I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

BarbaraA

YAYAYAY!!!!! Blue is back!!!

Medigal

I would LOVE to know who is reporting that we are "hurting" one another.  I also would love to READ the posts which have Melissa so concerned.  If Law Enforcement were ever to read our posts I think they would consider them just ladies with different opinions discussing how they feel about things. What is so HURTFUL about that?  Are we just a group of whimps who can't tell each other how we feel.  Frankly, I think what is wrong with this problem is that the Moderators are breaking their own rules and punishing us because they can't turn us into a group of braindead "march to our tune or else!" plastic people!   We should start a new group called "ALL WHIMPS GO BACK TO PLAYING WITH YOUR COMIC BOOKS AND ONLY ADULTS ALLOWED ON THIS THREAD!"

 Can anyone tell me why Blue was banned.  Poor Blue can barely get a few sentences typed with her PD problem so how could she have written enough to piss off even the Pope?  (Sorry Catholics but I don't know the names of who the other church leaders are-- no Pope insult intended).

HEY!!!  Am I banned??  I am the biggest loudmouth on here so I would be willing to take Blue's place if they will ban me and bring Blue back.  I can always find another place to entertain people and help them forget about bc!!  Gripes!  This is like a sick comedy!  Ladies if I get banned, you can always google me up by the same name or "MEDICROCK" and we can have fun on another thread which doesn't force bc down our throats all day long!  And yes "Kathy of the Go Bless You"  you are welcome wherever you find me and just be sure to bring your "blessings" with you.

Maybe we can start a Bible Study group on the internet just for bc survivors. Ha!  Wouldn't that make the deleters have to grab their Mylantas!    Ok ladies, time will tell what happens to me. Just know you all are my dear ones and I won't forsake you.  They can ban me but they can't destroy my SPIRIT!!

Enjoyful

Hey everyone -

208sandy wants me to let you know that she's restricted and can't post until tomorrow p.m.

Another victim of the deleter gang.

E

BarbaraA

Resisting the urge to scream....

Moderators

Medigal, it is not about the content of the posts, rather that someone, or a group of people, signed up with all similar names, and used all the names to report the posts until they were gone, and the member was banned. 

We are looking into IP addresses, etc.

Athena, we are not asking you or others to leave, rather, suggesting that if you are dissatisfied with with the moderation, safety, etc., there may be better matches.

 

bluedahlia

I don't know Shirley.  Who deleted my post?  I do hope law enforcement does get involved.  This is stalking and cyber bullying.  That's a crime.

River_Rat

Melissa, I am glad that your tech team is consulting with law enforcement.  I hope that they're able to help you find ways of resolving these issues.

Shirley, I don't know what happened to PatMom's posts or to any of the other users' posts.  I only know that I'm not involved and I'm not amused.  I find all the deletions to be childish.

AnnNYC

Shirley, I second what River_Rat said -- I have no idea who deleted PatMom's posts and I'm very upset that hers (and anyone else's) were deleted.

Medigal

Blue:   That was a quick month!  I guess I don't have to take your place.  You're back. Melissa, I rescend my former post to take Blue's place.  It would be useless to ban me since no one can prove I say anything hurtful.  I don't have a hurtful bone in my wretched old, old, decrepit body.

bluedahlia

Medigal you are the best and always put a smile on my face!

Alpal

Melissa - has the tech team been able to make any progress on changing the report function? That wouldn't tell who the deleters are but it would go a long way in preventing this from happening again.

-angel-

It seems obvious that the answer would be to restrict the ability for newcomers to report a post.  I find it hard to believe it would be that hard to do.  But what do I know???

One thing I do know .. it's a shame this wasn't nipped in the bud when it started right after the Report This Post feature was first implemented several years ago and almost immediately abused.  So much heartache that could have been avoided.  Not all heartache .. but so much of it. 

River_Rat

Medigal, I Googled but I couldn't find you...I just figured that if you left here I'd like to find you elsewhere because I love your writing.

Wabbit

Ummm Shirley where have you been?  None of the reported posts have broken any rules.  The only person(s) who could tell you WHY is whoever is hitting the button.  And so far they are still hiding under a rock.

PatMom's only 'crime' was probably that she participated in our conversations.  Consorting with the enemy or something?  In this last round it's as though somebody was so drunk with their 'power' that they really weren't paying any attention at all to who or what ... just in a frenzy.

Who knows?  We are dealing with crazy trolls ... not rational people.

Glad Melissa has a handle on the mode of operation.  Hopefully she will be able to get the assistance she needs to track it all back to the offender(s).

Because the problem is not the thread, or the conversation, or the subject matter ... it's wild trolls running loose.

It's probably not a completely good thing that the Wabbit has been released from the cage.  It made me keep my mouth shut several times when that was no doubt a wise thing to do

Anonymous

Hmmmmmmm....a group of new names doing the deletions. 

bluedahlia

Shirley, we've been saying that for the longest time.  Where have you been?

konakat

Being a nosy person, I'd love to know it she/he/they are.  And, I know in my heart it's not you Shirley.  And others I know aren't the culprits either. 

Shirley did post last evening - re our jelly bean talk.

Bren-2007

This is a test to see if I'm banned or not.  Have no idea if I am on restricted posts either.  Guess I'll find out.

I had a lovely day today out and about .. and return to this mess. It's beyond sad.

Bren

BarbaraA

Well, we are having hamburgers (hormone free, etc) stuffed with aged Danish goat cheese (yummy and tangy), sauteed mushrooms and rice pilaf with lentils. Oh yes, and a small romaine, tomato, yellow pepper salad.

