[The Crystal Cave]

From August 23:

Originally Posted by ZombieSlayer

Howdy folks

Mr. Lester is now back home in Boston after traveling for his job with Linden Labs. He will be getting to work on restoring BrainTalk and will have an updated message at BrainTalk soon.

That is all I know. I will come back and update this thread when I know more.

Hi ZombieSlayer,

You have been far more forgiving and far more generous in your take on all this than I. I respect you so much for that. After two weeks without so much as a, "Hey! Haven't forgotten about you!" I began to realize we had slipped off the screen, maybe even been abandoned. You hung in there, ever optimistic.

Today, eight weeks after the crash, no update is an update.

I feel so let down by a person I had respected and trusted and who had groomed us to believe we could depend on him. In fact, groomed us to believe he was the only one we could depend on, and boy, was he right, but not in a healthy sense, and surely not in a responsible way from an IT standpoint. He was and still is the only person who could keep the site up and operating.

As incredible as it may seem, until now, MGH / BT had been the only bulletin board/forum site I had ever posted to. About 10 years ago, I found MGH during a desperate search for help. It took a week for someone to reply to my very first post, and I have been trying to pay off an incalculable debt ever since. How do you pay off an IOU for your life? I don’t know either, but until a few months before we became BrainTalk, I was trying to at least make a difference by being a source and a resource. That’s when the building started coming down around us. So even before the system crashed I had lost my place for reaching out.

I don’t do change well at all. I’m resigned to knowing that when something in life has to change, I have to work harder than the average bear to get through it. Even seemingly small changes can toss me. But sometimes, a person will come along who helps make a transition less awful for me. Dr. Grohol, you did that for me – the format and the appearance here is the same, an exceptionally sensitive thing to do, the name provided a sense of familiarity, it feels safe here, a lot of the sadness at having been so disappointed is gone, and I know you’re not going to bail out on us. Thank you for the gifts.

If BT1 ever comes back online, I hope so much that the people who are feeling an emptiness over its loss can feel good about being able to go back their home. For me, this is now my home.

ZS, thanks for hanging in there. You’re a good role model.

TCC

[JoJo6]

as Dorry said, I thought I remembered you, then it all come crashing down, all over again. I will say I was more than shocked when you were banned as well as sad. I'm glad you are here and hope you feel welcome!

Dorry, I am glad you have spoken up and give others the encouragement to do so. You helped me also with the computer business.

I am still spending some time at PsychCentral and I am very impressed. You are NOT new to this Doc J , didn't I read someplace where you said you started PsychC. in 1994 or '05? I don't find it hard to believe that you would take a group like us. Lord only knows some of us need straightened out!

As someone else said, I do so appreciate what you already have done.

There were some very ill people that were having surgery, test and such about the time BT went down. I know that was not to be helped, but long enough already, especially without a word. I worry for those that needed extra attention back in July.

I have tried to stop thinking on the bad times at BT1, but recently we had a rash of bannings that wiped out whole forums! I will never forget what happened to SOS!. When I saw what happened there I knew BT would never be the same and many people left along with the banned members.

I will say this and try not to say any more about BT1. Some that have posted here seemed to think they were ok if they deleted their post. Well, a member would delete and the Mod. would put it back up, go thru the banning thing anyway, writing their little nasty notes to the poster.

It didn't always happen this way, but it happened! I know it happened because I SAW it happen more than once.

So, on to bigger and better things It looks like many are working in different area's to get things started. I'm glad most are reading over on your other boards. Interesting to say the least.

I hope for a place where all feel safe, can find support when it's needed,give support when we see a need, just all work together. Is that too much to ask of the members? I don't think so and I hope all the rest of you don't either.

Lets get on the ball and get going, ok? JJ

[Alffe]

(((Jo))) Great post. It's difficult for me to criticize BT because of the handful of people there that literally picked me up from the floor over our son's suicide. I asked JL to create the SOS forum and made friendships that will last a lifetime as a result of it.

I was surprised when I was banned but I honestly deserved it..when pushed I pushed back and this old lady knows better.

I feel very comfortable here and I appreciate Doc John.

[Doody]

Originally Posted by stevem53

This is true..And if personal attacks are not banned then what we've got here is a circus..I think a BT-Lite is what the majority is looking for..and not a Jerry Springer revival

Jerry Springer revival!!!! LOLOLOL! ROF!!!!

I couldn't have described BT1 better!

Sits here chuckling at Steve.

[Doody]

From Artist? I've already forgotten as I've just caught up on this thread...

Oh Thelma, I wish I could do something to make you feel less grim about the whole thing.

Well, in defense of Thelma's grimness in one respect...

I feel trepidation myself. But in regards to the 'Jerry Springer' nature of BT1 in the last year or so. It's hard to forget the iron fist of a couple of people there, moderators specifically. People getting banned for standing up to an obvious troll/agitator. People like Alffe who only spoke indirectly, out of the corners of their mouth, and got banned. But not the agitator who was clear in his/her intentions in a post.

Anyway, for some people hurts run deep. Hope is there, but can't quite spring eternal. Some of us are just a little more 'grim', or pessimistic as my best friend calls it...realistic is what I call it.

And yes, moderating can't be all that easy. But moderating at BT apparently was to just behead the person and give no explanation. Treated the symptoms, not the disease. It was like watching King Henry VIII in action.

I'll go take a hot epsom salt soak and a vicodin for the pain and come back and post and then I may not sound as grim.

jojo6 did we chat in ZS chatroom about a week ago? I'm testing my brain

[Chemar]

Originally Posted by JoJo6

We've come a long way together, Cheri. I cherish our friendship. Take care, Jo

You know Jo.......I think the progression of our friendship is a classic example of how things can work out for good on a forum!

We misunderstood each other and even disagreed in the beginning, but then we took the time and made the effort to really LISTEN to what the other was saying, and to try to understand and to get to know one another and voila ..... we became such good friends

I cherish you too Jo

[ZombieSlayer]

Hi The Crystal Cave

Well in all fairness I do get mroe information about BrainTalk than most members. I've been working with Mr. Lester via pm (back when he answered) with suggestions, ideas, and whatever else I could assist with since I've been a member.

Once Mr. Lester stopped replying I started talking with David H. about all the above. I don't have an opinion on David's moderating either way as I deal with him as the (oh crap I forgot his title) ... oh well So I've been getting my info through him and passing along what needs to be passed along. The stuff that I don't pass along is typically regarding coding for the forums and forum errors that the members don't see.

I am active in over two dozen forums and in most of those I'm either an admin or moderator or technical advisor.

That's where I get all my knowledge and what I base most of my posts on when it comes to BrainTalk and it's technical issues.

It's also why I post the updates and refute the posts that I do. I know that the huge majority of members don't have any experience behind the scenes.

That's why it seems like I've been more patient that some. I've had a little more info than they.

As for the role model....that depends on which forum/chat room I'm in