Going to move some things around

I find that I am limiting my sharing because of the ban issues.  I don't want that to be the focus of my blog or to be reminded of negativity every time I visit my blog so I am going to attempt to move those posts to another page.  I don't want them deleted, I just don't want to see them when I want to share card ideas with crafty friends who don't know and/or aren't interested in what has happened.  I'm ok with that.  The information should be on another page if they want to look and it shouldn't be in their face if they just aren't interested.

Moving forward isn't about burning a bridge, it is about acknowledging that path is no longer available and to go forward with peace and love.  Thanks for all the support during this, it has meant the world.

Banned forever for citing FCC rules on Splitcoaststampers!

As my previous requests for clarification had been ignored I really didn't expect anything yesterday when I sent off a request to "Contact Us" on Splitcoaststampers, so imagine my surprise when this arrived and I have thus asked for further explanation.  I honestly don't expect to be reinstated but it is rather ridiculous that they don't see that they are being bullies by only allowing certain favored people to speak freely.  This is the response and my response and I have only taken out my email address.  I'm all about honesty and integrity in communication.

Now we have to ask ourselves why Administrators on Splitcoaststampers don't want Forum Members to know about FCC rules?  

Splitcoast ban update - from 2 years to Never

Yup! That's right folks. Because I commented that there are consumer protection laws and that I personally put more stock in a customer review than a person who is gifted a product I was banned for 2 years which has since increased to "Never".

I did use "contact us" and asked for an explanation as I obviously haven't posted on Splitcoastampers.  I'm not holding my breath.  

And I will repeat myself that I am a very happy owner of MISTI and firmly support the product and those that use it.  The only person that has been personally slighted and harmed by any of this seemingly deliberate misunderstanding is me. 

I am bemused but not sad, and just thought that people following the saga deserved an update.  I bear no ill will as life is too short for such pettiness.  I will however always be amused by protestations of any altruistic behavior when some can't forgive a simple misunderstanding.

So tired of being bullied.

Little in my life has changed except I don't get to debate with the awesome ladies in Current Events on Splitcoastampers.  I miss them.  Even the ladies whom I strongly disagree with.  I felt there was a camaraderie there that we could agree to disagree.  And I tend to live my life like that.  I hang out with a lot of people whom I disagree with.  I love it.  I don't poke the grizzly.  I just love talking with them and working out why they think a certain way.  So I get to today and we are a couple of months down the line from "the 2 year ban" with no further explanation.  And find myself publicly sledged on two sites.  Wow. Instagram and Facebook. I don't get people that have to put other people down to lift themselves up.  Different strokes for different folks I guess.  

I honestly wonder if the people building themselves up whilst trampling on me consider that is what they are doing?  I'm a person that wants to believe the best of people.  Yeah, I know I have slung a bit of mud back at the "mean girls" but am I really supposed to walk away and let this carry on?  Am I supposed to thank them for being so cruel and be like Oliver Twist "please can I have some more"? Am I supposed to go gooey hearted and thank them again when they talk about their new love of one another over a "difficult time" (me being that "difficult time").  

I guess I should actually be proud of myself for bringing like minded people together. According to Instagram without me, that crafty retreat invite would never have happened, now there is some glitter to put on your card! LOL!  

I am a genuine person with feelings who doesn't have crafty friends in high crafty places because I like hanging out with the crafty masses who lift each other up not push people down to lift themselves up.  That is like building a house on a foundation susceptible to erosion.  And yes, that is what it feels like at this end of my crafty non-famous life.  And now I wonder if I am repeating the cycle of put downs by presenting my side and my continuing hurt over how all this was handled.  

Let's just stop being vague.  Jennifer and Lydia, I never meant to cause Jennifer distress when I asked if she had purchased the product.  I never meant offense stating that I consider that when I researching products I would like.  Nor did I mean offense when stating that consumers have the right to know and linking those federal rights on SCS.  I have stated before I have no ill will toward you and am happy I seem to have brought you together in real life.  Now can we stop the slights and set downs?  I'm sure you have used your power and influence to hurt me far more than I have or can ever hurt you.