3monstmama

Thank you Melissa.  Cyberbullying is a big issue these days so I'm sure your local law enforcement has some resources to help you deal with the situation.  Of course, the irony is that cyber bullying is typically a big issue in MIDDLE SCHOOL or maybe HIGH SCHOOL but I digress.

The problem with suggesting people take their non-cancerous discussion elsewhere is what does that leave the newly diagnoised?  Certainly those of us here for a year or two have an idea as to who has a like-mind set and yes, we can go off and chat but what about a new patient?  I think there is a fine line between what is trying to be achieved here.  Yes, information is of primary importance but at the same time, just hanging with other women with breast cancer is a big deal too and highly valuable for any newly diagnoised person.  And sometimes, you want to hang with people like you but NOT talk about that common issue. If all the talk about non-cancerous things goes off the board [and by all, I'm sure that means deletion of the Buddhist thread, the Atheist thread AND the Christian threads] how will new people find their new support system?

What I find most amusing is that if I were someone "on the fence" about any of the issues that have purportedly sparked deletions, I certainly wouldn't be persuaded to move off the fence by the deletions.  Whatever I think about the current President and the current legislature, or the direction I feel the country is going, what I value most about being an American --not to mention what seems to spark the most protests world-wide---is the ability to speak my mind on any issue and not be afraid of what will come of expressing my opinion.

To mind, the deletors are the least "American" people I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.  The freedom they allow is about the same as existed in Maoist China or Tsarist Russia or Gaddfi's Libya.

208sandy

Hi Ladies:

I'M BAAAAAACK!  Thanks Melissa!

Sandy

konakat

Yay!  I'm happy to see deletees trickling back.

1Athena1

Welcome Sandy,

Melissa, if they are going to investigate, I think the way Lewing has been treated qualifies as classic cyberbullying and those offenders should be singled out. I've been deleted several times in my life here, but I really don't see it as specific persecution of me (I may be wrong... :-) ) But there are cases like Lewing's that are clear and targeted, as is the case of Beesie being stalked. Very good to get outside help on this, IMO.

And Shirley, please remember that MOST of the posts in question did not violate the rules. I am on restriction even though I did NOT violate the rules, but frankly, at this point I have given up protesting. I know it is useless.

So better to concentrate on the possible criminal aspects - cyberbullying. I would like to speak up for Lewing on that one. She is a nice, caring, intelligent woman. 

And since we are talking about a possible crime, I would like to remind deleters that erasing this post could put you at risk for a conspiracy charge. 

Moderators

We are currently re-vamping the "report this post" function. It just takes time and $. 

Anonymous

Elizabeth, just wanted to jump in and say HEY!  Boy would I like some of those jelly beans.

Perhaps the deletions will now stop.

konakat

hey back! 

I'm having a jelly bean hangover.  Way too many -- I didn't even dig into the ice cream I bought.  Now that's serious!!  Yah, I sure hope they stop.  It's just so silly.

apple

I'll send ya some money

otter

Oh, my gosh.  I took a nap, and woke up on another planet.

Actually, I spent about an hour composing and editing an elegant (!) post to express my feelings about what has happened here.  When I saw Blue was back, I was going to rush the stage, until I realized there might be undercover deleters lurking nearby.

I can't tell you all how happy I am to 1) see this thread still here; 2) see so many familiar faces in the crowd; and 3) know that the Moderators are working on solutions.  I do wish I had some of konakat's jelly beans, though.  I'm not quite ready for supper.

I am concerned that this thread is not "happy" or "positive" enough to satisfy some readers. Apparently, it's fine if we talk about recipes and pets' names; but when the discussion turns to the protests in Madison, WI, or the recent assassination attempt in Arizona, or -- heaven forbid -- certain political figures, our talk is labeled "hateful banter."

There's no doubt Melissa is being lobbied by people who think this thread is totally inconsistent with BCO's mission.  We've already heard as much from certain members.  I really don't know what to say or do about this. 

I'll admit I mostly come here for the camaraderie, because there's not much the site can offer with respect to "guidance and support" at this stage of my treatment (3 years out).  Sure, that could change if I develop a recurrence, or if my treatment regimen is altered dramatically.  I guess we'll see.  I used to think I could offer help to other members, but even those of us who try to provide explanations and advice end up being mocked.  (I am complaining on behalf of Beesie now.  I am fine.  Otters are carnivores.)

So, in the spirit of keeping things positive and happy, I think it's time for the Doodlebops:  http://www.doodlebops.com/    Be sure to wait for the video to play -- it's priceless. Preschool children love it.  Just ask my 4-year-old granddaughter.

otter

Medigal

River-Rat:  How dare Google not find me!  Maybe I should join the Secret Service and no one will be able to find me.  However, I am a bit irritated (not "mad" happily smiling irritated) that Google dares not have the Medigal the Great in it's trillions of stuff it can bring up.  I don't know if that's good or bad.  Maybe they have me as "Medigurt" etc.  I will check it out but since I know you, for some quite confusing reason, like my writing, I will make sure I PM you (if I get banned and leave) and tell you where to find me.  It will probably be on another group where everyone is fighting with me over my Sara Palin opinions!  I think I will be really hard to lose due to my "run of the mouth" problem.  But thanks so much for making me feel missed while I am still here.  You are such a sweetheart!

Moderators

Otter, thank you for your post. I would like to add on behalf of BCO that we do not expect all threads to be happy or even positive, given the topic of this website. However, the basic courtesies that we expect in face-to-face are also expected on online discussions, even when it involves religion, politics, and high-profile national/international happenings. We all enjoy good, stimulating discussions. However, when gross intolerance, and cyberbulling ensue as a result of these conversations, we indeed need to ensure the "safety" of the site and uninvolved and innocent individuals. 

We are working on better tools to aid in this, including a better "report this post" function.