SMx Project - Important Announcement
Linc
OwnerDetroit Icrontian
Team –
As many know, the SMx project is an ongoing effort to build dedicated folding machines from parts donated by members of Team 93. These computers are hosted in the homes of individuals who are trusted to hold them for the team and run them to the best of their ability. Sometimes there are difficulties in keeping the machines running, as we are all fully aware. Parts break, components fry, and it sometimes takes time to get them working again. We do the best we can.
However, some may notice that we occasionally lose a machine in the stats with no explanation given or solution offered for the errant box. The committee takes these breaks in production very seriously and investigates them accordingly. We are also very serious about the computers working up to their potential and the hosts of those computers conducting themselves as the upstanding members of the team they presented themselves to be when they were chosen.
As you may recall, SM10 ceased production for several months over the summer with no explanation given by the host or arrangements made for its continued folding. It has since returned but with lackluster results. More recently, the host chose to make his second-ever post on the site. It was purposefully offensive and clearly violated the rules of the site. Given these circumstances, the committee determined that it was time to recall SM10 and reassign it to a new host.
When contacted, the host flatly refused. He said that based on his contributions to the team in the past and that most of the pieces in the computer had been donated by him, he was going to keep the machine and fold for another team. Since we presently have no legal recourse for such actions, we simply asked for the CPU (donated by another member) and memory (purchased with team funds) back. He responded with further demands that were not in accordance with the agreement made and were not acceptable given his performance and behavior.
Therefore, at this time, we are writing off SM10. We do not see it likely that it will ever fold for the team again, or that we will be able to recover any part of it.
Also at this time, we have been taking steps to contact the host of SM12, which has not folded since mid-October. Attempts up until now have proved fruitless. While we hold out hope that we may yet recover it, at this point it seems prudent to recognize that it too may be gone.
This is an important moment for the team as it represents a crossroads in the project. For the first time it became necessary to recall SMx rigs. The host of one defied the agreement made with the team and stole the rig. The other cannot be found.
The SMx project will continue unhindered. This sort of blatant disrespect for the team and its contributing members is not the norm on this site, nor will it ever be. We remain confident in the rest of our hosts who have done outstanding jobs and are committed to the team. We again thank all persons who host and who have donated parts and money. The project continues because of people like you.
One of the many unique features of this team is the amount of trust we put in our hosts. No other team has invested the amount of money and computer parts into the homes of individuals that we have.
The hosts are the flag bearers of what makes this team great.
Fold on.
As many know, the SMx project is an ongoing effort to build dedicated folding machines from parts donated by members of Team 93. These computers are hosted in the homes of individuals who are trusted to hold them for the team and run them to the best of their ability. Sometimes there are difficulties in keeping the machines running, as we are all fully aware. Parts break, components fry, and it sometimes takes time to get them working again. We do the best we can.
However, some may notice that we occasionally lose a machine in the stats with no explanation given or solution offered for the errant box. The committee takes these breaks in production very seriously and investigates them accordingly. We are also very serious about the computers working up to their potential and the hosts of those computers conducting themselves as the upstanding members of the team they presented themselves to be when they were chosen.
As you may recall, SM10 ceased production for several months over the summer with no explanation given by the host or arrangements made for its continued folding. It has since returned but with lackluster results. More recently, the host chose to make his second-ever post on the site. It was purposefully offensive and clearly violated the rules of the site. Given these circumstances, the committee determined that it was time to recall SM10 and reassign it to a new host.
When contacted, the host flatly refused. He said that based on his contributions to the team in the past and that most of the pieces in the computer had been donated by him, he was going to keep the machine and fold for another team. Since we presently have no legal recourse for such actions, we simply asked for the CPU (donated by another member) and memory (purchased with team funds) back. He responded with further demands that were not in accordance with the agreement made and were not acceptable given his performance and behavior.
Therefore, at this time, we are writing off SM10. We do not see it likely that it will ever fold for the team again, or that we will be able to recover any part of it.
Also at this time, we have been taking steps to contact the host of SM12, which has not folded since mid-October. Attempts up until now have proved fruitless. While we hold out hope that we may yet recover it, at this point it seems prudent to recognize that it too may be gone.
This is an important moment for the team as it represents a crossroads in the project. For the first time it became necessary to recall SMx rigs. The host of one defied the agreement made with the team and stole the rig. The other cannot be found.
The SMx project will continue unhindered. This sort of blatant disrespect for the team and its contributing members is not the norm on this site, nor will it ever be. We remain confident in the rest of our hosts who have done outstanding jobs and are committed to the team. We again thank all persons who host and who have donated parts and money. The project continues because of people like you.
One of the many unique features of this team is the amount of trust we put in our hosts. No other team has invested the amount of money and computer parts into the homes of individuals that we have.
The hosts are the flag bearers of what makes this team great.
Fold on.
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Comments
Thanks *******s.
I'll say no more.
I originally joined this team when it was Team Icrontic. I followed the Team here to Short-Media because of the dedicated members we have on this team, not because I thought that Short-Media was better than Icrontic(well at the time, there was no Icrontic anyways too
BTW, this thread is being sticky'ed for everyone to see.
Is there any way we can get Shenlong on some sort of bad traders list...I'd think this would qualify him.
Yeppers! he made a thread on addaboy about you conacting him about it I dunno if i can find it but ill try DJ is shenlong
Sadly, it looks like you're right...
