Dawkins sues Josh Timonen

[ManOrAstroman]

I don't know if this has been covered anywhere on the forum, but Richard Dawkins has begun proceedings against Josh Timonen for embezzling up to $375,000 from the RD Foundation.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/10/22/31283.htm

Timonen became notorious earlier this year for his antics closing the formerly flourishing Richard Dawkins forum. Dawkins came out fighting in defense of Timonen after a slew of complaints against his behaviour. The episode caused quite a stir in the online atheist community. Having backed Timonen against site members, it seems that Richard backed the wrong horse.

 

[AndromedasWake]

All I can say is bloody hell. :|

Josh, I thought you were cool..

:facepalm:

 

[Aught3]

Stealing from a charity? That's low.

 

[borrofburi]

Huh. I didn't see that one coming. That's a lot of money...

I don't know if this has been covered anywhere on the forum

I don't think it has.

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Now I feel bad, because I was plugging an effects pedal with that "scarlet A" that Dawkins has been pushing, and now I don't know if that deal was part of the embezzlement or not.

 

[lrkun]

Talk about biting the hand of the person who feeds you. He's very ungrateful to Richard Dawkins.

 

[joshtimonen]

Hi Everyone,

I guess it's time for me to talk...
http://joshtimonen.com/post/1387207318/the-ultimate-betrayal

 

[ManOrAstroman]

Timonen has issued a response on his blog:

http://joshtimonen.com/post/1387207318/the-ultimate-betrayal

Although his description of online vendettas waged by anonymous internet punters after his spat earlier this year is likely true -- knowing what we know about the ways of the internet -- his explanation of the specific embezzlement allegations reads as cloudy and unsatisfactory. He also seems to be appealing to the gallery out of desperation by invoking his previous good work, such as designing the Atheist 'A' logo.

The accusations are specific and would surely be easy to prove or disprove, such as the inflated expenses claims.

Timonen writes that a full public statement will be made shortly through his 'legal team'.

 

[Aught3]

Hi Everyone,

I guess it's time for me to talk...
http://joshtimonen.com/post/1387207318/the-ultimate-betrayal

No idea if this is the real Josh, I approved the account anyway.

 

[Gnug215]

Hi Everyone,

I guess it's time for me to talk...
http://joshtimonen.com/post/1387207318/the-ultimate-betrayal

Hi Josh.

Obviously, one is not guilty until proven so.

If you are, then this is reaaaaally bad, obviously.

 

[Gnug215]

Hi Everyone,

I guess it's time for me to talk...
http://joshtimonen.com/post/1387207318/the-ultimate-betrayal

No idea if this is the real Josh, I approved the account anyway.

According to his blog, it supposedly is.

I uh, tried to approve it, too, but forgot to actually press "approve" for a few mins. I wonder if he got two notices of approval now.

 

[Aught3]

Far enough to let him drop a link if it is him. Probably a good idea for people not to over-react until we know more but I just can't imagine Dawkins taking such an action unless is really was warranted.

 

[Deleted member 619]

It is indeed the real Josh.

 

[Aught3]

I was looking at the comments on RatSkep, a lot of people seem to be really gleeful about this turn of events. Not sure I really understand that attitude.

 

[AndromedasWake]

Does anyone have a full rundown of events including the closure of the RD forums? Preferably as objective as possible.

Also, Josh, I've noted from your blog that your account is genuine. I'd be interested to hear your in-depth assessment of these events.

 

[Inferno]

I guess that we'll see how this turns out in the end, but there are obviously only two possible truths:
1) Richard Dawkins was right. In that case, the above post by Josh would ruin his (Josh's) career, except if he wants to get involved with the ID movement.
2) Josh Timonen is right. In that case, Richard Dawkins will have lost nearly all credibility and I doubt anybody would ever trust him again, no matter how great a speaker he is.

I personally believe that the first one is true, (Simply from the credibility of the first Person.) but not knowing all the facts, I will wait for the lawsuit and laugh at the person who loses.

 

[TheFlyingBastard]

I was looking at the comments on RatSkep, a lot of people seem to be really gleeful about this turn of events. Not sure I really understand that attitude.

Probably still bitter due to the closing of the RDnet forums.

As for the case, we'll see what the results from court are. No judgment made until evidence has been presented.

 

[Aught3]

Does anyone have a full rundown of events including the closure of the RD forums? Preferably as objective as possible.

Also, Josh, I've noted from your blog that your account is genuine. I'd be interested to hear your in-depth assessment of these events.

The closure of the forums was well documented by Peter Harrison http://realityismyreligion.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/locked-entry-will-open-soon/.

Josh would be a fool to comment in anything other than the broadest terms unless he runs it by his lawyer first.

 

[Aught3]

I was looking at the comments on RatSkep, a lot of people seem to be really gleeful about this turn of events. Not sure I really understand that attitude.

Probably still bitter due to the closing of the RDnet forums.

As for the case, we'll see what the results from court are. No judgment made until evidence has been presented.

I guess, embezzlement is a bit more serious than the loss of an online forum though. If AW closed this site down I'd be annoyed but I wouldn't start celebrating if he got slapped with a civil case for thousands upon thousands of dollars.

 

[michalchik]

All I can say is bloody hell. :|

Josh, I thought you were cool..

:facepalm:

I was never on that board but I heard LOADS of complainst about JT.