I’ll be filling in the blanks on why I was apparently banned from participation on the trdev list, in part so you can make your own judgments, but more because I think it’s an interesting learning possibility. I believe every event, good or bad or indifferent can and ought to be a learning event, or opportunity, so I will be posting on the trdev saga. I’m not sure WHAT exactly can be learned. You’ll have to decide what works for you. (This is a reprise article, reproduced for learning, if there is some to be had)
I’m going to start with my post to two of the trdev moderators, Bev Ferrell, and Korbus Kruger. In part it is in response to a note (from Korbus) informing me of my removal from the list. It contained a number of OTHER things which I will reveal over time, as it’s a bit shocking. Some might call it threatening.
In any event, the note that I sent suggests that we try to work things out, and gives them some time to indicate they are willing to do so. I include this here so that readers may know that I’ve pursued other private avenues to sort this out. If this group of folks wants to confront, then we can do that also.
I just thought I would give the two of you and the list brass an opportunity to enter into discussion about your ban email, its contents, and consequences. I’m just offering you a heads up that if I don’t hear from you by 10pm today, April 30, EDT, that I will conclude that you don’t wish to work at a resolution of the issues.
If I do not hear from you, I will unbind myself of any obligations or rules connected with trdev, and will begin responding to your actions publicly (but of course, off of trdev). In case any moderators are not aware (and I state this as a simple fact, not a boast), I have extensive”communication reach” across the Internet and with print publications related to training and development. I have a good story to tell that can be spun in a lot of different ways. How and if it gets told is up to you.
I can promise you that in the event that you choose confrontation rather than negotiation, I will stay (as I have always stayed), within the law, and do nothing illegal, immoral or fattening.
It all seems a complete waste of time for all of us to fight, but it’s really your choice to do so.
One of the first pieces I’ll be publishing is tentatively entitled:
Training and Development (trdev) discussion list staff threaten well known author and trainer, Robert Bacal.
Kobus, unfortunately, you are listed as the originator of the banning email you sent, so I’m afraid, well, you are kind of on the hook for the threats at the end.
PS. I’m not dumb enough to think that this situation is one that anyone “out there” really cares about, let along trdev list members who, quite frankly, do longer seem to care about anything connected to the list (congrats moderators on such destruction).
Still, I think it’s worth the telling, and there’s a lot of learning that can be had from this, for everyone.
Just a quick after comment. The trdev folks did not reply to my attempt to open a dialogue, so I’ll carry on the conversation here, in public as time permits, posting some of the original messages.
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It was my consistent experience that TRDEV was unwelcoming of any commentary other than that cushioned with soft fluffy bunnies. For a while, I was under the distinct impression that you could do no wrong in the moderators’ eyes, so I would be fascinated to know what you did to peeve them so much.
Personally, I find nothing valuable about a discussion board where only the opinions that the moderators like are allowed to remain.
I have mixed feelings about your comments, and about you personally because of your history on the net, and your anonymity over the years.
The whole story of my experience with trdev is here on the blog if you want to look at it, and describes the reason for Bev Ferrell getting so upset, and also their erasure of the entire archive going back almost ten years.
Beyond that, it`s water under the bridge. I`d remove the posts about it here, but I tend to believe in the importance of history.
That said – being a “well-known author” I would think you’d be more concerned about your communication style and how you deliver your messages. I’ve seen your “work” on the ASTD boards and I’ve read one of your books (about performance management) and I have to say – I thought maybe you were two different people. I thought — this person posting on ASTD and TRDEV cannot possibly be the same light-hearted, friendly-toned writer of this book.
Completely different roles, personas, functions, purposes.
If you believe you can know complex people solely through the Internet, you`re an idiot. (there, is that more consistent for your). You get to see what you are allowed to see.
Your repeated reliance on ad hominem argument may be a key reason for the on-going altercations in the first place. Personas? How about representing yourself with professional aplomb regardless of where you are discussing your opinions?