What is to be done? (and other pertinent updates)
What is to be done? (and other pertinent updates)
STOP THE COUNT :trump-anguish:
A twelve-hour window has passed and a supermajority is present—158 out of 228 first-choice ballots—therefore, we will proceed with a backup of Option 2: The Long March (keep Hexbear branding, change domain) if we cannot secure the hexbear.net domain.
As such, a ranked-choice poll with the Hexbear-related domains we have secured will be forthcoming. Stay tuned for that as well as other updates we may have!
Hey all, semi-ambiguous member of the admin team here. Who am I? Classified. Think of me as one of the SEELE monoliths, if it helps. All you really need to know here is I've been here for a good while, at least, and have enough knowledge of the staff internal dynamics as well as the technical side of the issues we face to represent the situation in its breadth.
What have we been doing since the unfathomable oopsie?
We have secured a number of alternative domains. We will not fully enumerate them until we are more confident on the direction we want to take our approach to this.
We have established contact with the previously-AWOL owner, and after much discussion, we have determined that while there was an error in the auto-payment initially, the renewal funds were transferred manually to Sav and the auction continues despite that. We are currently appealing to Sav support with our domain credentials. We are also looking into whether an ICANN-compliant grace period was implemented prior to the rescinding and auctioning of the domain.
We aren't going to give up on this route entirely and have taken a distributed approach to addressing our options internally (e.g. some admins are negotiating with Sav, some admins are covering bases, some admins and devs are planning the technical side of things, etc., etc.). The best case scenario is that with our access credentials, our negotiations make Sav cease the auction and cede the domain back to us. If this unfolds, this is the option we will take. We will not rely on this route, but it is pertinent to mention it as a possibility.
We also plan to compile a more comprehensive post-mortem that will give a detailed overview/recap of the situation that will be made once we plant our feet on the ground.
Okay, so, anyways, what paths do we have?
We have charted three separate paths for how we are to operate in the short-term, with the assumption that our current path will be fruitless. As is tradition, we will put our priorities up to a Dean Norris emoji vote. However, due to the ambiguity and sensitivity of this issue, this will be a ranked choice ballot, and we will weigh your Deans in a descending manner within your comment accordingly.
1. New Economic Policy :dean-frown:
Overview
With this plan, we fundraise to buy back the domain from the auction.
Pros
Basically all the pros that come with getting the domain back. These include:
- Truly prevents all potential security risks that come with the domain turnover (e.g. MitM, phishing, shock-redirects, etc.)
- No reintegration into federation necessary
- No migration work necessary (business as usual)
Cons
- Would have to be a community effort
- Auction already at 2000$+
- Would be in competition with chuds and crypto-bros for the bidding
- Can’t snipe it, a bid extends the auction
Notes
In my own personal opinion, raising funds for this is the most cringe option. We would rather you be putting the money towards helping out some of our comrades on /c/mutual_aid or doing mutual aid in your own localities instead of forking it over to a registry parker for a bajillion dollars
2. The Long March :dean-smile:
Overview
Migrate to a Hexbear-branded alternative domain (possibilities secured to be listed post-vote)
Pros
- No site overhaul required (iconography, agitation, etc., etc.)
- Least-resistance path comparatively, we would be able to get operations secured much quicker than the other two, despite the bumps
Cons
- Most vulnerable to schemes regarding the old URL and whoever gets it
Notes
I prefer this personally. I think anyone who is going to get swindled by the takeover of the .net site is already going to be fucked regardless if we rebrand or not. Anyone who doesn’t know the site alternative is affected by the lapse in the site already, so I’d argue the difference made by the rebrand is a bit moot? Anyone who can see the site at the moment can see the posts where we say we’ve changed domains and delete their browser history and cookies accordingly.
3. Cultural Revolution :dean-neutral:
Overview
Declare hexagons and bears to be bourgeois decadence. Choose a new domain without Hexbear-branding.
Pros
- Disambiguates us from the previous domain, which is up for grabs and leaves us at risk.
- If one dislikes the Hexbear branding, now is the time to change it
Cons
- Longest process. Would require a lot more internal debate due to the scope of options.
- Site overhaul required, the scope of which will also have to be debated.
- We can’t exactly be sure that the options anyone here specifically wants are within our grasp unless they stake it out themselves, purchase it, as well as maintain and donate it to us until we either rule it out or go with it. We want to be responsible spenders with the coffers, and can’t in good faith debate the merits of domains/brandings that could be sniped or buy domains that we’re unsure of, en masse.
Notes
No notes other than emphasizing that the rebrand will be a lengthy debate and will take considerably more time than the other options.
Okay, so what do I have to do?
On this forum, you just have to :vote: Otherwise, inform other wayward users about the current backup domain of chapo.chat and to watch out for hexbear.net until further notice.
To recap the options:
- :dean-frown: Fundraise to get back the old domain
- :dean-smile: Keep site branding, change domain
- :dean-neutral: Change site branding and domain
Your ranked-choice Deans will be tallied and weighed within a 12, up-to 24-hour window (approximately) and we will prioritize accordingly. Even so, as always, if you’re in line, stay in line. I’m still in line to vote for Michael Dukakis myself. There’s always a chance!