What's the Hullabaloo?

[_MsJack]

Did this [real name of Chino Blanco] = Doctor Scratch theory originate solely with Pahoran via his investigative abilities?

[_Chap]

...
The vague swipe while a violation of the rules is a not a disqualifying offense.
...

A mod posts (what she thinks is) in real life information obviously directed at a particular poster, with the intention of saying 'Watch out! I know who you are', in the context of sustained efforts to find out that poster's in real life identity by a very hostile person (Daniel Peterson) who the mod states repeatedly is her 'friend', and that does not lead to the conclusion that the mod had better leave her role behind?

Being a mod is about trust. Trust has been lost because of a moderator's deliberate action. This is not about whether that mod is thought to be a nice person or not.

[_Yoda]

My answers below are in blue.

liz,

Moderator access to and use of IP address information has been raised in the last 24 hours.

You have restated what I had previously read, that Moderator have access to IP address information.

You have stated that you have not used IP address information to out Dr Scratch or anyone else.

What uses of IP address information do you believe to be appropriate?
Appropriate use of IP information as a Moderator is to determine whether or not a poster is a Spambot or a real person. That is why we have access to IP addresses. It is to help clean things up from that perspective.
Have your uses of IP address information remained within the ambit you explain as appropriate?
Yes.
Have you ever disclosed a poster's IP information with a non-Mod?
No.
Perhaps answering these questions will allay concerns that have been expressed, such as by Chap.

[_Alter Idem]

I would assume the control panel used by the mods to perform their tasks has access to less functions that an administrator's.

Does anyone know if a moderator actually has access to IP addresses or user' PMs (other than their own)?

I could be wrong but I suspect not. If I am correct, then I am not seeing that Liz's actions whether I approve of them or not (not) as being an abuse of her mod privileges.

The issue is not how Liz came into possession of what she believed to be in real life information on Scratch. It is, rather, that she took an action that broke a fundamental rule of this board, in using that in real life information in a way that might be seen as designed to tell a poster that his cover was blown, so he had better watch out.

Once a mod does that, I don't feel happy about his or her impartiality, however much they try to separate their personal and moderatorial identities.

Liz did nothing wrong. You are suggesting she used her position as a moderator to find information on scratch, that's apparently not true since she believed Pahoran had identified Scratch and you all insist he's wrong--so she CAN'T have identified him. This is where you all need to tread lightly. If you want to accuse Liz of using her moderator powers to expose scratch, then you also have to admit Pahoran got it right with when he identified the person in question. Can't have it both ways, you know.

What actually happened was that Pahoran gave hints as to Scratch's possible identity. Liz followed the breadcrumbs--just as others did and figured out who he was talking about. She warned Dan when she saw this person was on his Facebook. Was that a crime? NO, it was something a friend would do. Liz actually has friends from both camps--that's the kind of person she is.

You probably aren't aware, but Liz was threatened by Scratch to silence her and she pushed back. That's why he's mad and why he wants you all to do his dirty work and not only get rid of her as a mod, but make you all feel that it was your 'christian duty' to get rid of her. Some are so easy to manipulate.

Kish, thanks for speaking up for Liz. She's been a great moderator and did not deserve having people she's given so much of her time and effort to, turn on her.

[_Stormy Waters]

Liz did nothing wrong. You are suggesting she used her position as a moderator to find information on scratch, that's apparently not true since she believed Pahoran had identified Scratch and you all insist he's wrong--so she CAN'T have identified him. This is where you all need to tread lightly. If you want to accuse Liz of using her moderator powers to expose scratch, then you also have to admit Pahoran got it right with when he identified the person in question. Can't have it both ways, you know.

Intent is everything. It they honestly believed they were revealing in real life information they don't get a free pass if they happened to be wrong. In fact I would go so far as to argue that the use of someone's name while not being certain is actually more damning.

[Guest]

The issue is not how Liz came into possession of what she believed to be in real life information on Scratch.

