First of All, I'd just like to say that I am TRULY Disappointed that this message was even posted. Whichever Moderator was on duty at the time this went up on the SD Board must not have felt that it was worthy of even modifying, let alone deleting.
But I've gotta ask: Isn't there a even General Dode of Decency here at TER that the posts are Supposed to fall under?
I mean ... When a message is posted that is Entirely Malicious in nature (ie: the one posted above by "somethingrotten")...
When it does NOTHING but Insinuate & use Slanderous Language...
Isn't it the policy of TER to PULL such a message based SOLEY upon THAT criteria??
Furthermore, I've personally had 1 REALLY GOOD review PULLED IN IT'S ENTIRETY just because one or two guys complained to the moderator that it was "too long-winded" & "too flowery" for their taste. Why is it that something like THIS would be pulled & NOT viscious posts like the one by somethingrotten ??
I would REALLY appreciate a response regarding this from ANY moderator willing to comment. *THANKS*
Now ... For those of you who were Genuinely Concerned about my situation ... I was FINALLY able to get an appointment with the phone co. repairmen this morning. (whew!) That makes 3 days now without Internet Access / Landline Service. Upon examining the situation, he gave me some Pretty Suprising News: Someone had Physically Severed my outside phone lines!!
I asked around & found that I was the ONLY ONE who had this happen to them. This means that someone had to have targeted ME specifically. Oh ... Did I fail to mention that I live in a GATED/LOCKED courtyard setting?? Apparently it was someone who has access to the area ... Most likely someone with Their OWN Key! You may be wondering if I have any neighbors that I don't get along with, right?
Well, it just so happens that the night before ALL this I placed a call to SDPD. I reported my neighbor for beating on his little 4-year-old son. And, strangely enough, I find that my outside phone lines were cut the Very Next Day! Gee ... Now, I Wonder WHO Might've Done THAT??
I get the message: "If you call the cops on ME, then I will make it impossible for YOU to call ANYONE!"
Well, I cannot allow his (however thinly veiled) threats to intimidate Me. After all, SOMEONE needed to give that child a voice, Right?!?
Anyhow, the Bottom Line is, Everything is back Up & Running now. So, not to worry! 
But, before I go, I'd like to take a moment to address the comments that were made by "somethingrotten". Obviously (s)he is someone who THINKS they know me well-enough to pass judgment on me (and in a PUBLIC FORUM, no less). Granted, they apparently have at least spoken to -or- have had an appt. with me at some point. I say this because of a few of the details they revealed in their post that they couldn't have known otherwise.
However, if they TRULY KNEW ME, they'd know the following:
#1: I, in fact, am NOT the ONLY person existing on my income as a Provider. I happen to be supporting another individual, as well!
#2: The Car: I HAVE owned a car from the time I was 16 yrs-old until just recently when my last car died on me. For Your Information, I have decided NOT TO purchase another vehicle because I was contemplating moving to a city that just so happens to have an EXCELLENT public transportation service. This, of course, would make owning a car more of a hinderance than anything! Believe Me ... I could easily afford a car payment if I wanted to purchase another car. It just doesn't make sense to do so. This has been a concious choice on my part!
#3: My Phone: Once Again ... This person needs to get his so-called "facts" straight. Because, IN FACT, I DO have a cell phone! I simply didn't chose to use it for THIS. I decided to use my landline because I didn't want to end-up with a sky-high cellular bill.
#4: My Expenses: Who are YOU to tell me that I should have NO Problem paying MY bills? You OBVIOUSLY have NO IDEA what MY expenses are! (student loans, ridiculously inflated medical bills due to lack of health insurance, credit cards, etc.) All that On Top Of rent, utilities, food for 2, the list goes on & on. Seeing as THIS is my ONLY source of income currently ... And with how Terribly SLOW business has been for EVERYONE lately ... It's NO WONDER I've been in a financial jam lately!
** SO, SHAME ON YOU Something Rotten **
Your CRUEL post was obviously intended to make Me look like a completely irresponsible person. Your remarks were a feeble attempt (at best) to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of Hobbyists & Providers alike. I take offense at the things you have insinuated here! SHAME ON YOU for abusing what was a genuine extension of trust on my part. ( how silly of me, to think that I could actually trust someone!)
I admit, some of the things that you included in your post (ie: my SDGE situation, lack of car, where I live, etc.) show that you HAVE met me or at least have spoken to me at some point recently. But don't think that (because I let my guard down a little bit with you) that you know EVERY intimate detail of my personal life. You would be sorely mistaken to do so!
Sadly, all this unfortunate incident has taught me is that I cannot count on others to respect my privacy.
I do not know what it is that YOU have against ME that you felt you HAD TO go onto a PUBLIC DISCUSSION BOARD and air what you thought were my dirty little secrets. If you had a problem with ME personally, then why not e-mail me DIRECTLY so WE could have it out like adults??
