Oh dear God, I clicked on the link.....I'll let you know when 911 shows up, if I can be expected to survive.

Is it just me or do the skirts look like those plastic tablecloths you use on picnic tables?

Calling all chocoholics, meeting at Scurvy Cats. Real names will not be divulged.

Needs moar butter. No rum here, but we do have Jack Daniels.......

I took everything Johan said with a grain of salt. From the beginning, it was clear his agenda was damage control and, to a certain extent to see what we knew. When he kept to his position that he trusted those specific individuals who he has given access to the database, it began to wear a wee bit thin for me. He may feel he knows them, but he clearly has no idea of what they are up to. From the sounds of it, he doesn't want to know either.

I have to admit, I am now anticipating the return of Atwa.......what I am not clear on is why she is so damn determined to be a part of TSR. Is it just her obsession with Thomas, or her desire for revenge against those who she feels wronged her, or a combination of both? And you have to wonder what Thomas was thinking when he published that hacked petition of names. You'd think by now that with Coconut reporting on the goings on at TSR, that this was going to blow up and become public knowledge, and that he would have at least had the brains to consider that.
 Oh, duh ......I mentioned Thomas and brains, in the same sentence, silly me.

Whether or not anything comes from this latest TSR fiasco remains to be seen. Like so many other atrocities, this one too will more than likely fade with time and only come up when TSR commits yet another colossal blunder. I'm starting to think they (TSR) cannot live without the drama, and subscribe to "Any type of publicity, good or bad is desirable."

One of  the things I noticed throughout all of this, is that Johan did ignore so many questions and posts directed at him. He left many key questions blowing in the wind and it would not have hurt his cause to address many of them. He didn't necessarily have to give insider information, but the fact that he disregarded as much as he did, is very telling.

I still maintain that to rule out such a possibility is irresponsible. I worked in the financial sector for 23 years. During that time I did see many employees come and go, but we did have some that had staying power. One such individual, a young man, married with 2 small children, was one that stayed for a long time. We all liked him, we all worked with him, some of us even signed documents when 2 signatures were required. He signed, and one of us signed. As a group we went out for dinners once a month. We all felt that we knew each other quite well, and we trusted each other. You can imagine how we felt when one day corporate security showed up and this man was led out the door in handcuffs. The next day at work as one by one we showed up, the first thing we all noticed was that each of us looked like hell. Not any of us got a good nights sleep the previous night. Some of us were extremely worried, after all we signed documents in conjunction with what he was accused of doing. All of us were terrified that we would be implicated in his forgery, even though we had no idea what he was doing.
The betrayal we all felt devastated us completely. For the longest time after that, many of us refused to sign documents unless those documents were reviewed first by the boss. Trust didn't exist anymore. What he did to each of us on a personal level is hard to explain, but I know that for me, I was very wary from that time on. I wouldn't sign anything with anyone at all, I referred every one who asked me to their immediate supervisor. Whatever documents I needed signed I took to my boss. I never wanted to be put in the position where I felt my integrity could be suspect. Neither did I want to associate with anyone who's integrity could be suspect.
So yeah, I can understand why you simply do not want to believe that someone, possibly someone close to you may be the guilty party. It really messes with your head when it happens to you.

You say before you give someone an FA status, you feel you have a pretty good picture of who they are. At some point, you had to have a damn good picture of what Atwa was, and yet she was allowed to continue on as an Artist Manager, even though it was way too obvious that she had become dangerously unstable. And you continue to put forth the claim that she some how managed to sneak back into TSR.  You aren't dealing with a bunch of 12 year olds here, you can't keep stringing us that line of bullshit.
Maybe YOU didn't know, but someone else sure did.

Johan, you can never completely know another person. You can fool yourself into believing that, but you are not inside their head. You see what that person wants you to see. Your values may not be the exact same as theirs, but they can lull you into believing what they want you to believe. Insofar as Atwa is concerned, no one here would ever be conned into taking her word as the absolute truth.
Your claim that she somehow managed to sneak back into TSR is simply not credible. If you want us to believe that you don't run background checks, you don't check ISP's, then what you give us to believe, is that you are incompetent as a businessman.
We have all heard or read on the news about people who commit horrendous crimes, and then friends, and sometimes even family members are completely shocked and taken aback. Never in their wildest dreams would they have considered the person to be capable of the very thing of which they are accused of doing.

