So what do you do?

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thank you, Left Coaster. I read that and started to say something but didn't thinking maybe I was just being paranoid and reading too much in to things.

Kathy, I may have posted snark earlier, but I am sincere in saying that I do look forward to any explanation offered. I still have concern that this is a "you'll be hearing from my lawyer" stall tactic because it happens so much in life that it's a total cliche. Maybe I'll be proven wrong. Time will tell I suppose.

Edited to add that I do appreciate you, Kathy and Mary Jo, responding and trying to answer questions as best you can for right now.

Honestly, from my perspective, I took Kathy's remark to mean that she would expect you to be skeptical in light of the past few days, and I did not take it as disparaging to you - I don't think Kathy is like that. She was acknowledging you respectfully (that is how I took it). I was taken aback that it would be received in another way... and it could be because of how we know each other.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[glass slipper girl]

The smiley is what kept me from posting anything before. I admit I was taken aback but given the current situation and mood I didn't because like I said, I didn't know if I was reading too much in to it.

 

[KathyTX]

That's exactly what I meant- that it's clear you think for yourself, and I would expect and hope that a little healthy skepticism would be normal!

I don't know how that got misconstrued as snarky, it certainly wasn't intended that way.

 

[Buckalew11]

That's where tone and expression are needed to decipher the real meaning of a statement (and often lost in writing), I don't think for a minute that she was being rude or uncivil.

I think she was saying that the poster was a reasonable person for expecting loose ends to be tied up, so it all made sense.

That is the way I also read it. I was surprised when I saw that some didn't read it that way!

 

[Caropooh]

Honestly, from my perspective, I took Kathy's remark to mean that she would expect you to be skeptical in light of the past few days, and I did not take it as disparaging to you - I don't think Kathy is like that. She was acknowledging you respectfully (that is how I took it). I was taken aback that it would be received in another way... and it could be because of how we know each other.

I hope that makes sense.

That was the way I read it too and I don't even know WMK personally

 

[JennyMominRI]

That's where tone and expression are needed to decipher the real meaning of a statement (and often lost in writing), I don't think for a minute that she was being rude or uncivil.

I think she was saying that the poster was a reasonable person for expecting loose ends to be tied up, so it all made sense.

That was my feeling also.

 

[TCPluto]

and it REALLY is wrong that someone used those skills to kidnap me and so many others..." I didnt think for a minute, and still dont, that anyone "higher up" in the DIS made that happen as many have suggested; that just wouldnt make sense.

I'm confident you're wrong about that.....

It didn't/doesn't make sense because it was truly an accident.

 

[Tinks]

Honestly, from my perspective, I took Kathy's remark to mean that she would expect you to be skeptical in light of the past few days, and I did not take it as disparaging to you - I don't think Kathy is like that. She was acknowledging you respectfully (that is how I took it). I was taken aback that it would be received in another way... and it could be because of how we know each other.

I hope that makes sense.

And, see, I agree with you. But why did she ban Leftcoaster so quickly? I don't think he was being disrespectful either. Truly. It's this indiscriminate banning that's making everyone afraid to say boo.

 

[glass slipper girl]

That's exactly what I meant- that it's clear you think for yourself, and I would expect and hope that a little healthy skepticism would be normal!

I don't know how that got misconstrued as snarky, it certainly wasn't intended that way.

All cleared up. Thank you. With everything happening sometimes it's a bit hard not to be paranoid! I'm glad that is all it was (my paranoia that is).

 

[glass slipper girl]

I'm confident you're wrong about that.....

It didn't/doesn't make sense because it was truly an accident.

That was my impression of the redirect also, that it was an accidental programming error that was quickly corrected. If someone had hacked and set that up I would think that one, it wouldn't have been corrected so quickly and two, that there would be some way of being able to look at the administrator logs and see the IP of the person who was logged in and made the change. I could be wrong, I've never run a board on this software but on other software every change to the admin pannel has the IP address logged so it would be relatively easy to figure out who it was if it was really a DIS poster.

