I am just curious (and posted this here, in case others are as well). Administrators - How much time do you spend on the boards, and do you divide these forums or threads up between the three of you to make sure they are all read and scanned, or do you wait until they are reported if there is a problem? How much time overall (not just reading threads). I am just curious, but don't want you to have to give up "Board Secrets"
I usually check in at least 3 times a day...late morning, late afternoon, and late at night (I get out of work at 12 midnight). I have to admit that I don't read every post, and I do rely on the members reporting problem posts. We don't divide the forums, we have equal responsibility for all of them, but I'll confess I don't spend much time in the IT forum, since I know nothing of that field.
Thanks I am new to distance education and have really enjoyed this forum, thanks to the administrators for keeping it up and running, Tracey
Have you ever watched a coke commercial, and they put down Pepsi. Or on Mad TV last night, they said not to watch Saturday night live. You know when you are targeted, you are the best. I visited another couple of sites yesterday (I know, I should have learned by now), and the discussion was degreeinfo (most who have been banned) - I love it.
Why? I've visited a couple of those site where most of the talk is anti-degreeinfo. My queston is simple: Why do those people spend some much time knocking a site (and some of the key people)? If they are behind mills, then surely its in their interests to downplay degreeinfo, not fulminate.....Some of them sound deranged. If they are simply people with a different perspective, which should degreeinfo bother them at all - the Web is big enough for everyone.
Re: Why? I think becuase they are "outing" degree mills and the like. Look at Dr. Bear, I have read his book, but then on other boards, he is claimed to be in prison, he is clained to be a degree mill himself, he is claimed to be many amusing things (I hope Dr. Bear, you are still seeing them as amusing, I am not poking fun at it, but thinking they are desperate). If you didn't know the whole story, you would look at those postings and think these crazy things. Anyway, thanks Bruce for the info.
Kristie: "(I hope Dr. Bear, you are still seeing them as amusing...) John: More bemused than amused, in the sense of mystified, baffled. I really don't see what they can be getting out of it. All I can think of is that there is some sense of personal satisfaction at their belief they are causing problems for me. I note that Bears' Guide is still in the top 5% of all books sold on Amazon, even 12 months after the current edition came out, which is pleasing, even though I won't be doing any more of those.
Scary... Perhaps I'm just the nervous type, but if I was Dr Bear I'd be nervous! If people are prepared to attack you so viciously on the Web, what else could they (or have they) try to do?
Re: Scary... Oh, follow you around to other websites where you post, contact your employer, send you threatening e-mails, contact the schools where you teach, contact the school where you're enrolled, contact the regional accreditor of the school where you're enrolled. You know, stuff like that.
I thought I remembered reading some posts (Sorry but I do not know how to search and then post those contents or I would do so but some of the St. Regis's threads come to mind.)about some of the regulars here who would call to verify anything that a person with a UA degree or heaven help them mill degree posted as far as acceptibility, utility, transfer of credits, employment with said degrees, etc. Contents of private e-mail's have been posted, contact persons, everything to disprove the poster's assertation of any utility, transfer of credits or acceptibility of a UA or Mill degree. While in no means does this justify any attacks on anyone it just makes me think...are these attacks referenced in this thread some folks way of..."you kill my dog, I kill your cat?...you tear me down, I tear you down?" Still wrong, still stupid...but in somebodies warped mind justified?
Angela: Perhaps I'm just the nervous type, but if I was Dr Bear I'd be nervous! If people are prepared to attack you so viciously on the Web, what else could they (or have they) try to do? John: I am delighted to report that the manuscript is now done for the book on degree mills that will be published next summer by Prometheus Books. My co-author is Allen Ezell, founder of DipScam, who left the FBI after 31 years for an industry job, but is still well-connected, and and the media love him because he gives great interviews. So I'm the easy one to attack, but if I were a diploma mill operator, I would worry a lot more about Prometheus and Ezell.
No. I've never, ever, contacted anyone's employer, school, etc. about their degree. I've never invaded anyone's personal life regarding this stuff at all. My crime is I've posted quite a bit of information about the schools from which these cretins have claimed degrees. For example, there is one jerk who has a fake Ph.D. from Berne University and who teaches at Mercy College. I've never contacted his employer, even though he undertook quite an effort (anonymously, but easily discerned) to trash me with a great number of lies directed to Union and the NCA. Of course, they all blew him off; the Union lawyer even threatened him with legal action for tortious interference--I supposed that made him stop. But the process was very difficult emotionally. That's why I no longer talk about my involvements with schools and employers (and there are several). It's just not worth it.
For that I am glad. I don't agree with it regardless of what side of the DL arguement you stand on, which school you support, or detest. Debate and discussion is one thing....trying to destroy someone and not resting until you do is another. There is an axiom that says You can not build yourself up while tearing another man down. Those who engage in such tactics that you describe and I alluded to just to "prove their point" only prove their utter lack of charector in comparison to the same ones they are trying to expose. Regardless as to who is "right."