Where did Atwa get that list? Who knows......but the likelihood that she shared it with Thomas is quite high. It is no secret that she has some kind of relationship with him, although I do find her version of that relationship extremely twisted. Given the history TSR has with Atwa, it would seem to me that one of TSR's priorities would be to be extra diligent in keeping a close eye on her ISP address and blocking it.
She has an agenda, she wants vengeance on those who she feels back stabbed her at TSR, and she is unstable enough to do damage to TSR, while believing that she is getting her just revenge. Your continued association with her is revolting, to say the least.

I agree with Pescado that it is much more likely that the person responsible for your troubles is within your own organization.
I  think that your stance on refusing to even consider that, is because you simply don't want to believe that you may have been duped by someone you trust. I think too, that your sense of family loyalty is admirable, although slightly misplaced. Thomas has, at least at this particular site a particularly foul reputation. He is your brother, that has to upset you.
All in all, you seem like a nice enough sort, but I believe that you have a serious case of tunnel vision.

Many of us have read Coconut's blog, we have seen the screencaps, and we find Coconut to be very credible. Given that your site has admitted to  sharing member's personal information with your Mods and FA's, you have to realize that once you cross that particular line, you give us no reason to believe that you will not also cross other inappropriate lines.

Many Sims fansites and forums regularly purge their database of inactive and dormant accounts. TSR does not, and the only reason for that is to bolster your membership numbers.

Maxoid Drea posted her response to clarify the problems being discussed with EA's EULA. All her statement really said was that what was wanted was co-operation between creators and the community. Odd.....any time a creator leaves TSR and requests that you remove their creations, that request is ignored, and TSR claims ownership of those items.
Other sites honour the creators request and remove the content.

Time and time again, TSR shows how little they respect the Sims community. Why then, should the Sims community respect TSR?
TSR got where they are by the creators contributions and the fans support, but somewhere along the line, the money started rolling in, and TSR forgot who they owe for their success. All that money made you think you are entitled to behave any way you want.

Because EA is simply too damn lazy, and doesn't give a shit about enforcing their EULA, does not make your take on said EULA to be correct. Probably the only reason TSR exists, is that this is the only gaming community that has allowed paysites.

And then there is my game computer......it has completely croaked for the fourth or fifth time. The ONLY thing on that computer is the Sims2. In fact, the only game I play is the Sims2. It is not hooked up to the internet, I don't have securom on it, but I do have TSR content, directly from TSR that I paid for with my subscription to TSR. Of all my friends who play, I am the only one who consistently has to get my computer repaired, then again, I am also the only one who has TSR content, from TSR. I find that very strange.
I have no conflicting content. I've run every available program for conflicts that I have found. I've been all over the net to resolve this problem once and for all, and I get the same advice from everywhere I go, get rid of the TSR content.
So yeah, when I get my game computer fixed, I am going to delete ALL TSR files. I'll let you know if that solves my problem.

Excuse me??? Your meetings that you claim took place with EA, those meeting happened in 2007. The letter sent to Pescado's ISP is dated 2009-04-08. Since the EULA did not change, your letter of 2009-04-08 does most certainly contain a falsehood.
Quit while you believe you are ahead, you are making a fool out of yourself.

Seems to me Snarky that they are both, hopelessly incompetent and desperate liars. Why would anyone confess that they had NO idea how someone managed to sneak back onto their site, and then without knowledge of who that sneak is, they then offer this person a position as an SA. Oh wait....... that's right, anyone who is particularly bad has an excellent chance of becoming either an SA or an FA. If you chose to believe Johan's version of events concerning Atwa, she should be the next James Bond. She haz teh suprah powerz!!
I am almost tempted to feel sorry for Johan, I'm sure it was not his intent to show us how incompetent TSR is. If he's not kicking himself, he should be. And the sad truth is TSR will never apologize to anyone for releasing their personal information, not that an apology will do any good. This is not a practice that they are likely to refrain from doing. They will continue to share this kind of sensitive information any damn time they please.

Hmmm, so Johan disagrees with my wording of questionable business practices. In a letter TSR wrote to Pescado's ISP, it is claimed that TSR has their "own" version of the EA EULA, in which the and I quote:
"I have since visited EA in Redwood Shores and had numerous meetings with
the web and legal teams there. As a result, the EULA was changed in August
2007 to remove any references to Non Commercial sites from the Custom
Content EULA. EA no longer has an opinion on the distribution of Custom
Content on Free/Donation/Pay sites. They clearly continue to support and
encourage all constructive fan sites in the community."

Odd, I have ALL of the game expansion packs, and ALL of the stuff packs, the EULA is the same on ALL of them and there is NO such omission.

