Introducing randaleem - the energy vampire

[elektro80]

This will not come as a surprise to many of you guys.. but..

and here goes:

Randaleem is openly planning to release commercial products based on designs published here in the DIY section. The Klee as well as a rebranded "improved" Soundlab is seemingly on the list.

This is basically hijacking/pirating/stealing and nothing else.

I suggest that noone sells him any existing PCBs to any of the current projects here as it is likely, based on what he has told me and others, that he will copy these and rebrand them. I also suggest that we will more or less ignore his messages.

Any other suggestions?

Uh.. and copyrights and licensing issues re the designs here should be honoured.

AFAIK, the only known email addie of his is randaleem@yahoo.com. Do we have more info on who this guy really is. He has told me he is preparing a large website for his products and designs. What is the domain name? URLs?

[elektro80]

It must be said that I´m pretty sure Arkham Asylum is one serious customer short. This randaleem does not seem to have his nuts and bolts properly together. This is however no excuse for the behind-the-scenes copyright pinata he is entertaining himself with.

[jksuperstar]

How do we try to handle this? Maybe you shouldn't have saved his account a couple weeks ago

Howard seems to be the master at diffusing a potentially bad situation. Any words of wisdom, Howard?

[elektro80]

[Kassen]

What on earth is getting into those DIY people? Just today I noticed this post on a blog;
http://www.getlofi.com/?p=817

[Scott Stites]

Energy Vampire - I couldn't think of a better term.

For me Randal started out to be just another welcome addition to EM. In fact, when Randal offered to do a PCB of the VCQFG, Thomas Henry asked me what I thought of him - I told Thomas (to my deep regret) that he seemed on the level.

It went seriously downhill from there. Randal flipped out over a trivial comparator circuit I'd put on my Wilson EGs - very run of the mill stuff, but he contacted me privately wanting to do that circuit and ALL of my circuits. A PCB for a comparator???? I didn't think much of it - I haven't done much that really wasn't an adaptation of some existing design, other than the Klee, so I said "Sure, go for anything you want, except for the Klee, that one is spoken for." Mmmmbut no, it was the Klee he was after - or rather, the previous simple version I'd done of it. He wrote back again, explaining, in great and unnecessary detail, how this Klee would enhance the sales of the EM Klee. Again, I politely say no.

In the meantime, Alison Project had contacted me wanting to know if, sometime down the road, he could do a version of the Mutant Filter. Alison Project had actually built the thing and liked it, and that's when it dawned on me - Randal hadn't built a damn thing of mine. He said as much: He wanted my name for cred (poor guy, my name ain't all that much). He didn't care what circuits he was touting. Case in point: he wants to market the support boards for the Triple Wilson SVVCF. Those boards would have very little use for anybody who wasn't building a filter like that, and I guarantee you, that module was such a bitch to build, I don't think anybody would be interested in going through that.

So, stupidly, by the time I got back to my PMs after Alison's request, there was message number three from Randal again harping on the "Minklee". I'd never discussed money with him (I wasn't and am not interested in that) but he was asking "is 10% OK?". I figured, fine, whether it's the EM Klee or the Mini-Klee, any money would still go to EM. So, I said if Alison did the Mutant, he could do the Mini-Klee, though I never acknowledged any monetary arrangement of any sort.

In the meantime, Thomas Henry contacts me asking me about this "flake" who's been bugging the living hell out of him - Randal was using every means at his disposal to get Thomas to hand over a design for an entire synth so Randal could market it. He went too far in a couple of ways, and Thomas just went into "radio silence" as far as Randal was concerned.

Randal then pulled out the guns on Andy. This message, in part, had to do with Randal thinking I'd somehow pulled the rug out from underneath Andy on the Klee, when in fact Andy was in the middle of designing the PCBs. It was also from this message the intent to make an "alternative" to Ray's Soundlab came up. This was his second message to Andy - Andy had rebuffed him on the first. Now, Andy had no choice but to respond in a manner that shut the guy up. Andy wasn't abusive or rash, he just laid it on the line that what Randal was asking was way out of line. Thus, in Randal's eyes, Andy became an "enemy". I would rather doubt, after that, Randal had any illusions of providing an "alternative" to Ray's Soundlab, once he was disabused of the sad notion that Andy would think that just hunky-dory.

Randal realizes he's fucked up, and starts probing me for anything I might know about his attempt at Andy . He also starts probing me to find out why Thomas won't respond, and how he can get "in" with Thomas. I ignore both of those subjects and try to remain civil to him. By now, it's obvious that my sum total of energy was destined to be food for Randal's insatiable appetite if I didn't do something soon. I'm ready to pull the plug.