I don't think that the higher ups made it happen, I think it happened accidentally while they were tinkering with the programming to keep links from the other site to the dis from actually reaching this board. An accident. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[douglisa]

I forgot to say that we as adults should have a choice about where we post and who we talk to. It is also a choice to go to the other site where things are not as sprinkled w/ pixie dust or watered down. I myself would choose to never have read what was said about me. Made me sad and hurt my feelings. But I also accept responsibility for my actions and if I ever wanted to go there, that is if I were feeling masochistic, I would like to have the choice.

 

[Briarmom]

I was on vacation when 'everything' happened, and just got back last night. Per usual, I should have stayed in Disney World.

 

[Imzadi]

Breaking my silence as WMKathy's here. Which I hope means so far, those of us posting to this thread will still be around tomorrow.

I am breaking my silence just to say that I am sad and that is why I haven't been posting here. I only break my silence this one time to mention that I have been through 2 board wars in the past - a couponing board...

Some folks who are now banned have helped me through rough patches in my life and they have laughed along with me, too. We've gone through a lot... It was like a family. Doesn't that count for something?

I miss my DISfriends. That's all ....

That wasn't the MyCoupons great breakup, was it? I still miss people from over there.

I was a part of that, too. I don't really want to go through that again.

I was a part of that MyCoupons board too, and was posting the nite that board was unceremoniously murdered. The irony was that that board was named "Your FAMILY Board," only we weren't just posting only about our kids - we truly were a family to each other - an Internet family.

After we all splintered off, I followed someone here. But I never became close to anyone here, not after going through a ripping apart like that once before. But I loved being here, getting a laugh, getting & giving advice and support.

I've kept my mouth closed the past few days. As many of you know I can be pretty up front about stuff. But I want to stay here. I want the others who want to come back to be able to come back.

She won't be the only one left. There are thousands of people registered on the Dis.

You didn't see the MyCoupons Board after our community board was murdered. Oh, it was still drawing newbies in for a while, but that was due to the reputation WE had founded for it. After a few months, even the newbies realised there was no real soul or personality to that board. It became just an informational board, and not a very good one, as it depended on it's posters to supply the info, research, tips, cross-checking, etc. With the heart of the board cut out, no one stayed. Not even newbies. There really wasn't enough to stay for.

Those of us that splintered off help build up new communities we joined, like here. Those latter newbies eventually find there ways to the more thriving boards, where we all ended up at. You can tell when a Forum has soul. MyCoupons is now probably a tenth of what it was in membership. It's a ghost board.

Ninety people here is a lot to lose. If every one of those people posted a bare minimum of 5 posts a day, that's 450 posts gone, each day. And that's not even counting the clique threads, which many people posted like, 5 posts in an hour.

I really don't want this place to turn into a ghost board. I miss the people who are gone.

 

[AKpooh]

i have read all the posts and all i want to say is how sorry this all happened. losing friends over something they know nothing about is horrible.

also for someone to say we cant say what is going on just adds fuel to the fire.

my heart goes out to all those that have friends that are gone from here.

 

[praline3001]

I hesitated writing this as I am in no way a part of the goings on here. Reading this thread HAS explained a few things that have happened to me over the past weekend though.

I am so sorry this is happening to you a'll ... I almost teared up a few times and I am not even a part of it!!!!

With that said, please see things from the other end of the spectrum. I belong to a small little group where we chat daily on our little thread. Is it a clique? possibly... in that nobody else really cares about the subject and leaves us alone

This weekend was a rainy yucky weekend in my neck of the woods. DH was working and I was bored... so I delved into the CB as I saw a few post that caught my eye. I posted on the movie quote thread and kind of got hooked. We are talking B rated old sci fi movies ....nothing glitzy there. During our game, we had a poster come in and post 2 or 3 post and then go TOTALLY off on us for no reason that I could figure out. I don't remember this posters name but they were really nasty to the little group and we were in our own little world... this poster then stated that she had reported us and we were all going to be banned.
WOW... for someone that hasn't been around the DIS that long and uses the DIS primarily for their upcoming trip that is pretty scary
I had no idea what I had done... and no idea if I was going to be banned. I felt like I was posting with Cybil.

Was this person a horrible person? Probably not. I believe she was reading into something that just was plain NOT there. How B rated Sci Fi movie quotes could become an insult... I will never understand.

