Erado San
10-21-2002, 04:42
Fellow members of the Total War Community,
Over the past few weeks we have seen a controversy develop, in which a member of the Org staff has been accused of abusing his powers as an admin to retrieve passwords of Private Clan Forums.
Some claim he is proven guilt, others claim the proof is poor and has been tampered with. Guilty, not guilty, right, wrong, truth, lies... Oh how we think we know who is right or wrong... But what's right and what's wrong, and who's to judge?
We all have our own private window on reality. This window is defined by our morals, ethics and personal opinions. We all look upon the same reality, but see it differently from our private points of view.
From his personal belief Monsta is right. From my personal belief I am right. Who's to judge?
There is no logical answer to this. There are many emotional answers. Some will agree with one, some with the other. But that, as the current situation teaches us, gets us nowhere.
What can bring a solution is to look upon this from the different angles and try to find a common ground. Because of this approach I have been named 'The Voice of Reason' in a distant past by some in our community. Let's see if it leads us anywhere...
Some years ago Dan Goldstein founded Totalwar.org, known by many as the premier fansite for Total War games. Even before the release of Shogun, there were all kinds of sites popping up, and a number of clans appeared even then. Dan realised that the community didn't just need clans, but primarily a place where the game in all its detail and depth could be discussed. In such a place there would be no room for the strife and quarrels that Games like Total War, and especially the clans would generate.
The .Orgs policies have been based on that. No name calling, no accusations, no strife, knowing that you can't always prevent it, but at least stop it when needed.
---
From the moment I have seen this controversy develop I have stood behind Terazawa Tokugawa, simply because I don't back out of friends that easily. At that moment I had serious doubts about the evidence presented, and still do. There is a lot of it, I won't deny, but some of it has been doctored with beyond doubt, and I personally could present similar 'evidence' within very little time without much problem.
But who cares about proof, guilt, judgement... What does it mean and bring us?
The only thing this whole thing has brought us is a huge controversy that has not brought pleasure to anybody, or if it did your morals are very low.
One thing that I still firmly believe in, is that the whole issue does NOT belong on the Org or its forums. Whether or not clan forums have been invaded or not is totally irrelevant to me. There is a minor chance that Tera used the option he had as Org admin to read passwords of members, but then again, many clan forums are so poorly protected that the password to them van be guessed on the second or third attempt. Again, right, wrong, what does it mean?
I won't comment on Tera's guilt or innocence. I have my opinion, others have theirs and there's no sense in keeping at each others throats about that. You won't convince me, I won't convince you.
What some people do want however, is an explanation about the bans. I will give you one, knowing that you probably won't find it acceptable.
First, and foremost, nobody has been banned for accusing a .Org staff member. We don't do in protectionism.
All the bans have been enforced as a result of the behaviour of the patrons themselves. I have not seen all the posts that got people banned, so don't ask me full details, I don't know them and I am not interested. I will go into the bans that I have seen happening:
Tinky - In his actions I see no sign of good intent. He only sought to bring Tera down, and found willing helpers that were only to keen to settle old scores. Because of that a permanent ban is well deserved.
Magyar - His persistence in bringing this case as almost a trial and his continuous efforts to push his version of the truth as the only truth is scary. This clearly is not according to .Org policies, and a one week ban is justified.
Monsta - After the initial bans he kept complaining in a way that's hard to justify. Especially when he compared .Org staff to Adolf Hitler he crossed a line. Whatever you may think, this is a comparison that is unacceptable in any respect. Justifies a two week ban anytime.
Kocmoc - Followed in Monsta's footsteps and brought back memories of Joseph Goebbels and the Burning of the Books. Two weeks...
There have been more, and I can justify all of them from within my perspective on this whole affair.
BUT!!!
Like I said, this is all from my perspective on reality, and who is to say that I am right? From your perspective I may well be totally wrong and you might be ready to throw mud at me, or chop off my head and boil soup of me...
I realise this, and have decided the differences in our opinions have reached a point where I can no longer represent you all as administrator of the Org. I believe in the choices I have made, and also believe in the choice I make now. I resign as administrator. I will reconsider at the moment my position as moderator of the tech support forum, knowing my responsibility I have towards the people who are posting there.
Right, wrong... I don't know. And I don't care that much. One day this was all about a game. People have taken this into a direction I don't even understand. Clan infiltrations, password trade-offs, subterfuge, judgement, verdict... I watch the news everyday and see things like that happening in the real world. Then I go into this virtual reality and see the same thing happening in a games forum...
Right... Wrong... I don't even care anymore... And I wonder what this has brought you all... Have you enjoyed it?
I call upon every member in the community to reconsider his responsiblities and actions.
I call upon my fellow administrators to reconsider the bans, not because we were wrong in enforcing them, but because they serve no purpose anymore. It's about time to stop all this nonsense.
I call upon those that sought 'justice' to let the matter rest. You made your point, Tera has resigned and all clan forums should by now have new passwords or you learned nothing (by the way, give me ten minutes and I'm in if I want http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif
I call upon those that wreaked havoc in the forums to reconsider some of the things you have said. I understand emotions got pretty high, but some of the things you said were beyond any standard.
I call upon every member of this community to hold the standards of the Org high. They have served us well and will serve us well in the future.
I have served this community for a long time, and I will do so in the future. In what capacity, I am not certain yet. It has been fun most of the time, but the fun has gone out of it over the past few weeks.