That is one of the issues raised. Another is why Pahoran's hints at chino blanco (not an MDB registered name)=scratch were being allowed, by a mod actively posting in that very thread--and then adding to it. However the 'information' was derived, it was a violation of the rule against exposing in real life information about a poster that the poster himself has not announced here. Pahoran was hypocritically doing that directed at what he thought was Dr Scratch's identity, while feigning he'd been offended and insisting the rule be followed re his own in real life name--that he'd made well known--and a mod joins in Pahoran's mischief. A mod is here to enforce the rules, not just selectively enforce them.

It is, rather, that she took an action that broke a fundamental rule of this board, in using that in real life information in a way that might be seen as designed to tell a poster that his cover was blown, so he had better watch out.

Such a warning could have been explicitly sent to Scratch by PM, without the 'other way' seen as joining Pahoran's outing party.

Liz did nothing wrong. You are suggesting she used her position as a moderator to find information on scratch, that's apparently not true since she believed Pahoran had identified Scratch and you all insist he's wrong--so she CAN'T have identified him. This is where you all need to tread lightly. If you want to accuse Liz of using her moderator powers to expose scratch, then you also have to admit Pahoran got it right with when he identified the person in question. Can't have it both ways, you know.

Actually, not quite. This episode did move those seeking Dr Scratch's in real life identity one step closer. It has eliminated chino blanco as that identity. It is a step in a process of elimination of potential in real life candidates. And when taken, that does weaken to some extent the anonymity that Dr Scratch has jealously guarded, unlike the hypocrite Pahoran. The outrage about the attempted outing does not have to concede the Scratch=chino blanco theory correct to yet have elicited the outrage it did.

What actually happened was that Pahoran gave hints as to Scratch's possible identity. Liz followed the breadcrumbs--just as others did and figured out who he was talking about. She warned Dan when she saw this person was on his Facebook. Was that a crime? NO, it was something a friend would do. Liz actually has friends from both camps--that's the kind of person she is.

You probably aren't aware, but Liz was threatened by Scratch to silence her and she pushed back.

What does Dr Scratch have over liz that would give any traction to his threats? and give her any compunction from those threats? If nothing, then the threats wouldn't stick. Can't have it both ways, right, Alter Idem?

That's why he's mad and why he wants you all to do his dirty work and not only get rid of her as a mod, but make you all feel that it was your 'christian duty' to get rid of her. Some are so easy to manipulate.

It's nice to see you do Pahoran's dirty work.

[_lulu]

Liz did nothing wrong. You are suggesting she used her position as a moderator to find information on scratch, that's apparently not true since she believed Pahoran had identified Scratch and you all insist he's wrong--so she CAN'T have identified him. This is where you all need to tread lightly. If you want to accuse Liz of using her moderator powers to expose scratch, then you also have to admit Pahoran got it right with when he identified the person in question. Can't have it both ways, you know.

And you are placing the burden on the victims, Scratch and Jason. Morally, that's usually thought to be a bad idea.

[Guest]

Liz did nothing wrong. You are suggesting she used her position as a moderator to find information on scratch, that's apparently not true since she believed Pahoran had identified Scratch and you all insist he's wrong--so she CAN'T have identified him. This is where you all need to tread lightly. If you want to accuse Liz of using her moderator powers to expose scratch, then you also have to admit Pahoran got it right with when he identified the person in question. Can't have it both ways, you know.

Pleeze lurn two reede:

The issue is not how Liz came into possession of what she believed to be in real life information on Scratch. It is, rather, that she took an action that broke a fundamental rule of this board, in using that in real life information in a way that might be seen as designed to tell a poster that his cover was blown, so he had better watch out.

The above statement is about her state of mind. Pointing out that issue does not imply anything about the accuracy of the information she related.

[_Darth J]

You probably aren't aware, but Liz was threatened by Scratch to silence her and she pushed back. That's why he's mad and why he wants you all to do his dirty work and not only get rid of her as a mod, but make you all feel that it was your 'christian duty' to get rid of her. Some are so easy to manipulate.

I eagerly look forward to you naming names as to who called for Liz's impeachment as a moderator, and what evidence you have that (1) anyone is calling for this, and (2) that this anyone is doing so because Scratch got them to do it.

[_Molok]

You probably aren't aware, but Liz was threatened by Scratch to silence her and she pushed back.

Oh really? What did Scratch threaten her with, pray tell?