If Ed clearly does care about the board, AND has connections to the Sun Times (used to or still works there?), might it be worth emailing him directly to ask about this situation?
What situation? We are currently cruising under the radar, apparently, and yes, while we cannot know the future here, might raising our hand here attract attention we currently enjoy not having? Is there risk being noticed may hasten what we all fear - do we need to have a plan? I don’t know what the right thing to do is, tho.
There isn’t really a situation. This is a minor hysteria. He has been @'d, that should be enough if he thinks anything here needs addressing.
I don’t know if it even rises to the level of “minor hysteria”… it’s just a concern/deliberation.
I for one would be sad to see the SDMB disappear, and would appreciate reassurances or a specific plan to help prevent that.
If we hear nothing and nothing gets done and it all goes poof one day, well, I’d be sad, but life would go on. But if there’s anything I/we can do to help prevent that (however unlikely) possibility, I’d be willing and eager to pitch in, that’s all.
No sale is pending, no bankruptcy is pending. Neither Tin soldiers or Nixon are coming for the SDMB. The fact there are 4 threads active in ATMB on this subjects feels like a self-generating minor hysteria or choose the word that you feel better fits it.
I fear if inquiries go to far up to the parent company and they notice we’re here, they might wonder why we’re here and if they should keep paying for us to be here.
Contacting Ed Zotti is fine, but bothering the Chicago Public Media or Chicago Sun-Times may do more harm than good.
That was my sense as well.
Well, I guess let’s hope he sees the @ mention and has the time to offer a few words here.
Edit: PS It’s not that I’m worried about a sale or bankruptcy per se, but that the Straight Dope (as a column) is an already-small part of whatever outfit happens to own them at any given time. Of that, the SDMB is an even smaller part. Either or both could be shut down even without an ownership change, for all the reasons you and others already said. Hopefully we’d get some warning in that event.
It’s suspicious that you left off the next line: “We’re finally on our own.” What isn’t said is always important!