every true thing is easy to believe.

Ain’t that the truth.

Regards,
MG