This is really way below the belt. Patriek does more for the MSX Community than you can imagine and at moments like these the only thing you can do is be negative about him without forgetting all the positive he has done already and will do for the community.
Well, I think that apart from Herbert's post, the others raised valid points/opinions. And after all, GuyveR800 *did* choose to throw this in the open, and then you then can't expect everyone to agree with that (as long as they don't start swearing - oops -_-;;).
By the way, it is funny. The MSX Mailinglist may not be the best place to discuss something like this, because everyone receives these messages and you can't really choose to ignore messages on this topic. Kind of the downside of a mailing list I guess. Anyways, the 'funny' part (in a strange, twisted way, I guess :/) is that a forum would be a much more practical place for this, yet it apparantly cannot be discussed there because, well, sounds like it is being censored.
What I think about this (given the little info I have about the details) is that it seems to me the MRC is a bit too trigger-happy with the moderation, and abuses their 'power'. With the latter I mean that MRC basically has a lot of respect from the MSX community... if they say something, it is given greater weight automatically, and if they want to handle things professionally they hence have to be careful in what they say, or in the way they moderate.
What I think needs to happen... First of all, MRC apparantly does not see a need to resolve this, and certainly does not believe that they are at least also partly to blame. Maybe rethinking this would be, to put it lightly, a Good Idea.
Also, they need to adjust their policy. The current one for example states "Everything on the msx.org domain, except for reactions on newsposts, forum entries and files in the freeware downloads database, is copyrighted by The MSX Resource Center.". Following from this is that those three mentioned are copyrighted by the respective user, and means that they have to honour all requests the user has, even for deletion of all copyrighted material from their site. The forum edit lock after 30 minutes is also in strong contrast with this line of the policy. In other words, change it (though files should ofcourse stay copyrighted), or live by it.
I think GuyveR800 on the other hand needs to pipe down a little. The MRC *is* their site, and if they don't want certain things to appear on it, I'd say it is basically in their rights to remove it. Ofcourse, it isn't exactly good for their image as an independant site when they throw free speech in the garbage bin (like Daniel said). Posting negative things about the MRC on their forum however doesn't exactly make it easy for them to ignore.
Also, I have my doubts that it was really nessecary to bring this in the open. I understand that you are frustrated by the way the MRC treats you lately and basically doesn't let you defend yourself. However it might be a (very) good idea to sometimes swallow your pride and not let the situation escalate further. Ofcourse, I guess it is too late now.
On the other hand, as the MRC first said they closed the discussion because they wanted to 'resolve it internally', and later on privately changed their minds, apparantly they either 1. want to resolve it in the open, or 2. don't want to resolve it at all, which seems quite a bad choice and disrespectful towards one of their prime users to boot. So, what are you left with then.
Btw, note that if such a thing is brought 'to the attention of the public', then it is kind of hard for that 'public' to make a judgement without knowing the details. Though I'm making a good job trying just that, apparantly :). And I read you wanted a "public apology and full rehabilitation". Well, maybe I missed something, but I didn't really see the MRC publicly dismiss you (what happened privately is a seperate matter), certainly not enough to justify such a 'public apology', so a demand for this does seem a bit over the top. A public apology as-in frontpage post at least, an apology in an appropriate forum thread (if they would finally allow one) would be another matter ofcourse.
It wouldn't surprise me if Patriek decided to take all his MSX related sites offline and turn his back on the community completely. It would be quite a loss to the entire community, so I really hope he won't do that.
That would be soo like... er... ah, let's not go that way. Let's just say that if that were to happen, I'd think it were pretty hypocrite.
~Grauw
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