The IT Skeptic - Comments for "A hot-potato ITIL Refresh session at upcoming bITa USA conference"

Wait no ore

J M Linden, Ph.D. — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:09:33 +0000

Ask the skeptic!

The bITaUSA Conference has been cancelled

skeptic — Thu, 10 May 2007 02:56:01 +0000

Shame - I'd have loved to hear this session ...

removed content

skeptic — Wed, 09 May 2007 22:37:00 +0000

[Here is what was removed from the above comment:]
I’ve had the opportunity to read over the first interview of the “hackers” transcript. The dbase was not technically hacked, the individual had a list of the ITSMFUSA membership which included usernames and passwords. The individual logged on to user accounts late in the evening on weekends during the election cycle and selected names that had not accessed the website for an extended period. The voting was controlled to direct the lead of certain individuals by undermining the 5th and 6th place finishers from being elected. When we can determine who they are, we will contact them.

There was no indication why they were singled out, but I’m sure it had something to do with differing ideologies that fragment the governing board.

Coming soon!

Visitor — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:48:48 +0000

[THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED TO COMPLY WITH TERMS OF THE WEBSITE]

ITSKEPTIC - extraordinary actions

Well Done ITSKEPTIC! — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 14:18:48 +0000

I compliment ITSKEPTIC on the actions taken - well done.

extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

skeptic — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:03:00 +0000

Readers will see that three of the posts by Dr Linden have been edited to remove unsubstantiated allegations. [UPDATE: text has been restored]

The IT Skeptic is unwilling to take such action in a free and open forum, but the allegations are too serious to be allowed to stand without adequate (or indeed any) evidence. A favourite saying of skeptics is "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".

Civil

J M Linden, Ph.D — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:49:25 +0000

Civil

Waiting

Charles T. Betz — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:57:45 +0000

I am waiting with great curiousity to find out more about these extraordinary assertions. In what venue will the affidavit appear?

Charles T. Betz
http://www.erp4it.com

Serious allegations they are!

J M Linden, Ph.D. — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:35:00 +0000

Skeptic,

Here is the underpinning for the allegation, [THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF USE OF THIS WEBSITE] [Here is what was removed from this comment, restored:]the ITSMFUSA board has been manufactured to accomplish a corporate goal. The voting process was hacked three times with over 100+ fraudulent votes being cast. A sufficient number to have an influence on the outcome. [End of removed text] An affidavit to support these charges will be available shortly.

In an attempt to get further information from the organization’s President, Leah Palmer, on the transparency of organization’s Bylaws, and whether they were approved by the organization’s membership and the ITIL certifications held by its board members, I received the following reply:

“We strive to ensure transparency… however, all the information you requested below is readily available to our members either via our website or upon request.” In order to get information about the organization, you must join the organization. It sounds like the long arm of the controlling parent in the UK.

Regarding the Google trail, I am published in a number of computer science magazines under my married name. Linden is my maiden name.

J M Linden

These are very serious allegations.

skeptic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:55:59 +0000

These are very serious allegations.

I am not sure that we DO know your name. Most people working in our industry leave a trail on Google, as do most Ph.D.s but I can find no record of a Julie M Linden in any field related to ITIL or itSMF.

Right now I am classifying these posts under "FRUITCAKE" and considering taking them down. Let me make it clear that the IT Skeptic has no evidence to indicate that there is any substance whatsoever to these allegations. Furthermore I find it improbable that some of the events alleged to have occured would in fact have taken place.

However I am loath to delete any posting other than spam without sufficient discussion.

Does anyone have any information about either the identity of this poster or the allegations made that would justify leaving these posts on the blog? You can reply here or contact me in confidence.

If not, I am taking these down in 48 hours under the terms of use as potentially libelous.

Irregularities

J M Linden, Ph.D. — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:48:58 +0000

You know my name. What is yours?

What voting irregularities

Visitor — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:30:47 +0000

What voting irregularities and what release? Spit it out!

Tic Tock

J M Linden, Ph.D — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:33:00 +0000

[THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF USE OF THIS WEBSITE]
[Here is what was removed, restored:]
Have you noticed that the ITSMFUSA doesn't seem to know where it's going lately? Is it coincidence or by plan? Ask yourself, what company or director has the most to gain here? With the soon to be released voting irregularities in the last board election (yes, the voting dBase was hacked), and DOJ's interest in these large sponsors, it may be time to distance oneself. Will the big name employers of those board members want to be associated with pay-for-play board, especially after ones recent exposure in the news?

The DOJ has been looking at our industry as a result of impending Version 3 release. The DOJ is also looking at industry manipulation by trade groups through major corporations positioning influential employees as board member. Toyota and Nissan did this in the 80's in the lift truck industry and got burned badly.
[End of removed text]

Voting Scandal

Visitor — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:44:24 +0000

No April fools here! Stay tuned!

Voting scandal

Visitor — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:17:33 +0000

Ok... what voting scandal... is this April fool.... a bit late?

WILL THE ITSMFUSA REMAIN FUNCTIONAL

J M Linden, Ph.D — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:14:00 +0000

With the incredible competition in the ITIL/Service Management conference space coming into prominence, coupled with [THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF USE OF THIS WEBSITE][here is the removed text, restored:] the ITSMFUSA'S emerging voting scandal during the last board election, can the ITSMFUSA survive? Will the large US corporations supporting their employees on a tarnished board continuing their support?[End of removed text]