Yours truly,
Erado San
Over the past few weeks we have seen a controversy develop, in which a member of the Org staff has been accused of abusing his powers as an admin to retrieve passwords of Private Clan Forums.
Some claim he is proven guilt, others claim the proof is poor and has been tampered with. Guilty, not guilty, right, wrong, truth, lies... Oh how we think we know who is right or wrong... But what's right and what's wrong, and who's to judge?
We all have our own private window on reality. This window is defined by our morals, ethics and personal opinions. We all look upon the same reality, but see it differently from our private points of view.
From his personal belief Monsta is right. From my personal belief I am right. Who's to judge?
There is no logical answer to this. There are many emotional answers. Some will agree with one, some with the other. But that, as the current situation teaches us, gets us nowhere.
What can bring a solution is to look upon this from the different angles and try to find a common ground. Because of this approach I have been named 'The Voice of Reason' in a distant past by some in our community. Let's see if it leads us anywhere...
Some years ago Dan Goldstein founded Totalwar.org, known by many as the premier fansite for Total War games. Even before the release of Shogun, there were all kinds of sites popping up, and a number of clans appeared even then. Dan realised that the community didn't just need clans, but primarily a place where the game in all its detail and depth could be discussed. In such a place there would be no room for the strife and quarrels that Games like Total War, and especially the clans would generate.
The .Orgs policies have been based on that. No name calling, no accusations, no strife, knowing that you can't always prevent it, but at least stop it when needed.
---
From the moment I have seen this controversy develop I have stood behind Terazawa Tokugawa, simply because I don't back out of friends that easily. At that moment I had serious doubts about the evidence presented, and still do. There is a lot of it, I won't deny, but some of it has been doctored with beyond doubt, and I personally could present similar 'evidence' within very little time without much problem.
But who cares about proof, guilt, judgement... What does it mean and bring us?
The only thing this whole thing has brought us is a huge controversy that has not brought pleasure to anybody, or if it did your morals are very low.
One thing that I still firmly believe in, is that the whole issue does NOT belong on the Org or its forums. Whether or not clan forums have been invaded or not is totally irrelevant to me. There is a minor chance that Tera used the option he had as Org admin to read passwords of members, but then again, many clan forums are so poorly protected that the password to them van be guessed on the second or third attempt. Again, right, wrong, what does it mean?
I won't comment on Tera's guilt or innocence. I have my opinion, others have theirs and there's no sense in keeping at each others throats about that. You won't convince me, I won't convince you.
What some people do want however, is an explanation about the bans. I will give you one, knowing that you probably won't find it acceptable.
First, and foremost, nobody has been banned for accusing a .Org staff member. We don't do in protectionism.
All the bans have been enforced as a result of the behaviour of the patrons themselves. I have not seen all the posts that got people banned, so don't ask me full details, I don't know them and I am not interested. I will go into the bans that I have seen happening:
Tinky - In his actions I see no sign of good intent. He only sought to bring Tera down, and found willing helpers that were only to keen to settle old scores. Because of that a permanent ban is well deserved.
Magyar - His persistence in bringing this case as almost a trial and his continuous efforts to push his version of the truth as the only truth is scary. This clearly is not according to .Org policies, and a one week ban is justified.
Monsta - After the initial bans he kept complaining in a way that's hard to justify. Especially when he compared .Org staff to Adolf Hitler he crossed a line. Whatever you may think, this is a comparison that is unacceptable in any respect. Justifies a two week ban anytime.
Kocmoc - Followed in Monsta's footsteps and brought back memories of Joseph Goebbels and the Burning of the Books. Two weeks...
There have been more, and I can justify all of them from within my perspective on this whole affair.
BUT!!!
Like I said, this is all from my perspective on reality, and who is to say that I am right? From your perspective I may well be totally wrong and you might be ready to throw mud at me, or chop off my head and boil soup of me...
I realise this, and have decided the differences in our opinions have reached a point where I can no longer represent you all as administrator of the Org. I believe in the choices I have made, and also believe in the choice I make now. I resign as administrator. I will reconsider at the moment my position as moderator of the tech support forum, knowing my responsibility I have towards the people who are posting there.
Right, wrong... I don't know. And I don't care that much. One day this was all about a game. People have taken this into a direction I don't even understand. Clan infiltrations, password trade-offs, subterfuge, judgement, verdict... I watch the news everyday and see things like that happening in the real world. Then I go into this virtual reality and see the same thing happening in a games forum...
Right... Wrong... I don't even care anymore... And I wonder what this has brought you all... Have you enjoyed it?
I call upon every member in the community to reconsider his responsiblities and actions.
I call upon my fellow administrators to reconsider the bans, not because we were wrong in enforcing them, but because they serve no purpose anymore. It's about time to stop all this nonsense.
I call upon those that sought 'justice' to let the matter rest. You made your point, Tera has resigned and all clan forums should by now have new passwords or you learned nothing (by the way, give me ten minutes and I'm in if I want http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif
I call upon those that wreaked havoc in the forums to reconsider some of the things you have said. I understand emotions got pretty high, but some of the things you said were beyond any standard.
I call upon every member of this community to hold the standards of the Org high. They have served us well and will serve us well in the future.
I have served this community for a long time, and I will do so in the future. In what capacity, I am not certain yet. It has been fun most of the time, but the fun has gone out of it over the past few weeks.
Yours truly,
Erado San