On the "official" site, and I use that term loosely, this was posted:

"Over the past several months, we've received questions about the
End User License Agreement (EULA) that is in our games for The Sims 2
regarding custom content. Below is a statement from our Sims team.
While there is no change to our End User License Agreement,
we hope this clears up any confusion you might have regarding the EULA."

Right there is irrefutable proof that TSR lies. The person posting this at the BBS, as far as I know is not a lawyer, and the posting is nothing more than a simple request for co-operation between creators. However, the BBS is hardly a fair or impartial site.
EA has never, and will never enforce their EULA, why is anyone's guess. They will NEVER appear in public, with their legal team and make a statement to address this issue. TSR cannot prove that their version of events took place, and yes this IS something they need to prove.
The simple fact is that they got caught revealing personal data that under any circumstances is just wrong. Whenever they decide to release such information, they always claim they have legitimate reasons for doing so. There is NEVER a legitimate reason for indulging in this practice.

Another big IF....IF this site is in fact illegal, then why does TSR send letters from the site owners and not a team of lawyers?
Why have not the proper authorities shown up at Pescado's door, (despite that fact that his whereabouts are unknown) to shut this site down? They haven't because this site does nothing wrong by releasing pay files. In fact, "Team Pescado" tears apart the TSR files they get, and any harmful crap is removed before it is then released.

EA has NEVER, nor will they EVER make a public appearance to address this issue. For all the posturing that TSR does, the fact of the matter remains that EA doesn't give a rats ass about this issue. IF the day ever comes about that EA publicly comes out in support of TSR, I will burn ALL of the EA products that I have. However EA will not do that because they will not risk the support they have from the free community.
ALL that TSR is managing to do is to look like the "Big Bad Wolf", from "Little Red Riding Hood". They run rampart all over the net, huffing and puffing. And then they come here, to the brick house, and they just can't succeed in blowing us down.
They are the ones who mislead the community by their false statements, they are the ones who have been proven to use illegal practices to discourage the sharing of the truth. (ie-releasing personal data)
What I see when Johan comes here in a vain attempt to do damage control all I can see is a little impotent man screaming, "You can't do this to my site."
I don't know about the rest of you, but whenever I picture this scenario, I have no choice but to laugh.

I think that since he claims that Atwa somehow managed to "sneak" in, yet again, that I am going to allow my puppy access to the internet. I'm pretty sure if Atwa can do these miraculous things, then my puppy can do some amazing things on the internet as well.
Then again, my puppy can be trained, Atwa, not so much.

OK, then that answers one of the questions I asked.
1. So how do you account for Atwa claiming that Thomas gave her the list? Are you now denying that had any knowledge of this list until you read it on Coconut's blog? Are we to believe that the first time you saw this list was on Coconut's blog?
2. Is your title at TSR "Damage Control"?
3. You claim Atwa "snuck" into your site......is it a business practice you have to hire someone totally unknown to become the Artist Manager? Would it not make more sense to promote from within?
4. Are you not sick and tired of showing up here to defend your questionable business ethics every time Thomas makes a colossal blunder?
5. My account at TSR was compromised, I have proof. I was NEVER informed by TSR that it had been compromised, yet TSR provided Delphy with documentation of compromised accounts, and surprise, surprise, my account was in with that supplied documentation. That is irrefutable proof that TSR KNEW my account was compromised. You could give Delphy that information, but not me? Like I care at this point if you figure out who I am at TSR, since  I don't subscribe any more, nor do I visit the site. When I first found out there was a problem, I got the run around, I never did get the truth....WHY?

For your information,   I am not, nor have I ever been any kind of a creator, nor have I EVER shared a TSR file with this site. So while I agree with this sites position, I am not a pirate, by the legal definition. But once you find out who I am, and I have NO doubt that you will do whatever it takes to find my identity on your site, I know you will ban me and brand me as an illegal file sharer. You WILL lie about me, of this I am utterly convinced, you've done it to other innocent people whom you merely SUSPECT of file sharing.
Here at least we can OPENLY and HONESTLY discuss and debate issues within the Sims community. You cannot say the same about TSR. One small step beyond your party line and BOOM, you bring out that magic "delete" button, and you somehow think that makes the issue vanish. You stomp all over anyone who opposes you and think you have the right to behave that way.
TSR is nothing more than a dictatorship run by idiots who bully anyone who gets in their way. That is the TSR that I object to. I don't see you, at any time in the future changing your tactics. Neither do I ever see honesty and respect being a part of your business plan.
What you should maybe give some thought to, is actually knowing what Thomas and Atwa are doing. Is does appear that what they tell you is not what they are really doing. If you did know, you would not continually have to come here, and waste your time trying to defend their actions. Instead you could better spend your time educating your fellow employees on business ethics, the proper kind of business ethic, not the perverted kind that exists on TSR.
You DO NOT ever have the right to release anyone's personal information, for any reason. You cannot ever justify that practice.

