Scared Monkeys Thought Police

It's a shame, but they are apparently afraid to let grown people settle their differences privately over there. Some months ago, people either left or were banned in droves from another forum called Websleuths. The owner over there takes it upon herself to follow her members around the internet and anyone who disagrees with her is banned. You can't mention certain other websites over there, or you'll be banned. You can't question the mods or you'll be banned.

Scared Monkeys was soooo much better I was told. Well, apparently not. I signed up months ago and got the cheerful little message that I had to wait for an admin to approve me. I would get an email when that happened. I waited patiently - for weeks - but no email ever came. I couldn't find a link for contacting an admin and didn't have the time to just search through their forums hoping to find a post from a mod.

Every week or so I tried to sign in and was told I was still awaiting admin approval. Eventually, a friend put me in touch with the owner, but I still couldn't sign up under that original user id, so I chose another one. The owner knew that and approved me under the second one. I have the email to prove it.

And, of course, real life immediately intervened. My grandfather died and I had to get my daughter ready to go off to culinary school. I finally signed on the other day. And ran across someone from another board called Topix who was saying untrue things about other people. So I contacted this person offline and told her it was a shame she didn't remember what happened the same way others had. Next thing you know -- poof -- I was banned from Scared Monkeys. And accused of joining for the sole purpose of "following" the other person, signing up under two names (not exactly my fault), etc.

Certain there must have been some misunderstanding, I contacted the owner and was told she stood by her right to "stop a problem before it started". I have always found that attitude puzzling. How do you "stop" a problem that doesn't yet exist? But okay, I won't argue semantics. Nowhere in their terms of usage does it say you cannot have offline contact with another member. But, apparently, you cannot. Don't get me wrong. It's Klaas' forum and she can do with it as she pleases. Am I annoyed? Sure - who wouldn't be? But, I feel I was not treated honestly or fairly, and I just can't take that laying down. So, don't sign up at Scared Monkeys thinking you have free speech - on the boards or off. Cause it just ain't true. I'm living proof.

Cheers!
Glad you stopped by!