Well, I've had some time to think about my past linking and discussion behaviour on the forum and wiki, and although it is very difficult to admit, I've come to the realization that I was wrong in many instances and belligerant in hearing what some of you had to say.

Jeff kindly and patiently explained to me the reasons that some of my actions and some of my practices were regarded as violating some of DreamHosts policies. He made a thorough and objective case for this and completely changed my mind about it.

I'm not saying I agree with everyones objections, just the ones I talked about with Jeff. My main issue is that I really wasn't link-spamming at anytime at anyplace, all of my links were relevant to the subject at hand, but the way I went about it was a problem. Basically I just want it known that my motivations really were well-intentioned to help other dreamhosters, and I never thought I would be so ill-received, but I can understand now why this happened.

A day after I posted the "Its called synergy, that means we all win not all lose" forum post, I had a pretty huge negative event happen in my personal life, and I shouldn't have been posting at all with that going on. Things obviously got way carried away and I really feel bad about it and bad about what I said. I love DreamHost and I'd like to participate in the DH wiki and forum but I obviously burned those bridges pretty badly so I'm not sure if they can be rebuilt. Hopefully with time and good behaviour on my part, they can.

Regardless, I fixed the 2 issues people had with my site AskApache.com by removing the DreamHost link from under the 'Sponsored By' heading in my sidebar and removing the 'DreamHost.com About Us' text from my DreamHost review post: "DreamHost Employees dress up as young girls for advertisement". And I will no longer be linking to any of the helpful DreamHost related articles on my blog on the DreamHost wiki. I also will no longer be using this forum in any but a straightforward manner.

Lastly, for those of you who I offended or argued with, (jeff, scjessey, rlparker,etc.) both here and on the wiki, I want to tell you that I am deeply sorry for my actions and I am humbly asking all of you for your forgiveness and hope you don't think of me as a bad dude.

AskApache Web Development Blog

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I love DreamHost and I'd like to participate in the DH wiki and forum but I obviously burned those bridges pretty badly so I'm not sure if they can be rebuilt. Hopefully with time and good behaviour on my part, they can.

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It takes a person of good character and good intentions to deliver an apology like this. As I have said before, you are an extremely intelligent individual with much to offer your fellow DreamHosters. Show us what you can do.


-- si-blog --
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Who are you? What have you done with Apache?

Welcome back. Sorry to hear about the troubles, but we all wish you luck and patience in dealing with it.


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I don't doubt that this was a difficult post for you to make, and it is to your credit that you made it. I'll take no issue with any of the particulars of your post, and just comment positively on the fact that you posted it. I perceive it as a legitimate attempt to rehabilitate your online persona in these venues, and I think that is a "Good Thing(tm)".

We may never agree upon what is appropriate linking and what is not, but I don't believe it is all that important, and it is certainly not necessary, that we agree. For example, in your public apology post, consisting of 6 paragraphs and a sig, you managed to put 4 links to your site and articles (and 1 link to a forum thread containing many more). A suspicious person could wonder whether the point of the post was the apology, or the links. I'll choose to "assume no malice" and just chalk it up to you truly *not* understanding, or just not caring, how your linking practices might be perceived.

What I *do* think is important is that the DreamHost forum and wiki resources remain welcoming and useful places where all can participate, and that the community's perceptions of appropriateness are valued. In furtherance of those goals, I consider the matter closed and look forward to your future cooperative participation in both venues.

Most "burned bridges" can be rebuilt; though it usually takes a while to clean up the debris before real rebuilding can begin. I see this post of yours as a significant start toward that end ... self-promotional links and all.

--rlparker

more spam. an apology doesnt have 2 links to your / page, 2 deep article links and link to a spam thread with more links to it.

this post is spit in the faces of the people you say you are sorry to. hosting account should be nuked like your rewards account because you cant learn.

I also noticed the links. But I would like to ignore them, assuming you're sincere. The knowledge in your web site should be enough to speak for itself. Give it time and others will provide the links for you. Its worth letting the system work for you rather than against you.
Good luck,
Silk

My website

"I'm shaking it, boss!"

You're dealing with guys who see no problem with writing in the first paragraph:

"...I'll take no issue with any of the particulars of your post, and just comment positively on the fact that you posted it..." followed in the next paragraph by doing the opposite:

"For example, in your public apology post, consisting of 6 paragraphs and a sig, you managed to put 4 links to your site and articles (and 1 link to a forum thread containing many more). A suspicious person could wonder..."

I'll take no issue. Here's an issue I have. It's bizarre.

He also went out of his way to remove every link of yours he found in wiki.dreamhost, while not doing the same for self-added jesseys.net or keystonedsites.com.

There's no need for you to apologize. Keeping shaking it, boss.

