Note:
I was in no way involved in this mess but I am a very active member of CFTeens and several other boards. My post record is something I am proud of and if you wish to see what I believe and how I debate and discuss, please read through my posts.
FYI:
I am a friend or acquaintance of many of those who were banned.
I am certainly not biased towards them because I by matter of principle don't take sides unless I truly believe in the cause.
I have sided with those who disagree with the Staff simply because I have seen no evidence that denies anything they have said... and this announcement thread seems to prove some of it.
My goals:
I really want reconciliation. Friendships between the leaders of the board and the youth.
Forgiveness.
I want Teens to return and continue and be a fruitful area for fellowship and debate among the youth.
And I am concerned this fiasco is threatening that.
Now:
As far as I can tell, this is a chronological account of what occurred from the point of view of the teens banned:
-The Advisers were considering changing the age limit in the Teen section but wanted to keep it on the down low for a while or until they actually implemented the changes. The change would have been from 13-21 to 13-18.
-A teen forum Moderator felt this was betraying almost 200 members of this forum by shattering friendships across the 16-21 year old populace.
-This moderator opened a thread about 'hypothetical changes' but actually just quoted almost verbatim tha actual discussion of the proposed changes from the Advisers posts in the staff area.
-This moderator was banned. The thread locked and deleted.
-The teens who saw it started talking vigorously in PMs and elsewhere. They were all banned and then suddenly Meh mass banned a huge number of teens and teen moderates who assisted the first moderator who was banned for leaking the info.
-Meh accused teens of hacking her account and doing bans.
-More bans.
-Supposed hacker was hinted at having been caught.
-All info was locked and the CFTeen section was closed indefinitely.
-The chat channel was filled with questions, it was closed.
-Little information was given by anyone.
-Over 90 of the CF Teens (including many of the active ones and all the ones who were banned) moved to a new website they created as a temporary haven.
-The confusion has been terrible and some teens have even been starting to wonder if Meh was lying about the hacking in order to cover up a loss of temper.
This is a particularly troubling accusation and I really hope the whole hacking thing could be explained.
-The total lack of information has added to the confusion.
-This announcement opened with words that seemed to accuse the teens as having been solely to blame.
-The many in the exile forum felt betrayed and were outraged.
-They are at a state of negotiations to figure out what to do next, something I was not authorized to give details on because I am here saying this of my own free will and desire to facilitate reconciliation in whatever way I can. I am not here to represent them. Just to do what I can to help the situation.
I hope the Advisers can add to this and give the other side of this story so the picture becomes more clear.
The Teens have not had any other input besides the bits and pieces that have been put together.
I, for one, really want to hear the Staff side of this whole issue.
I endeavor to record an accurate account of these events as I am a Historian and love politics and stories.
Thank you all.
NOTE: This is not intended to be taken as an exhaustive history or completely accurate. This is what I have gathered from interactions outside of CF Forums with the fellows I mentioned.
I have posted this for anyone who wants a brief perspective and history and for the Advisers and other Staff to post and say what is accurate and what is not from their official perspective.