Gnome never thought he was:
I have the whole conversation if you like, but if you prefer to live in ignorance, then thats your choice.
Perhaps it was not clear to you:
shenlong custom = dj quack
Was what I read from Gnome. However this was the username that Shenlong roughly used backed in the days of Icrontic, so I assumed (erroneously) for a moment that this is what he was referring to. Thusly my post.
After your prompt to re-read, I stated that I had misinterpreted Gnome's post.
There is no living in ignorance, I know quite well who is who.
Good day.
You know what we do with british tea on this side of the pond?
DJ = Shenlong Custom
Shenlong = ShenlongThePwnji
Now...lets get this thread back on track...
I believe we were trying to track down the individual responsible for IC12??
What I was refering to was the fact that you said DJ is not Shen (which is right) and I followed that up by stating that Gnome never though he was, he was just saying it to get DJ in trouble (as shown by the quoted statement).
If you have the whole convo then you can tell his passion for hating me.
what makes you think that someone that hates my guts wouldnt change my words a little bit before he sent it to you?
I dont care tho It was an honsest mistke Dj is not shenlong It was just a mistake since i saw his IM name was SHENLONG custom
I agree The thing to focus on is getting those pc's back
I'll lend my expertise with regards to the law enforcement side (since I've been a police officer for six years). What many people don't know about the law is that there are two sides to law: criminal and civil. This situation would be construed as being a civil matter and not a criminal one. The police deal with criminal law and the enforcement of it. Anytime an agreement, whether verbal or written, between two parties is broken whereas either party could stake a halfway legitimate claim to property, money, or child custody, it would be a civil matter. Criminal matters get resolved through the police and filing of a police report, which results in criminal charges getting filed against someone with the possible result of prosecution which may lead to monetary fines, jail time, or other penalty. Civil matters get resolved through the filing of lawsuits. Civil lawsuits get settled by the two parties or go to court where a judge rules on it based on what the two parties have to say and present. This is a unique situation because of the distance involved between the parties. There is jurisdictional problems also. If a civil lawsuit were filed, which court would it be filed? Would it be filed in the hometown of the person who assembled the computer and organized the SMx project or would it be filed in the hometown of the recipient of the computer? Needless to say, if legal counsel were sought (at the going rate of $100-200 dollars an hour) and they advised to file it in the hometown of the recipient, the distance issue would definitely be an obstacle to overcome not to mention travel time/money if it would go to court. Also, the wheels of justice turn slowly, so don't expect the lawsuit to go to court next week. By the time it would get to court (assuming it made it that far), the computer would be so devalued and worthless as a folding computer the return would be so diminished that quite a loss would be incurred just in the process of getting the computer back. Not to mention it takes money just to file a lawsuit although smaller claims cost less. It takes either someone in the family working as a lawyer or paralegal or pay for someone to draw up the legal paperwork to file the lawsuit. Before that, you need an identity to put on all the legal paperwork. Does everyone know the full name, date of birth, address, phone number, etc of the person that is the target of the lawsuit? Surely not. That information would have to be derived from the information already known about the individual. The rest would have to be gleened from subpoenas to such companies as AOL (via instant messenger) and his/her internet provider. I can tell you in this day and age and privacy concerns that these technology companies are not exactly willing to part with that kind of information. They drag that part of it out intentionally and even fight them because they don't want to alienate their customers. The only reason I see going through with the process is for purposes of principal, which I certainly would understand because that's something I deal with on a daily basis. It would be a financial disaster that would be nerveracking as well.
Contracts are a good idea in principal but enforcing them in this situation will prove to be challenging in the least. The way I see it to make the SMx project successful and avoid this situation in the future is a careful selection process. The vast majority of the recipients of SMx computers are enthusiasts and it's a shame that one or two of the 20 or so that received one gives the project a black eye. It also casts doubt needlessly on those in the future that are prospects that would take good care of them and use them as intended. It's a classic case of the majority suffering for the few and the good suffering for the bad. I find it hard to believe this person was trusted with with one of these boxes with only one forum post (although maybe I read that wrong).
The other option is vigilante justice, which, believe it or not, I think works in some cases where used the right way. The justice system is in chaos and is way too liberal nowadays. It's an ongoing thing with the police and renegade liberal judges in which we bang our head on that brick wall every day. I know of a few drunken cajuns that'll break whatever body part you specify for a six pack and 10 dollars (half that if the house is accessible by pirogue, which is a hooptie canoe).
Overall, this is a tough situation to enforce, so I'd fall back on the selection process. I'd only use an established member of the community where a reasonable amount of trust can be extended based on his past history with the organization. Due to the uniqueness of the proximity, distance, and level of anonymity, the SMx project can never be foolproof, you can only reduce your chances of being "had". I hope this didn't dampen anyone's spirits. I think the project is a worthwhile one and I plan on contributing parts myself for the cause. Run away with some of my hardware, and I'm liable to come after you myself.
KingFish
Holy everlasting paragraphs batman! Good information, though I didn't read all of it. Legally, there's really nothing you can do here. He says the parts are his, you have no evidence to prove otherwise. All you have are a few emails between computers to prove he even knows who you are. I'd say drop it and move on.
Focus on finding IC12 and whoever has it, they may return it if contacted.
KingFish