As for Facebook, I joined a closed group about MISTI.  I am a big supporter of the tool and how to use it and how to get the best out of it.  I added my blog to a list and the next thing I see today (yup same day as the Instagram) is a link to the administrator of the group and owner of My Sweet Petunia.  Seriously?!  It is a document on her site, I'm not talking smack and have been supportive of the product since the early days.  I was one of the 1st to talk about being covered as a company and patent on SCS.  I asked if one person got their tool free and I am black balled forever? Thus, I deleted my information from that document.  People need to understand there is a difference between information gathering about a product and being mean.  Stop being mean because I haven't been mean to you.  The evidence is all there on the internet.  

I'm still good in my heart, I'm just saddened that this is still going on.

In a great place, so why am I not blogging?!?!?!

So I've not been blogging.  It isn't because I don't want to, it is completely because my "not a 10 lb" lap dog stepped on my laptop, cracking the screen AND my misplacing my connector cord for my camera so I can't upload pictures to this laptop as easily.  Sometimes we have to laugh!  I have some fun cards that still need to be shared! Considering the moroseness of my last few posts I thought it was important to put that out there.  I won't lie, I miss the wonderful ladies at Splitcoaststampers but I have had many new opportunities opened to me which I intend to explore fully when I repair my laptop - just got to take the plunge and order the part!  I think I have a couple of birthday cards and a Mothering Sunday card to upload and maybe another project or two.  

I also have done a little bit of retail therapy and believe it or not received an asked for MISTI for my birthday and got it! Yup I had always said I wanted it and I still think it is a great product. I still find it ironic I was banned from SCS for supporting the product and hoping for a happy resolution of a customer service issue!?!?! And I can laugh about that and still no word from SCS with regard to my inquires. I do wish the owner wasn't under so much stress and pray she will find relief from that soon.  

I admittedly lost my mojo in January and February.  I don't know whether it was the weather or stress, we lost my aunt in late January and we are a close family. I still keep expecting her to call.  She was our large family's "social secretary" and used to call daily.  She had a larger than life personality so she is desperately missed by us all.

I'm also in the middle of a huge house reorganization.  Hopefully get that well on the way in the few days, but of course I think I can do twice as much in half the time!!!  Still I'm happy with the progress so far.  Part of this is tiling the kitchen backsplash (need to pick tiles) and designing and building a craft desk to incorporate two 2 drawer filing cabinets I already own as well as 4 jetmax cubes. And reorganizing some of my craft stuff into my husband old tool box. Fun times!

Well, that's about it.  Hope you are all doing well and to connect with fun cards and projects soon. 

Ban update.

I have been informed from a 3rd party, not Splitcoastampers, that by pointing out that the warranty didn't apply in that case I had broken a rule that the once the manufacturer replies we are no longer allowed to clarify the answer.

Why couldn't that be stated in the ban and the rule specifically quoted?

Secondarily, I wasn't addressing the problem, I did address that the manufacturer's statement couldn't be correct as it was recently enacted and the manufacturer agreed with me.  So what is the problem? On Splitcoast there has always been an open atmosphere of clarifying answers in the past so it is confusing that this has changed.

I have attempted to contact Splitcoastampers again to obtain an answer.  I will let you know when I know.

Take care and keep crafting... and if you are a member there and would like to stay in touch please contact me. I review comments before publishing, mainly because people have given me personal information about themselves that I didn't want openly on my blog and to avoid spammers.  So if you want to contact me that way without info going further that can happen.

All the best, stay safe, warm, and loved.

Banned again for 2 years? Really?

So I go to log into SCS today after I have the last couple of days and this is what I get

Now I admit I did point out that you can't say something is out of warranty if you never issued a warranty to begin with and the product has changed since then, but those are just facts of life and law not personal.

Otherwise I have no idea and am more than amused at the level of bullying that this implies unless there is a jolly good reason.

ETA - My Sweet Petunia has changed the website since this morning which dated the 90 day Warranty from 2/23/2015.

Honestly, who is being dishonest here?  I am willing to testify in front of any official to the truthfulness of my statements and I know I won't be perjuring myself.  The internet has a long memory and those types of changes are tracked.

ETA  - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2310  is a good read as to consumer rights in such a situation.  Even if a product is out of warranty i.e. such as a car, we have reason to believe that it is still driveable and fit for the purpose of which it was bought as long as it is properly maintained.  For example, my car is out of warranty but if the airbags randomly deployed I have an expectation of the manufacturer to put it right or legal recourse.

I just don't know anymore...

