To the CS Membership

[Scud]

[This is a closed thread, not posted for discussion]

Earlier this week, Peter Jeavons (Glint) made the conscious decision to go public here at the Blitz with an accusation of database tampering by Blitz members whom he had been at odds with for some time. Although unnamed, those familiar with the CS forum would have no trouble knowing who he was accusing. His thread had close to 60 views before mods were alerted and able to take hold of the situation. Because of his decision, because so many viewed his thread, and in the case of at least one designer, were disturbed by his claims, it has been decided that a public explanation is in order. His false accusations cannot be permitted to go unanswered, as they besmirch the reputation of the club and its members.

In late November members were alerted that Peter, by his own admission, had been designing scenarios, uploading them to the scenario database, play-testing them for ladder points and then deleting the files. Although site officers deemed no written rules had been broken, the “spirit” of the club had been compromised. Peter told me in a private email that this had not been his intention and implied the removal of his scenario files had been an accident. The decision was made, rightly or wrongly, that if he reuploaded the scenario files for other members to play, his indiscretion would be forgiven. Otherwise he would face disciplinary actions. Additionally, he was privately warned by Toni not to air his problems with other members, or moderating decisions in which he was involved, in public.

Monday, after viewing Peter’s thread, I immediately contacted him, voicing my concerns over the extremely serious nature of his posts. I asked him to identify exactly which files he was claiming were tampered with. I checked the time stamps on the files he had emailed me against the files I had uploaded and were still live on the site. All were identical. Although one was empty, I discovered the zip he’d sent had also been empty.

I then used some of the tools available to Toni and me as forum moderators to verify that other users had really attempted to hack the site’s database as he was publicly claiming. I found zero evidence.

Once again, I emailed Peter and asked for proof of what was rapidly being proven to be a false claim, again publicly made. I never received an answer. Peter instead resigned from the club; in essence, choosing cyanide over the rope.

I would like designers here at the Blitz to know, theblitz.club leadership do their best to protect the site and its content from those who would cause it harm. No one can do so anonymously. Hacking a website is also a crime. Site officers are always discussing ways to better protect the database and improve the site. In the short-term, it is what it is, and has always been.

Those of you involved in a game against Peter may claim ladder victories against the Club Shadow Player.

Please note: Toni and I will bend over backwards to help a member when that member contacts us privately with an issue. If we feel the need, we alert other ladder moderators for their help and advice and check with site officers before making final decisions. If any member has an issue with Toni and/or me, they can contact any ladder moderator, not just the CS ladder or they can contact the site’s senior command and state their issues. Privately reported issues will ALWAYS be handled with discretion.

Lastly, it has been reported that Peter Jeavons is making his own claims at MatrixGames.com’s forums against the Blitz membership and the CS moderators. He is welcome to do so and welcome to his opinion. I would ask Blitzers to remind themselves, that as the gold standard of wargaming clubs, we as members need to hold ourselves to a higher standard then that to which Peter apparently aspires. If you feel his claims there are intolerable, merely post a link to this thread. No one has been treated as fairly as Peter, albeit often undeserved, in the time I have served as a forum moderator.

Thanks,
Dave