Inside Interpreter's "6 Days in August" Fundraising Campaign

[Doctor Scratch]

There is certainly a lot that could be said in response to this. For now, though, I’ll simply point out two things:

1. The solicitation materials make it clear that they are reaching out to people who are not Interpreter supporters. How, then, did they get their list of contacts? Long time students of Mopologetics will recall that, in his email to Gerald Bradford, the Afore threatened to divert donor funds away from the “new” Maxwell Institute. Is this a “promise” that has now been fulfilled in a rather roundabout way?

2. He says that Interpreter is not competing with Scripture Central or FAIR in “any sense of which I’m aware.” (Interesting to note that he didn’t retract or rephrase the language he used in the solicitation documents, where he essentially depicted the organizations as cut-rate stepchildren of Interpreter.) Well, if Scripture Central is kicking Interpreter’s butt, then it may very well be that part of the reason is due to the leadership’s obliviousness. Here’s a friendly hint: if one organization is trying to seize power from another, then why not try to lure away their fan base? Why not make friends with representatives from the competing organization, and even invite a representative or two over to appear in a video? Everyone is all one big happy cooperative family after all, right? And you can continue to consolidate power, curry favor with the Brethren, and build an ever-expanding budget.

[I Have Questions]

I note that in Peterson’s assertion about receiving no financial reward from the production of Six Days, he doesn’t illuminate his audience, to whom he’s also soliciting for funds, as to how much cash he has personally donated to the film. Don’t potential donors deserve to know how much the project lead has pumped in, if anything, before they donate their own hard-earned monies?

[drumdude]

I note that in Peterson’s assertion about receiving no financial reward from the production of Six Days, he doesn’t illuminate his audience, to whom he’s also soliciting for funds, as to how much cash he has personally donated to the film. Don’t potential donors deserve to know how much the project lead has pumped in, if anything, before they donate their own hard-earned monies?

Im tempted to donate a penny so I can be a donor on the same level as the afore.

[Doctor Scratch]

You make valid points, Drumdude and IHQs. With plenty of money for virtually non-stop vacations and dining experiences, how does it make sense that he's bothering all these folks off the BYU donor lists rather than pitching in more of his own cash? Maybe take a year off from travel and help to secure the budget for the movie? Hmm? Plus, didn't they take money out of the budget in order for him to fly out and visit the set?

In any case, I see that his position is shifting. He's now saying that he thinks there's nothing wrong with getting ahold of the BYU donor lists and then soliciting donations from the people on the list:

Yes. I'm not actually sure that it would be either illegal or unethical for me to have access to BYU's donor list, although one or two of the moral philosophers over at the Obsession Board appear to be sure that it would be.

The fact remains, however, that I have had no such access.

Maybe Ed Snow was the one with the "access", thus granting the Afore a measure of plausible deniability?

[drumdude]

I love how new sock puppet accounts have to be created on SeN just to get basic answers to simple questions like how much the movie cost.

I think he enjoys imagining who might be behind each new account. And he always jumps at the opportunity to use the “one more strike and you’re out” as a threat. Any time someone doesn’t properly show deference to him.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I love how new sock puppet accounts have to be created on SeN just to get basic answers to simple questions like how much the movie cost.

I think he enjoys imagining who might be behind each new account. And he always jumps at the opportunity to use the “one more strike and you’re out” as a threat. Any time someone doesn’t properly show deference to him.

There are many things you don't talk about in Fight Club. Polygamy (Celestial or Earthly), Brigham Young ordering the beheading and massacre of hundred of Indians, Brigham Young and slavery, the Second Watson Letter, Mopologists getting paid for their mopologetics, financial transparency and on and on.

[Doctor Scratch]

I cannot say much at the moment, but I will say that I have good reasons to believe that the Afore was not being entirely honest in his claim that he/Interpreter did not have access to BYU donor lists. What I mean is: I believe that Mr. Type-B Personality is using deliberately vague language in order to conceal what may very well have been a rather significant breach of trust.