A posting quoted below has just been retroactively removed from BerkeleyLUG's Google Group archive by LUG original founder Jack Deslippe, who was kind enough to so inform me of that action (for which my genuine thanks). His cited reason: 'I think it uses unnecessary language in places when describing the individual'.
I of course respect Jack's right to make decisions for that Google Group. In my view, this account of events today used _absolutely necessary_ language describing the individual and his actions (and in alluding to similar actions at many prior meetings). I posted it in public _specifically_ because repeated attempts to privately fix this problem failed and instead it worsened -- and specifically to create a public record. Thus this re-post: to un-disappear my comments. (Views expressed are my own.)
----- Forwarded message from Rick Moen rick@linuxmafia.com -----
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2018 14:28:34 -0800 From: Rick Moen rick@linuxmafia.com To: BerkeleyLUG berkeleylug@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: AC Power, Wi-Fi but not from venue itself: Re: BerkeleyLUG meetup this Sunday 2018-11-11 12Noon STANDARD Time at 85C Bakery
Quoting Michael Paoli (Michael.Paoli@cal.berkeley.edu):
Have had 4 of us here so far ...
But also, now, two fewer, following the latest round of John Regan aka Giovanni aka whatever-it-is-this-week misconduct right there, today, at the BerkeleyLUG table.
I've had a near-contemporaneous account of what happened. Sadly, I had a conflicting obligation in Milpitas, otherwise I most certainly would have brought a screeching halt to this nonsense. Honestly, hasn't John wrecked enough BerkeleyLUG meetings already, or do y'all intend to keep just sitting there and only reacting long after the fact, and with little or no consequence?
What I heard happening was: John Regan walked in and saw three women sitting at the table BerkeleyLUG traditionally uses. He started hassling the women and telling them they had to move because this is a reserved table. Michael Paoli reminded John that no, this is not a reserved table and never is one, nor are any of the others downstairs. John ignored Michael, continued to give the women a hard time, and advised them that he was finding them another table. Kim Davalos spoke up to reiterate what Michael P. said, that _no_, this is not a reserved table. John told the women that they should ignore Kim because she arrived late. After being thus browbeaten, the women finally got up and moved elsewhere.
After the fact, 85c Bakery management confirmed exactly what Michael and Kim had said, and were informed of the repeatedly and continually misbehaving person who evidently needs stronger social control so he can no longer run amok at BerkeleyLUG. Arrangements were made with the manager in the future for them to step in sooner the next time this person cannot behave in a civilised fashion to require him to immediately leave.
Today's incident, like many of the others John has inflicted on BerkeleyLUG this year, are in my view simply disgraceful and should be curbed instantly rather than indulged. Already, the _immediate_ result of today's incident was that two regulars, disgusted with the failure to enforce obvious standards of acceptable behaviour, walked out and went elsewhere.
I've privately warned after past incidents that permitting this clown to run amok at BerkeleyLUG is quite likely to destroy the group if proper corrective action is not taken. Today, I'm reiterating that warning publicly.
You already know what to do. End this. Next time, stop sitting on your tochises, get up, and do it. Seriously, people, this isn't even difficult to figure out. (See also .signature.)