WHY do you instead choose to hide behind an ALIAS & verbally attack my character? I Mean, What have I done that has been SO OFFENSIVE to YOU that you felt the need to try & destroy my reputation as a Provider here on TER?
How Spiteful ... How Viscious... How Cruel ...
INDEED, HOW ROTTEN!! 
Hi Lara, I understand how you feel, and I'd like to explain why the post was allowed. As you well know, the discussion boards always have differing opinions on just about every subject. I felt that "somethingrottens" post was his uninformed opinion. I believe he was critical without knowing any details of your situation, which makes his opinion lack credibility. I thought others would realize this and respond or not respond as they desired. Yes, it was mean and probably should have been deleted on that basis alone, but censorship is something I try to avoid if at all possible. There are always going to be negative people on the boards and a lot of times their posts liven things up and make us think. Other times, as with somethingrotten, their posts only expose their own ignorance. I make mistakes as moderator and always appreciate it when someone points them out or calls me on them. I hope in the long run it will make me a better moderator and make this board a better place to enjoy. Now regarding your review, moderators have nothing to do with those. Reviews are handled by the folks at TER who actually get paid (lol). Sedagive.
I truly do appreciate your response. And, NO ... I do not harbor any hard feelings against YOU personally for deciding to post somethingrotten's message. I understand NOW why you chose to do so, and I thank you for it! I can only hope that others look upon it in the same light that you did.
After giving this some thought, I must say, I've gotta agree with you: Censorship Should Be Avoided Unless It Is Absolutely Necessary. And this situation in particular certainly didn't call for that. I suppose a more appropriate response would be for Me to grow a thicker skin. So, from here on out, I'll try not to sweat the stuff that I KNOW ISN'T TRUE, okay?
Thanks Again ~ Sincerely ~ LARA
YOU ROCK MAN!
-- Modified on 8/13/2003 12:13:16 PM
put the message on hold and privately contacted the poster asking them to rephrase what they had to say.
As TER has CLEARLY indicated, these ARE moderated forums. Moderated forums mean censorship is acceptable, although not always appreciated by those being censored.
You could have ALSO asked other moderators for opinions about the post.
JBIRDCA, thanks for the suggestions. I will certainly consider them for future decisions. I always appreciate input of this nature. Sedagive.
You really need to consider the negative impact hot-headed, hasty responses can have on your business. By explaining yourself in the manner that you have above, you will have certainly left a negative impression with some. Needless to say, that can translate into fewer bookings and hence lower revenue. Your response is very hostile... not a desired quality most men find attractive in a woman! You are far to much on the defensive... it's not necessary. All you needed to do was politely respond in an astute and maybe even sarcastic way... not explain yourself in detail while attacking the individual who criticized you and condemning the moderator for posting the message. By doing so, you've revealed that you lack self restraint, that you're easily agitated and aggravated, and that you are overly sensitive to people's comments. You appear way to confrontational, contentious... which just isn't good for business.
Pecker
I actually got the opposite feeling. I felt her response was measured and appropriate given the tone of the original post. She described her situation and answered each of the accusations made by the original poster. I have far more respect for her now than before this whole incident.
AliBabaSD
Although the rest of your post was right on, the thing that struck me the most is that you called the police on someone who was abusing their child. Many people woud be afraid to do so, especially given what you think was the retaliation that this idiot gave you.
Is there anything worse in this world, people, than someone who would hurt a child? If anyone ever hears this going on, please do what is right, like Lara did, and call for help. Someday, you just might save a life.
Oh c'mon now... "the thing that struck me the most is that you called the police on someone who was abusing their child." Where you touched emotionally? Maybe the guy was just disciplining his child so that the kid doesn't turn out be some gangster loser. How the hell do you, or she for that matter, even know the child was being abused. Maybe the guy just spanks his kid... so what! Some of these kids need to be spanked. Weren't you spanked when you were a kid? There's nothing wrong with discipline. It teaches morals and respect, something a lot of kids lack nowadays.
Pecker
Dude, you obviously seem to think that the younger generation is to blame for all the ills in modern society.
I gave Lara the credit for knowing the difference beween a parent disciplining their child and abusing their child. As she is a grown woman, I don't think this was an overly generous decision on my part. Of course, there is no way to know whether it truly was abuse or not, unless you have access to the family or police records. However, as someone who has been exposed to children who were abused, molested, or threatened, I would rather have someone err on the side of concern ANY DAY! Kids get killed from abuse...no one ever died of embarrassment from the police visiting.
I made my post primarily because too many people are afraid to get involved in neighbor's issues until it is too late. Child dies from abuse, wife is shot dead, children are scarred for life from domestic violence...these things happen, and many times neighbors know it is happening, but are too afraid to get involved. Lara had the balls to do what she thought was right, whether it was actually abuse or not. I will commend that anyday...she may have been wrong, but for all you know, she was right.
