Much if not most/all of the minorities thread has been added to the message board at the TM Homepage, if anyone wants to read it.
http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/bbs.html
>^,^<
“Cluemobile? You’ve got a pickup…”
OpalCat’s site: http://fathom.org/opalcat
The Teeming Millions Homepage: fathom.org/teemingmillions
Opal: I wasn’t going to post at all in this thread; however, your last posting above compels me to remark on what you are doing here.
What you are doing here is jumping into a morass and touting another site as a better place; in this case, that just happens to be your site.
In some parts, that’s called trolling and in some other parts, it’s called spamming.
Hang on a second – Several posters have asked that the thread in question be reposted. They have been told:
The STMB does not have the ability to repost the thread itself, but someone else can repost it if he or she wants to; and
In the event the thread is reposted, the STMB reserves the right to censor it for content again.
In light of these representations, it seems reasonable to conclude that the chances of ever reading on this Board the thread that caused this whole meltdown, in its entirety, are slim and none.
OpalCat runs a very entertaining sister site that serves to keep people up to date on what’s going on and who’s who in our twisted little world. In so doing, she adds another, much appreciated dimension to the site. She risks her good relationship with The Straight Dope, which allows her site to reference it, by deciding to post a thread that the SDMB presumably would prefer not to be posted (we can presume that because the thread was taken down). So, by posting the thread:
She is doing the posters a favor, by placing it in a place where they can conveniently access it and make up their own minds on whether or not it was objectionable; and
She is doing so with at least some small risk to her own site, and there is no guarantee The Powers That Be at The Straight Dope will appreciate her doing it.
Now, I’m not interested in reading the thread anyway. I think this horse is dead and rotting and I see no need to further beat it. But I don’t think that OpalCat’s obvious attempt to do a favor for those who are still interested should be rewarded with accusations that she is a spammer or a troll. And as I’ve asked before, can’t we all just take a Valium? There’s entirely too much name-calling an sniping going on over an issue that’s already caused enough damage. Jeez.
Aw, c’mon, get your head out of your ass. She’s not selling truck parts, for chrissake, she’s reposting a thread that was pulled from the SDMB so that those who were interested could be brought up to speed, alright?
a) I respect the work done by our moderators, who have an often difficult job. When you have an often-difficult job, you fuck up sometimes, and it often isn’t fair to hurl pissed-on invective-coated postings at moderators when [you think that] they fucked up.
b) The above statement should be reread twice, once for Melin, once for Ed. Concentrating on Ed, well, I think you fucked up but it was your call to make. I assume good intentions on your part at the time. Without hesitation.
c) While I realize that under far too many social circumstances it is dangerous to decide that you made a mistake after a multitude of people claim that you made a mistake simply because, subsequently, people will feel that the sheer weight of noise and numbers overturned city hall and propriety and so forth, you…COULD consider it a challenge of sorts…the crafting and delivery of a statement that would indicate that you had, for reasons unrelated to the volume and intensity of the clamor, come to reconsider a decision, for specifiable reasons, accompanied by an equally specific statement explaining that it was NOT a case of the squeaky wheel obtaining the proverbial grease. If, of course, you do in fact find yourself wishing that you had engineered a different outcome. (Yes, for the record I think the dismissal of Melin is an inappropriate outcome, based on what I know).
Designated Optional Signature at Bottom of Post
Monty:
Then don’t!
I don’t think there’s a single person who has contributed to this thread that isn’t at least a little curious about what was in the “minorities” thread. Ed has as much said he won’t allow it to be posted here in its entirty. If you think it’s an abuse for Opal to use this board to steer people toward the uncensored truth, you have given up the fight against ignorance.
Okay guys, it’s time to end this and move on.
Please all remember there are always three truths to every story: the story told by one party, the story told by the other party, and then there’s what really happened, which is usually some combination of the two plus a little more thrown in.
There’s an email going around that says that I lied. I’d like to assure you that I did not lie, and that every fact I have told you about what happened has been made in the sincere belief in what I have said. I have tried to present my point of view accurately. When I made a mistake about Nickrz, for example, I posted a retraction after he and I discussed it.
