Of course I'm just posting this here so I can watch it march its uncommented way down the page before being posted by someone else on metafilter to great critical acclaim :(

Nope, sorry, one comment... just to ruin your day.

What a convoluted mess!

If you're a writer, NEVER everevereverever leave the only copy of something you've done on a website.

I guess that goes for any content you're attached to.

Jenna from Absolute Write is now asking for donations for the legal fees.

I may be naive, but if your site is "terminated" for chronic bandwidth abuse, CAN the ISP withhold the database from the webmaster/mistress/ramrod?

aw, seanyboy! Kisskiss! I'm reading it!

Wow. What a mess. It seems like there were some very unfortunate misunderstandings... and that there probably isn't really an absolute "bad guy" in this, but definitely some bad behavior.

To me, the comments that the hosting co-owner made regarding the "vicious" behavior of forum members ring true. Just from what I've seen of other sites, people can get mob-ugly and incredibly nasty before even understanding what the issues really are. It seems like Stephanie really did bend over backwards for them, but the members didn't really recognize (or weren't made aware of) all her efforts... and that sounds awfully familiar

Sad and painful all around.