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_ Editors _ The Undertow

Posted by: the_undertow

So I'm asking for help from moderators, or administrators of this board, but even contact with those who have been long-time members, it has lead to the notion that my best bet for result would be to post to a forum.

For those who were not around five years ago, not much will make sense. I was very defiant, very standoffish, and difficult.

As an admin I was very active in BLP, even proposing the crazy notion that those who are living, regardless of notability, should simply be able to opt out of a Wikipedia article.

I also have a bit of infamy for unblocking Moulton, resulting in my first ban. As many would have hoped, I have moved on. I no longer edit; no longer spend copious amounts of time on Wikipedia. I am married, and have a career.

Four years ago I became a revenue agent for the government and a thread http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=26748 nearly buried me. However, I survived and moved on. When I started dating the love of my life, the same thread came up, as she read everything I had ever posted here, never having heard of WP or WR. She did her due diligence. A google search of my name puts this thread between the first and fourth result; trumping 38 years of things I have accomplished. Most of you would know this as "UNDUE."

A year ago, an admin had the thread de-indexed. As of now, I am again being scrutinized as I start my own endeavor. As a former government agent, I left a career, because I wanted to be part of something better. I became a field auditor, auditing only government municipalities. I sobered up, got married, and then moved towards taxation, as my Master's is in Taxation.

As I'm finishing my busy season, I'm focused on my family. My now wife, married me despite the threads, after long talks about WP and WR and who I was then and who I aspire to be. I gave up the drink and the smoke to work and to play.

While there are some, who justifiably believe that because I signed my full name, that I should be accountable for my actions, trust me when I say that I am. I have many regrets, but I don't regret everything I've done on WP or on WR. Everything stupid I had done was fueled by anger and alcohol. I was not unlike most editors at the time. Take alcohol out of the equation, and editing was not fun. Take anger out of the equation, and well, you have this: https://www.loom.com/s/384cf6aca96dd6756ac32f99eaafb4e198c43d3d

I realize that the thread in question will not be deleted, so all I ask is that I am able to redact my last name. It is preventing me from moving forward with my own clientele, mortgage lenders (yes kids, it does affect everything), and even my license as a CPA.

I do understand we are all accountable for our actions. I have done many stupid things in real-life; so many I could write a novel. But I have been able to move on because the stain is internal. The Internet, however, holds on to the most minute of grudges.

As we move into a "social media" world, not only do we become less social, but our main instrument in which to judge is Google. And at the moment, Google doesn't care that I am married. Google doesn't care that I donate time and money to the ASPCA. It doesn't care that I move forward, nor that I do not edit Wikipedia. It doesn't care that I was so appalled with the government that I filed a suit that forever changed the way employees are treated. Google doesn't care that I was a senior for a Non-profit that rescues 700 children a year from domestic abuse. Google doesn't care about me, in particular. Google produces the aforementioned thread because Google only has access to things in which I gave it.

All I ask is that my last name be redacted so Google could start caring about the things I'm doing, instead of the one time - that one single moment in time, when I was desperate, and drinking, and used my full name, in one thread, on one website, in one moment of time.

Clearly I would like the thread deleted, but I understand if the board's ethos is that of posterity. I only ask that I am able to redact my last name, so Google can take its course, and I no longer have this hanging over my head.

Regards,
Chip

Posted by: Emperor

QUOTE(the_undertow @ Sun 13th April 2014, 3:40am) *

So I'm asking for help from moderators, or administrators of this board, but even contact with those who have been long-time members, it has lead to the notion that my best bet for result would be to post to a forum.

For those who were not around five years ago, not much will make sense. I was very defiant, very standoffish, and difficult.

As an admin I was very active in BLP, even proposing the crazy notion that those who are living, regardless of notability, should simply be able to opt out of a Wikipedia article.

I also have a bit of infamy for unblocking Moulton, resulting in my first ban. As many would have hoped, I have moved on. I no longer edit; no longer spend copious amounts of time on Wikipedia. I am married, and have a career.

Four years ago I became a revenue agent for the government and a thread http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=26748 nearly buried me. However, I survived and moved on. When I started dating the love of my life, the same thread came up, as she read everything I had ever posted here, never having heard of WP or WR. She did her due diligence. A google search of my name puts this thread between the first and fourth result; trumping 38 years of things I have accomplished. Most of you would know this as "UNDUE."

A year ago, an admin had the thread de-indexed. As of now, I am again being scrutinized as I start my own endeavor. As a former government agent, I left a career, because I wanted to be part of something better. I became a field auditor, auditing only government municipalities. I sobered up, got married, and then moved towards taxation, as my Master's is in Taxation.

As I'm finishing my busy season, I'm focused on my family. My now wife, married me despite the threads, after long talks about WP and WR and who I was then and who I aspire to be. I gave up the drink and the smoke to work and to play.

While there are some, who justifiably believe that because I signed my full name, that I should be accountable for my actions, trust me when I say that I am. I have many regrets, but I don't regret everything I've done on WP or on WR. Everything stupid I had done was fueled by anger and alcohol. I was not unlike most editors at the time. Take alcohol out of the equation, and editing was not fun. Take anger out of the equation, and well, you have this: https://www.loom.com/s/384cf6aca96dd6756ac32f99eaafb4e198c43d3d

I realize that the thread in question will not be deleted, so all I ask is that I am able to redact my last name. It is preventing me from moving forward with my own clientele, mortgage lenders (yes kids, it does affect everything), and even my license as a CPA.

I do understand we are all accountable for our actions. I have done many stupid things in real-life; so many I could write a novel. But I have been able to move on because the stain is internal. The Internet, however, holds on to the most minute of grudges.

