Thursday, May 29, 2008

The continuing war with Netlog.

I had my account at Netlog blocked and the clans manager sent me the following email:

Hello Paul Ritchie,

Your Netlog account has been blocked by a Netlog moderator.

The moderator gave this reason:
After numerous incidents and reports from other Netlog users, we have decided that there is a substantial number of evidence that has led us to the conclusion that your account requires blocking. Apart from the major cases of disturbing the public order on the site your inappropriate conduct also includes: -running (in the past) a fake profile of an underage boy the pictures on that profile come from unknown source and they definitely resemble numerous pictures so often reported by yourself -slanderous behaviour towards numerous users of Netlog, -foul language, -publishing false accusations based on assumptions rather than credible evidence -lack of willingness to cooperate with the admin

The correspondence has been flying thick and fast between me and admin because of what's been happening there. It was because of what was going on at Netlog that I made The Daily Rat website which I had to stop doing because some twats were warning the filth we were going after.

http://chatrat.977mb.com
is the url.

One they forgot to warn was Darryl Rowe from Adelaide who was arrested in February and has his computer confiscated.

Anyway, the clans manager had this to say in a locked clan at Netlog...

You know that I do not post in this clan, however I feel that you guys should know what I think about some of the issues that have been raised in other blog messages in PA.
Please excuse me writing a separate blog message. I just want to make it very clear to everybody.
All users, who ever took the chance to talk to me, know that I would never use any credentials given to me to log in for some other users. Please do not say that I have the password to any account if you sent it to me totally unprompted. I did not, do not and will not log in for any other users and any accounts other than Tomek2006.
As for the blocking of the account of "Ratsback". I do not want to publish the whole reasoning here as it is of private nature and I am not sure whether the person in question would like everybody to read it or not. I believe that it was well-reasoned and certainly the account had not been blocked for nothing. This person has been acting like the CoC does not apply to him. It might be easier to fight abuse using dirty tricks but this makes it really difficult to tell one apart from a real abuser.

Another important thing I would like everybody to know is that:

I am always happy to talk to you and if you send me a pm there is a big chance that I will respond. Nevertheless, I receive hundreds of messages every day and sending me pms with regard to urgent and abuse-attached issues is not the best way to solve the problem. All of you who ever tried to cooperate with the admin team know that writing the Helpdesk should get you a prompt and helpful response.

I hope that this sheds some light on the whole issue.
To which I responded with:

As for the blocking of the account of "Ratsback". I do not want to publish the whole reasoning here as it is of private nature and I am not sure whether the person in question would like everybody to read it or not.

It is not of a private nature at all and the person in question would be only too pleased to have the reasons published for everyone to see. It is the opinion of the person in question that it is Netlog admin who would prefer to have the whole issue kept quiet.

This person has been acting like the CoC does not apply to him. It might be easier to fight abuse using dirty tricks but this makes it really difficult to tell one apart from a real abuser.

Actually, this person was acting like the CoC does not apply to the administration of this site and numerous examples were posted to confirm that hypothesis. To refresh the memories of those who may be reading this...

From the CoC:
This is the English version of Netlog. To enable moderation, you can post blogs, videos, comments... in English only.

http://en.netlog.com/go/explore/clans/view=popu...-

Furthermore the Terms and Conditions of this website have this to say about membership here:

"Netlog is at liberty to cancel your membership at any time, for any reason and without previous warning."

You, however, keep LYING to us by saying you need proof before you can take any action. Your own terms and conditions CLEARLY STATE OTHERWISE.

Spend just 3 minutes looking through this clan and see if you can justify to the kids here why you blocked Rat for going after someone you yourself consider has no credibility yet all these real criminals are allowed to carry on as if nobody in admin cares how many kids the creeps try to get on webcam.

The following response was posted this morning:

1. Let's not be hypocritical. Go ahead and publish the e-mail you received when I blocked your account under the name Ratsback. I just have ;) I strongly believe that it has strong reasoning and it is just. I don't.

2. Again due to the lack of reasonable arguments you try to use foreign clans. The security of children and clans in languages other than English are two separate issues on Netlog. Show me a clan that is against the CoC that has been reported and was not blocked. If you are going to act like this it is way more destructive than constructive.

3.Indeed such a point exists in the TOS of Netlog. I could possibly enforce this rule on your account. Nevertheless we always try to look for dialog and mutual understanding. When it comes to the parts where you do good you act like you are the most caring person on Netlog, however when it comes to the parts where you act just like a regular abuser, running fake accounts of children, posting slanderous accusations etc..... you simply say that you never said you were nice. Is this consistent?
I am on good terms with so many users who want to fight abuse. I think this is sad that finding a mutual understanding with you seems impossible. I do not think that I am the one to blame for that though.
I think that what I wrote here is a hard nut. Please do not respond before thinking about it seriously. I will not go into a regular argument anyways.
My response to this "shoot the messenger" mentality:

I'm making just one point - and that point is you do NOT have control of the site.

Say what you like about me being inconsistent, abusive or whatever - it doesn't change the fact that you do not have any control over this site. The proof we in this clan offer is not sufficient proof for you. We obviously have different standards.

The further proof I show in support of my assertion that you do not have control of this site is discounted on the base of it not being related to the safety of kids.

I reiterate: You do NOT have control of this site and THAT makes it intrinsically unsafe for kids. Your attitude makes it worse. You are aware you are in breach of U.S. law right now aren't you. That has ramifications for Netlog.

And one more thing: Just exactly what sort of dialogue would you be thinking of entertaining with the sorts of people we name here in this clan?

There is a whole lot more that I've thrown at this person and as I get time, I'll post it.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You violated the TOS, you were blocked.

I cannot stop laughing.

Anonymous said...

And yet he's still there and still abusing the management.

Priceless, Rat, priceless. :D

Anonymous said...

They blocked me too for talking to people in a normal way. I wouldn't feel too bad as Netlog platform wasn't particularly good; it lacked its own character and gadgets that made it individual. So, I for one wont be missing it.

Anonymous said...

If you're so good, how come you're kicked out for impersonating a little boy? Did you know there were an article in Netlog that the there was a profile you've made and posed as a young boy and contacted several younger boys and befriended them? There were several complaints against you by the kids themselves. According to the Netlog, you had several young people on your own friends list and several of them are half dressed. Is that's why you were banned due to several complaints? You has been banned from Netlog about three times already. The reasons are: slanders against many adults, racist comments against netlog users, talking to kids and using them as baits to falsly trap the adults through blackmailing, impersonatiing a kid and using false identity. Since you were banned, Netlog has improved the systems. I am sorry Ratsback, it is seems that you're not telling everyone enough details about yourself.