Copy of message sent to Forum Staff in Discord 2025.1.7 3am gmt.
Hi, I have a concern regarding a forum user and would appreciate your help in clarifying the situation. I’m not sure how much background you may already know, but I think it’s best to get the full context directly from me, as they say, “from the horse’s mouth.”
Sylvia Woodham has been promoting her current project repeatedly in this forum, and it’s raised some issues for me, especially regarding international law and my previously published anthology. She’s shared links to her anthology multiple times (including several posts yesterday). On her blog, she claims the project began six months ago, while on another blog, she describes it as the SL writers’ project. This is where things get problematic for me, and it’s now become a legal matter. I’d like to draw your attention to Rule 4 of the forum, which requires adherence to real-world laws.
To clarify, I started and managed the anthology, publishing it last November. Sylvia did contribute by introducing me to one of its nine authors, but I eventually had to let her go. Unfortunately, she lied to the authors, which led to several of them withdrawing from the project. Initially, I believed this was due to a misunderstanding or a mental health issue, but over time it became clear that it was intentional sabotage.
My concern now is that Sylvia may be planning to publish the same collection independently, even though she doesn’t have permission from the writers and the work has already been published. Some of the authors involved have reached out to me, asking for clarification on what Sylvia is doing, as they’re also upset by her claims that she intends to publish their work without consent.
There is also a concerning pattern of intimidation and harassment on Sylvia’s part, as she seems to be trying to control the narrative around what happened between us. She’s spreading lies, and I’ve documented this for my legal advisor. While we have evidence of harassment, we’re unsure if we have a case for theft of the collection until she publishes her anthology.
When I directly asked Sylvia on this forum whether she intended to publish the same collection, she didn’t respond clearly. Instead, she tweeted that I’ve been stalking her and causing drama. It was a straightforward yes/no question, which she avoided answering.
At the time, forum staff saw this as a simple “argument between Joe and Sylvia” and closed the thread. I understand that forum management needs to maintain a safe space, but without clarification on Sylvia’s actions, it’s not a safe space for individuals like myself. Her ongoing behavior seems to be in violation of the law, and it enables her to continue with potentially harmful actions.
I’m reaching out to request that forum moderators and admins assist in resolving this. Sylvia is openly claiming she’s engaging in activities that could be considered industrial espionage, which could lead to a legal battle for me. I believe she needs to be held accountable for her actions. Even if she’s not planning to publish the same collection, she’s clearly causing trouble. If she’s not publishing the same anthology, she should update her website to prevent any confusion about the two collections.
I’m unsure where else to turn for advice or support right now. Since both Sylvia and I are part of this forum, it makes sense to follow the rules—specifically Rule 4 on legal issues and Rule 10 on contacting forum staff.
I appreciate any assistance you can offer in clarifying this situation and, if possible, helping to explain to Sylvia the importance of taking responsibility for her actions. There are real consequences for antisocial behavior, and that’s why we have laws.
Thank you for your time and support.
Update 2025.1.9
Discord Forum Staff replied:
I asked her today about her intentions for her new anthology and whether she will be publishing stories from the SL Writers Project.
“Hi Sylvia. Would you mind clarifying that the stories you intend publishing in your new anthology are not from the SL Writers Project (unless, of course authors have given permission)? As there seems to be a bit of confusion, I think it would put everyone’s mind at ease if you were to clarify. I think folks might be misunderstanding and I think if you lay it out clearly it might help. Thanks so much.”
Update 2025.1.11
She replied, sort of… here.
still no black and white Yes/No though.