Chemo Banned From osCommerce Forums

This really pisses me off.

For those familiar with osCommerce, Bobby 'Chemo' hardly needs an intro. For those not so familiar, osCommerce is an Open Source e-commerce system. The project is being run by Harald Ponce de Leon and he can tap into hundreds of geek's brains and co-develop a truely magnificent piece.

But then there are the user contributions. Chemo is probably the mac daddy of contribution coders. More important to me than anybody because he is one of the few involved with SEO and who understands the need of marketing the shop.

He's made some truely fantastic contributions, I mean head and shoulders above the rest. Excellent code with great documentation and unlike anybody else, this guy provides support relentlessly. He could easily charge $200 an hour for consultation but in true OS spirit he doesn't.

Bobby has now been banned. Without even a courtesy e-mail.

I found out because I installed two of his latest contributions just now and had a slight issue with one. Knowing he would normally answer promptly I went to the support thread to find out this sad news.

Apparently it has to do with discussions about 'forking'. I haven't been up to date with what has bene said and what hasn't but I think it's about whether people should be allowed to get compensated for their skills even though the project is Open Source.

Anyway, I doubt he would have said anything out of order and I simply can not believe they've done this.

He now can't provide support anymore. If he's interested and Shawn's OK with it, maybe he'd like to continue his threads here on DP. More appropriate anyway since we're all SEO focussed.

Geez I'm pissed off.

 

Well considering they guy has done a gazzilion heavily used contributions it would probably require its own sub forum soon but I'll see if I can get hold of him.

 

I've got an OSC site slated. I'd love to have the guy here and get exposure. I'm not using it yet and have done only a little research and a test install.

If you can't make money off OS, then we have a big problem with RH and the likes. I mean come on, people have to eat too!

 

I say, FORK IT!

 

That is manic news. Some people just lose it. What is it with some people who take things to the extreme? OS is fine, but there is nothing wrong with charging for private consultations.

A forum is a prime example, I mod on some busy forums, one of them is highrankings. Often I get pm's asking questions for help on something, I normally take a look and then tell the person to ask the question in the forum so I can answer it. You will not believe how many people say that they do not want the answer posted on the forum they want it pm'd to them? They don't want it posted openly as they do not want others to have the information.

Well sorry but it doesn't work that way. On the forum is the way to go, it is ALL about sharing information and moving the industry forward and, it is hoped, bettering the web experience for all. In private is consultancy work, and if they had approached me for consultancy work I would have told them no as I am too busy, lol. I think that some become too precious with regard work and open source. I t is the money people earn that allow the products to be open source.

 

Moderators, can you please ban Crazy_Rob? His language is getting out of control and his signature is promoting violence. Thanks.

The OSCommerce ban is interesting, too... did anyone click on the thumbnail? The message says, "Your account has been temporarily suspended. The suspension is due to end Jun 10 1969, 09:29 PM"

Is it just me, or does any of this bear an odd relationship to that notorious "DMOZ versus the world" attitude?

 

not to mention that his avatar can be very scary especially when it has them sunglasses on!!!

 

Chemo is one of the most helpful people out there. I met him a while back and he has been nothing but helpful and positive.

I added to chemo's blog just now. That guy really needs his own place to run so he can share freely. I am sure a ton of people would follow him.

 

Wow, interesting saga. Been there done that. It sucks!

 

Perhaps the date should read Jun 10 2005? Maybe he will be able to return by this Friday/Saturday time frame.