Let Me Clear The Air Regarding My Earlier Post

After reading the threads that have been posted since earlier today when I resigned my position as moderator here, and seeing the direction things are going, I need to clear this up before it gets more out of hand than it already is.
 
Mike has known me now for the better part of 11 years, and during that time, he's come to value my opinion on matters regarding the rules of this site and how they are enforced. We have a trust in place.  In that regard, he also knows like many of you, that I have a low tolerance for bullshit, and I hate being lied to.
 
So today when I saw the Blabbermouth article and the PDF regarding the lawsuit, I like many of you, jumped to a concussion that the entire truth was blurred. As Mike trusts me, I trust him as well and trust that he would not lie to me about things. Especially when those things usually involve me sitting in front of the computer for endless hours every day trying to keep his internet home free of messes and negativity every time he posts, says something in an interview, or tweets.
 
Now, while some of you may think I have the "inside scoop" on everything going on between DT and MP, that is the farthest thing from the truth. Yes, I work(ed) for MP, and yes I am also an employee of Dream Theater as a contracted internet consultant and manager of a few of their internet properties. However, in regards to all the legal actions taking place, neither party has been at liberty to discuss anything involved in the case with me as I am not directly involved and honestly I won't impose on friendships to ask. I, like you all, only know of rumors and speculations and what has been whispered in dark corners of the internet.
 
Now, being that I am (was) the one responsible for having to spend my time cleaning up the mess, you can understand my displeasure at the revealing of the information that came to light today and the ensuing mess that is still continuing. I also felt that the faith I had in MP to be as truthful with the fans as he has always been in the past wasn't as concrete as I had envisioned.
 
I only do (did) this job for as long as I did because I respected MP as both a person and a friend. Over the years I have seen him do countless selfless things for his fans. One thing in particular always comes to mind, he spent hours digging through his basement one night to find an original 1996 ACOS Home For The Holidaze shirt for a fan who had been wearing one the night of The Station fire and had had to have the shirt surgically removed from his skin. So you can imagine my feelings of betrayal when I saw this lawsuit information and jumped to the conclusion that Mike had been lying to all of us fans for the last 6 months. I don't like liars, I don't like feeling stabbed in the back as either a friend or a fan, and that is how I felt, plain and simple.
 
I went so far as lashing out and being quite snarky to Mike in my resignation letter. So much so that I got a call from Marlene after he sent it to her.
 
Now Marlene can't go into details about the lawsuit, I respect that. That is something that could cost her and Mike hundreds of thousands of dollars and a lawsuit. As a friend, I do not want to see that happen. I have a lot of trust in Marlene, and when she tells me that I'm wrong about judging Mike this way, I can tell from the sincerity in her voice that she's not just standing up for Mike but that she's being honest. I have to admit I was wrong in my feelings that Mike had betrayed my trust and the trust of the fans. My quitting was not intended to do further damage to Mike, and sadly, that is how most of you have taken it as I was rather blunt with my wording. Those of you who know me well know that that is how I am. I don't pull punches, but I will be the first to admit I was wrong. I was wrong (DebraKadaba is currently calling the Guiness Book Of World Records to get them to put it in writing.)
 
We will never know the full details of the lawsuit, we aren't entitled to know. Mike doesn't deserve the crap he gets around the internet. I know, I clean the majority of it up here and see it everywhere else. He's a good guy, and a great friend, and any single one of you, having the feeling that a friend lied to you would not sit well. That is where I was coming from with my resignation. That thread was closed and I understand why. It was doing more damage to Mike than the actual Blabbermouth article. But in hindsight and after talking to Marlene, I was wrong in my judgement of the situation, and not knowing the facts, did what the rest of you are currently doing.
 
Let's put an end to this for all parties involved. No one, not Mike, not Dream Theater, is benefiting from it.

So...  Did you get your job back?

Sounds like dude cleared the air and will be back to his old duties.

Well said, best of luck to you in the future for wherever you choose to go from here.

Good to hear from you, Wey.  Then I admit I was wrong in becoming a snarky bitch after seeing you go.  After all this are you going to stay?

only one way to find out.... haha
but seriously. Nice post. I feel like i've gone through those exact emotions from top to bottom but luckily it only lasted an hour. Intense hour. I think watching the new Opeth making of helped

Glad to see this clarified some more. A lack of clarity about anything is the LAST thing that's needed around here.
 
Now just an honest guess, I bet not having your mod powers at the moment is driving you crazy with the utter insanity of what's happening on here right now.

ganpondorodf


So...  Did you get your job back?

