Originally Posted by
Randall Flagg
Stay tuned for a "blast from the past" that I don't believe has been told in the previous 1,000+ posts. It might even be lewd and lascivious.
Strictly from fuzzy memory, and apologies if something is repeated.
In 2005 (believed to be May), Michaela Weiner bought dt.net from the previous owner Tyler.
Internet Archive of announcement.
Michaela's husband, Robert Weiner financed Michaela's pet project, and was also using Josh (Co-Owner with Michaela) to redesign the DMG website. Josh received half ownership based upon future deliver of a functional website for DMG books.
Previous owner Tyler had made a desperate please for money from members to keep the site running and to help pay the "new personal PC, hosting and server" costs associated with maintaining the site. If you donated money, you became a special "Ka-Tet" member with a 19 somewhere in your avatar.
Tyler ended up spending the money on a car for himself. Staff and members felt betrayed and were outraged. Tyler justified the auto purchase by claiming that if he didn't have a functional vehicle the site would perish as he couldn't pay the costs necessary to run it (the money members raised in the first place). This was the beginning of the end for Tyler's ownership.
Initially the change of ownership was fantastic and things were peachy.
Collector's gathered and conversed primarily in the Collector part of the forum.
At some point, management made the decision that Collector's not only needed to participate in other areas of the site, but they wanted to require that Collector's contribute to the entire site. Someone else may clarify, but there was a specific plan to do so.
Enter new member "Dolan". Dolan was an abrasive, brash, openly gay, 20ish Collector from New York. Essentially crashing in much like Shannon did, but lacking all of the politeness that Shannon exhibited.
Dolan's avatar was a facial pic of himself. No big deal, except somehow tippy4 (still had the turtle avatar) and Dolan got into it. I remember tippy4 telling Dolan that (paraphrasing) "what kind of a freak uses an actual picture of his ugly face for his avatar?"
A terrible brouhaha ensued. Kenny (Dolan) was want to call anyone he disagreed with a "fucker, asshole, etc." openly in posts. He was very profane and insulting. Thus the site was a must visit. Everyone was literally sitting by hitting refresh every two minutes for the new combative post to appear. Great great fun.
In their infinite wisdom, Management and staff decided that the best way to corral Dolan was to "Promote him". They correctly figured that once in charge, Dolan would become a bossy, rule enforcing Moderator Nazi.
To be continued-hopefully another 400 words tomorrow.