As we move into a "social media" world, not only do we become less social, but our main instrument in which to judge is Google. And at the moment, Google doesn't care that I am married. Google doesn't care that I donate time and money to the ASPCA. It doesn't care that I move forward, nor that I do not edit Wikipedia. It doesn't care that I was so appalled with the government that I filed a suit that forever changed the way employees are treated. Google doesn't care that I was a senior for a Non-profit that rescues 700 children a year from domestic abuse. Google doesn't care about me, in particular. Google produces the aforementioned thread because Google only has access to things in which I gave it.

All I ask is that my last name be redacted so Google could start caring about the things I'm doing, instead of the one time - that one single moment in time, when I was desperate, and drinking, and used my full name, in one thread, on one website, in one moment of time.

Clearly I would like the thread deleted, but I understand if the board's ethos is that of posterity. I only ask that I am able to redact my last name, so Google can take its course, and I no longer have this hanging over my head.

Regards,
Chip


Sorry, I think everyone is pretty much gone. Selina has been unreachable for over a year, and she is the only one with admin rights over the whole board.

I feel for you though. Pretty much everyone has said stupid things at one time or another. I think the younger generation understands this better, that we should not be so quick to write people off. I mean, you never know what's going on in a person's mind, maybe they had a tough time in school or a close family member died. On the other hand, people can't just run around throwing hate bombs out into the world, create all kinds of bad feelings and chaos, and then change their tune one day and expect no consequences.

Posted by: Jay

My sympathies too. But it might not be hopeless trying to find Selina. She hasn't completely vanished, and last logged in here on 4th March.

http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showuser=1

You have nothing to lose by sending her a PM.

Posted by: Retrospect

I Googled you. You know you're on ruddy Hivemind, complete with date of birth and photo. Tear Daniel Brandt off a strip.

Posted by: the_undertow

QUOTE(Retrospect @ Sat 19th April 2014, 1:20pm) *

I Googled you. You know you're on ruddy Hivemind, complete with date of birth and photo. Tear Daniel Brandt off a strip.


Brandt's irony was never lost on me: he was an advocate for anonymity on the Internet, and you would be granted such by revealing yourself.

I have no problems with being on his site, nor does the government, as an employer. It's the post here that takes explanation, and when you come down to do, it was silly of me to be so brazen, but then again, reckless youth smile.gif

Posted by: Jay

Hivemind is no more than a list of people Brandt dislikes. It's nothing to do with outing anonymous Wikipeople, as shown by the fact that it's got Jimmy Wales on it.

Posted by: Newyorkbrad

Chip, you could consider making a request to directly to the hosting company. You could also look into potentially filing a DMCA notice; I haven't checked the licensing terms on this site, but if you have grounds and you file a notice and no-one files a counternotice, it's possible the hosting company would spike the thread.

Posted by: Emperor


http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/eu-court-people-entitled-to-control-own-online-histories/2014/05/13/8e4495d6-dabf-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html - Washington Post

Posted by: Retrospect

QUOTE(Emperor @ Wed 14th May 2014, 6:48pm) *

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/eu-court-people-entitled-to-control-own-online-histories/2014/05/13/8e4495d6-dabf-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html - Washington Post

Yes but Undertow's in California isn't he? So bloody lot of good the European court can do him!

Posted by: the_undertow

QUOTE(Newyorkbrad @ Wed 7th May 2014, 8:16am) *

Chip, you could consider making a request to directly to the hosting company. You could also look into potentially filing a DMCA notice; I haven't checked the licensing terms on this site, but if you have grounds and you file a notice and no-one files a counternotice, it's possible the hosting company would spike the thread.



Brad,

The advice is much appreciated. I contacted HostGator and they were most helpful. The challenge is that they don't kill particular threads, however they will disband hosting, as long as there is legal precedent to do so. My attorney is contacting their legal department, as well as the owner of this site. It is unfortunate. Before WR re-appeared, the thread containing my name (when I had a chance to edit my own posts), was actually no-indexed. Once it came back online, all threads were again opened. I have made any and all efforts to contact moderators to once again no-index the thread, but no response.

I appreciate the advice. I'm fortunate in that I don't pay for legal fees, however as a government agent, this isn't the type of stuff I prefer to explain. To say my situation is complicated is a bit of an understatement.


Posted by: Retrospect

QUOTE(the_undertow @ Sat 23rd August 2014, 7:41am) *

I have made any and all efforts to contact moderators to once again no-index the thread, but no response.

Most of the moderators were sacked for ruddy incompetence or being Nazis or rigging polls. There's only Selina or (in some forums) Jon Awbrey.

Posted by: the_undertow

QUOTE(Retrospect @ Mon 25th August 2014, 5:31am) *

QUOTE(the_undertow @ Sat 23rd August 2014, 7:41am) *

I have made any and all efforts to contact moderators to once again no-index the thread, but no response.

Most of the moderators were sacked for ruddy incompetence or being Nazis or rigging polls. There's only Selina or (in some forums) Jon Awbrey.


Mr. Awbrey has been very helpful in the past, but he cannot act on the particular named forum. Selina is nowhere to be found. I guess I'll just chill here wink.gif

Posted by: Jay

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Posted by: the_undertow

QUOTE(Jay @ Tue 2nd September 2014, 11:39am) *

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr


God grant me the serenity to change the things I cannot accept. - me

Posted by: Retrospect

QUOTE(the_undertow @ Mon 6th October 2014, 7:05am) *

God grant me the serenity to change the things I cannot accept. - me

applause.gif biggrin.gif