Just as New Year was about to strike EDIT Forums disappeared without warning. It was a shock to all who had made the place their internet home. What could have happened ? Had the place been raided, or had it gone out of business ?

Regular posters gathered in two main camps. Rumour and speculation was rife. Folks imagination went into overdrive. What could have happened to cause Shaman (Neal) to have closed the forums ?

It was thought by some that Bushmaster (Mark) and his tech team had had a row with Neal and that as a result Bushmaster had pulled the plug in protest. It was a good rumour and gave rise to all kinds of wild ideas. The facts were though that Shaman had asked Bushmaster to take down the forums. Bushmaster and the tech team were officially only employees of Shaman with regard to EDIT Forums. You see Bushmaster had the maintenance contract to service and maintain EDIT Forums.

Unfortunately in the comeback and fall out across the internet the impression was given that Bushmaster had turned off the forums in some kind of dispute with Shaman. The impression was strengthened when unofficial reports emerged claiming that Shaman had said there were problems with the server company. Over at the EDIT site there was still no official explanation or notice to explain what had happened. Folk started assuming what had happened and wilder ideas were given credence by some old enough to have known better.

The truth was much simpler than anyone was prepared to initially believe. The U.K. law was about to change upgrading cannabis from class C to class B. As a result new legislation had been drawn up where by those considered to be encouraging ‘drug use’ could be prosecuted. Once this was realised by Shaman he simply freaked out, and instructed Bushmaster to switch off the forums altogether without any notice or explanation to members and the online community.

The comeback was massive and clearly something that was unexpected by Shaman and it appears that to save face he desperately searched for a scapegoat to off set any damage to the online shop business via damage to EDIT’s credibility. Unfortunately he chose to claim there had been ‘a dispute with the server company’ without realising that a number of older members knew that Bushmaster had the maintenance contract.

Understandably Bushmaster and his tech team were none to thrilled to be put in the frame for something they hadn’t done, or rather had done under instruction from their employer. Bushmaster and the tech team had no part in the decision to close EDIT forums. They merely carried out their contractual obligations.

In the absence of any official word from Shaman folken continued to make assumptions and to spread wild ideas. Then a short explanation appeared on EDIT. It appeared to blame the ‘server company’ and inflamed the situation. A few days later Shaman actually surfaced long enough to say something on his own behalf on the YouKnowIt forums. His brief speech stated that Bushmaster was not to blame for EDIT forums disappearance, and that he intended to bring back the forums at a later date.

For many this was too little too late. The damage to reputations and the underhand blame tactics had already brought their own consequences. The online community had decided EDIT no longer had any credibility, loyalty or respect for members, or future as their Headshop supplier.

Had the situation been handled differently much good will would have been retained by EDIT. As it is, EDIT looks set for demise.

It’s not all bad news though. Bushmaster has come out of this stronger than ever with his credibility not just intact but strengthened. Out of the goodness of his own heart and for the love of the online community that has risen from the creation of EDIT forums Bushy has created a commerce free forum where the online community can gather and stay in touch with each other, forging new relationships and connecting old friends in an environment free of business concerns.

Well done that man and his tech team. It’s a clear indication of his commitment to the online community, the friends he has made, and the principal of free speech. Long may he and the new forums continue.

Why not join us at ChilledTimes.com ?

Viper13/2/2009

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First Published 13/2/2009 by Viperslair.co.uk

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