[The Godfather]

The name isn't illegal and doesn't breach copyright. Names don't come within copyright.

Names come within trademark law. However, if a name doesn't have a registered trademark, and I don't think that BrainTalk does, then anyone can use it quite legally.

There were not 50,000 members on BrainTalk. User names were merely registered 50,000 times. Most of those no longer added to BT, or were just one off questions. Many of the others were the same people, those who fancied a name change, or those getting around unreasonable bans. If you look at the viewing figures for different threads on Brain Talk, and take account of the fact that many people will view some threads at least several times when they are added to, then I doubt if there were more than a few thousands active members on BrainTalk.

There also many people reading BT2 but not registering asoften happenson Forums.

[Paul Wicks]

I think there are certain aspects of BT which I have found unhelpful and even unfriendly. I have ran an ALS/MND board in the UK for several years now and have never banned anyone. That means we've attracted quite a few banned members from BT and I have to say some of them are the most valuable members of our community!

I think having bannings really does shift the power dynamic in an unhealthy way. If there are sanctions like banning then some people are going to act out or push their boundaries. If there are no boundaries then the childish people will be ignored and burn out after a while, and with a full space in which to eke out arguments, resolutions can be brought.

If you leave two people having a fight enough time, they might resolve it and make up. If you ban one of them, that can never happen.

When I've contacted mods or JL I've never got a reply, which as a fellow professional I found a little discourteous. I certainly reply to all enquiries I get. Finally, I'm a bit miffed that I donated my own personal money at the last crash to prevent things like that happening again, and there's been no accountability for where the excess funds went.

Anyway I think this BT2 is an interesting and dynamic place with some of the energy that's been missing off of BT for a while. Granted it's not got the full membership but a core of 300 members (who we know are stll alive and interested) is not to be sneezed at. If BT cared about its users it would link here on their "out of order" message.

And to those who think BT2 should shut down when BT1 is back up: you have a vote, cast it. But your view is no more important or valid than anyone else's.

Paul Wicks