I can see both sides of this issue.

As a blogger, I see the friendships, the loyalty, and the over all personal level.

If I were the owner, well....lets face it, some of the people who blog on JU "might" be scum bags...and if I owned it...I probably wouldn't want all their scumminess broadcast on the site.  It brings the entire blogging experience down.

So I can def see both sides of this issue.

At the same time I worked as a professional journalist before becoming a SAHM...and I can tell you we ran stories, hard stories, with little more "evidence" than has been given on this forum...once someone "admits" to something...all threat of libel about that specific thing is gone..or was when I was working.

Also calling someone a name like fish/butt head/meat ball/dog breath...is not libel as I remember it.  When I was reporting there were distinct areas you could not tread without evidence...you can't say someone has a VD...you can't say they're a cheat or anything that might affect their business without proof...and one other, but honestly I can't think of it right now.

But its been awhile, and who knows if we were operating within the law?  We had lawyers on staff when we had questions...maybe they were just good.  I'm no libel expert.

 

I second the title!  For me I'm proud to admit this is group therapy!  I came here when I was in need, wanted comfort and found it!  I was a bit apprehensive but I had been around and looking and reading and I had a lot on my mind.  It was actually an admin who first responded to one of my first blogs, and I felt comfort from that response!  I've gained a lot of friends, I even talk about some of you in my real life, indirectly. I would say, "oh I have a friend who expreinced this, or who told me that this, or gave me this advise...".

 

To some people, JU might be a joke or a pain the ass becasue they don't like some people, but to many of us, it's a chance to interact with people we have come to care about.  We have gotten used to each others little quirks and gotten involved in each others lives, as much as we each permit at any rate.  I would not be one of the idle ones who sit by because I care too much about human (and animal) lives.  I say this, if some peole are just not for stuff like this, then they need to do something else, simple as that!  It all boils down to common sense and knowing yourself and your own threshold of limitation!

Forgive the spelling errors, I can't seem to correct them and I'm running out to bike before it gets dark!

Not all that different from "face to face" friends.



Could not have said it better.

I guess scumminess is all open to interpretation. The methods of "outing" a wrong or standing up for those without a voice can be non-conventional...controversial. For me it all goes back to intent. What is the intent of the action. Of course, I don't own JU or any other blog site so I do not have to balance the "crazies" with the 'normal" contributors.



My understanding is that name calling is not libel. Stating a lie that is harmful to the person professionally, socially, etc. is libel. So, stating that a person has HIV when they do not have HIV is libel since it is damaging to all areas of their life. Calling a person a "butthead" is not libel, though it is not polite.

I never expected to make friends when I first came here.  I was just using it as a place to post my ramblings and read about what people on the other side of the world were thinking.  The reality now is I have a larger group of friends online than I have ever had in real life.  I'm not saying this to gain sympathy.  This is my reality and the way I like it, to be honest.  This mind sound selfish but if I had too many friends in real life, I wouldn't have the time to pursue my creative interests.  It is a fact that most artists are fairly solitary people.

As for the libel discussion, my take is we're all adults here (or at least we're supposed to be).  Name calling is not necessrily nice but it happens sometimes.  I say get over it, get on with it and let it go.  The more power someone gives something silly as that, the more it is likely to affect them and those around them.  Life is just too short to worry about it.

Having said this, if I read about someone preparing to harm themselves or others, I would do everything I could to stop it, even if it meant over-stepping boundaries as set out in a TOU.

Now I understand the solitude.

And I'm the same way.



Even if it meant banning my ass forever and revocation of all my use of products (since I'm also a customer of Stardock - HOLY CRAP I JUST REALIZED HOW MUCH MONEY I'VE GIVEN THEM) - I would do whatever it took.

How very true...very true.



Because you're a good person who care about people.

Well, you all already know what I'd do, so allow me to add this...

I've been suicidal more often than I've let any of you know.  I don't write about it, in fact, I barely write at all when going through these episodes.  Such is the life of a manic-depressive.

When I'm in a manic phase, I write much more, and since my mania takes several forms, from extreme euphoria (where I visit everyone else's articles, leaving witty--at least i think they're witty--comments) to extreme irritability, when I lurk about looking for my favorite punching bags to open their stupid mouths so I can nail 'em.

Mania also tends to make me reckless, it impairs my ability to make sound decisions, and on occasion, leads me to feelings of increased self-importance.  These are the times I tend to tell even Admins to go fark themselves, because at that moment I'm convinced they'd never get rid of me, I'm too important!  (Yeah, right.)