*snip*
[/quote]

The list can be found here:
http://tsr.mustbedestroyed.org/?p=858#more-858
Complete with comments on what details are available, that is the list we compared to in our news post.
[/quote]

Please tell us you are not now attempting to claim that this is where you saw the list......on Coconut's blog. I know from PERSONAL experience how you ignore valid complaints, and manipulate your customers. Or are you now admitting to having the list in your possession, and then sharing it, before your despicable actions were revealed?
IF you really do have nothing to hide, then for once have the decency to actually answer a direct questions as it is posed to you.
Oh duh.....I forgot who I was addressing this to.

So I am curious.....remember when BuggyBoo got hacked way back when....and all of a sudden TSR claimed that their FA's accounts were hacked at the same time? Well they lied about it being only their FA's accounts because my account at TSR was compromised. Now, not only did they NOT EVER inform me of this, but they supplied my account info to Delpy in an attempt to supposedly try and find out who the hacker was. I have PM's from Delphy, I can always provide them if needed.

Any and ALL attempts I made to TSR to resolve why I was not informed met with colossal failure, on TSR's part. They even went so far as to suggest that it was MY responsibility to find out who hacked my account. Without actually coming out and accusing me, they did make me feel like it was MY fault that my account was compromised. And they repeatedly refused to directly answer any of the questions I asked them. Sometimes when I read their responses I wondered if they had even read what I had posted......their responses had almost nothing to do with what I was asking them.
My subscription lapsed, I didn't bother renewing, but boy oh boy was I ever tempted to keep it up and start sending files here to the booty.

I am not, nor have I ever been an FA, SA, or even uploaded anything at TSR, or anywhere else for that matter. I am one of those people who probably couldn't colour my way out of a paper bag. Hell I can't even figure out how to recolour clothing. I'm just one of the miscreants who likes to play the game and relies on others to make the wonderful free stuff for the game.

I will say this though, and I find it rather annoying...my game computer has died yet again. I think this is like the fourth time and now I am convinced that it has something to do with the TSR content I have in my game. Sadly, all the TSR content I have is strictly Cashcraft's stuff, but still, no one else I know has had their computer crash as many times as I have and the only thing on that computer is the Sims2.

The only reason I repeat this, (pretty sure it's elsewhere here on PMBD), is that TSR tells lies so often, that anything they may try and claim now is just another in a long line of fabrications.
They re-hired Atwat, they have that list, and now they are once again backpedaling to try and cover their exposed bare asses. You'd think that at some point this would get rather old, but apparently they have nothing better to do, especially since they have such crap that they sell, oops, I mean con people with, on their craptucular site.

  This is what happens when you take a break in order to handle situations that crop up in RL. I had no idea there was a petition (thank heavens) so lucky for me I didn't sign it. I would however be terribly upset to find out that my personal information was released in the manner that others have been.
Now to clarify, I have not purchased Sims3, nor do I have plans to in the future. (not that this has anything to do with this situation being discussed) For me, it is simply because I do not want to support a company that produces an inferior product, and then never does a thing to protect their customers. When it became apparent to me that EA was no longer using condoms before they jumped into bed with TSR, I decided to simply stick with Sims2.
I don't have any technical knowledge about hacking and stuff like that, so I don't have a clue as to how people can find out who you are on the net, if you never use your real name. I do know that if my name and other personal information was on that list, I would probably disconnect myself from the internet, probably forever.
I am so sorry for those of you who have been maligned on that list, and I do hope that at some point in time you can actually have some kind of recourse.

I can't think of anyone who would want to do something to my account at TSR. Obviously I am not WedgewoodBlue there.
In fact, realistically speaking I am hardly known anywhere. I am not much of a poster at any forum, Sims or otherwise. My account at TSR is still open and I still use it from time to time. Now I am wondering if TSR hacked my account in an attempt to see if I file share. I don't file share from there cause they have nothing that's worth sharing. I just once in a while get something so I can have a good laugh. Then in the trash it goes.