The other people involved are, I think, also sincere in that they think things happened the way they say they happened. As I have reflected on this over the last few days, and have seen what Ed has posted, I have come to believe that what’s happened here this week has been the end result of some major miscommunications all around. I think I made some, I think Jill made some, I think Ed made some, and I think Jenny made some. At least, I hope that’s what’s been happening, because I don’t think any of us are bad people, I think we all just didn’t listen really well to what each other was saying. To the extent that I caused any of the problems, I apologize. To the extent that anyone else has caused the problems, I say – it’s over, let’s put it behind us.
I am touched, and somewhat amused, frankly :), to have gotten support across a wide range of folks, from people with whom I’ve had differences in the past (C#3? Phil?), or whose posts I have pulled for one reason or another, all the way through people with whom I had friendly, chatty relationships with over on MPSIMS. As I said over there, it’s a cliche to say “I’m honored” – but I really am. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Anyway, time to move on, shall we? I think I’ll take a break for a while – I’m getting ready to go on vacation soon – and then maybe check back here once in a while. Stay in touch, okay?
To borrow a quote, “thanks for the memories.” Deity bless.
-Melin
Former Board Goddess
I’m not at all surprised that Monty chose this opportunity to take a cheap pot shot at me.
Monty? Give it up. Ed said very specifically that he would edit the thread if it were posted. That seemed pretty crappy to everyone. Well I happened to run a board where it could be posted without censorship, so I offered its use. Once the thread was actually THERE, I posted that it was, for those inclined to read it. What is there is more complete than what is here in the Pit.
If you think it was some kind of an “ad” for my site… think again. I don’t need to place such ads, as all of my sites do quite nicely for traffic, thankyouverymuch.
In keeping with the spirit of the Pit, I’d like to invite Monty to take his bony, ears-sticking-out ugly head and remove it from his smelly, shit-encrusted asshole for once.
>^,^<
“Cluemobile? You’ve got a pickup…”
OpalCat’s site: http://fathom.org/opalcat
The Teeming Millions Homepage: fathom.org/teemingmillions
I finally did get the opportunity to check out the reposting of the Minorities thread on the TM Homepage. It’s been thoroughly slaughtered. Big surprise, right? Much appreciation for posting what you could get your hands on though, Opal.
BTW, Opal, I happen to love the TM Homepage, and I have it bookmarked.
–Christina D. Sanders–
Purveyor of Substandard Poetry
Queen of Idealism
Prisoner of Realism
Mistress of Surrealism
Hunter of new -isms
Professional Procrastinator
Suburban Savage
Jane Doe Extraordinaire
I guess there’s not much for me to add. This has been my favorite “place” for months now, and I don’t think I will abandon it, but I’ve lost a lot of fondness for it, and a lot of trust in those who run it.
Goodbye, Mel, and good luck.
Wow-- THAT’S how I feel, Jens. I just haven’t been able to get my slogan together.
I just don’t have any enthusiasm for this board anymore.
And loyalty? Puh-leeze. This is entertainment, not my family. I don’t watch Masterpiece Theatre when WGBH chooses a stinker, out of loyalty to PBS, or some such thing.
I’ve been reading the Melin-related threads for the past couple of days, but nothing else, and this is my first post in days. I used to post to threads on this board almost every day.
Anyway, been nice knowing you, and maybe someday I’ll be back, but for now–
Shalom.
–Rowan (Rivkah)
Wow,
I go on vacation for a week and all kinds of things blow up.
I would have to echo what a few people before me have said.
I used to read this board regularly, and contribute staggardly as a fun way to take my mind off of things. This episode leaves a skunky taste in my mouth. I am sure I will continue to need to take breaks during the day, but I am unsure that the Straight Dope message board will be the first place I hit.
