By now half the "world" knows that I no longer "work" on deviantART. I can assure you that this is not some cruel practical joke. Many probably wish it to be one but, unfortunately, it is not.
What I am going to do here is offer up a small explanation, of sorts. Due to pending legal issues the specifics of the entire story are unable to be published by me.
This is a small explanation regarding the events leading up to the involuntary termination. I offer the truth, nothing more.
A few weeks ago I started dialogue with Angelo regarding some serious business matters. A number of issues that I had with deviantART, Inc. were bothering me so I thought it pertinent to make an attempt to remedy them.
I sat down and drafted an email to Angelo and cc:'d Andrew. It was a fairly lengthy email that asked a number of questions that needed answers.
The next day I received a response from Angelo, who asked if I were available for a phone call in two days. I wanted to know the specific subject of the call therefore I responded by asking for that information. Furthermore, I wanted to have a witness on the line in order to protect my interests.
Well, that was immediately shot down by Angelo. I was informed that since this was "intended as a confidential discussion" that witnesses were not allowed. Because of this I asserted that I wanted to know the subject of the call, as at this point I feared termination as a form of reprisal for questioning the very issues I did, or Angelo would hear from my attorney.
Ultimately, Andrew responded and asked a few questions and said that I could have a witness on the line when he called. It was a Saturday morning, one which I was greeted by a hangover, when Andrew called. We discussed a few things and then a day, or so, later he emailed me asking for further clarification of some serious business matters I alluded to in my email.
At this point I was getting tired of being given the run around because that is what it felt like. I sent an email back to Andrew, cc:'ing Angelo, outlining the majority of my issues, with a deadline of 10 days. If that was not met then certain actions were to be taken.
Eight days in to this I had yet to receive as much as an email, instant message, Skype or telephone call. I sent a scathing email to Andrew and Angelo exclaiming what a mockery of an "investigation" this was since I had not been contacted for my side of the story. In the email I stated that I needed to hear something from someone within 24 hours otherwise the aforementioned actions were to be set in to place.
I received a response around hour 22 though I was not at my desk therefore I did not read the email until shortly after hour 24. Since I had received a response I replied by saying that I was at my desk and I could make myself available for a phone call.
I went down to my car and received a phone call from Andrew, on behalf of the Board of Directors for deviantART, Inc., in which the first thing out of his mouth was that the board has decided to terminate my relationship with deviantART, Inc. A settlement agreement and answer to my email would be provided.
The conversation ended and I walked back upstairs to my desk, feeling like I was walking through Myst. Loaded up deviantART to see that I was a "deviant" rather than an "Admin."
Make of this what you will.
