Resignation as supermoderator

kp2001

10-Year Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
2,243
All,

As of last night I have requested to resign from my supermoderator position here. I want to be clear that this was my own decision. Over the last 9 years I have had great experiences with this site and all of the members; however, recent events have taken the joy away and actually created fear instead. Please allow me to explain and realize that the following comments are my own and only reflect my opinion and perception of the events.

Several months ago we were approached by a new member who claimed another member was faking their disabled veteran status. The initial posts and messages, in my opinion, did not have much data and appeared to be a brand new member attacking a well established member. There were no documents of proof offered to me and in the limited research I did initially I could not prove or disprove whether certain medals were awarded to a person whose name I did not know or could not verify. As time went on other questions began to surface and I spent several hours combing through hundreds of posts to see if I could personally find any proof on this site that a member was not who they had portrayed. This member, in my opinion, was nearly perfect in their postings: the dates matched various battles, their posts where chronologically correct, etc. In the time I looked I couldn’t find anything here to substantiate the allegations, in hindsight it appears I missed some information regarding how many limbs may or may not have been missing. I tried looking elsewhere using the username; however, again the data seemed to match and therefore I had to resign myself that although there were serious doubts in my mind I personally could not come up with any definitive proof. I did not have, and do not recall ever being offered, all the data that other sites have now compiled, including a DD214, etc (however, given the anonymous nature of this site one would have to link many pieces of information from other sources to connect a username to a DD214).

During this time I received messages from one or more individuals who were involved in the stolen valor issue. Some were directly to me and others were copies; however, these messages contained what I perceive to be threats to me and my personal life (not my actual life, thankfully). These threats included sending letters to Commanding Officers and alumni associations among other actions. From later messages and posts on other sites the other individuals have actually sent letters to at least one person’s Commanding Officer and have sent letters to all of the alumni associations. The messages also included discussion regarding the use of government resources and potential violations of government regulations. Please note that current DOD guidelines for my service include the ability to use government computers and internet for purposes such as my involvement in this site. (The actual regulations include things like facebook, etc and the basic gist is ‘in your free time and as long as it doesn’t interefere with your job feel free to use the system)

As a volunteer who does the best they can with the information at hand this became an issue where the risk/reward ratio is no longer acceptable. The bottom line is that we were lied to, we were had, and I personally fell for it hook, line and sinker. I’m glad there are groups out there who do this job and although I feel the tact taken with this site was not appropriate given the fact that I know feel threatened (perception is reality, I don’t know if they meant it that way or not, but that’s how I perceive it).

Because this site is an invaluable resource to many who are here to gain information I plan on staying around as a member to help those who need it. Thank you for letting me serve you as a moderator for the last 9 years.
 
Thank you for all of your time and effort serving this site. I am glad that you have decided to stay as a poster, especially from a medical perspective.
 
kp,

First, let me thank you for your prompt and thorough responses to my PM's regarding my DS's 2012 eye injury, which ultimately cost him his NROTC scholarship. Your knowledge and "computer-side" manner was just what we needed for dealing with his optho and DoDMERB. It is good to know that you will still be around to help others in the future. This forum will survive and thrive thanks largely to your contributions.

Which is the opposite of what I would say about your detractors. I can't comment on the issues which were beaten to death on the "Stolen Valor" thread. I got bored and didn't read the whole thing. I thought the issue was settled when tpg was outed as a fraud. To suggest that you and TN were enablers of this guy, exposes your detractors as self-appointed, self-aggrandizing, navel gazers who can't just stick to their own knitting. They swim in the same cesspool as the "Obama is a Muslim", Dick Cheney/Israel was behind 9/11", "Elvis isn't dead", crowds. They are undermining their otherwise worthy cause by insisting that everyone bow to their altar.

Your support among the SAF crowd is a mile wide and a mile deep.

Best of luck!
 
Thank you, shipmate KP.
 
WHAT? This is irritating. We are losing good, no great, moderators because someone was a liar? Sorry I never read the stolen valor threads. Why should a terrible faker get to create so much chaos on this forum.
 
Thank you for the time you spent helping SA Candidates and their parents. I'm sorry this is happening. I'm glad you will still be around.

Did usna1985 also resign as Moderator? Or maybe that happened previously while I wasn't paying attention.
 
I'm glad to hear you are sticking around. So sorry this has happened to you, you did not deserve it. Thank you for all you do for all of us.
 
If any evidence was needed for how "stolen valor" folks can overstep... This is it. Pathetic.
 
Kp2001: thanks for your service and great contributions to this site. I am sorry that this recent activity affected you so personally.
 
Thanks for all of your work over the past nine years. When my DD was going through the application process, the forum was a great wealth of information.
 
kp, oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your years of service to our nation and your continued service here at SAF. I am saddened, sickened actually, by the impetus which led to your decision. Thank you for staying on as a poster. Your insights and experience are so valuable.

God bless.
 
Thank you so much for all your hard work on this forum and always providing insightful advice.
 
KP2001, thank you for your service on this forum assisting literally thousands of young people (and their parents). As a parent with no military background, the forum was a lifesaver when my DD was applying for an AFROTC scholarship three years ago.

In the past two years, I have been back to this forum to correspond with Pima who was so helpful with the AFROTC information. We moved to the state Pima lives in last year and she was a valuable resource on the area. Just last week, I questioned her regarding security clearance “resume etiquette.” She alerted me to the Stolen Valor thread – very sad a couple of members could be so disruptive.

It was nice to read you will be staying around as a poster, as it is members like you that make this the preeminent forum for cadet-related information.
 
kp2001, thank you for your time and patience. I appreciate your willingness to return and provide counsel. I hope your frustration or concerns being felt will mend itself or be diminished greatly by the knowledge of the great many individuals you have helped.

Take Care.
 
Hi Everyone
I am new to the forum. I am surprised to see this thread.
Does this mean this thread is an "official" Armed forces sponsored thread [as in they pay and control this board?] or is it a public message forum?
Thanks.
 
Hi Everyone
I am new to the forum. I am surprised to see this thread.
Does this mean this thread is an "official" Armed forces sponsored thread [as in they pay and control this board?] or is it a public message forum?
Thanks.

No, there is no government involvement in this website beyond the fact that some of the members may be current active duty service members, government employees, or some other attachment to the government posting their own thoughts. Occasionally, and very rarely, a member of the actual admissions staff or a few years ago the actual director of DoDMERB would post in their official capacities; however, they were quite clear to make it known they were posting in their official capacities.
 
kp,

glad to see you posting. You might want to take a peek at the DoDMERB adderall thread to give some guidance.
 
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