But when I'm on that downswing and thinking about stepping off this godforasken planet, JU would be the last to know because I won't want to be interfered with at that moment.  I think someone starting a blog stating they are going to kill themselves in 90 days is certainly reaching out for help, and certainly needs to, even if they have no such intention and are just toying with the emotions of others, which would be very cruel, or have some sick need for attention which would also benefit from the services of a psychiatrist.

But I'd be very suspect of their sincerity to act on their threat.  The ones who are serious keep it a secret until the deed is done.

Like Mari, I have far more online friends than I do nearby in the physical world, and that's just fine with me.  I've had my wild times...(oh BOY have I had my wild times)...and as I rapidly approach my 50's I find myself physically ill, tired, and semi-housebound.  The internet has given me a chance to stay in touch with the world and selectively meet many fascinating people I may never have encountered anywhere else.

I think my manic-depression has a lot to do with the fact that I've never had large numbers of friends in real life (though I've lived with several men that had HUGE followings--but those were 'their' friends, and only 'mine' by default.)   You get me in small doses here, regardless of the pony I'm riding at the time, and you the reader have the ability to remove me from your sight with the click of a button.

This is not the case in real life.  My family can't click me away, nor can my Husband, although I'm sure they've often wished they could, if only temporarily.  I meet people I'd like to befriend (in person) and while things usually start out pretty well, eventually they grow exhausted with my intense and unpredictable mood swings and fade out of my life.

C'est la vie, C'est la guerre.

Is my blog therapeutic?  In many ways, I'd answer that with a resounding YES.  But it's also been a source of aggravation, worry, and stress.  There are many pearls (like the author of this thread, for example...and her equally fabulous husband)  to be found in the mounds of shit that pollute these forums as a whole, but those pearls are worth finding, so I keep on digging, who cares if I dirty my hands in the process?

Shit washes off.  Pearls shine forever.

You touched my heart, Girlie, and the emotions just welled up. I can't see what I'm typing through the tears.

Those of us who have come to know you see the diamond within the rough exterior. {{{LW}}}

If you ever wind up in one of your downward spirals again I hope you will reach out or we'll notice something is off. The world would be much less shiny without your passion and creativity.

Didn't mean to make ya cry, Mari, but i meant every word that I said.

I've got a new 'favorite' video that touches on the subject, (my previous fave was Counting Crows 'Around Here') and since I suck at embedding and don't wanna bork your blog all to hell and back, I'll just link it here.

Pay close attention to the dark angel/rescuer fight at the end. Who wins?

Three Days Grace, 'Never Too Late.'

WWW Link

Reminds me of a line from another CC song, (rain king.)

When I think of heaven
Deliver me in a black-winged bird
I think of flying down into a sea of pens and feathers
and all other instruments of faith and sex and God
In the belly of a black-winged bird...

I'm not implying action should be by passed in such cases.  I am saying I can understand someone who runs the site and is not involved in the messiness, frankly, not wanting to hear about it everyday.  Especially once its dealt with...(though who really knows).

For instance, the video LW linked.  I love that song, but I won't ever watch that video intentionally again.  It was powerful.  It was good.  No doubt.  But I've had my fair share of the ugliness and refuse to clog my life now with it...so I will opt out in the future.

That doesn't mean I am ignoring the problem.

I would do just about anything to help a little girl in that situation.  No blog rules, or even the "law"  would stop me.  Actual help can still be help while being separated from the blogging experience.

I do think writing about it is cathartic, and believe JU should be able to discuss any member who asks for help, takes it, then gives everyone the finger with their behavior.  Personally, I would ban the bums for life...

But I'm not in charge.

I do understand JU is part of a business.  We are here at Brad's sufferance.  He started JU because he likes to blog...(per articles/replies he's written).  I think if he knew for sure someone was suicidal or whatever, he'd take appropriate action.  Just like most JUers.

But I don't think you'd ever read a blog about it.  (As for instance, I am sure the Stardock team has many interactions beyond JU, and we never hear about it.  Doesn't  mean its not happening, its just not broadcast on the site.)

People sue today over EVERYTHING (my aunt just spent two weeks on jury duty and said its ridiculous the civil cases she was forced to endure).  I'd hate to lose JU because it becomes a liability for Stardock.

But how I choose to interact with other JUers off site, is my business.  And unless I share it, no one will know one way or another.

Individually we are all responsible for what we do.  As a group on Stardock's site, the lines get blurrier because there is a "middle" media.

That's all I'm sayin.

...and I don't disagree with a word of it.

I clicked the link and it said, 'This video is not available in your country.'

Stupid YouTube.