By now it's pretty much impossible to ignore the stories coming out in Valleywag about Erik Moeller. Regardless of all the excuses we will hear, it is up to the Board, and particularly those Board members who are also parents, to take the appropriate steps. Next time they look for a babysitter, they should probably think of Pete Townshend's question (slightly paraphrased), "Do you think it's alright to leave the boy with Uncle Erik?"
Of course, Erik is not the only one to blame here. After the Carolyn Doran incident Sue Gardner made it abundantly clear that she had instituted changes in the Foundation's hiring policy, and from now on all employees would be subject to extensive background checks. It is unfortunate that she then went on to rush through with the hiring of Erik, speeding up the visa process, and taking steps that raised many an eyebrow not only among the community, but among the Board too.
Well, it seems her judgment was less than perfect on this one. Only time will tell what the consequences are of having a person with Erik's views about children (and I personally do not believe he is an actual pedophile) representing the Wikimedia Foundation to other foundations or educational institutions. In fact, much of the damage caused to the WMF by this whole episode rests squarely on her shoulders, and the Board should respond accordingly.
They can no longer afford to just "Fiddle about, fiddle about ..."
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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19 comments:
Sue is a really nice gal. Sue has never done anything wrong.
I can see the Foundation's response now:
"Erik was on the Board before the Carolyn incident. As such, we didn't feel the need to retroactively background search him."
Makes you wonder what other things Board/staff might be hiding.
What's really ironic about this is that the very legal protections the Wikimedia Foundation depends on, namely the infamous Section 230, are part of a law specifically meant to protect children from online predators. So the laws he's specifically objected to, saying that "justice becomes synonymous with revenge" and so forth, are the very same laws that keep the WMF in business.
Is Danny baby a little glum? Why of why? Oh yes. It's because he's a lonely chap whose right hand is calloused and tired, tired, TIRED.
I have no idea whether Erik said/authored such piece or not, but clearly you certainly have all the time and malice in the world to be feeding this stuff to your reporter friends and putting it up on your sad little lament of a blog...don't you, hey little boy?
Perhaps you have heard of an influential theorist called Foucault? Or of a somewhat well-considered novelist called Nabokov? No, of course not, so first, google them. Then pay someone to explain what they wrote and said. And then, perhaps - just perhaps - you will get to twist that infantile head of yours around the ideas they express; perhaps you will understand the genaeology (you'll have to google this word too) of certain ideas that you shouldn't really begin to talk about until you actually understand even the smallest thing about them.
Don't let me keep you from enjoying your next unemployment-revenge wet-dream. Toots!
20 bucks says Anon@10:42 is Brad Patrick.
First, I have a deal of sympathy with Erik. He wrote a terrible, extremist, pseudo-profound, libertarian essay some years ago, and now it has come back with a vengeance. Whilst some will want to infer more than that, there is zero evidence to suggest it. Damn to hell what he said, but give him a break.
Second, the essay is naive in the extreme. You can play Californian free-software free-knowledge free-love intellectual masturbation on many issues. You can take insane debating positions to make a point. But when the question is children, adults and sex, the answer has to be an unequivocal NO WAY. That's for two reasons, a) there are some genuine abusers making the same libertine psychological arguments as a matter of self-deception and in search for respectability and there is no way we give these people an inch. (It is logically possible that there might be some correlation between race and intelligence - but anyone who thinks that you can openly debate that whilst ignoring the green flag you are giving to scumballs doing real harm needs to get their head out of their ass). b) although I do think that paedophile-paranoia is unhelpful, it is incredibly naive not to realise that prevaricating for a second before condemning paedophiles is socially naive. Whatever Erik's views are (and perhaps the whole thing was simply an immature troll on his part) anyone who has any concern for their own reputation, career and on-line standing should know NEVER to touch an issue like this. Here be dragons.
And that leads me to an interesting thought. We now recognise that "googling" has the potential to do things to reputations, the consequences of which we are only beginning to understand. Youthful indiscretions are accessible for ever. Political misspeaks will never be left behind. Indeed, one of Daniel Brandt's complaints about his Wikipedia bio, was that it referenced some old essay he'd long like to have forgotten, and would have ensured anyone trying to find anything out about him would be drawn to it. Is Wikimedia's deputy-director now to be a victim of the same unforgiving internet memory? Doubtless, whatever he now accomplishes in the free-software movement, any on-line profile will want mercilessly to add "and he's the guy that defended pedos". Google will never forget it. Between Essjay, Jimbo's lovers and expenses, Carolyn Doran, and Angela Beesely's unwanted wiki-bio, I am beginning to wonder if the WMF leadership is intent on demonstrating to the world the dangerous nature of the intrusive net-culture it itself is doing so much to build. Who's next?
Doc
@ Doc -- Kudos on your thoughtful comments. However, I for one am not so sure that Erik's writings quoted on Valleywag are simply youthful indiscretion. The breadth of his writing in this area over years is too great to be relegated to your "simple" suggestion. And, if you were correct in your analysis, why has this revelation been met with silence from Sue, Jimmy, the WMF Board, and even Erik himself?
Regarding "why has this revelation been met with silence ..."
Perhaps because there's nothing anyone can say which wouldn't add fuel to the fire.
@anonymous/probably Brad Patrick
*Discussing someone's employment is really rich coming from you, considering that you run from job to job with the speed of a gazelle on methamphatemine.
