realrasengan · May 12, 2021 16:16 · robbyoconnor · Jan 13, 2022 · robbyoconnor · Jan 13, 2022
diff --git a/freenode.txt b/freenode.txt
 Posted on Freenode Limited on the morning of May 12, 2021 US PST:

 Approximate timeline:

 1. Shells sponsors freenode providing 3k/mo.

 2. Freenode lists the shells logo.

 3. Tomaw's team attacks christel, who had run Freenode since early
 2000, and she resigns, unable to deal with the persistent harassment.

 4. Rather than allow for a usual grace period after resignation
 (e.g. as we speak, several resigned former-staffers are still OPd
 in here), or allow for a reasonable transition from one head of
 Freenode staff to the next (something reasonable and responsible
 to do to ensure proper continuity of operations), Tomaw's crew
 abruptly cuts christel's access while she is asleep that night.

 5. Tomaw turns around and asks me a bunch of questions if I'm going
 to challenge his control. He also says he understands I am the
 owner. I suggest that freenode needs decentralization and good
 governance, to prevent the kinds of hasty destabilizing things that
 have transpired.

 6. I hear whispers that Tomaw is up to something and reach out to
 prawnsalad (kiwiirc) who has nothing but good to say about Tomaw.
 He schedules a meeting with tomaw and me to mediate.

 7. In the meeting Tomaw and I disagree entirely about freenode
 domain ownership (which we've since come to an agreement on), but
 we both clearly agree in writing not to make any changes to ownership,
 governance, or project trajectory until we speak again.  I created
 a document detailing the discussion on April 8 and general plan on
 Google Docs (dated).

 8. Rather than wait until we speak again, Tomaw turns around and
 changes up the staff and website.

 9. Upset that tomaw has renegged on his commitments and acted rashly,
 prawnsalad says he's not going to deal with tomaw and discussion
 ends; the mediator drops out.

 10. I ask tomaw wtf and he brushes me off.

 11. I get a lawyer and tomaw says he understands and is sorry etc
 and sends me a letter.

 12. Meanwhile some other story is being told to the staff that
 doesn't match the truths listed here.

 Given the millions I have injected into freenode thus far, the fact
 I own it and the fact that I protected the freenode staff with
 professional legal work and funding when they needed help and they
 could still lie and slander like this... says a lot about who they
 are. It saddens me that christel was forced out, and I wish she'd
 feel safe returning. I'm frustrated that tomaw's hostile takeover
 seems likely to succeed, in spite of all. I simply want freenode
 to keep on being a great IRC network, and to support it financially
 and legally as I have for a long time now.

 So this is where we are. I passionately want freenode to survive.
 I have serious concerns about the stability of the project with
 tomaw here, given his duplicitious and rash actions. But I also
 have faith and trust in the freenode staff as a general body. So
 it's my hope we can resolve this leadership issue.  I proposed a
 way to decentralize freenode in the past and would love to embark
 on that journey still.  Perhaps if tomaw could be forthright with
 everyone about what's happened, the staff could decide for themselves,
 but I fear he has been far less than forthright. I do not want to
 interfere, but I also want to protect freenode from what appears
 to be a pretty hostile set of moves that I believe threaten the
 network. This concern might point to larger issues we'll need to
 address about governance in general, and I'm open to having those
 discussions and formalizing fair and reasonable processes. But for
 now in the short term, I would really like to work together to find
 a resolution to this. Freenode must survive in tact, not torn to
 pieces.
	Posted on Freenode Limited on the morning of May 12, 2021 US PST:

	Approximate timeline:

	1. Shells sponsors freenode providing 3k/mo.

	2. Freenode lists the shells logo.

	3. Tomaw's team attacks christel, who had run Freenode since early
	2000, and she resigns, unable to deal with the persistent harassment.

	4. Rather than allow for a usual grace period after resignation
	(e.g. as we speak, several resigned former-staffers are still OPd
	in here), or allow for a reasonable transition from one head of
	Freenode staff to the next (something reasonable and responsible
	to do to ensure proper continuity of operations), Tomaw's crew
	abruptly cuts christel's access while she is asleep that night.

	5. Tomaw turns around and asks me a bunch of questions if I'm going
	to challenge his control. He also says he understands I am the
	owner. I suggest that freenode needs decentralization and good
	governance, to prevent the kinds of hasty destabilizing things that
	have transpired.

	6. I hear whispers that Tomaw is up to something and reach out to
	prawnsalad (kiwiirc) who has nothing but good to say about Tomaw.
	He schedules a meeting with tomaw and me to mediate.

	7. In the meeting Tomaw and I disagree entirely about freenode
	domain ownership (which we've since come to an agreement on), but
	we both clearly agree in writing not to make any changes to ownership,
	governance, or project trajectory until we speak again. I created
	a document detailing the discussion on April 8 and general plan on
	Google Docs (dated).

	8. Rather than wait until we speak again, Tomaw turns around and
	changes up the staff and website.

	9. Upset that tomaw has renegged on his commitments and acted rashly,
	prawnsalad says he's not going to deal with tomaw and discussion
	ends; the mediator drops out.

	10. I ask tomaw wtf and he brushes me off.

	11. I get a lawyer and tomaw says he understands and is sorry etc
	and sends me a letter.

	12. Meanwhile some other story is being told to the staff that
	doesn't match the truths listed here.

	Given the millions I have injected into freenode thus far, the fact
	I own it and the fact that I protected the freenode staff with
	professional legal work and funding when they needed help and they
	could still lie and slander like this... says a lot about who they
	are. It saddens me that christel was forced out, and I wish she'd
	feel safe returning. I'm frustrated that tomaw's hostile takeover
	seems likely to succeed, in spite of all. I simply want freenode
	to keep on being a great IRC network, and to support it financially
	and legally as I have for a long time now.

	So this is where we are. I passionately want freenode to survive.
	I have serious concerns about the stability of the project with
	tomaw here, given his duplicitious and rash actions. But I also
	have faith and trust in the freenode staff as a general body. So
	it's my hope we can resolve this leadership issue. I proposed a
	way to decentralize freenode in the past and would love to embark
	on that journey still. Perhaps if tomaw could be forthright with
	everyone about what's happened, the staff could decide for themselves,
	but I fear he has been far less than forthright. I do not want to
	interfere, but I also want to protect freenode from what appears
	to be a pretty hostile set of moves that I believe threaten the
	network. This concern might point to larger issues we'll need to
	address about governance in general, and I'm open to having those
	discussions and formalizing fair and reasonable processes. But for
	now in the short term, I would really like to work together to find
	a resolution to this. Freenode must survive in tact, not torn to
	pieces.