(no subject)

[cblj_backup]

This is the day that would not end, you guys. It was psychotic. I'll complain about that in a minute.

First of all: mea maxima culpa. I didn't do as much research on the news item I sent out this morning as I should have, as I normally do. I can give you all the reasons, which are multitudinous, but the essence of it is that I didn't do my due diligence and fucked up. Sorry about that, I'm human and make mistakes. If I had done the research I would have seen that Andrew Blake was involved and posted a caveat, but I still would have posted the item.

I'm not going to go into the whole Andrew Blake - Thanfiction - Victoria Bitter - etc etc etc thing here, so don't bother asking. If you're that interested in the long and sordid tale, google and the fandom_wank wiki can fill you in. I still haven't confirmed with Lyssa that this is actually the same Andrew Blake, but I believe it is and I'm going to contact her about that after this post goes up (wanted to get this info out first). I should have waited until this evening when I could do the research and moderate any issues that arose from it.

Second: I've locked that entry on LJ and my other mirrors. It's still up on Dreamwidth with comments locked, so that you can see it there if you want. I did this in part because I wanted to get all the research done, and also because some people were dancing a razor's edge between informative and wanky. You know who you are, don't do that again. To those of you who shared links and valid information, I appreciate the heads up.

Third: Here's where it gets tricky, and where you need to use your own good judgement. Lyssa has vouched to me in email that she knows Ed and Kristin and drove them and Andrew to the trail head; she has also vouched to me that the money is going directly to them, not through Andrew or any other intermediary. I don't know Lyssa personally, but I know she's had a presence on this journal for a while; she's not a total stranger, and I honestly have no reason to doubt her. You need to decide for yourselves whether a) you believe her, b) you believe the money is going to Ed and Kristin, c) you wish to donate.

The thing is, you should never give money to any cause simply because I mention it on the journal. RFM and items like it are ways to bring causes to your awareness, and usually they're vetted by me and can be reasonably trusted. Except on very rare occasions, these are not issues where I'm asking you to give -- they're issues where I'm saying you can give. You should also never give if you don't have that money to spare, of course.

The cost of being a generous, big-hearted person is that once in a while you may be taken in. That's the reality we live in, and I'm sorry it's the case. I don't know if it's the case here.

Um, I think that's the lot of it. I'm leaving comments open; normally I would trust you guys not to be wanky, but just in case: a) don't be douches; b) in this case, given past wanks involving Andrew, I think it's also wise to remind everyone that transphobia is not tolerated on this journal.

Thanks guys. Sorry about all this.

Comments

[eac.livejournal.com]

Just to say - I think you do an extremely good job of vetting posts on average and a very, very good job of moderating in this space.

[rednwhiterose.livejournal.com]

*Like*

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's a dollar. And I hope mine was the only one, bc I'd hate for the undeserving to get a dollar, but the truth is, I'd rather give where I shouldn't than not give where I should. Especially when it's only a dollar.

[deliciouspear.livejournal.com]

While I don't trust this particular thing, having been on the end of other "Andy Blake" shenanigans, I totally agree with you.

A "bleeding heart" is WAY better than no heart!

[sgt-majorette.livejournal.com]

A dollar is a bargain for the karma!

[sparkfrost.livejournal.com]

I have issues with Andy Blake because I knew him and hung out with him, and it sucked to realize that someone I'd considered a friend was a famous internet con-artist.

But I've been reading up on Its About Power, and it seems pretty legit. Obviously, more research is necessary, but I'm not going to scream "Boycott!" just because he is involved.

And I think you do a really good job of vetting causes and promoting good ones. So there's that.

Also- THANK YOU re: transphobia. Turimel has legitimate grievances against Andy, but persisting in transphobic comments makes her FAR less sympathetic in my eyes.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

You know what? No.

Comment on this issue here again and you will be banned from this journal.

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

You don't need to apologise; you're really busy at the moment, and it's perfectly reasonable to assume causes are above board. And, as you and others have said, better to be generous and sometimes give money where it's not needed than to be cynical and not help any causes at all.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the information you post every week!

[surexit.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU re: the transphobia, it's revolting what gets thrown around when this guy comes up.

[musicforwolves.livejournal.com]

You do good, Sam. I had no idea about the debacle until this evening, and spent a few eye-opening hours educating myself on the whole affair.

I think the worst thing about moments like this is that we want to assume the best in people and causes, and like you've said, that makes it possible to get taken for a ride once in a while. For what it's worth, though, your post (and in particular your concern over those that read this journal) has made me go out into that wacky Internet and consider all the sides of the story. Your writing has made me a more informed person, just like every RFM has done.

So, thanks.

[grannieof2.livejournal.com]

C'mon, this isn't about transphobia (whatever that may be...); it's about seeking full disclosure before contributing to causes. And clearly for some it's also about maintaining a generous heart despite the possibility of being scammed. I admire that.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Well, actually, where Andrew is concerned it usually does involve transphobia sooner or later, as evidenced by the fact that I've had to delete transphobic comments in this post.

[grannieof2.livejournal.com]

I know, and I appreciate your moderation skills. :) I meant: that issue always comes up, and it's often used as a red herring. You did some research and expanded your post about this donation thing, which hopefully educates people. That was (I think) the point of your post. Thanks again.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Ohh! Yes. That's very true :) It's a complex set of problems, no doubt!

[the-glow-worm.livejournal.com]

So I guess I missed something, huh?

[minkrose]

I had to go poke at DW (Sam's post here) because I'd actually opened the link, bookmarked it for later, and forgotten its source (not uncommon for me). I'm really sad - I was excited to donate, and now I'm going to have to consider carefully what I decide to do.

Anyway Sam, I appreciate you were trying NOT to link again for people who might click without reading or go leave mean comments over there, but I almost dismissed the whole thing out of hand as "not related to me!" because I didn't remember that the link came from you.

[bluealoe]

I'm just an occasional visitor to this journal, but I saw this and had to comment. While I have not met Ed and Kristin personally, I've known them both online for several years, and have never had cause to doubt their honesty. I also knew Brittany Quinn, who was the friend they did the hike in memory of. I can vouch for the authenticity of this cause.