I do believe in discipline, personally. However, anyone who needs to raise their voice so much in disciplning their child that their neighbor can hear and feel that the parent is being abusive is doing it incorrectly.
As for discipling teaching respect, given how many boderline disrespectful posts I have seen you make, what's your excuse?
Yes, I was touched emotionally...Lara cared enough to take a chance on something she wasn't sure about, for the possible sake of a child...as opposed to sitting back and cynically complaining about how bad things are these days. Caring, no matter how potentially misguided, is much more moving than cynicism.
I'd just like to clarify the "Abuse" situation for Pecker & anyone else who had a problem with my reporting it.
I was sitting at my computer when I heard the smacks ...All in All there were at least 10+ of them. This, of course, was followed by a child howling & sobbing & begging him to "STOP!" Now, the fact that I was able to hear all this with my own front door being shut... By the way, upon inspection, I found HIS door was ALSO closed. When you consider all of these things, wouldn't you NOW agree that it was FAR beyond a simple spanking? MY definition of a spanking is a couple of swats on the behind & then being sent to your room. 1 or 2 being sufficient enough to get your point accross. But THIS guy ... He is probably 6'3" and weighs well-over 200lbs! Can you imagine how that must've felt to a 4-year-old child?? Let's just put it this way ... If you were to have heard a recording of MY phonecall to the police... I was literally IN TEARS! And as for HOW he found-out that I was the one who called ...When I went outside to see what was going on, the little neighbor boy was standing outside his door as well. He was crying & calling his friends' name saying, "What's Wrong, Timmy?!?" His mother had to come out & get him. (now if THAT don't choke ya up ...)Perhaps that, combined with the fact that I ALSO reported this to our landlord ... I'm sure that SOMEONE ended-up telling HIM that I was outside HIS door, that's all.
I'd also like to address the comments (that I think were) made by Pecker regarding my initial response to SomethingRotten. He felt that I completley over-reacted, or I think he put it this way: He thought that I should have said something Sarcastic in response instead of addressing the comment directly.
Now if that doesn't sound like bad advice, then I don't know what is! I mean, we've ALL heard the saying that "Sarcasm is THE LOWEST Form of Humor". First of All, It doesn't require an ounce of intelligence. More importantly, it doesn't deal with the issue at hand! It would be more along the lines of attacking The Person instead of The Issue. That's Logic 101, Pecker. (ie: formulating sound arguements) So, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to disregard your advice. *SORRY*
Oh, and as far as your "concern" regarding my attitude & response being "bad for business" ... Well, that couldn't be more off-base than your advising me to Use Sarcasm! As a matter of fact, Pecker, so far YOU are THE ONLY person who has stated that they find MY response to be inappropriate. I have gotten an overwhelming response (both e-mails & phonecalls alike) telling me how IMPRESSED they were with my response. To quote a few, I "showed a lot of class" and handled things "most apropriately". So, I'm afraid that you're pretty much on your own here with your views, Pecker. (re: Child Abuse -vs- Spanking and the reporting of such behavior AND whether-or-not I REACTED Apropriately to the above posts) GEEZ ... Just writing those words down alone has shown me HOW RIDICULOUS they are!
I Mean, WHO are YOU to tell SOMEONE ELSE if THEY are REACTING APROPRIATLEY or NOT?!? (It's Ludicrous)
Lastly, I'd just like to state for the record that I am IN NO WAY working for, nor am I affiliated with, the cops. I haven't made ANY calls, nor have I named ANY names. What happened to ME may have happened to someone else. At least that's what is being said. But all I know is what happend to ME. I'm not about to comment on a situation I know nothing about!
So, if it's just too much for you to comprehend that the SAME scenario could have happened to More than 1 Provider, well, I don't know what to say about that! Maybe someone is going around trying to make himself feel important. Or, perhaps he is trying to make the girls feel grateful to HIM for "choosing to" let them go. Who Knows? I sure wish I did!
All I know is, I had a close call & Thank God I didn't get arrested! The details of MY situation (I've been told) are damn near identical to ANOTHER local Provider's. So this has got to make you stop & think ... What the Hell is going on here folks??
Are the cops laying the groundwork for some GREATER plan which has yet to be hatched? Or is this just some guy who enjoys creating drama & watching it unfold?
I'd appreciate your take on this particular situation.
Sincerely ~ LARA
Okay Sed... I'll try again. Maybe my earlier response was just misdirected?
All the advice in the world will not help you now... as a provider, you're basically finished! So, for your sake, I do hope that you can apply what you learned in Logic 101 to earn your living.
Pecker
-- Modified on 8/16/2003 12:20:05 AM
