I think it is because so many people use MT and the same can't be said for weblogs.com. Also, we expect DW to act like an ass. I think we got burned out talking about him YEARS ago.

Of course, I don't know any of the specifics of weblogs.com shutting down. I'm just going off of DWs past pattern of behavior. What I can say though is that this shutdown hasn't effected me in the slightest, so I have no reason to look into it more or comment on it further.

I think that the fact that Dave is holding all the weblogs.com folks data hostage may be the reason the weblogs.com folks aren't becoming unglued. Wait and see what the response is if and when he gives them their data back.

I'm getting more confused. Do I have to worry about anything? How do I back up my data?

Yeah, i guess i should know this stuff, but i am clueless.

Mom,

No need to worry. All your stuff is safe.

Love,

-Your son.

See, Dave Winer even makes my Mom worry...

I can find lots of people complaining about Dave Winer, but can't find anything actually explaining what happened.

Nevermind, I guess I get it.

Is there any reason why I should ever trust or rely on DW to provide any service in the future?

Is DW still an owner of Userland? (I understand that he is not employed by Userland, but he could still own stock in the company.) If he is an owner, why couldn't he ask them to pick up weblogs.com even for a temporary amount of time?

Does DW still hold the copyright to the RSS specification? Who controls the RSS advisory board? Who really controls RSS?

Given his public comments and actions, why should I listen to what DW has to say?

This is a staggering self-inflicted wound by Dave Winer. He's been trying to influence the industry to adopt his version of RSS, and the weblogs at weblogs.com were a part of his power base - after all, they all, automatically, implemented his vision of RSS. Now he's just thrown that away, and all of his credibility on this issue too.

I wanted to see RSS succeed, I find it easier to understand than Atom, but RSS is too much associated with Winer, and Winer has just made enemies of all the people he needed as friends if he was going to win. Very sad. The man has a self-destructive streak a mile wide.

As to why people were outraged by the actions of Ben and Mena Trotts but not outraged by Winer's reactions, I'd have to say it is outrage fatigue, regarding Winer. People have spent years fighting with Winer. The Trotts, by contrast, were seen as heroes.