(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

[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!