Community Conversations > General Topics
How Susan of Susans.org really feels...
Dena:
I don't think that Susan has a double standard or lack of sincerity though to others it might look like that. It's only for Susan to say exactly why I think that but like somebody who was abused as a child and now has PTSD, I think the circumstances of Susan's life make it so she doesn't fully realize what she is doing. This is the reason that the only emotion I feel for her is pity. I have done all I can to help her and the next move is up to her.
Zirconia, I don't think it's about you. Susan has had 15 years of spammers and there are at least 1,000 bans in place. I know because I was in the process of removing the unneeded ones but it takes time to determine if a ban is no longer needed. Spammers like the proxy servers for the same reason you do. Because there are so many bans, we always recommended people having problems accessing the site do it without a proxy server so we can open up a hole for them in the bans.
As for email, when your account is up for deletion or in a ban, all notifications are suppressed and members are unable to send you PMs. It's the way simple machines work and it can't be configured. As a moderator, when I needed to communicate with somebody in this state, I would need to grab their email address out of their profile and use that.
While I know how to get around the ban on me and I have gained read access to both sites, I don't attempt to create a new account on either site. I can watch the train wreck as a guest and keeping them guessing about me coming back in is better than confirming it. I will not return to either site other than under my original login.
zirconia:
Hi Dena
--- Quote from: Dena on August 01, 2020, 08:39:24 AM ---It's one thing to say high and mighty words but it's different living by them."
--- End quote ---
This is a choice. Even if one's not a great thinker or writer.
Reading Susan's early posts I see more consideration toward members than I do now...so maybe she was poisoned by her long sojourn in the world of in-between. I know how unpleasant and distressing it feels, although from the opposite viewpoint, I guess. I rejected the labels where she claimed hers... and not fully transitioning while also unable to "pass" would naturally produce bias in favor of people who somehow resemble her. And just possibly also envy, distrust and resentment toward others.
I do acknowledge her for having run the site forever on her own. Especially if she poured all her resources into the site instead of transitioning. BUT... that was her decision. Delaying its launch and/or placing it on ice until she herself was whole were possibilities as well... and I'm sure the users would have understood.
The relief of accepting Cindy's suggestion to use the site to generate revenue probably distanced it from its original purpose. It became a source of income... not a labor of love. I wouldn't be surprised if those whose positions are favored donate more, or vice versa. Which would create further self-reinforcing bias.
All of the above is conjecture, of course... but the IP bans are not. I used to access the site directly from a few locations with normal dynamic IPs. After the ban, when attempting to access it as a guest before deleting the site cookie I got the same announcement... namely
Sorry zirconia, you are banned from using this forum!
TOS #5, ridiculing a transgender person's identity and course of treatment
This ban is not set to expire.
Without cookies each of my regular non-proxy IP ranges still throws the following type of message:
Sorry guest, you are banned from using this forum!
IP ban.
This ban is not set to expire.
... as also do those proxies I used in the past when logging on for other reasons as well.
IP addresses banned for spamming or other reasons generate a totally different message.
The number of banned IPs hasn't increased recently, however, so I guess the moderators' smoldering fury has since faded. LOL. But my movements on site are probably pretty distinctive, so if they were intent they'd probably be able to continue doing so at will. It would just hurt site income.
As for setting up dummy accounts... no.
I only mentioned the possibility because it would be impossible to tell who I am if I really set out to do it—which makes banning the IP addresses I've used inane.
Its only purpose is to be symbolically vindictive.
Where the PM question is concerned, I knew I was under close observation, as it wasn't uncommon to see several moderators on my posts very quickly after I made them. And that deletion of the old post (or posts) that I led them to really felt Orwellian. So when I wanted to talk with someone I always also gave a throw-away e-mail account I could be reached at should I be banned.
What I was curious about was whether Susan and/or moderators are not only in the habit of reading but also capable of editing or preventing PMs from being delivered. Because if mine were stopped, the recipients of course couldn't get them
Dena I respect you. Greatly. And deplore what Susan did to you. And after once leaving the transosphere behind only resumed posting thanks to you opening this site. Although expressing my feelings may have actually been detrimental where attracting other members is concerned... LOL
As I've probably said, now that my goal is in sight I'm pretty content to also just concentrate on life in the real world. And now mostly write just to leave footprints behind for anyone who like me may feel confused by the general offering.
Because I'm pretty sure I cannot be the only one like me left in the world.
But... should you wish haven to offer those eventually left adrift by Susan's' demise a new home I know it would be easier without the likes of me. So if at any time you feel it would be better to favor "conventional" points of view all you have to do is tell me. I will gladly move on.
I am no longer in great danger or need. I'm here because this is the only place I know where I feel comfortable speaking freely of how I experience things.
Thanks again for providing it.(╹◡╹)♡
Edit: Clarity
Dena:
People's values can change over the short term. Somebody drinking or angry might say things that they latter regret. Long term personality changes can occur because of grief, pain, and other conditions far to numerous for me to attempt to list. I have had little contact with Susan in the last 5 years and no contact before that so my guess is the personality we see today hasn't always been there.
I must not have received an IP ban or my IP address moves around enough that the ban doesn't cover me. Probably for the best because I visit locations where other site members go and it wouldn't be good to have my ban proven them from accessing Susan's while they are in the hospital. I didn't think that IP address would block a guest but I guess your proof that they do.
PMs can only be viewed by an administrator and my guess is Susan is the only one that's reading them. Devlyn doesn't seem to have a very good grasp of how to use the administrator functions so unless she was instructed in how to read PMs, she may not know how to do it. In any case, even one person reading them is bad enough. The software would allow Susan to edit PMs however it's questionable if she would have the time to do it before you received your system notification. Besides that, the tool she is using only allows her to become you so what she can access would be what you could do as a member. I think that under normal conditions, Susan really has very little interest in the site because you rarely see her visit it. Now days she seems to spend most of her time online working on her twitter account.
My personal belief is that a site needs "old timers". People who're post surgical have the experience to guid others. I look for people with open minds, experience, people skills and knowledge. I want them on the site to help others and because I might be able to talk a few into becoming staff members. I want them to know what I know but I would also like them to improve on what I might teach them. Most important, I probably have 20-30 years left but someday if this site works, I will need to pass it on to another. I would want that person to be at least as good as me and the way you do that is to ask questions and explore ideas just like you do. The answers may be difficult at time but that's true of obtaining most good things.
Kirsteneklund7:
Just read this thread and found it of great value. I personally hold no grudge against Susan for the private messages I had read or the ban I received.
This thread confirms what I suspected all along about the SP website. On the SP site I felt a moral obligation to NOT self censor or kowtow to the draconian policies.
I always new a ban was on the cards and was glad I managed to keep in contact with Christine & Dena & Complete & Zirconia & others before the inevitable happened.
I do worry about Susan herself though.
Kind regards, Kirsten.
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