Since I've been a mod on this site for so long, my on-line persona here probably melds into "mod speak" naturally. But here's my personal non-moderator opinion:
I like to think of myself as someone who tries to look at things objectively, looking for an understanding of all sides' intentions before jumping to conclusions.
Let's dissect the recent issues people have had with the site ownership changing hands and the transition period:
Part 1: The Announcement. Yes, it rattled us all. Some may have had a good time reading the drama, those of us who've invested a lot into the site over the years were bitterly disappointed by such turn of events and the uncertainty.
Part 2: The auction. Wow, we're just being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Note: most of the bidders are commercial entities of some sort: either data collection, or vendors. There are some attempts to organize a community buy-out, but if I'm honest, I note that a lot of those people are already involved in commercial activity too.
Part 3: Learning that it was Massdrop who bought the server. Massdrop contacts the moderation team (via Will), we do a LOT of talking to sort out what each side has in mind, I fluctuate between concern and "what if" to "okay, this is not so bad, thanks for letting us do our own thing", to finally "this is probably one of the best possible outcomes, considering we will hopefully get some help with the actual website upgrades now that are sorely needed.
Part 4: People who never seemed to care much about what the original owner did with their data (we really don't know, do we?) are suddenly super concerned. Nothing has changed so far in regards to their data, and an actual legal team will be looking into compliance with current laws--surely that's better than it was before? But fearmongering takes over, and some people just lose it. Which brings me to
Part 5: New sites start popping out. Take this one. Run by--guess who--random people about whom you have NO TRUE IDEA in regards to their intentions with your personal data OR their intentions for starting new forums. You take their word for it? Oh they promise they won't do anything with your data, okay. How is that any different than taking our word? There was a newsletter sent out by a
commercial vendor who is at odds with Massdrop, advertising the new community that's
run and moderated by commercial vendors, presenting it as some safe haven. Please... Let's be realistic. Who are the main driving forces to push people into this new community if not people with commercial interests and their own products and who already advertise their goods and plans on multiple forums and chats--geekhack is just another advertising platform for them. I'm sorry if you disagree, but I see no support from them for the actual old community here that's bigger than the group buys, bigger than the marketplace. They see the potential conflict of interest to themselves and present it as something else.
If you wish to go and create a new forum--please do. There are lots of other forums and chats already. But please have the common courtesy to not actively attempt to splinter a much older community and advertise your platform here like some saving grace for us all.
Anyway, Keebtalk itself is a very direct and explicit response by some GeekHack members to the announcement, so it's hardly a non sequitur in that conversation. Moving it away just looks like an attempt to sideline criticism.
Just as this quoted post is pure manipulation.
