Sure, Bmoney.
I'd be more than happy to chat with interested folks via P.M.

i agree kate..there is one question i would like answered though...jesse, i'm not being rude, but i am interested in a response..
when i logged on this morning at approximately 6:30 am EST this morning, the attempt to help this member was already underway..it continued for most of the day without a problem and to be honest, i was so happy and proud to see us all band together and put all the pettiness behind us. Suddenly this afternoon it became an issue and all the threads were removed...Was it a decision by DS after seeing the threads to remove them or was it removed after someone was "offended" i guess would be the word and reported it? I don't want names, i'm just curious.. early on, one of the fine people who spearheaded the effort contacted doug regarding what was going on and there didn't seem to be a reaction from ds until much much later..
i think since it does affect us we have a right to know

I have noticed, in my short run, that they never explain why a post is removed. Make that hardly ever!

"They" did start DS, and one of their rules was no solicitiation. They meant this to be advertising for products as well as requesting funds. We could quibble over this, but it is one of the things we agreed to when we opened our account.

Some of the treads that get removed are the ones that degerate into name calling with people picking sides and nobody backing down. Disputes that should be settled privately get blown out of proportion. Like making a mountain out of a mole hill as we say over here.

Other threads that get removed are the ones that lose sight of the fact that there are young teenagers here. These are the ones that get a bit too explicit.

As for individual replies to our questions, we outnumber the DS staff by something like a gazillion to one!

i understand pepper, but ds was contacted early this morning and no action was taken until later this afternoon..if they are monitoring, then they knew what was happening here all day..why the sudden change of tactics? that's all i want to know

I hope Jloz dosnt get upset over all this you know. This was me...I was the one that started it all cos I thought we could make a difference to someones life and its all been poisoned. No one was forced into anything...everyone had a choice then someone pipes up with a post about soliciting and trying to wind people up...AGAIN and its all gone mad from there. I think your anser csn is that someone reported it...and it dosnt take much to figure out who. But what goes aroung comes around and karma comes into it at some point.

i already figured that out kate...because if i remember correctly, and i know i do..ds was contacted early in this endeavor

and no matter what..what you did here today was a beautiful and selfless thing and should be admired and emulated..

I would just like to add as well that the trolls are having a field day over this. Peoples emotions are running riot at the moment and they are feeding off of it and it wont be long before people start turning against each other again. Yep...great decision DS.......

I don't think I'll add much to this other than to say, I see where you are coming from DS. Even when we try to support someone we know and love, we can't even get that right. If rules were broken, I apologise, if peoples hearts are broken, as is mine, we'll get over it.

This may have simply been a case of D.S. administrators observing one of its rules (solicitation) being "slightly bent," but allowing the threads to continue, until at least one complaint was received, after which D.S. was compelled to enforce the rule, pull all threads and issue a statement.

D.S. is many things, but the fact that it accepts advertisements makes it a business, too. And all businesses must protect themselves in order to survive and thrive.

What happens to D.S. when 46 members sue it for allowing solicitation to occur on its site prior to those 46 members being ripped off of hundreds of dollars by a fraudulent scam artist?

This is NOT to taint the compelling and meaningful efforts of those generous souls earlier today. It's just a reminder that ANY business is ultimately responsible for ANY and ALL ACTIVITY inside its storefront. And this website is D.S.'s storefront.

I applaud you guys for your actions in this matter. Your actions are completely understandable.

However, I think the united, overwhelming response is to clearly state why and warn, well ahead of time, before taking freedom of speech away (deleting posts). This may cushion the fall and improve communication between both parties.

Keep up the good work and thanks to all of you at DS for providing such an excellent service/website for FREE.

anther thing i got to say were trying to help a famliy so theyu dont end up on the ST and u are complaining

Its a reminder that we have nasty people on here ever present netminder.People that just cant bare for people to have some shred of happiness. I know what youre saying but someone, maybe a few reported this so in my eyes...thats where the fine line comes in between right and wrong. Some people have no scruples. Some people really ARE just spiteful cos they can be. Its just so sad that the big majority here see it all the same way and yet the few that dont are having the upper hand.

I am pretty sure this was asked and maybe even answered a lil but WHY if you guys are monitoring us so closely did you LET IT go on so long its such crap.. if you had such a huge problem why not stop it early.and I DIDNT see anyone forcing anyone to give anything, it was put out there hey this family needs help and if you can fine if not send hugs and support no one siad anyone had to give anything what a bunch of crap god i hate this place sometimes!!!!!!

(prior mental health couns & abuse couns)R.N. I have to say I agree with you jesse .
My reasons are:
1# even though some of you think you may have helped in a good way and I agree you probally did ,I'm not deniying that fact,I think from D.S. point of view you need to see the big picture here.
Not saying your frend took advantage of your good nature but there are some people out there that unfortunately do ...
If D.S. allows this to continue thats a form of discrimation think about it favortism hmm...
2# D.S. is trying to look out for all best interest,they don't want to see someone hurt.
3# Put oneself in the postion of D.S. it's hard for them as well they are trying to help us and also get feed back to find out what we feel what we think what would help us better...

amen. thanks