| Hi Gamin, I wanted to say thanks for sticking up for us over at MBC. I appreciate it, and I'm glad that we have been able to be here for you. I hope that we can continue to do so going forward whenever we are needed. To reply to your concerns, there are a number of reasons that I haven't responded to the thread in question over at MBC. First, and foremost, I am an official member of the LifeLine team. Attempting to defend LifeLine against such an emotionally heated attack would suggest a couple of things. Mostly, it would suggest that we need defending. I don't believe this to be true. That isn't to say we don't make mistakes. We are, after all, only human and subject to all the trappings and failings of any other human being. I feel that what makes us unique is our capacity to accept criticism (constructive criticism is more helpful, of course) and try our very best to learn and grow going forward. The LifeLine team honestly comes together over every single issue that is brought forward to us and tries to come to a reasonable and empathetic consensus on how each issue should be handled. I'm proud of that and of our record to work together. I believe that record stands for itself, and I do not believe that it needs to be defended on an unrelated message board. This brings me to my second point. I'm always surprised to find that people are unaware that BoyChat and LifeLine are independent FS resources. The people behind BoyChat have absolutely no say in policy or execution of those policies at LifeLine and vice versa. Therefore, discussing an issue relating to a grievance at LifeLine on MBC is counterproductve (unless, of course, your intent is to do nothing more than attempt to tarnish LifeLine's reputation to a larger audience). We have our own Message Board (obviously) and our own grievance and resolution procedures. Our operation is completely independent. So, a large part of my lack of participation in the thread in question is because I don't wish to set a precedent that grievances should be aired on a seperate and independent board relating to the running of LifeLine. MBC exists to allow questions about the running of BoyChat and not any other FS resources. Ideally, I would prefer it if none of the volunteers here (past or present) had involved themselves in the discussion in question, but I can certainly understand the desire to stand up for something that you believe in. Truthfully, I don't even regularly check MBC as it doesn't relate to my function at LifeLine and was unaware of the entire thread with Honesty until it was pointed out to me. I will say that I am a bit disappointed in the authorities that do exist at BoyChat for not stepping in and attempting to control that discussion a bit more. Had it been me, I would have pointed out that MBC was an inappropriate venue for the topic at hand and pointed Honesty to the LifeLine message board or grievance procedure and then closed the thread. Had this been a flame war between two posters at BoyChat, I really believe it would have garnered much more attention from the Cogs, and I find that disheartening. That being said, I don't have say over there nor do they have a say over here. I don't even like posting about LifeLine being open on the main BC board, but I have done that on the couple of occasions that I have been asked to by visitors. The final reason that I didn't reply to the discussion on MBC is simply because engaging in a defensive position with someone that is so obviously emotionally heated is unlikely to result in anything but a fight. If Honesty sincerely wishes his concerns to be addressed, I would be more than happy to discuss everything with him in a calm and rational manner once feelings have settled a bit and in a more appropriate forum. I am proud of the work that we do at LifeLine. Are we always perfect? Not by a long shot. As I said, we are human and have been known to make mistakes or even become carried away by emotion. The intent of helping MAA's has never changed, though, and I don't believe the execution is flawed. We will continue to be here for as long as we can to help others that are in need because we (and I think I can speak for the rest of the team here) feel that it is important to do so. Could Honesty damage the reputation of LL? Possibly (if only temporarily), and if that influences people who might really need help to stay away that would make me very sad indeed. At the end of the day, they are the only ones being hurt by this. Those who already know us, already have their opinions of our merit (be that good or bad). This isn't a competition, though. I am here to fulfill a role that I feel is extremely necessary and, if I can be here to help only one more person after all of this dust has settled it will have been worth it. -Logan |