Dan, if you're actually one person and not some algorithm, I have to commend the visibly valiant effort you've put into this place. You got this one wrong though.

It was a different atmosphere back then; far more "grifty" a time perhaps. I need not make appeals to some Hegelian universal history for us all to see now the owl of Minerva has flown. You were duped and spread disinformation -- that's okay -- apologetics can save you.

Since you are in a position of authority and trust, ironically, just like the subjects of this very story, there is one thing you can do: Apologize.

Just apologize, and keep doing your thing. History will judge all of us far better than our downvotes.