Topic awaiting preservation: I can't believe it's been ten years.

Ten years ago today, I made a difficult decision that forever changed my life. It was a decision centered around a client who didn't honor their end of the agreement.

Ten years ago today, I turned off a website that I had put a considerable amount of blood, sweat, and tears into. A site I spent more time on that at another full time job. Sure, some of that time was figuring out HOW to do something, and less on actually doing it. A lot of time tweaking, perfecting, improving. It was a mission.

Unbeknownst at the time, the results of that decision would rock my world. It would test my sanity. It would make me question a LOT of things. It would nearly deprive me of my freedom, consume a considerable amount of money, it would make international news, and reduce what I perceived as my group of friends to what I now refer to as "the inner circle". It introduced a tremendous amount of stress that touched every aspect of my life.

People I had never met before - mostly from this site, came together in my defense. A website, justice4pat.com, was set up. Word was spread far and wide. Donations came in from around the world for the defense fund. Words of encouragement came in for me, my family, and my legal team.

The district court fully agreed with us, and the case was stopped in its tracks. They would appeal. And get shot down again. And while a civil suit file by me ended in a draw, I still maintain that I won. I got all of my seized property back, including the site and its content.

To this day I'm able to walk with my head held high, my dignity intact, and my faith in the court system unchanged. And it's in a HUGE part due to those from this site who helped. While some of you may not have been here at this time, and others who were here at this time don't visit any more, the effort was unforgettable. I think about that, and am thankful for it, nearly every day.

Thank you, folks. You know who you are.

(Edited by Pugzly on 01-01-2014 02:39)

I should add that those from "back then" are welcome to contact me via email/Lync pat at innervation dot com, or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/patrichard/

Hard to believe it was 10 years ago. Really hard to believe. I recall the matter quite clearly and wondered how someone connected to law enforcement would deal with getting more than royally screwed by his own so-to-speak. At times my stomach was in knots.

The incident served as a grim reminder our so-called liberties are tenuous at best if not an outright game of charades. (Snowden comes to mind.)

Glad to hear you're alive & kicking and carrying on! We only get so-many orbits...so carry on. -_Q

___________________________________________________________________________
If you're not outraged - you're not paying attention.

Yeah - and I think a LOT of web designers really started to ensure they had written contracts when working on projects. ANYTHING I do that's new job or project related is fully documented in writing now. In fact, my last employment contract is like 6 pages long. Everything is spelled out.

Also - I'm on Twitter @PatRichard

I'm glad it all turned out o.k. for you in the end!

Well done Pugzly.
Crikey Ten of our Earth years too.
I've forgotten where we keep the zimmers.

I found this one from Mrs. Pugzly: http://www.ozoneasylum.com/7493

Ten years! That is crazy. Ten years ago I was a newlywed, recently moved to California. It's amazing what a difference a decade can make! Pat, I am hugely proud of you, coming through this thing as you have.

Big black pills for everyone!

Your pal, -doc-

Wow......
looking at the names on that thread;

krets
Emperor
Lacuna
Veneficuz
Slime
CPrompt
Tyberius Prime
moaiz
Bugimus
Steve
Rinswind 2th
JKMabry
kuckus
Taobaybee (hehe)
mas
Wolfen
CPrompt
Yannah
Ramasax
jdauie
SPyX
Petskull
DL-44
norm
Mrs. Pugzly
Skaarjj
sib
WarMage
viol................

I feel like I'm thumbing through a college year book and feeling rather (that word when you feel happy/sad about the past)
I would like to get in touch with all of them and issue large hugs to each and every one.

I'd like to get them all together and have one hell of a party.

This is preposterious. Justice for Pat must be brought to the public. This is preposteriously absurd to keep him disguised and shipped piece and part, one by one and FedExed to the District of Columbia. Preposterious.

=/===~

I remember this. Wow. 10 years... and the you dudes are still wearing the strait jackets. who knew...

I dropped by because Tao commented on my Deviantart page last week (hi Tao!) and it reminded me of the asylum. I had no idea this place was still in business. *waves hello*

Hi Amerasu.
I'm still managing to keep in touch with a few Asylumites At DA and on facebook too.
I' love the new splurge of work you have posted up in DA.

This brings back memories . Really happy to hear everything worked out in the end.

sib