ext_114167 ([identity profile] genesayssitdown.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2013-05-08 11:40 pm
Entry tags:

Jon Monsarrat, $160 Million DotCom Icon, to Expose 100 Cyberbullies

this press release, like all his other press releases, is now being spread far and wide over the spammy areas of the internet:

"Boston, MA-NH (1888PressRelease)
May 08, 2013 - Jon Monsarrat announced this week that as part of an Internet defamation case, he will expose the real identities and addresses of 100 cyber bullies as part of his new cyber investigation service. The dotcom era icon and Internet expert was previously the founder and first CEO of Turbine, which makes games like Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online and was bought by Warner Brothers for $160 million in 2010."

here is a link to the full press release:
http://www.1888pressrelease.com/johnny-monsarrat/jonathan-monsarrat/jon-monsarrat-160-million-dotcom-icon-to-expose-100-cyber-pr-470259.html

[identity profile] surrealestate.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Nonetheless, his name is on it, which reads as an endorsement. If it's being done without his knowledge and consent, he really ought to know, because there will almost certainly be backlash.

[identity profile] pekmez.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
His name is on it, not as the issuer of the press release but as the contact person for more information about the company/the press release/etc.

It's entirely possible that Rickland could be / have been working for Hard Data Factory and could legitimately be the contact person for press releases, and still be unaware of details of the press release or how Davis Square Livejournal has been involved.

(And if he's *not* working for Hard Data Factory and his name and address are being used without his consent, whoo boy.)

[identity profile] miss-chance.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
Seeing Rickland's name on this page nearly broke my heart. He is a beloved friend. I would email and ask him if it was done with his knowledge, but as noted above, he is BUSY right now. If this was done without his knowledge, NOW.... I just can't even.
gingicat: deep purple lilacs, some buds, some open (just me - ginger)

[personal profile] gingicat 2013-05-09 10:07 am (UTC)(link)
I am so angry on behalf of Rickland right now... I'm not a close friend, but they're trusted and beloved by my community.

[identity profile] srakkt.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 01:27 pm (UTC)(link)
This.

I had been sort of amused by all of this, and generally pissed off, but now I'm actively worried about all the horseshit that Rickland is going through.

[identity profile] pekmez.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
I'm going to speculate wildly in both Rickland's defense and, dare I say it, in JonMon's too. (I know Rickland and their family situation, well enough to feel like this is heartbreaking and horribly bad timing, but not well enough to have chatted with him about what worky things he's been doing in the past few years.)

The company information about Hard Data Factory here (http://www.1888pressrelease.com/jon-monsarrat-187027-company-pr.html) lists Rickland's name as a business contact for press releases. It also says that the company's purpose is to build a database about arts events.

So... one could pretty easily imagine that Rickland signed on with Monsarrat to some level of business partnership in Hard Data Factory that puts him out there as the default press release contact, and not even with any awareness of the cyber investigation angle - until this press release it looked like a company collecting "hard data" on concert times and arts events and the like. I suppose same could be said for the Boston Globe involvement mentioned in other press releases. This stuff is probably not pulled entirely out of thin cloth.

But this leap from arts company to cyber investigation company and the connection of the cyber investigation company to the lawsuit, at this time... I have no idea if that's been done with anyone else's knowledge or consent. And it boggles my mind, and stands to hurt well meaning folks in DSLJ and well meaning business partners alike.

[identity profile] surrealestate.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Rickland just posted publicly to Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151655702220420&id=686340419

[identity profile] beinneighe.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not on fbook... could you copy/paste or summarize?

[identity profile] hahathor.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"It seems a lawsuit has reared its head in the community. I have been informed that my name and address have been attached to it for more information.

I am NOT attached to this suit in any way that I am aware of, and did NOT give permission to have my name and address connected to it!

There is far too much going on in our lives right now. I have no spoons to deal with his issue or any of the stuff he's trying to stick on me, whether on purpose or through lack of thinking it through.

For my part, I'm sorry anyone is involved, but I have no power to do anything about it. Good luck to everyone, may the coolest heads prevail."

[identity profile] agharta75.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Not good enough, and his friends, if not his lawyers, should know that and tell him so.

He needs to issue a public statement stating he and his firm are not involved in this matter. Not on Facebook.

As a human being, I am sorry, that his wife is ill; but I had never heard of the man until today and would have preferred that had remained true.

Edited 2013-05-09 18:53 (UTC)

[identity profile] koshmom.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Agharta75: I've said this elsewhere and will say it here too: Shame on you!

Have you no compassion for someone who is dealing with a serious medical trauma in his life? I think he went above and beyond to write something on Facebook.

If that's not good enough for you, well, you can stuff it. In Rickland's world, his family is all important right now. Our piddling legal squabbles mean nothing to him. And that's how it should be.

You might think that your legal issues are more important than Rickland's wife, but to him, he's got a different (and rightfully so) set of priorities.

Everyone: Please drop this Rickland Bashing Right Now.

[identity profile] agharta75.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I stand by what I said.

[identity profile] icecreamempress.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Agree. The person who has exposed Mr. P. to flak and potential legal consequences by putting Mr. P.'s name on the press release is Mr. Monsarrat and nobody else. My opinion is that this is an unconscionable thing for Monsarrat to have done to Mr. P. given the family circumstances others have discussed.

Can we save the outrage for the person who deserves it---the person who named Mr. P. as the contact person in the press release? I get why Mr. P. isn't making addressing this a priority, and I have every sympathy for him and his family, but "who is this guy and why is he publicizing the person who claims to be suing me?" is a reasonable reaction from those of us who are strangers to Mr. P., and not one that deserves scolding.

(I use Mr. P's initial here because I don't want to add further to associating him with the lawsuit.)

[identity profile] pywaket.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
That depends on whether or not Mr P agreed to be the VP of JonMon's company. If he didn't and JonMon listed him as such without his knowledge, then JonMon is in really big trouble and I have immense sympathy for him. On the other hand, if he did, as the saying goes: lie down with stray dogs, get up with fleas.

[identity profile] pywaket.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
The fact that he would be willing to be a business partner of someone like JonMon does not speak well of his judgement.

ETA: This is if he did actually agree. Given JonMon's sleaziness, it's entirely possible he didn't, in which case I hope JonMon gets his ass handed to him in court over this, as well.
Edited 2013-05-09 20:59 (UTC)

[personal profile] ron_newman 2013-05-09 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
For right now, I am satisfied with Rickland's public statement on his Facebook wall. I do not want to see anyone here harass him on my behalf or anyone else's. Thank you.

[identity profile] hahathor.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I wonder if the lawyer whose name is handwritten on the official documents knows that he's representing Monsarrat?

[identity profile] infinitemorning.livejournal.com 2013-05-09 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
JonMon, you piece of absolute Goddamned shit.