Protect our Right to Post: ScubaBoard Legal Defense fund
Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 205,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:
Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
What exactly was it we were all doing before we found SB?
I just noticed your Post count....
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: New Jersey Spare Air Posts: 1,249 Split Fin Posts: 3,271 BP/W v BCD Posts: 1,382 Air-2 Posts: 2,138
Logged Dives: 200 - 499
HITLER IS NOT AOW - Download your copy here available from my website Diving My Way
Spoken by the arresting Officer: "If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document."
I'm buying Scubaboard another pint of legal defense. Hope this goes away soon, so I'm buying a pint of celebratory ale instead. I've gleened at least that much knowledge from SB over the years, and more importantly I've made lifelong priceless friendships through SB. Fellow SBer's are a pretty awesome bunch of folks.
Cheers!
PS Thanks to all the Defenders, whether monetary and/or in spirit, for helping keep SB OUR forum.
I don't know, so I choose to assume he hasn't. Given past experiences I feel that it is a valid assumption.
Listen, you all are welcome to white knight this as much as you want. Just do realize that there are those here who don't feel as you do and their opinion is just as valid. If you wish to attack those people then at least be willing to listen to their reasons.
I definitely don't want to re-ignite anything but I think Mike's point was valid and don't think dogpiling here is a particularly attractive site.
Not everyone donating gets a thanks and that's cool. And not everyone suggesting an approach gets one either, and that's cool too: except, it can create the impression that it's a fund raising event only and not a box clever event too. People have value to add on both sides and silence can be interpreted as disdain or being ignored. Pete is looking for help (although he did not initiate the call) and I think that where reasonable he should find the time for helpful posts (like the EFF suggestion) being thanks either on the thread or by PM. Otherwise people won't bother with anything beyond their 20 bucks - which is all I've had to offer, but there are lots of people on this board that I'm sure can offer a lot more than a simple dollar donation.
I've been diving for the last two days gang... sorry for my hiatus! Well, sorta sorry. Hudson Grotto, P1 and Orange grove sink have been WAY RAD. w00t!
The ACLU and EFF have been contacted, as have several other entities who might have a dog in this fight. No concrete offers to help, but hope has been tendered.
Other lawyers have offered to help, but they have to be on Florida's bar in order to do things other than consultation.
The fund will only be used for legal fees directly related to THIS litigation. I will make the accounting available after the fact and not before it has been decided in our favor.
Please report any posts or threads that cross the line of only encouraging others to donate. I have never gotten rich off of ScubaBoard, and you can be fairly certain that this is not the way to do it. The pockets of those trying to bankrupt ScubaBoard are quite deep and they are determined to ruin me and the forum you love. My aim is to frustrate them in their attempts.
Oh yeah, we have had auto censor on since the beginning of this forum. Surprise, but it's only gotten less restrictive.
Thanks, Pete!
This week's donation: Confirmation number: 34706995DM783374N.
"Equality of opportunity or equality of outcome?
One is consistent with a free people and the other requires a police state. Pick one." ~Cool Hardware52
I, alone, am responsible for my health and safety, my actions and inactions.
"If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size?" ~Sydney J. Harris
When, if and how much, and in what manner I chose to send money to SB is a private issue for me. Some people make their contributions public as DEFENDERS or SUPPORTERS not everyone chooses to do so.
I agree that supporting SB and NetDoc is a good and appropriate thing but I remain concerned about the Named Scubaboard Members especially (and the so far unnamed DOES). They do not have even the resources of NetDoc. If the cost of having to present a defense against this suit is unfair to SB.. isn't it just as unfair to the ScubaBoarders who posted trying to warn others of this danger especially when it was based on their personal experiences?
How many have contacted these people with offers of support emotionally, in spirit or financially? Do they not deserve our consideration as well? People have posted here to say they felt they "got away" with posts that could have resulted in legal difficulty for them. There is an expression "There but for the Grace of God go I"
Has there been any information shared about Brian Verbonac (Kuhnuk)'s response to the charges... could he afford a lawyer to answer for him? What about DandyDon whose posts so many have enjoyed/learned from? The others BrianMerd, fundive, LeslieFinnigan, names are easy enough to find.
Defending SB protects our right to Post most certainly.. but so does standing behind our fellow members! If we don't do something to support these people.. isn't it saying that it is OK to attack individual ScubaBoard members as long as the organisation is protected?
FWIW this is not a but an honest expression of concern for not only SB/Netdoc but also my fellow ScubaBoarders I feel this needed to be said
"Equality of opportunity or equality of outcome?
One is consistent with a free people and the other requires a police state. Pick one." ~Cool Hardware52
I, alone, am responsible for my health and safety, my actions and inactions.
"If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size?" ~Sydney J. Harris
229Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Originally Posted by Jax
Dumping us for mere diving, Pete!
Reply With Quote
Thanks, Pete!
but an honest expression of concern for not only SB/Netdoc but also my fellow ScubaBoarders I feel this needed to be said
Spelling errors for the entertainment of the viewer
I want to be alive till I am dead not be dead while I am alive!