I would support the idea that I remember PapaBear making a long time ago, when Contestant 3 and David B. were in the middle of one of their tiffs, Moderators - moderate, Posters post never the two shall meet. Oh, well, maybe I am tired, and this annoys me more then it should, I will try posting a happy message to the MPSIMS, see if I can escape the nasty name calling and backstabbing that seemed to go on here. Melin, you are great, you will be missed.
Pat
Melin, I think that was a very sensible and mature posting. It looks as though everyone had a different perspective, valid to them, and tempers flared. That’s sad, but done, and it’s time to move on. Ed, Jill, Melin, and TUBADIVA have all said, “Whoa,” and I think we should respect their wishes, and stop beating moi.
If any of you had been paying attention, you would have seen Thirsty4 had a copy of the thread and was offering to email it to anyone who asked, LAST WEDNESDAY. It’s an unexpurgated cache file of the board page.
That’s where I got mine, and if any of you would still like to read it, just email me.
bmarlin@xnet.com
I have only read Zotti’s posting of melin’s letter and skimmed a few other postings, so sorry if this sounds out of touch. I’m a nightshifter and it’s late for me.
I lurked the original ‘miorities’ thread and, on the whole, it struck me as one of the few honest and open discussions on race that I have heard. melin’s comments did not strike me as racist. Her firing, on the other hand, is unfair and could be considered wrongful termination if it could be proven that she did not want to leave (and this thread is proof of that.) The Straight Dope blew it.
I HAVE THE ORIGINAL THREAD IN AN EMAIL FOLDER. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAIL IT TO ANYONE THAT ASKS (I’LL SET UP A SEPARATE THREAD FOR THIS).
I was a major element on this thread and the member, it seems, that Jill or Ed or someone felt that Melin was defending against another administrator. This is pure bullshit. (I can say it in the Pit) All she did was quote some things I said in order to make her point that she was not alone in her opinions. We all do that all the time, on every thread, at every site…and she, very simply, was not defending anyone but herself.
I posted last at 9:22 PM…after Melin’s “terrible offense” (Give me a break!!) I have had personal things to deal with and have not been back until today. I am overwhelmed with all the material I have to catch up on. (perhaps some of you can guide me to the sites concerning this…there seem to be many)
I am also OUTRAGED that Melin was fired over this and have ALOT of things to say. Mr. Zotti’s decision to fire Melin apparantly came as a result of the 24 hours between my last posting and time this thread was started. He says he gave this a lot of thought and attention. I find this hard to believe in such a short time period. I intend to address some things directly to Mr. Zotti, as well as Cecil, when I have read more about what is happening.
This is appalling!! In the extreme…
As an administrative decision…it was, at best one of frustration. As per Mr. Zotti’s own words, he chose to “stretch” a previous directive (not policy) to fit this incident. He demanded a response. Jill’s was immediate approval (duh!!) and Melin opted to maintain her position. Does this mean that Zotti is only interested in puppets or does he just choose to accept, as truth, that which is said to please him and happens to be self-serving for the “yes person”?
I am deeply concerned about what has happened here and want to apologize to all for not being here to provide the information you have asked for. I’ll sign off here and start a thread (in Great Debates) for email requests and other questions for me.
{{If you wanna get technical about it, she is correct and you are not. Because her original assertion was that LEAVING was NOT her choice. And it was not. She was going to be gone one way or another. She was not given an option to NOT be gone. She was only given a choice as to how the end result of her no longer being employed there would be accomplished.}}
Actually, Melin was given a choice. She was told to stop a certain behavior, and she chose not to stop it.
Lynn/SDStaff Lynn
Did she continue to post on the board after Ed said to stop?
>^,^<
“Cluemobile? You’ve got a pickup…”
OpalCat’s site: http://fathom.org/opalcat
The Teeming Millions Homepage: fathom.org/teemingmillions
OOps–I don’t understand the new system–so I can’t tell where my thread got posted, but it is there. I have read pieces and you guys really need to get the ENTIRE thread if you are interested in knowing what really happened. I have also posted responses to 2 other threads…This has gotten so far from what happened I don’t even know how to help.