Ya...because this place could use it right now...

I always said there was a mensch under all that fur.
 
Don't know if you're taking back the reins or not, or even sticking around, but thanks for all you've done for all these years, Wey.

People really jumped at this news today.  I saw an interview with JP and JLB and they were asked about it.  They squashed it pretty fast, and respectfully.  A summary of the filing that I heard about a month or so ago was pretty much spot on, but I figured it was pretty typical in a break up like this.  I guess seeing the real deal in black and white is different and was surprising for everyone to see.
I find it a bit odd that the existing agreements weren't already in place to deal with this sort of thing, and maybe they were but didn't address EVERYTHING.  I don't know...nor do any of us.
Let them sort out their business affairs and let the MUSIC PLAY!

Lambo_Diablo_Svtt

Now just an honest guess, I bet not having your mod powers at the moment is driving you crazy with the utter insanity of what's happening on here right now.

 
I was already crazy. 11 and a half years of staring at a purple screen will do that to you.

You are a heck of a classy wookie, Wey.

Integrity.
 
Class.
 
Respect.

Weymolith

Lambo_Diablo_Svtt

Now just an honest guess, I bet not having your mod powers at the moment is driving you crazy with the utter insanity of what's happening on here right now.

I was already crazy. 11 and a half years of staring at a purple screen will do that to you.

Glad to see you cracking jokes still. I was actually thinking about where I would go to get my fix of purple and black if this forum fell apart.

after seeing how other ships are run, dayum, nice work Wey. 

Hug a Wookie Day!

Well DT/MP lawsuit aside. I feel for you Wey. It seems that you only got caught in the middle of the crossfire. I know you have gone through a lot of shit these couple of years, and still have to deal with crap around here. You did your best, and this place got to be the greatest community I've come across. Wish you the best Wey.
 
As for the DT/MP ugliness, well I knew this was coming.  I do not know the facts, but common sense gives a pretty good idea. This is a business and I know how this is handled. I wont say more. 

Wey's post + Conan's face = Win.
 
It looks gooooooooood.

"The truth is the truth, all you can do is live with it"
 
To say I am surprised would be an understatement.  And knowing what I know, I'm also a bit disappointed, to be honest.
 

All class, sir.

^^ KNH:  Dude, don't be such a tease(!)

Wey, I have to ask. I'm guessing the decision is in Mike's hands right now, but do you still want to be the admin around here again?

Pretty much what I expected.
 
The Man was in a business relationship for quite a long time. He has a large financial stake in that business. Legal issues will arise. The standard in this day and age to make sure that a conversation is started is to file a lawsuit. Someone stated in a different thread, he was a lawyer I believe, that a divorce is in and of itself - a lawsuit.
 
Plus, just look at the history of music. Lawsuits abound between major departed members of many big bands. Most end up getting settled amicably in the end.
 
Do the math, it was filed in April. You know lawyers love to overdo the language for effect. The album came out. The band is touring. MP himself stated in a tweet that he is happy and they are happy. This may be close to closure for all we know. We will probably never know. IT'S NOT OUR BUSINESS.
 
Don't jump to conclusions, take a step back and think before you post. Cooler heads really need to prevail. Stop asking Mike to comment on legal proceedings, for god's sake. They are most likely under a gag order and even then, WE ARE OWED NOTHING.
 
In this, I support you MP. Does anybody have the Jump To Conclusions mat handy from Office Space? It's needed right about now.

ganpondorodf


^^ KNH:  Dude, don't be such a tease(!)

I'm just disappointed in the backpedaling and Wey knows why.  If he wants to elaborate that's on him.
 
 

Thank you Wey. You're the best person I've encountered on the internet, bar-none. And, I don't know you all too well to be honest. Just wanted you to know that.  Now, I'll clean my nose from all that brown.

Weymolith Moderator 


 
^ I guess that answers my question.

When Wey made his original post in this thread it did not say moderator... it does now so it looks like he's back.  This place would not be the same without you Wey... and I mean that in a good way.

Woo, you're back!
 
My butt better behave.

The Wookie has returned, all order will be restored.

Hmm...  This whole situation is very fishy to me, but eh, it's not the end of the world (although you wouldn't know it from some of the topics/posts that've been springing up!).  Anyway, it's 3am and I have classes tomorrow.  Will surely be checking in before I leave though, see if things have calmed down/gone completely mental again.