And what's with the tired, tired, TIRED? You like repeating things 3 times like your hero Jimbo, and his "dumb, dumb, dumb" on his flameout wikimasturbation fest Campaigns Wikia? Tell us Brad, did you just suck, or did you have to swallow, when you got into bed with Jimbo? And face it, everyone knows you got in bed in a major way. But, what good did it do you, because the Godking himself couldn't even save your ass, you were so incompetent.
So Mr. Patrick, who speaks to everyone who doesn't somehow pay you money, as if they were dropped on their heads at birth, if I were you, with thank fucking God I'm not, but if I were, I would adhere to the old adage, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Now, since you've attended who knows how many sniper classes, **for who fucking knows what reason, I think I will board up my windows now.
"First, I have a deal of sympathy with Erik. He wrote a terrible, extremist, pseudo-profound, libertarian essay some years ago, and now it has come back with a vengeance. Whilst some will want to infer more than that, there is zero evidence to suggest it."
I think you Americans are a sweet and earnest lot but you should REALLY get about the world a little more.
And since 97% of the people reading this blog have an intelligence only slighly higher than that of your average tropical flea, let me put it more clearly: won't you PLEASE try and pay someone to explain Foucault and Nabokov to you? They are the opposite of the sparkling suburban wisdom on display here.
@anonymous 7:27am
Brad, you're not American?
Oh yes, you're probably from some country that Americans gave their lives for so you'd stop killing someone else, so you'd stop squabbling like children, quit whining, and get back into the world economy, and stop prolonging depressions, and for fuck's sake, leave the Jews alone.
Oh and Brad, I've read "Lolita" twice, and the point really is not about pedophilia, the point of the book is to show someone who is imprisoned by their desires, and the ruin to which it leads.
And since you're an expert on dropping intellectual names, please explain Foucault to me. After all, one of the hallmarks of intelligence is being able to synthesize and dumb-down erudite information so that a moronic American like me can understand it.
So please, Brad Patrick and/or denizen of an anti-semitic country,
please explain to this ignorant yokel these thinkers, so this denizen of the nation which provides safe haven for the people you choose to ship off to the gas chambers, can understand.
"I think you Americans ...
And since 97% of the people reading this blog have an intelligence only slighly higher than that of your average tropical flea, let me put it more clearly: won't you PLEASE try and pay someone to explain Foucault and Nabokov to you?"
I'm not American, and I am familiar with both those writers.
However, incoherent name calling and name dropping are seldom substitutes for intelligent debate.
Doc
dearest dannykins, i can see you've got your fulsome paunch in a heave about this.
but pray, why are you posting anonymously to your OWN blog?
this is clearly anti-semitic.
you should be ashamed of yourself.
would it be so difficult to get those clammy fingers to type your name out?
toodles.
I think this thread has gotten WAY off base. Back to the facts. Right or wrong, Erik wrote that there is no harm to children if they engage in sexual activity with adults ... as long as it wasn't violent. Sue, who spewed about her strict "professionalism" hired Erik in secrecy without vetting his writing and public comments. Erik did not write one or two articles, he wrote and edited many articles over an extended period of time which, essentially, promoted pedophilia. Erik has never disavowed his work and Sue has proven that the hiring of Carolyn was a stroke of genius as compared with hiring Erik (and dare I say Sue).
The 8th (?) largest website that claims to be an educational resource has a Deputy Director that sees nothing wrong with pedophilia ... as long as it isn't violent. So to all the Anonymous writers -- This ISN'T about Danny or your hatred of him. This IS about the complete lack of understanding and positive views of pedophilia by Erik Moller along with Sue's (and the WMF Board's) seemingly supportive position towards Erik as demonstrated by their complete silence.
@anonymous 9:20 - I assure you Danny did not write this. Danny's not an American by birth, he's Canadian. Plus, he's very liberal, a group not known for their extreme patriotism.
I, on the other hand, am a patriotic American I'm keeping my name the hell out of this, so if you don't like it, sue my anonymous ass. Countdown to the "right-wing nutjob" jab in 5, 4, 3, 2
Now that we have that issue cleared up, I may be a coward for not using my name, but at least I'm not an anonymous coward attacking the hosting blogger, on points that are perfectly legitimate! Just because you sold off, and mortgaged your measly soul to the hilt to Darth Jimbo and his child buggering minion, doesn't mean the rest of us have to sit around and watch it happen and not point it out! Danny's doing a service - so until you have the guts to put your ass on the line with your own blog telling us why Danny is wrong, I say quit your sniveling.
So Brad, or effete anti-American European, or whoever the fuck you are, keep it up. I'm having fun tearing you a new one every time you post. Everyone, EVERYONE thinks you're a pompous incompetent bore Brad Patrick.
@9:20Am
"toodles."
Oh and I almost forgot - toodles?
TOODLES? Do you take sniper courses to compensate for your affinity for Steve Perry and Barry Manilow love ballads? What self-respecting owner of a Y chromosome on the whole entire earth says toodles?
I tell you, if Hitler, or anyone else shipped off men who say toodles on involunatry box car rides, I'd vote him in for another term.
Just a quick note with a few corrections of fact. 1. I have not yet commented here, and this is my first response to this post. 2. I am actually American by birth (South Carolina, to be precise). My family moved to Canada when I was a few months old (which is why I say eh a lot). 3. For the record, I don't believe that the person who posted is Brad Patrick, and until there is some substantial proof it is, he should probably be left out of this.
For the remainder of my response, please see my next blog post.
@all's wool that ends wool.
Sorry Danny - I'd rather gargle with
Hillary Clinton's toilet water than show one shred of mercy to that fuckwimp Brad Patrick.
OK OK, that was immature, I'll stop.
But really, it's true.....
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