Here is a copy of the fax I sent. Reading it should give anyone an idea how appallingly bad the Zoo was before it was shut down. I'm hoping maybe they'll give it back to the original capcave team or someone else who at least cares about the site. Tiscali's complete neglect certainly contributed to things. Still, I'd rather see it down completely, seeing how low it had fallen. Here is the fax:
To the attention of: Principal Management, Public Relations &/ or Legal Department
From: [my real name]
Dear Principal Management,
Numerous people have been trying to contact someone regarding a serious matter concerning U2.com, U2?s official website, however our emails to Tiscali (who run the forum ?Zootopia? on the official site) and Principal Mgmt?s Dublin offices have gone unanswered. Since I cannot believe that no-one would look into such an urgent matter once it has come to their attention, I can only surmise that our emails are not reaching Principal Management, either they are being lost amid a plethora of fan email or they are being forwarded unread to Tiscali as tech problems. Since this urgent issue is defamatory to the good name and image of U2, is in regards to illegal activity, and has been very damaging to their fans, I hope you will understand my persistence in trying alternate means of reaching someone who can help. I have also left a voice mail in conjunction with this fax. I will cut and paste below for you, in part, the recent email I have sent to Principal Management?s Dublin office:
I was a moderator of the former Zootopia and I am writing to inform you that U2's official forum has become a travesty, a disgrace to all associated with it and home to appalling and illegal behaviour. Most members have given up fighting a losing battle and no longer frequent the site, since there is no line of decency the perpetrators won't cross. It is filled with discussions related to child pornography, sadism, bestiality, rape, and other forms of violence and depravity, along with racism and anti-semitism. Numerous threats of a personal, violent, and sexual nature have been posted against members. A technical loophole in the system allows imiposters to clone members identities and post slanderous material in their names?.What I do ask, however, is that, as a representive of U2's best interests, you take 5 minutes of your time and check the General Discussion area of Zootopia for yourself. I hope you will consider returning the running of Zootopia back to the original capcave team or if this is not feasible, perhaps approach one of the site administrators of a handful of offshoot sites which have tried to fill the void? As it stands now, the current forum has degenerated into a deplorable Lord of the Flies parody of debauchery, perversion, and violence. It has become a mockery of everything U2 stands for and it is a disgrace to allow this site to represent either the band or the community of U2 fans. I emphatically suggest that if members of U2's management are unwilling to spend any time or money on this forum or even to make themselves aware of the illegal and immoral activity which runs rampant on it, then for God's sakes, have the decency to shut it down! Sincerely, Laurie (lck_tweek@hotmail.com)
Thank you for your time. It is most unacceptable that U2 have become the unwitting hosts of such unconscionable behaviour, I?m certain they would be appalled if they were aware of what is going on. I certainly hope none of their children surf the net and decide to look at their dads? official fan site. Additionally new members to the forum do not realize what is going on- ie that the people posting such horrid stuff are clones of the real users etc. Laurie