TPF was, from the start, supposed to be a site without one sole person in control. Instead a team of four administrators within an equal four-way partnership, everything being voted on by the four, and majority rule dictating the outcome. Throughout the past year, there have been accusations (mainly by Marcel) of Steve trying to keep 'top dog' control of the forums and accounts, to which Steve vehemently denied and repeatedly insisted that we were all of equal standpoint. The only thing different was that his name was on the bill, purely because 'someone's has to be'.
As a team (also including CT), we felt concerned over Steve's attitude, both in the public forums towards members, and also in private towards the rest of the team. We felt it was damaging the forums, and thus collectively asked him to re-evaluate his position and step down. This was something he had told us on a number of occasions, that he was willingly happy to do, if so required.
Within a few hours of us asking him, instead of responding to our private thread politely, he :
- Removed Matty and Marcel's admin status
- Changed the hosting password, so we could not get in
- Deleted our @thephotographyforums.com email accounts
- Deleted our FTP accounts
- Logged into the gallery and deleted his own photos&gallery (He didn't have control panel access to the gallery)
- Closed the forums
With no comment, or explanation, or contact with us. All we had done was ask him to step down.
Therefore we felt we had no choice, but to set up our new home, under a new name.
Contrary to what Steve states, the hosting account was never solely
his to exclude us from. Although he was named on the paperwork (because, and I quote: 'someone has to be'), we were all supposed to be equal, as per the original TPF ethos, with equal access rights, and equal say, with a majority rule.
We're not going to nitpick at what he's posted, nor are we going to get in a tit for tat fight over it, there's not much point.
Therefore we're not going to bandy about with the ins and outs of what's happened. We know you lot aren't that bothered, and surely don't want this to saturate your forums. So we won't be going into a great amount of detail here.
If, however, anyone wants a detailed account from our side of the fence, then please feel free to
Contact Us, and we'll be happy to explain things, or even respond to any questions you may have. We're more mature than public mud-slinging and tittle tattle, but we do wish to be open and honest, wherever any members want us to be. We honestly don't mind at all.
As a final note, Steve was indeed a friend of all of ours (mine included) and for him to call us 'enemies' is quite OTT, but if that's how he feels then we cannot change that.
We personally don't consider him an enemy. We don't consider him a friend, as at least two of us used to, as that trust has now been severed by his selfish actions.
However, we bear no grudges and if he wishes to reopen TPF then he will do so. We think the internet is big enough for the two of us to co exist.
While he considers us 'enemies', we certainly do not reciprocate that thought, and he is welcome to rejoin these forums as a member, should he so wish.
Everyone is welcome here, regardless of wherever they may also be members. We bear no malice or ill will towards anyone.
We simply want a harmonious, happy, peaceful forum, on which we can all do what we like doing best, and that's
Talking Photography. We don't want spats like this to be in everyones face all the time, and we're sure you, the members, don't want that either.
All the team, will do their utmost to keep this forum the happy, harmonious and friendly forum that it has grown into, and we certainly won't let anyone spoil what YOU, the members, have strived to create. While we may have done the technical work to get it up and running...a forum is nothing without it's members, and for that, the remaining 5 of us thankyou wholeheartedly, whichever forum you choose to reside on.
Yours
The Talk Photography staff team.
) posting on it !
or to teach 
or moderate :nono: or any permutation you care to make ! 
