Why This Page Instead of the Site You Wanted?
This may perceived by some as a rant, but if you wanted to know the reasons behind the shutting down of all these sites, this is an attempt to briefly explain the reasons as succinctly as possible, without taking the time to explain every aspect of the reasoning (and proof) in proper detail behind all these statements and opinions. This is difficult to keep short due to the complex variables involved in making this decision, but this actually is the shorter version.
All of these sites have been provided for free to the world, supporting various interests, causes (non-political), and communities since the 1990s. Until now, the donor/founder of these community sites has gone out of his way to keep his personal politics out of the sites. He hosted these sites free of charge or advertising, for almost 2 decades, thanks to his resources that were developed from working 90+ hours per week over many years. This was only possible because of a country that once provided the freedom and opportunity of EARNING the "American Dream", through a capitalist system (and not the current "crapitalist"* system it has devolved into), for those willing to work hard enough. This never meant a guarantee, merely a reasonable opportunity for those willing to strive for the chance.
The founder believes that all his financial and personal resources are now in serious jeopardy, so he must withdraw his many donations, cancel plans for future donations, community investments, and vast expenses of time, money, blood, sweat, and tears, for many diverse communities in order to protect his family, as best as possible, from the inevitable implosion of the United States economy, society, and the worsening submission of the sovereign rights of the country to the increasing global powers (WTO, WHO, WIPO, UN, etc.) that are antithetical to the capitalism-based democratic republic that once was the thriving U.S. system. He is very sad to be forced into a situation having to choose between continuing to support all these communities, and protecting his family (the obvious priority being family).
All of these sites have been shut down in response to the tyranny of the (slight) majority of United States of America citizenry that re-elected Barack Hussein Obama II for a second term as president, and worse yet, their election increases in liberal democrats (aka progressives/socialists) in congress, and elsewhere. In addition, all this is compounded further by the recurring efforts to push through bills like SOPA and PIPA recently attempted. You people are destroying small communities, community sites, and freedom.
The founder is not a Republican (nor a Democrat or quite a Libertarian, rather a mixed Independent), and though not especially a supporter of Romney in many areas, it is the (maybe not so very) humble opinion of the founder of these sites, that the increased leftward fiscal swing indicated by the re-election of Obama and company in the face of what they stand for, presents a clear and present danger and a very grim picture for the future of those cherishing liberty and personal responsibility.
The founder of these sites (many varied communities, including the Deaf/ASL community, local neighborhoods, various Tolkien fan and scholar sites, psychology, role-playing gaming, family, technology, arts, and many diverse others), believes that the 2012 election was a critical turning point. With the election of even more progressives/socialists put in power, by an increasingly under-educated, illiterate, short-sighted, ignorant **, self-centered electorate, dooms the future of the country, the world, and the future of the children being burdened by the preceding "gimme" generations overwhelming debt. That the election shows now a (narrow) majority of the US voting populace demand a larger government to provide everything to an ever-increasing entitlement society, at the cost of opportunity and liberty, and to take away wealth from any of those that worked hard to earn it, to "spread the wealth around" forcefully through incredibly bloated and wasteful government rule rather than generous spirit.
Maybe the communities supported by these sites are too small and specialized for the majority of people to actually care about their loss, but maybe a few will mourn their passing. Maybe some will just say "good riddance", and not show any gratitude for all the time, money, and effort put forth helping so many others. Maybe in the future some people will reconsider the consequences of their actions, think of the future of others, rather than just their own selfish immediate needs and fears, when voting in the future. Maybe you won't. It is a very sad time indeed.
If you had content on the sites you needed to get access to, you can still do so for a little while longer (basically until the server collapses from lack of administration, people do not realize the many hours per week put into fighting off hackers, spammers, etc. to keep servers running), by following the links at the bottom of this page that correspond to the site you need to access.
If it is possible in the future for the founder to achieve some level of protection for his family's future, he may find the means and time to re-enable these sites. Alternatively, you may contact him if you would like to take over the burden of continuing to run these complex content management systems and the many demands each community needs in order to thrive.
Footnotes
* Crapitalist meaning heavily intertwined with government and special interests, and without a moral compass guiding the human nature of greed. Yes, there is such a thing as moral capitalism.
** Ignorant used in the sense of those who may (or may not) be well intentioned but are lacking in understanding of history, or comprehension of the consequences of their actions.
spokaneasl.com
spokane2600.org
othermindsmagazine.com
northfivemile.com
spokanemusictherapy.com
merp.com
tolkienscholars.org
tolkienmoot.com
earpg.com
syntheticzen.com
techtalk.hawkenterprising.com
merpcon.com
middle-earthradio.com
middle-earthtalk.com
suitegm.com
webmaster@dev2dev.com
Muualla oisin oppausvalmiudessa!