Alright, I've been updated, and I just want to say that Wey has been put in a terribly difficult position in this whole mess and while I cannot and will not share anything about emails he and I have exchanged, I will say that I firmly believe that he's doing the best he can to handle and extraordinarily difficult situation. 
 
If you're reading this, Mike, I hope you understand how valuable Wey's commitment to you has been.  He's defended you, through the good, the bad and the ugly, no questions asked, even when your behavior has been, let's just say....less than professional.
 
If I'm being honest, Mike, right now, I'm massively disappointed.  Like you, I'm in recovery and working the steps.  I fully and completely understand why you would file against Dream Theater, (it's just business and I get it) but as I have mentioned before, I believe you have some step 10 work ahead of you, and I believe, if you are REALLY in recovery like you say you are, that you know why I feel this way.
 
I sincerely hope you do the right thing, Mike.  I harbor no ill will against you, but I am disappointed.
 
 

KirksNoseHair


Alright, I've been updated, and I just want to say that Wey has been put in a terribly difficult position in this whole mess and while I cannot and will not share anything about emails he and I have exchanged, I will say that I firmly believe that he's doing the best he can to handle and extraordinarily difficult situation. 

If you're reading this, Mike, I hope you understand how valuable Wey's commitment to you has been.  He's defended you, through the good, the bad and the ugly, no questions asked, even when your behavior has been, let's just say....less than professional.

If I'm being honest, Mike, right now, I'm massively disappointed.  Like you, I'm in recovery and working the steps.  I fully and completely understand why you would file against Dream Theater, (it's just business and I get it) but as I have mentioned before, I believe you have some step 10 work ahead of you, and I believe, if you are REALLY in recovery like you say you are, that you know why I feel this way.

I sincerely hope you do the right thing, Mike.  I harbor no ill will against you, but I am disappointed.

What is this post supposed to mean? You're massively disappointed yet at the same time you understand why MP would file against DT? What is the right thing you hope MP does? Give away a corporation he helped build? Even Steve Perry is still part of the business side of Journey. Why would MP be any different?

I'm not going to comment until I know the whole story, but in the meantime:
 
Thank you for everything, Wey. Sincerely. Regardless if you are or aren't the mod tomorrow, you have done great things here and we all owe you many thanks

If I messed up in anything I'll take my lashing's.. 

Well, I trust you a lot, so I'm sorry if I said anything uncalled for in the last hours.
And I hope MP can understand just how much of an awesome friend you are.

Would it not be a conflict of some sort to be the moderator of this forum, while also holding the same position for the DT site forum? This just seems wrong to me, given the current acrimonious state of affairs.
 
 
 

Telefragged

My butt better behave.

 
....
 
Maybe not after Wey's done with it

eadgbe


Would it not be a conflict of some sort to be the moderator of this forum, while also holding the same position for the DT site forum? This just seems wrong to me, given the current acrimonious state of affairs.

 
I am an admin at DreamTheaterForums.org (a fan site) - I am not the moderator and that site is not officially affiliated with the band. I'm not sure if DT.net has a moderator yet.
 
There is no conflict of interest, in past jobs I have been a project manager at two separate litigation document firms (Scan One / Pacific Legal) dealing with multi-million dollar law suits against opposing parties. I can do both jobs just fine. The guys in DT don't have a problem with it, neither does Mike. Tour dates, album releases, press releases, etc don't present any conflicts of interest.

KirksNoseHair


Alright, I've been updated, and I just want to say that Wey has been put in a terribly difficult position in this whole mess and while I cannot and will not share anything about emails he and I have exchanged, I will say that I firmly believe that he's doing the best he can to handle and extraordinarily difficult situation. 

If you're reading this, Mike, I hope you understand how valuable Wey's commitment to you has been.  He's defended you, through the good, the bad and the ugly, no questions asked, even when your behavior has been, let's just say....less than professional.

If I'm being honest, Mike, right now, I'm massively disappointed.  Like you, I'm in recovery and working the steps.  I fully and completely understand why you would file against Dream Theater, (it's just business and I get it) but as I have mentioned before, I believe you have some step 10 work ahead of you, and I believe, if you are REALLY in recovery like you say you are, that you know why I feel this way.

I sincerely hope you do the right thing, Mike.  I harbor no ill will against you, but I am disappointed.

I think people are presuming a lot, to be so specific with their opinion as to how MP should handle this. I am sure you know something, but it is appropriate to raise this in reference to Mike's 12 step thing, which is highly personal and supposed to be somewhat private? Not getting on your case, but you are sounding like the judge here. I think this is a public viewing of a private battle.