On Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 10:17 PM, <chriscarter@seomoz.org> wrote (CCing Jon):
Hi [Bravoman1],
>From my understanding, I nor Jon had anything to do with your employee/bravoman getting banned. I wasn't even aware that you were bravoman1 until this email where it was finally figured out. He is the one that made me aware of this email's existence, which you can imagine us being baffled at when reading. He wasn't even aware what was going on. I'm still a little confused but I think I know what happened. I just want to make it clear, I don't talk for him.
Regardless, SEO Mike, who I have not spoken to in probably a month (I'm assuming it was him) banned bravoman1 for what I can only presume was crashing BST threads and berating BST providers without making a purchase. Apparently the Sape Link thread (
http://www.wickedfire.com/shooting-...ake-sape-links-harsh-words-bst-providers.html) I created brought the berating to light. I'm not an employee, moderator, nor a person of any influence in the decision making of Wickedfire. So all of this is just conjecture.
At WickedFire we tend to poke fun here and there and have a good time while doing business. Whoever was controlling the character bravoman1 went bonkers on some established member(s), thehobbster, being the first that I know of.
Here is the first thread -
http://www.wickedfire.com/links-seo...dfire-years-stands-test-time.html#post1973321).
The particular line I had re-enacted is what we call on WickedFire, "Going Full Retard". We poke fun, and do give read between the line warnings that flaming will ensue if the character going "Full Retard" doesn't cool off. It's a part of the culture, from my limited understanding. Did a quick reenactment, people has lulz, nothing else happened.
During the course of following days I saw my username being mentioned in a thread regarding my video, and realize that again, the character bravoman1, went full retard (
http://www.wickedfire.com/links-seo...owerful-russian-sape-network.html#post1988702). Pretty much beratting "SEO Genius" about his pricing being too high. I'm not an economist, but I would assume SEO Genius priced his service accordingly. Regardless, the character bravoman1 crashed his thread, which is looked down upon, and started going "Full Retard" on his pricing.
Again, I do not represent Wickedfire, nor do I have any power and there are moderators that handle this sort of thing. I did have a quick look at other bravoman1 posts made, and low and behold… another attack on a BST provider (
http://www.wickedfire.com/links-seo...000-sites-pr0-8-link-page-pr.html#post1988646). There may have been some justification to that one, since he may have apparently lied, but again, I don't know the full details, it's all hear say. But the belligerent manner the attack was done was too good of an opportunity to pass up to not do a reenactment.
The line: "Guys like you are going to ruin Sape you fucking smuck. And that is what you are a fucking Smuck since I asked you in the beginning if this was sape and you said no. And if you Don't shut the fuck up I will plaster it. So you need to sit back in your fucking seat and get a grip right fucking now." was what caught my attention. So I commission another reenactment of the events so all can have a quick laugh and be done with it.
I didn't set out to "ban" bravoman1, since doing that would kill my material for future entertainment. "Banning" a user is up to the discretion of the powers that be. And again, I am not one of them. There is a system in place to "report" users, in either a "ban thread" (
http://www.wickedfire.com/shooting-shit/168896-2013-banfest-start-new-year-right.html), or PM I assume one of the powers that be, I don't know the full procedure, since I have no interest in being a police officer.
I cannot influence the moderators nor the admins at any level, I'm simply a peon in the grand scheme of things. Creating those videos looks to have brought light to the BST berating, and I can only assume is the reason that perhaps the moderator formerly known as SEO Mike (now simply Mike), banned the bravoman1 character.
Again, this is all conjecture, since I do not speak for WickedFire, I'm just looking at the course of events. Until I was made aware of this email, I did not know [Bravoman1 2nd account], the WF username you gave me, and bravoman1 were connected until I did some further digging.
In regard to the other matter, you disappeared on me with no communication, I only assumed you could not afford my rates. It happens pretty often. When I communicate on WickedFire, I usually attempt to not mix business with pleasure so to speak, so it's rare that I take to WickedFire to talk about direct business dealings. Until this email no one knew at WickedFire I was in discussion to doing business with you.
I've always conducted myself in the most professional manner, recently my marketing firm closed [Big Brand] (Largest [Big Brand #2] seller in the world, 2nd largest [Big Brand #3]) and got their [Big Brand #4] division, and also 2 year exclusive contract for the Government of [Big Government Brand] tourism project during the same month. Back when I started the firm we ended up representing some big brands due to my skills and talents, and are re-focusing our energies to represent mega brands now. Several people that know me offline can attest to my skill level and level of professionalism.
95% of WickedFire only knows the character "Chris Carter", and my small contributions to the forum. Very few have done business with me offline. In regard to professionalism where I draw the line is lack of communication and accusation. I can understand the frustration of getting a forum profile banned but the two scenarios had nothing to do with each other. Lack of communication usually means a deal is dead. Let us be serious. If a client can't deliver payment on-time, I rarely waste time following up or continuing a discussion with them. Usually they are struggling with funding or financing problems, and once a relationship starts off with one late payment it usually continues down the same route and ends poorly. I've made it a part of my business philosophy to simply end a relationship with the characteristics of going down the lack of fund route. It frees up valuable time and saves everyone a headache. One thing I do is value my time, and chasing carrots is not in my overall best interest.
I responded out of courtesy to Jon for being an inspiring friend and a mentor to me and a generation of online marketers, and being dragged into this awkward scenario during his busy schedule to converse about this incident. My advice would be to either talk to the moderator that banned the account, or just move on with a new username and tread lightly when having discussions with established members of the community. I'm pretty sure Jon has his own unique input, which probably is a 180 disagreement with me. Again, I don't speak for Wickedfire, Jon, the admins, nor the moderators. I'm just giving you my viewpoint of the situation from a peon perspective.
Thank you for your time and I hope this helps you resolve your problem.
Regards,
CCarter