Yeah, "What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

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"...I'll take no issue with any of the particulars of your post, and just comment positively on the fact that you posted it..." followed in the next paragraph by doing the opposite:

"For example, in your public apology post, consisting of 6 paragraphs and a sig, you managed to put 4 links to your site and articles (and 1 link to a forum thread containing many more). A suspicious person could wonder..."

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(green text was written by me, "red"d was written by the "Sultan-Hashim")

Hi, Bob! Is English a "second language" for "Sultan-Hashim"?

I did chose not to take issue. What I did was acknowledge his stated belief that he believed he did nothing wrong (in my first sentence of that "next paragraph", that you didn't read, understand, or think was relevant enough to quote). I offered an amplification on that saying "a suspicious person could wonder..," attempting to explain, again, why his links bother some people.

I even ended that same paragraph with, "I'll choose to "assume no malice..."

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I'll take no issue. Here's an issue I have. It's bizarre.

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Pointing out how some may take issue is not the same as taking issue yourself, particularly when clarified with preceding and subsequent statements. You didn't get it ... oh well.

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He also went out of his way to remove every link of yours he found in wiki.dreamhost, while not doing the same for self-added jesseys.net or keystonedsites.com.

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I didn't go "out of my way at all; I'm active on the wiki every day. And I didn't delete all of his links I found, though I did delete several (most?) of them. You might consider that your issues with scjessy and I appear to be causing you much more aggravation and frustration than you are causing for us. If you keep picking at a scab you are likely to get it infected. It takes negative energy to obsess the way you do about that, and It's not good for your mental, or physical, health.

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There's no need for you to apologize. Keeping shaking it, boss.

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Sweet! How is it proper for you to take issue with anyones feeling that an apology is in order? As for "keep on shaking it", I'd think the loss of his rewards account might be a clue that some discretion in the "shaking it" department might not be a bad plan, but heh. The sound of your one hand clapping has got to be reassuring and supportive, right?

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Yeah, "What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

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The PM I've received from the OP indicates he and I are communicating reasonably well, and you already know how interested I am in "communicating" with you and/or your puppets. Rock on!

--rlparker

> I did chose not to take issue.

It looked like you took issue, in some itemized detail.

> "a suspicious person could wonder..," attempting to explain, again, why his links bother some people.

Who is this suspicious person or "some people" you speak for, and why don't they speak for themselves?

> "I'll choose to "assume no malice..."

How nice. Please do.

> Pointing out how some may take issue is not the same as taking issue yourself,

It looks the same because you usually only get to speak for yourself.

> I didn't go "out of my way at all;

You did something de-constructive instead of something constructive. It seemed petty too. Sorry if that was "on your way."

> How is it proper for you to take issue with anyones feeling that an apology is in order?

He owes me no apology. It's not a criticism. It's only a statement.

> you already know how interested I am in "communicating" with you and/or your puppets.

No, I don't, and please don't speak for me. So what were you saying about welcoming places and burning bridges? Or did I misunderstand, and you really meant burning bushes and you're hearing voices? ;-)

Your new favorite site

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and you already know how interested I am in "communicating" with you and/or your puppets.

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Don't waste your time responding to Sultana-Raisin (or whatever he is calling himself today). You know it is a fruitless exercise (please excuse the pun).


-- si-blog --
Max discount on any plan with promocode SCJESSEYTOTAL

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Don't waste your time responding to Sultana-Raisin (or whatever he is calling himself today). You know it is a fruitless exercise (please excuse the pun).

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That's good advice. Thanks for the reminder!

--rlparker

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What I *do* think is important is that the DreamHost forum and wiki resources remain welcoming and useful places where all can participate, and that the community's perceptions of appropriateness are valued....

Most "burned bridges" can be rebuilt; though it usually takes a while to clean up the debris before real rebuilding can begin....

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Your new favorite site

Thanks for the acceptance guys, I was sincere, and making a public apology like this isn't easy and definately not anything but an apology.

I really had no purposeful thought regarding the links in my post, I just link to what I'm referring to so people know what I'm referring to, its just a habit and its bewildering to say the least, for me, to realize some of you consider this helpful linking to be spam. That was not my intention at all.

That said, I'd like to say thanks again to scjessey, rlparker, and any other admin types who are giving me a second chance to contribute. I'll try very hard not to abuse this chance, but I might slip up occasionaly in my forum posts similar to how I linked to my site in the above post.

And sultan it is kind of you to let me know I wasn't completely retarded in my opinions on linking. But rlparker is correct when he notes that some discretion is in order, obviously, because my rewards account has been banned, to the detriment of all parties. That was a real wakeup call that I hate to admit I needed to realize this wasn't just a friendly flameythread about policies but a serious discussion with real consequences. I never imagined in a million years DreamHost would do that to me but it just proves that I was wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Anyways, love and peace

AskApache Web Development Blog