Instead, accidentally, the plug gets pulled on Randal - he's inadvertendly barred from EM. Now, I know I shouldn't do anything that will damage this guy's delicate ego (and it is delicate). So, I decide to give him a second chance - I don't want him thinking there was some grand electro-music plot against him. I continue to respond to his messages as much as one can, and on-line I make no differentation between him or anyone else.

It doesn't work. I'll not go into it, but in the time since, Randal asked me for the EM Klee Schematics (several times) and the EM Klee text docs (several times - ostensibly to edit them and make them more "clear"). He never overtly asked for the PCB prints, but he did offer to make the PCBs, and what would he need for that? I got tired of saying no, and I never answered the third email about me turning over the Klee text docs. I haven't received a mail from him in two weeks, and I have never been so relieved.

But, don't take my word for it - check his modus operandi. If an idea for a PCB is mentioned, there's Randal "securing the rights". Through Zero VCO (Bernie Hutchins, I can only imagine, is going through more of the same right now), the little SMS Drum-Voice-Turned-Eniac. The VCQFG. And all of the Scott Stites Approved Modules, that are not my modules at all, and I indeed had to point that out publicly (I don't have the pockets to take on Roland). Did anybody notice him nosing around the Bergfotron Complex VCO thread? You know what's going through his head.

How dangerous is the guy? Let's just say I'll be very surprised if he ever finishes anything. Tom Bugs had a design for the VCQFG in a couple of days, but Randal already had a "lock" on it. Has anybody seen more than a picture of what the board might look like? And I can't figure out if he really knows what he's talking about, or if he just creatively cuts and pastes. In one of his very long and eye-glazing Pmessages, he was expounding on his "mods" to the "mini-Klee". Little things, like voltage controlled stage selection, voltage controlled direction, some other mysteriouly named functions. I suppose all of this is possible, but not in any module I would call a "Mini". Even if Randal had a grasp of FPGAs, he'd still need an acre of panel space just to implement his panopoly of ideas.

Sorry if this comes off sounding bitter and nasty, but I have never in my life been pushed to the brink like this guy has pushed me. The PMs are not only numerous, they're long and filled with flights of uncomfortable fantasy. It's honestly led me to re-evaluate what it is I'm doing. I don't think my stuff is all the "precious" or "secret", but I'm loathe to mention any idea without inviting another onslaught from Randal.

And...yes.....what is his last name??? You'd think he'd at least offer that when he was after your soul. Or your energy

[Kassen]

Hmmmm, that actually sounds a lot like a story Rob told me about a guy from EM that kept bugging him for some designs. That guy, reportedly, used arguments like "that's why it's called DIY!" as a reason fro Rob to hand those over. Not sure if it's the same one (forgot the name) but that sounds very similar.

[blue hell]

Hmm, funny I got some requests for comment on a mini klee to be done by Randal as well. I just thought that he should just do so if he wanted to make something and not bother others with that, but I never got to reply him that - it was after the erasure, so I felt a bit like not wanting to do bad as well ...

I didn't get the impression Randal is "nuts", but it depends a bit on his age I guess, I mean when like 18 he might just need to learn a bit about human nature

[elektro80]

Nuts? That doesn´t cover it.
Keep in mind that I´ve had gotten a fair number of
PMs from this guy myself.

[Kassen]

I looked at his posts for a bit. One that realy stood out was one with a later edit that was all in bold of him talking to himself in third person.

That one looked a bit "nuts" but it also looked like a attempt at humour that went slightly off-course.

How big is this issue, realy? When you say he wants to go commercial and re-brand those designs are we talking about trying to compete with Doepfer or about two dozen PCB's for a few stray freaks? How crazy do we think he is? What are our options?

You see, I think the DIY section on the outside looks very good, I think it atracts people to EM and more importantly it atracts creative and knowledgable people to EM so I think it would be advisable to avoid ugly looking escalations. For one thing it would be very sad if people would start getting paranoid about sharing their nice little ideas with the few others that can apreciate them.

Another thing is that what we seem to have here is a general unpleasant feeling but I'm not so sure we have a pin-point-able thing where we can say "we are banning you because of X". How about a mail or PM from somebody like Jan or H that would be generally emotionally supportive but with a emphasis on "kindly stop behaving like that"? We need to start somewhere....

[elektro80]

1. His stated intentions with the projects aren´t kosher.
2. He is bothering a growing list of members with PMs.


Handling him should be easy.

First of all he should be treated fairly nicely in the open forums. Re the PMs, I suggest we simply either ignore him or offer him a simple "no thanks". There is no need for a huge confrotation or a ban at this stage, but I think it is completely OK to tell him "NO!" in capitals whenever the need arises.

The most important thing here is to inform certain other members that Randaleem is considered a pest and why.

