Misc/Other - vBulletin.Org Staff

[Paul M]

As many of you will know, vbulletin.org has always prided itself on being an independant site, making its own choices, and chosing its own staff (all of who are unpaid volunteers).

Unfortunately, this all changed four weeks ago.

Having left employment with IB the week before, I made it clear I intended to keep up my role as Administrator here - a position I was appointed to way back in September 2006, almost five years before I ever worked at Internet Brands.

However, on 2nd June 2017 (while I was away on holiday) I was (on the instructions of IB Management) removed from my Administrator role, and demoted to Moderator (by IB staff, not by our other admins, Lynne and Princeton). The reason given to me was that I am "no longer employed by IB".

This is despite the fact that IB employment and staff positions here have never been linked.

The staff here are all angry, and for the last few weeks we have tried to get IB management to see this isnt the right thing to have done.
They have refused to change the decision, and so it is with much regret that myself, and most of the existing staff are in the process of stepping down.

Over the next few weeks, Lynne, BirdOPrey5, MarkFL, Dismounted, Princeton and myself (Paul M) will all be stepping down.

Lynne has also announced she is resigning from vB Support.

My understanding is that TheLastSuperman intends to stay on for the moment (so really will be the Last (super) Man standing).

I believe our advisor Dave is also remaining for the moment.

I'm afraid I do not know what the future holds for vbulletin.org, or who from IB will be running it.
However, it has become clear it is no longer "our" site to run - as has previously been done for the last 15+ years.

[BirdOPrey5]

It has been a privilege to serve as a Moderator here and to be a part of so many people's forums in one way or another. I'm not necessarily abandoning vBulletin.org completely (unless I get banned for some reason) but you can find me on my main forum, juot.net, or I may hopefully get my VB Mods site cleaned up at qapla.com/mods/. My twitter is @BirdOPrey5.

I will miss a free and independent vBulletin.org. Attachment 156503

[Mandushi]

I'm sorry you're leaving

--------------- Added [DATE]1498862611[/DATE] at [TIME]1498862611[/TIME] ---------------

Without you vbulletin.org does not exist

[MarkFL]

I too feel it has been a great privilege to serve as a moderator here. I learned a great deal from folks here, and met quite a few good people. It's a real shame all that has been ruined.

I am in the process of moving support for my products to the site in my signature...once I have completed the process, I will update my signature with a direct link.

[zappaDPJ]

Although I don't generally post here, I do spend a fair amount of time browsing and I'd just like to say to everyone stepping down, thank you for all your contributions to this forum. I have no doubt you will all be greatly missed.

[zethon]

I would like to offer my services to be an admin or moderator! I've been using vBulletin since 2004, written several mods and am pals with a (former) staff member.

[RichieBoy67]

This is terrible....

[KevinL]

Originally Posted by RichieBoy67

This is terrible....

Very much so...

[BGObsession]

There is not a staff member on this list who has not helped me repeatedly over the years. This sucks. Seems like an unnecessary and destructive decision. Forum communities are supposed to be about the members who support them, not about petty politics or power struggles.

Pretty shabby treatment of folks who have selflessly given of their time, energy, and love over countless years.

I think many will find other resources for their vB help.

It's never too late to do the right thing.

[mathforum]

Sad news but respect to the staff for standing up to bad practices. I hope something good can come of this on another site.