~ Look for Little Madeleine ~

[MindBuster]

Originally Posted by Mikah

But I can't see how this topic continues on, but yet another very important issue raised in another thread, Earthlings, was locked, and both of these topics are equally political and relevant to the outside world and was dismissed as 'not suited for EF"...

How is this topic, suited for EF then? How is this not political?

I closed the "earthlings" thread, and I would have closed this thread also long ago.

I am one of those who doesnt like the avatar pics and signatures as Skam mentioned, I dont wanna look at those pics in every second thread, but I have to as I cant just turn off showing avi's and sig's because I'm an admin and have to look at peoples avi's to see if anyone violates any rules.

It was 711's decision on a Staff meeting to keep this thread open and let it die out naturally, to avoid too many people freaking out over a lock.

I would have closed it long ago.

[711]

Originally Posted by MindBuster

I closed the "earthlings" thread, and I would have closed this thread also long ago.

I am one of those who doesnt like the avatar pics and signatures as Skam mentioned, I dont wanna look at those pics in every second thread, but I have to as I cant just turn off showing avi's and sig's because I'm an admin and have to look at peoples avi's to see if anyone violates any rules.

It was 711's decision on a Staff meeting to keep this thread open and let it die out naturally, to avoid too many people freaking out over a lock.

I would have closed it long ago.

I did indeed decide to allow this thread to continue for a couple reasons:

1. No solicitations were being made to donate money
2. At the time, the campaign was not disrupting EntropiaForum.
3. Several very dedicated forum members seemed quite passionate about the issue, and I did not wish to cause unnecessary anguish or controversy.

However, this Madeleine campaign has continued much longer than expected, and has clearly begun to cause disruption and bad feelings here on EntropiaForum, some of that due to perceived favoritism or lack of consistency in the application of forum rules.

Also, it seems some very heartless and unscrupulous individuals have attempted to take advantage of other peoples goodwill to personally profit from donations. It is possible that this could happen again, and I would certainly not want EntropiaForum to be a medium or tool for such misdeeds.

Unfortunately, I have seen such manipulation happen before, on another very exclusive forum of influential internet developers and designers. On that forum, a large-scale scam was created and promoted promising relief for victims of the Hurrican Katrina disaster. The forum community there contributed tens of thousands of dollars over the course of only several days to what they believed was a legitmate and worthwhile cause, and even used their considerable resources and connections to promote the cause on other websites and to their family, friends and business associates. Less than a week later, the "charity" was exposed as a fraud, and in fact the person responsible for creating it was a member of the above-mentioned forum. He ended up being arrested by the FBI, charged with felony fraud and is now serving a very lengthy prison sentence.

More info here:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/03/news...raud/index.htm

Please remember that as Mindbuster and Skam have pointed out, this forum is primarily dedicated to discussion of EntropiaUniverse. While a certain amount of discussion of other topics is to be expected, and is allowed in the off-topic sections of the forum, any issue that disrupts or detracts from the primary purpose for this website must be curtailed.

Many members come to EntropiaUniverse, and EntropiaForum, to escape the demands, responsibilities and not-so-fun aspects of "real-life".

There are dozens of places on the internet to discuss important issues such
as the Madeleine abduction, kidnapping, etc., and to provide assistance and/or help make a difference and prevent additional such crimes. That is in fact what makes the internet so amazing and wonderful: a myriad of websites for every conceivable and imaginable interest, passion and devotion. The purpose of this website is discussion and interaction related to EntropiaUniverse.

Therefore, I ask that anyone using an avatar or signature image related to the Madeleine campaign please remove such images within the next 2 days.

I will leave this thread open for comments for a short while, but it will soon be closed. Please refrain from creating any further threads on this issue, or similar ones.

As an alternative I can offer free hosting services to any members (or a group of members) who would like to create a devoted website to discuss this issue and/or raise awareness. All that is required is a domain name (which I can also provide, if necessary).

