To the still anonymous editor(s) of said site:
This open letter is currently sitting where the "Fact Check" page stood. It will stay here for the foreseeable future, as I believe it is important that it is understood that this is a two-way street, and your actions will indeed be monitored.
I do find it amusing that on your site that it thanks me "for taking steps to reconcile with the amateur community." You all know as well as I do that again this is a misrepresentation of the facts. I am well respected among my peers: your group is not the community. I would not be vice-president of the second largest ARC in Eastern Pennsylvania, a significant part of our local emergency communications structure, and in other important areas of service if I was not.
The comments of your supporters on QRZ still indicate that while you want to make the appearance of extending the olive branch, you will sing a different tune there. After discussions with several people, I am now sure one of those posting there is indeed editing VE7KFM.COM, thusly is talking out of both sides of their mouth.
To respond to one person in particular, who attempted to lay the blame for what has transpired there nearly solely on me, I say this:
- Your comments that I came into the thread in attack mode are laughable at best. We were talking about Laura vs. RH. Several of your associates came into that thread and turned it into a free-for-all, including an entire paragraph of insults two pages previous to your epiphany. Just keep in mind there is a SIGNIFICANTLY large group of hams who do believe Riley's actions were not in good faith;
- You have supported the commentary of said website, even repeating it. Unless you are less intelligent than I think you are, you knew some of these comments were either a) loose on facts, or b) completely untrue amounting to true libel;
- You have played the victim far more often, sir, but will personally attack others including bringing their family members, unfortunate circumstances, and other items to demean them, which is completely hypocritical;
- You have NEVER taken any responsibility for your own comments, yet will call someone on defamation the minute they respond back to your sometimes completely baseless attacks;
- The comments you say I have brought into public discourse CANNOT be used as an attack. It is still harassment. In fact, the comment which you say can allow you to make references to my family was a tongue-in-cheek comment. Have you ever posted that whole thread? No you haven't.
I would ask for that diatribe to be removed, but something tells me this person will not.
It is this kind of one-sided "I have no blame in this" behavior which makes this supposed truce reek of a being a simple ruse. That is why this is getting posted, as the only way I will accept this is if there are more concessions than just taking down information on your website.
Thus, by February 6, 2009 at 11:59pm, I pledge to keep this page down permanently if:
- The bans on IPs of any individual you discuss on your site are removed. If you can discuss someone there, you should let them see it. Attempting to hide behind a block gives the impression of impropriety. You have banned me, but I am accessing your site through a proxy to monitor its contents;
- All references anywhere on your site to my call on VE7KFM.COM are removed;
- The discussions on your site, if it returns, revolve around facts and official information and include full quoted material with links and are not taken out of context. This means no more hearsay or QRZ reposts, where libelous and slanderous statements can be posted for quick harvesting and quotable material;
- The practice of posting information, including contact information about the family members of your enemies ends; and
- reconciliation is not one way. Those who have participated in this share equal blame on both sides. That means acting in good faith to also keep your associates at bay. You do have control over what they say, and can lead by example.
I don't think this is a lot to ask. So I'll be waiting for your moves to show that you are truly ready to move on.