I had originally planned to go back to SCS after my, what I deemed, excessive ban and now I don't know. I don't want to be bullied again and to be honest it has put me right off card making.  I honestly just don't know anymore.  I hate that because someone is popular that they are allowed to bully you off a site whilst claiming innocence.  I hate that I am thinking about walking away because I'm not a popular kid and what sort of message does that send to others who aren't popular kids in other areas of life.  I just don't know if I can allow myself to be bullied into exile and come back and act like it was ok when it wasn't. I feel like I have just lived through an episode of "Mean Girls".

And for the record I still haven't contacted the FCC because I think from me it would be spiteful and I don't do that, I just will hope karma goes around because all I ever asked is if a person was compensated for promoting a product and for honesty and integrity in disclosure.

In the end I will go back to SCS because I have an unfinished promise to uphold and I don't break promises, I just doubt I will stay after I fulfill my obligation.  

A very Happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours a very happy and prosperous New Year!

I know in my heart I live with honesty and integrity and never wish malice towards anyone and wont start now.  I know people point fingers saying I have, and I can only say that isn't true and when we point our finger we have four pointing back to us.

I find it amazing that I could apologize before anyone realized there was an issue and still be punished for being shocked and pouring out my feelings.  Lessen learnt that only popular crafty kids have feelings.  C'est la vie.  I have never wanted to be a popular kid, however, I don't think it is too much to ask people to be respectful of everyone equally.

New Year! Same ol me with honesty and integrity and always working to be a better version of me.

So I asked another question, good thing I'm not a cat.

So following the ban I actually asked Splitcoastampers site what an SPR violation is and because honestly to be banned for a month really deserves a better explanation than the stat 2 word response. "SPR Violations"

"Hi Kristen -

Good to hear from you. I really do hope you are doing okay.

I am not a moderator - I am the Community and site manager. But we love and depend on our moderators! :) Here is the site posting rule you violated, which is the most important rule we have:

Members are cautioned to take the greatest care when they post new threads or create a response to an existing thread. We ask that no one creates or condones a post openly disparaging any individual, company or group of people.

I hope you have a good rest of the holiday season."

Now I just want to say I knew it was going to Site manager because none of the other relevant boxes sent it through - might have to do with the ban or might be a glitch, I honestly don't know.  I appreciate the kind response but am still puzzled how asking for clarifications from those who blur the line between person and business is "disparaging" especially given some of the threads I have read over the years about others in the crafting community on Splitcoast.

I did reply with the following (and of course now see a grammatical error! Yikes! and I know there are probably more).

"Many thanks for your reply.

What have I specifically done that has disparaged an individual, company or group of people after I was cautioned by PM?

I have ask about a product being Free of charge.

I have asked about disclosure of Free of charge products, how is that disparaging? That is Freedom of Information!

I have also ask in Current Events how Martha Stewart, as the example given me by a moderator, can be considered an individual in a craft world where she has made millions and is incorporated as a business?  Which considering the number of negative threads about other craft people such as for example PTI and Nicole Heady is puzzling and inconsistent.

In the past there has been a very specific warning if there is an issue.  The issue for this seems to be one of a click/clique where a moderator is a part of it and doesn't wish to questioned.  She specifically said in her response in PM that she didn't care who I included.  And then I am banned for quite a length of time?  That is just plain irrational."

Now if I thought for one moment everyone was being treated the same I would have no ongoing issue but there really seems to be a protective bubble around this product and the mentors of this product and how dare we question it.  I really like the SCS moderators, generally they have been absolutely brilliant over the years, even when I have have previous vacations, but I just think if you are participating actively in a thread and "liking" the "craft celebrity" posts that it might be best to recuse yourself from moderating that thread if there is a perceived issue.

Full disclosure, I really like the product, I just don't understand why it is so hard to say "I got it for free and think it was awesome!"  I have consistently said - get it patent protected (even when the creator of it said a lawyer said she didn't need it), get mass manufacturing to bring the price down.   So that isn't negative.

I just don't get the defensiveness and animosity when I asked quite legitimate questions.  

Why Blog Freebie disclosure matters.

What does it matter if a blogger receives a product free of charge, even as a gift, and proceeds to promote it?

It matters because, I, as a consumer, don't know their intent.  They can tell me their intent, their friends and allies can tell me their intent, however they can't tell me what I believe, that is my choice and opinion to form, not theirs.

I have no problem with bloggers blogging about freebies, just tell me it was free to you. There is no need to act all offended if I just want to know the truth and assess for myself.  Give yourself some credit that if you are blogging with honesty and integrity that I will come to the same conclusions that you have about the product.  When a blogger fans the flame which encourages others to fight on their behalf, it makes me question the validity of their claims. 

