Fellow Crunchers,

On August 1st, 2008 a number of SETI@Home users were removed from the
project because it was discovered that a former Forum Moderator had
been copying moderator discussions and sending these discussions to
the members of a private forum. Members of this club who we could
prove had viewed and/or commented on this confidential information
were banned from this project.

It was a staff decision to terminate those user accounts. Today I am
announcing a staff decision to allow those users to return to
SETI@home.

Since the privacy violations occurred, we have discovered no evidence
that any forum user has suffered serious injury or damage related to
this incident. Many of the people serving banishment have expressed
sincere regret, genuine willingness to return, and continuous support
of BOINC though participation in other science projects. They have
served eighteen months of banishment, and in the spirit of
SETI@home's ten year anniversary, we are allowing them to return.

Many people have asked if discussions between our moderators, and user
communications with our moderators, are now fully secure and
confidential. I believe that they are. I am aware that people
elsewhere have bragged about hacking into our system. I have not seen
credible evidence that this is so. Nevertheless, should you have
reason to contact the current moderators, please continue to exercise
reasonable precaution. If you are worried about potential abuse, do
not use your primary email address to contact the moderators. You
may use our personal messaging system or the red X, or an email to a
temporary account. Please be polite and respectful when discussing
your concerns.

I know that many of you will be pleased with the decision to reinstate
these users. I also know that many of you will be angry and upset.
None of our volunteer moderators were involved in this decision.
This is an administrative decision, and it was not unanimous, even
among staff members.

It is my sincere hope that the vast majority of crunchers will join me
in welcoming our friends home and continuing our search for
extraterrestrial intelligence together.

Sincerely,

Dan Werthimer

Thank You Sir, most appreciated.

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Welcome home, boys and girls. :)

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Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein

Very nice to be sure.

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flaming balloons

Dan, I salute you and the others that were involved in making this decision.
Thank you.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

This is a fine decision and one I welcome with complete happiness.

I shall not comment here and now on the various causes and complications of the origins of the reasons that drove some participants. Suffice it to say that the whole story has never come out and I simply do not know the whole story. This, at least and at last, goes some way to recognising that wrong wwas multi-faceted.

Should the banished wish to write on these pages then I shall be very glad. Since the ban I have made no donations to S@H. If I can gather some pennies together, then I shall start to donate again.

A good result but full justice may never be seen to be done.

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Greets to many old friends and hopefully new ones too!

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Greets to many old friends and hopefully new ones too!

Hi CA!

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Hello again everyone!

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Hello again everyone!

Hi KB7!

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- Luke.

I was not aware of the banishment or incidents relating to it.

I do wonder if those allowed back must start their credits (and all that goes with it) from zero, or if they are allowed to step back into their existing credits and account?

While credits have no monetary value, they do have pride and bragging value.

It appears they get to step back into their existing accounts and credits. I would think if incident was serious enough to banish a person, that they would not be able to step back into their credits and original 'Member Since' date.

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SETI@home since 1999
"Set it, and Forget it!"

I was not aware of the banishment or incidents relating to it.

I do wonder if those allowed back must start their credits (and all that goes with it) from zero, or if they are allowed to step back into their existing credits and account?

While credits have no monetary value, they do have pride and bragging value.

It appears they get to step back into their existing accounts and credits. I would think if incident was serious enough to banish a person, that they would not be able to step back into their credits and original 'Member Since' date.

Yes, we got to get our old accounts back. I was one of the banned, but I'm a changed man after 18 months of solitary confinement. And I thank the SETI crew for allowing us to come back. Its time to get back to science, and not dwell on the past. We paid for what we did, and now its behind us. Happy Crunching Heflin!

I was not aware of the banishment or incidents relating to it.

I do wonder if those allowed back must start their credits (and all that goes with it) from zero, or if they are allowed to step back into their existing credits and account?

While credits have no monetary value, they do have pride and bragging value.

It appears they get to step back into their existing accounts and credits. I would think if incident was serious enough to banish a person, that they would not be able to step back into their credits and original 'Member Since' date.

Yes, we got to get our old accounts back. I was one of the banned, but I'm a changed man after 18 months of solitary confinement. And I thank the SETI crew for allowing us to come back. Its time to get back to science, and not dwell on the past. We paid for what we did, and now its behind us. Happy Crunching Heflin!

Well since You have Your icon up, I'll say this, Welcome back to the Borg Collective KB7RZF. :D I just had to say that.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I was not aware of the banishment or incidents relating to it.

I do wonder if those allowed back must start their credits (and all that goes with it) from zero, or if they are allowed to step back into their existing credits and account?

While credits have no monetary value, they do have pride and bragging value.

It appears they get to step back into their existing accounts and credits. I would think if incident was serious enough to banish a person, that they would not be able to step back into their credits and original 'Member Since' date.

Yes, we got to get our old accounts back. I was one of the banned, but I'm a changed man after 18 months of solitary confinement. And I thank the SETI crew for allowing us to come back. Its time to get back to science, and not dwell on the past. We paid for what we did, and now its behind us. Happy Crunching Heflin!

Well since You have Your icon up, I'll say this, Welcome back to the Borg Collective KB7RZF. :D I just had to say that.

Thanks SJ!

I was not aware of the banishment or incidents relating to it.

I do wonder if those allowed back must start their credits (and all that goes with it) from zero, or if they are allowed to step back into their existing credits and account?

While credits have no monetary value, they do have pride and bragging value.

It appears they get to step back into their existing accounts and credits. I would think if incident was serious enough to banish a person, that they would not be able to step back into their credits and original 'Member Since' date.

Yes, we got to get our old accounts back. I was one of the banned, but I'm a changed man after 18 months of solitary confinement. And I thank the SETI crew for allowing us to come back. Its time to get back to science, and not dwell on the past. We paid for what we did, and now its behind us. Happy Crunching Heflin!

mY, THAT WAS A RATHER NOBLE STATEMENT.
aS ONE WHO HAS BEEN BANNED MYSELF, i KNOW THE MEASURE OF HUMILITY.

wELCOME BACK.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

I was not aware of the banishment or incidents relating to it.

I do wonder if those allowed back must start their credits (and all that goes with it) from zero, or if they are allowed to step back into their existing credits and account?

While credits have no monetary value, they do have pride and bragging value.

It appears they get to step back into their existing accounts and credits. I would think if incident was serious enough to banish a person, that they would not be able to step back into their credits and original 'Member Since' date.

Yes, we got to get our old accounts back. I was one of the banned, but I'm a changed man after 18 months of solitary confinement. And I thank the SETI crew for allowing us to come back. Its time to get back to science, and not dwell on the past. We paid for what we did, and now its behind us. Happy Crunching Heflin!

I would say "ditto" to that KB7RZF. What sort of society would any be if after serving time offenders are punished further and by those who are not judges (seti admin being the judges in this case) but by the whim of the general public (forum members in this case)?

SETI or any BOINC credits are an indication of contribution made to science. You cannot 'uncontribute' by taking the credits away and you cannot move on and get on with life if you suggest taking credits away.

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flaming balloons

WB, all! Glad to see you back, and ready to contribute to the common good. :)Keep on Crunchin'!

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A big welcome home to the ex banished

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There many names I know here. Some are very old Seti Users, they have accomplished many things that have made "your" life easier today... They have held engaging conversations.

They have been given a second chance. To a very large extent I appreciate that Seti can do this.
Have you every wished for a Second Chance?

So while nerves are frazzled with Seti Server Issues, Please allow them a bit of Courtesy.

Regards

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