[Lykke]

Originally Posted by 711

I did indeed decide to allow this thread to continue for a couple reasons:

1. No solicitations were being made to donate money
2. At the time, the campaign was not disrupting EntropiaForum.
3. Several very dedicated forum members seemed quite passionate about the issue, and I did not wish to cause unnecessary anguish or controversy.

However, this Madeleine campaign has continued much longer than expected, and has clearly begun to cause disruption and bad feelings here on EntropiaForum, some of that due to perceived favoritism or lack of consistency in the application of forum rules.

Also, it seems some very heartless and unscrupulous individuals have attempted to take advantage of other peoples goodwill to personally profit from donations. It is possible that this could happen again, and I would certainly not want EntropiaForum to be a medium or tool for such misdeeds.

Unfortunately, I have seen such manipulation happen before, on another very exclusive forum of influential internet developers and designers. On that forum, a large-scale scam was created and promoted promising relief for victims of the Hurrican Katrina disaster. The forum community there contributed tens of thousands of dollars over the course of only several days to what they believed was a legitmate and worthwhile cause, and even used their considerable resources and connections to promote the cause on other websites and to their family, friends and business associates. Less than a week later, the "charity" was exposed as a fraud, and in fact the person responsible for creating it was a member of the above-mentioned forum. He ended up being arrested by the FBI, charged with felony fraud and is now serving a very lengthy prison sentence.

More info here:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/03/news...raud/index.htm

Please remember that as Mindbuster and Skam have pointed out, this forum is primarily dedicated to discussion of EntropiaUniverse. While a certain amount of discussion of other topics is to be expected, and is allowed in the off-topic sections of the forum, any issue that disrupts or detracts from the primary purpose for this website must be curtailed.

Many members come to EntropiaUniverse, and EntropiaForum, to escape the demands, responsibilities and not-so-fun aspects of "real-life".

There are dozens of places on the internet to discuss important issues such
as the Madeleine abduction, kidnapping, etc., and to provide assistance and/or help make a difference and prevent additional such crimes. That is in fact what makes the internet so amazing and wonderful: a myriad of websites for every conceivable and imaginable interest, passion and devotion. The purpose of this website is discussion and interaction related to EntropiaUniverse.

Therefore, I ask that anyone using an avatar or signature image related to the Madeleine campaign please remove such images within the next 2 days.

I will leave this thread open for comments for a short while, but it will soon be closed. Please refrain from creating any further threads on this issue, or similar ones.

As an alternative I can offer free hosting services to any members (or a group of members) who would like to create a devoted website to discuss this issue and/or raise awareness. All that is required is a domain name (which I can also provide, if necessary).

I will say my thanks to 711 for keeping this thread alive for this long, as we today have the 90th day of Madeleines disappearing.

And even though this is a game and people see this as a hobby, other says this is not a game. We see how RL ads are being exposed on the ads in EU ! How RL economy and banks and business are being involved. Now to me that is much more political than making people aware of a kid who is missing.

Lots of the players here have kids - there are kids playing this game as well - I'm quite sure both groups can relate.

To me the fight for childrens rights in any ways are not over - and luckily I can chose to do with the ad screens in game as I wish!

It's easy to close eyes for the realities in RL - especially if it hurts - but trying to ignore and neglect it is the worse thing - because that is like saying it never happened and to the people or children involved in cases were childabuse have existed, to tell them it's not that important - it is like walking pass a person on the street who is dieing, without helping.

To the child abusers - I wanted to let them know they are not safe. You cannot steal one child and think it is ok. I will always be stating my opinion in this case. No matter what kind of abuse is being done. We are dealing with small kids, small hearts, small lifes - and they are being destroyed and hurt! It is not acceptable in any society. And in a society we all have a responsibility! And if everybody sits back and say "oh its the people next door - not my concern" - then nothing will ever chance!

Again, thanks to those who listened and for the support - but definitely also thanks to the people who contributed to this thread with debating the issue.

It has all been important - and kept this thread alive - so we didn't just woke up to "yet another day" and forgot ...

Lykke