I see no reason for selling him PCBs for old and/or current projects. His stated intentions are as we know to copy and rebrand the lot.

[Uncle Krunkus]

Randal gives me the creeps.
Now have a look at my avatar, yes, this guy gives me the creeps!
I haven't had a PM from him in weeks, (since I got up him about being a money grubber, and then sent him that message saying that I am not his enemy, (he's annoying, and suspicious, and possibly morally bankrupt, but way too inconsequential for me to be his "enemy" (oh, Randal, you'd know if you were my enemy! )))
And I like it that way. I just haven't got the headspace to even care about his antics anymore. Something tells me that he may raise his little head again sometime, (bit like a wart) but I've got lots of other interesting things to do until then.

PS, maybe we should start a thread about a "new" idea for a really great circuit we are working on which when you apply power, proceeds to cook $50 worth of chips. We could call it the "deep fryer" or something like that. Offer it to Randal to make PCBs!
Then again,..........can't be bothered.

[elektro80]

I wonder if he he has been drooling over fonik and others too?

Well, simply ignoring him is the best move. I´ve used the term "energy vampire" and I guess that covers it well.

[elektro80]

[Kassen]

[v-un-v]

[blue hell]

[elektro80]

OT


Energy Vampires

Hunched in the corner of the dressing-room,
trying to get back to the real...
Uh-oh, here they come, ready for their meal:

Energy Vampires, crawling out of the wall,
they want to steal my vitality,
they want to drink it all.

This guy says that he wrote all my songs,
this girl says she's had my baby -
me, I don't know them from Adam and Eve,
sometimes I really believe I'm going crazy.

"Excuse me while I suck your blood,
excuse me when I phone you,
I've got every one of your records, man,
doesn't that mean I own you?"
Oh, sure, I long ago decided to make myself an exponent
of public possession in the private obsession zone.

But now I'm serious, let's be serious, I'm not selling you my soul,
try to put it in the records but I've got to keep my life my own.
One thing I've not got a lot of is time
and it's slipping away.

The Future Now - Peter Hammill - 1978

[Scott Stites]

I don't think that's OT at all......

He told me on a number of occasions that he wants to be the "next PAiA".

One danger that he poses to the forum is that he just may take people for a ride to nowhere. But, to be honest, I'm probably the most gullible person on the list, and if I can (eventually) spot him for what he is, I can imagine others will to.

One disadvantage is that he tends to stifle a good idea or thread by grinding it into the dust with his repertoire of promises and "modifications". Take a good long read of that SMS thread, especially the last two pages. That is, if you can get through it. That thing just collapsed under its own weight.

I think the firm NO approach is probably the best option for us, and one I wish I would have just done right at the beginning before he went all "Basic Instinct" on me. Even with that first pmessage he sent me, my gut told me no, but I didn't listen.

I don't think he's going to bother Fonik - he probably views Matthias as "competition" because Matthias has produced boards that should, naturally, have been part of Randal's repertoire. I do wonder how wide-spread he's become as far as Pmessaging people goes.

I did give Ray a heads-up. Randal was just one more rogue for his gallery - because of the volume of traffic on MFOS, Ray's no stranger to stranger danger. In the grand scheme of Ray's experience, Randal is a minor player. Man, the stories Ray can lay on you are truly frightening.

Cheers,
Scott

[Scott Stites]

[v-un-v]

[Kassen]

[Scott Stites]

Wow. Looking at that makes me think Tom got a portion of Randal's (or someone's) job resume.

Tom, the weirdest tale Ray offered had to do with this guy sending him, by snail-mail, "Manson-like" scrawlings of indecipherable schematics. Ray would respond by emailing the guy to breadboard it, then both of them would know if it worked. It doesn't stop - Ray gets more and more scrawlings, with maybe a diode or two tossed in here or there. By now, Ray's getting scared, and then the guy starts telling Ray he's going to send him some of his special brownie mix.

Now, Ray's really starting to freak, and tells the guy he doesn't like brownies, but he'd be glad to give the package to his neighbor the COP, because he likes brownies. The guy still sends him the package. Ray opens it, finds a bag of a brown powdery substance, and ever so gingerly drops it in his trash bin. He finally snapped and mailed the guy, telling him that he never wanted to hear from him again - ever. That finally worked. Coulda been brownie mix, or perhaps magic brownie mix, or it coulda been cyanide brownie mix. Ray wasn't too eager to figure out which it would be.

Now, if that ain't weird, I don't know what is. In fact, I'm not so sure I would have even opened the package.

If the Internet had been designed solely to make anyone accessible to any random crackpot at any time, I'd say "mission accomplished".

[v-un-v]

[seraph]