Thoughts from a Different Perspective - Filling in Blanks

[Steve]

---  "Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:
>
>
> > ...
> 
> bboyminn:
> 
> I was just reading the Transcript of Day 1 of the trial in which
> Mr. Rapoport of RDR Publishing is testifying. In it was a
> reference to an email send from RDR to Steve Vander Ark which 
> goes like this, which for me confirms my suspicions.
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - 
> Q.  Now, first of all, you said in this e-mail to
> Mr. Vander Ark:  Anything you say in public can and will be
> used against you.  Did you say that to him?
> 
> A.  Yes.
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> As I suspected SteveV was warned that if he spoke out against
> the publisher, or in any way tried to sabotage the marketing
> of the book, the publisher would use those statements against
> SteveV in a civil suit.
> 
> ...

bboyminn:

Nothing special in this post or the one above, just filling
in some of the blanks that to me confirm that I was 
justified in supporting SteveV. I'm not saying he didn't 
make a mistake, but I think many fans have mistaken as to
exactly the extent and nature of the mistake he made.

Again, just quoting one small point from the DAY TWO of the
court proceedings.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
 Q.  And, isn't it true that the reason these books are being
done with a different publisher is that you believe RDR has
lied to you and misled you in this case?

A.  No, that's not true.

MR. HAMMER:  Objection.  ...

Ms. CENDALI: I would like to show you what we will mark as 
Exhibit --... Exhibit 196. Mr. Vander Ark, is Exhibit 196 a 
series of e-mails you  exchanged with a Melissa Annelli?

A.  Yes, it is.

Q.  Who is Melissa Annelli.

A.  She is the web mistress of another Harry Potter fan site.

Q.  And turning to the second to last page, 4 of 5...:  
I am more than ready to disassociate myself from RDR.  They 
have lied to me, misled me, taken advantage of me and, in the 
end, ruined my good standing with fans and with Rowling.

...

Q.  Again, do you see that where you wrote:  I am more than
ready to disassociate myself with RDR. They have lied to me,
misled me, taken advantage of me and, in the end, ruined my
good standing with fans and with Rowling. Do you see that?

A.  Yes, I do.

Q.  You wrote that, right?

MR. HAMMER:  I object, ...

A.  Could you ask me the question again, please?

Q.  That was something you wrote and believed, correct?

A.  Yes.

Q.  Isn't it true that once this is over, as you wrote, for
better or worse, I won't be working with them anymore. ...

A.  Yes, ma'am.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 

As I asserted before, I think SteveV is deeply sorry he got 
involved with RDR but is compelled by his contract with them
to side with them, or at least not side against them, in this
matter.

I'm convinced if it was fully in SteveV's hands, he would just
drop the whole thing, and would have done so very early on. But
as I also said, it is in the hands of the publisher now, and
SteveV is just along for the ride; a very bumpy and damaging
ride.

I've been watching some YouTube videos of SteveV speaking
at fan conventions, and he is very well received and a very 
dynamic and funny speaker for a nerd (a term that I don't think
he would find offensive). The fans who hear him, seem to love 
him, and it is truly a shame that this case has, as likely it 
has, damaged his standing with them. 

I hope most will adopt a forgive and forget attitude, and 
accept that we all make mistakes. I hope they will try to 
understand that position that SteveV has been forced into.

Though, while I hope that, I think we can all see that SteveV
clearly did make a grave mistake in getting involved with RDR. 

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn