Henry, I think you have the core issues exactly right. I particularly resonate with the paragraph
Many of us joined SI because it was a community. And by joining I do not mean paying dues, I mean joining by making a commitment of time, energy and emotion to contribute to the intellectual content of the site. SI management sold itself as sharing this feeling. The Datek ad violates that spirit. To me this is no different than having a telemarketer calling me every time I'm having a conversation with a friend.
Your statement The majority of SI posters apparently don't care. With all due respect to my fellow protestors, none of the really well known SI 'darlings' have protested. is challenging to all of us to examine our consciences. While I cannot speak for the majority or the "darlings", I can offer my perspective.
SI, as a community, is something that I have struggled with. At times I feel like I am part of that community that is doing excellent analytical work, research, and debate. That people are treated with respect and given a chance. That people are learning from each other and growing.
At other times, I encounter spam, flaming, monumental egos, pumping and dumping, and disrespect. I have been reported to administration and threatened with a lawsuit because I disagreed with a member on si. I have had a member call me at home repeatedly after i asked the member not to call me, and the calls took place after 1 am. I have been smeared with rank perjoratives to others by very prominent members of si whose work i respect and promote at every opportunity.
I am not trying to whine about my experience as I have treasured it. However what I am trying to get across is that as valuable as SI has been to me, I have had to suffer certain indignities along the way. I am sure that this is in no way unique to posters. One has to weed through a certain amount of crap to get to the good parts.
The relevance of this to the Datek ad, for me, is that I place it in the category of indignities that come with the territory. Perhaps wrongly I see myself as powerless to do anything about it. As I say, I believe you have the high ground in the debate. Your position, is in my opinion, correct. And I for one, thank you for your leadership in this issue. In the same way, I believe, many of us watch in awe of the work that Janice Shell and FBNA do. We wish we had the knowledge, ability, character, and time to fight the good fight.
So if I would modify your view any, it would be that perhaps, your position is more generally supported than you believe, but many of us just don't know what we can do about it.
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