There is a big difference between "Wow, I just read the thread and now I'm going to defend myself" and "Oh yeah, I got this FoC and it is a great product" - one fans people to jump on the bandwagon and keep attacking, the other places the focus back on the product.  

Secondarily, I am disappointed when a moderator of a forum participates in the discussion and openly takes sides.  At that point they really should hand it over to another to assess and moderate because they are involved whether they are besties or just in awe of the poster, then to couple it with false accusations in PMs as a moderator is beyond the pale.  I don't and can't have a personal issue with any crafty blogger because I don't know them personally.  I know them as an online persona or a business persona.  To be accused otherwise by a forum moderator is strange and biased.  It seems like a very bad day at the office, just wish my vacation was a paid one.

Banned for asking FTC questions on Splitcoastampers

Tt says -
"You have been banned for the following reason:
SPR violations

Date the ban will be lifted: 01-27-2015, 09:00 PM"

Got to laugh - apparently you aren't allowed to ask if Jennifer McGuire has received a product for free and promoting it without disclosing that to her viewers.  And what is an SPR violation?

Shouldn't a full explanation be given?  I've been repeatedly attacked on the MISTI thread for asking questions.  Many got very defensive that I would dare to ask a question.  It is important to me if a person is promoting a product they received FoC and every person I have asked away from the forum has told me exactly the same and even the Federal Trade Commission addresses it.  

It is like a rapid pack on forums if you cross the wrong elite crafter nobody is protecting the little guy.  Buyer Beware!

Is Martha Stewart a person or a business?

The following is from a thread I originated on Splitcoastampers which I expect to be deleted.  I am posting it here to protect its contents.

I know I am asking this at the risk of a vacation, but I think it is an important question. So is Martha Stewart a person or a business?

Background. On a tool thread I ask if a well known blogger who earns a living blogging about craft stamps and tools by representing many companies had received that tool FoC. Since asking people have been quite adamant that it didn't matter. I pointed out that it DID matter and that is why the FTC had regulations about blogging. It was pointed out by the creator of the tool that she had approached the blogger to represent her to Hero Arts (that sounds like business to me).

A few days ago the blogger who NEVER has mentioned sponsored product (followed her for years) goes to great lengths on social media to say this is being promoted for a friend -  - honestly, at the time, I felt it was a dig at me (right or wrongly, it doesn't really matter, if someone feels that way that is how they feel). I posted that here, had a think about it and was going to delete it but someone had replied. I didn't want to dishonor the person so replied that I was going to delete that post but since they had replied I felt that would be disrespectful. Then the blogger posts and really has a pretty direct go at how anyone could think that she would promote a product she didn't believe in (which I never said and how many thread are there about people being on DT and not liking the product etc.) and all the popular kids told her this was going on, so she had to sweep in and save the day and post but she was far too busy and had an employee that dealt with her comments on social media. (Person or Business has an employee for social media?)

Another poster then had a direct go at myself for thinking as I did. And I reported it. Mod involved and I was told that the blogger that earns a living crafty blogging is a person and that this was an attack on a person and against the terms of the board. I said I have no reason to attack a person and this was a discussion about business practices. I was told that

Quote:

The rules are very clear and simple and you are well acquainted with them as a regular contributor here. Every human on earth is protected here by our rules, regardless of whether they have a personal brand or not. Martha Stewart has exactly the same rights as Jane Doe.

Honestly I am confused. Martha Stewart is a brand. She is incorporated as a brand and if Martha Stewart posted here I would consider it PR to promote her brand.

Additionally there are many threads all over this board about owners of different companies and their bad customer service and this wasn't even near this level. 

I get it that I am not crafting elite or a popular "kid" but honestly I don't get the vitriol on this. If a person's online persona is how they make money they are a business.

What do you think? and I may not get to reply because I am expecting this to be deleted and to be sent on vacation for asking a legitimate, Federally regulated question.

(I also got accused of having a problem with the blogger. I have no idea where that came from. That was just weird, especially as I stated multiple times that I don't and there was nothing personal in my questions. I don't know what is so hard about "Look what my super talented friend gave me, let me show you what it does!")

So after full disclosure, is Martha Stewart a person or a business?

Read more: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/current-events-f65/martha-stewart-person-t595235.html#post20849409#ixzz3N7BnHuHx