My point being, I and others who are not involved personally, feel for you. It seems a lot of people got a tough break. But taking it out on those of us who are in no way involved seems just as unfair.

I have tried to post on 3 or 4 different threads that have either disapeared or have been taken over by this particular situation.

It would help a great deal if the mods would have a certain thread (such as this one or another just like it) that you can voice your displeasure (to a modest and respectful tune) or discuss this ongoing problem.
I think ALL the DIS posters are getting a rough deal. You guys for not having your friends or for being banned and then the rest of us who are having to deal with the symptoms of the problem while trying to keep our own little groups from falling apart.

This was not meant to tick anyone off... I just wanted the other side of the nickle to be seen.

 

[PlainJane]

And, see, I agree with you. But why did she ban Leftcoaster so quickly? I don't think he was being disrespectful either. Truly. It's this indiscriminate banning that's making everyone afraid to say boo.

How do you know he was banned? I looked at his profile to see what time he last posted and it listed it at a time after your post about him getting banned.

I'm not asking to be argumentative btw.

Back OT
I believe in rules. I went to a very strict co-op (think private school that meets twice a week for home schoolers). I always appreciated the rules that it had, even if they were more excessive than I would follow in my everyday life. I understand that if you give people an inch, then they run a mile. I went their knowing the what was expected of me, and I agreed to to live up to it. Then my best friend was expelled because the principal's daughter didn't like her. The school was never the same for me.

I really hope there is an explanation, and this isn't 10th grade all over again.

 

[Kycha]

People aren't happy here anymore. I can't say I blame them. They've lost over 80 friends in the last week for what?? WHY? no one will say or wait we are still waiting for the lawyers and lawsuit right? How can they feel like they dont have to make a choice?

Wow! Is it over 80 now? I thought the hemmoraghing had slowed to a trickle...I guess not.

Add me to the list of those who are sad to see so many familiar "faces" gone. Although I've never developed the close ties with individual posters that others have, there are many members who I recognize and respect (or at least just get a kick out of). Some, unfortunately, are on those lists that pop up and then disappear. The loss of those folks is felt by many here, even if they didn't know us by name.

Ditto! I don't have close ties with any of the banned either. But, I have surely noticed their absence.

So I'm not sad or mourning friends or any of that. I'm just ticked off as a matter of principle. Who in the heck are the powers that be at the DIS to tell me (or anyone else) what I can and cannot say in places other than the DIS?

I wholeheartedly agree. If the TOS had stated being a member of the offending board was a reason to ban from the DIS, then I wouldn't have a problem with the actions that transpired. But, from what I recall the TOS did not. And now I understand that the TOS has changed. Does anyone know what changes were made?

 

[MrsKreamer]

I am really upset about some of the members that were banned. They stood up for me when I was mentioned "over there". I love it here. It is the longest I have ever belonged to any message board. I hope to see some familar faces soon.

 

[NMAmy]

In any case the point is moot. Aside from what business owners think is right about groups investing time in posting to a board, very few of us actually put any money into this enterprise. Therefore, since we have no financial stake in the DISboards, we really have no reason to expect the owners to behave in any particular way. While it's nice and considerate for them to speak about whatever legal agendas they're persuing, legally they don't have to tell us a blinkin' thing.

Really? Because I consider us to be customers of the DIS. Even though I'm perfectly capable of making my own WDW reservations, I use DU to support this board. I use the services of other sponsors of the boards and post good reviews when I get back and tout these businesses in my trip reports if I'm happy with the services. Others give money as DIS sponsors. I've refered many people IRL to this site and to those services. We're good advertising for those services and this site.

I'm a non-confrontational poster. I never swear. I've never gotten points. I've never had a post deleted until this weekend when I had the gall to question what was going on. And that ticked me off. I'm friends with many of those who are gone and it ticks me off that they were booted. And I plan on expressing my displeasure with my pocketbook in the future.

For someone who has only been posting here for a few months, you seem to be very involved in this fight and I can't help but wonder why.

 

[LaraK]

Well it looks like we are all still here.

Thank you to the mods for letting us have a civil discussion about this.

To everyone else I'm holding out hope that what WMK said is true and we get our friends back.

To those who were throwing our upset in our faces, memories can be very very long. Fake names don't hide true personalities.