IdaBriggs
IdaBriggs's JournalAlmost told an alerter to perform obscene acts on himself.
I was more offended by the alert than the post being alerted on.
Kept my cool, and hoping for a 0-7 keep it.
Jury duty.
Grrrr...
Can someone explain this hidden post to me?
Apparently four members of our community found it outrageous enough to be hidden and I don't get it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6913982
For those who don't want to click the link, let me share the context, because this one is a DUzy:
.............
That's it. A bunch of PERIODS. Apparently, similar posts weren't offensive because they were allowed to stay, but this one: HIDDEN.
Yes, a DUer just got a HIDE for what appears to be the crime of "gratuitous kicking" of a thread I wrote on June 5, 2015 that received (as of now) 355 RECS, 680 REPLIES, and nearly 20,000 VIEWS.
Apparently, the fact that at least ONE DUer did not want the discussion about NYC_SKP, Internet reputation and the value posters bring to a forum to end meant the jury system had to be abused.
Or maybe these are the community standards? After all, just because the poster who provided the catalyst for my post had been here for years, donated money to this site, and posted tens of thousands of times, is really no reason to keep POSTING about it, right? It was, like, THREE WEEKS AGO so let's all just MOVE ON and throw a jury hide on anyone who thinks the issues I raised in my post The latest "banning" (NYC_SKP) is an interesting lesson on REPUTATION. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6783883 were worthy of further discussion.
Look! SQUIRREL!
Walk me through it, please. I think I get it, but I really want to be wrong.
Racism = Mental Illness. Good to know even Faux now agrees.
And the Republicans, too.
That is what all the "the boy was mentally ill which is why he was reading and promoting white supremacist nonsense, plus insisting he wanted to kill black people, then, you know, killing black people - he was mentally ill and now we should discuss the state of mental health care available in this country" rhetoric means, right?
Proud to be an American today.
Never thought they would admit it, but now that they have jumped on the bandwagon, let us welcome them to the sanity train.
Racism is a Mental Illness.
Question submitted by IdaBriggs
The latest "banning" (NYC_SKP) is an interesting lesson on REPUTATION.
ON EDIT: I accidentally copy/pasted the post in duplicate - my apologies!
NYC_SKP and I are on good terms outside of DU; we met here, extended the relationship to Facebook and have spoken on the phone several times.
He is not a misogynist, a racist or a homophobe. He is a California Democrat, currently supporting Bernie Sanders (not a Republican), and personally has a long history of political activism in favor of causes near and dear to the hearts of most people on this board. His "real life" credentials are excellent.
On DU he has continued his tradition of service by acting as a moderator in a major forum back in "the olden days", then host in half a dozen forums on DU3. His participation over tens of thousands of posts was polite, respectful and courteous enough that his hide level is nearly non-existent. He has regularly made financial donations in support of the site, and is a "recognized" name to many of us.
His banning has the site in an uproar with an all-out near flame war. There is grave dancing by those who found his passion for his preferred candidate annoying, joy from the purely anti-misogynist crowd (many of whom count their "hides" in double digits with multiple time outs due to their rude and borderline abusive posts), and frankly consternation from his friends/other long time posters because if it could happen to him over ONE POST then it could happen to us, too.
Banned. Cut from the club. Not "time out/come back and explain yourself" - BANNED. No chance to clarify what you were thinking, apologize if required, or defend the post.
What is the value of an online reputation using a pseudonym? Especially in a for-profit discussion forum? For him or against him, his reputation is in tatters; he is now an accused misogynist, a stupid over the top rude idiot - a fool who doesn't belong among the "decent folks" on this board --
What value the hundreds of hours he spent here?
I have been a member since 2004. DU has been a part of my life on a near daily basis ever since. I have shared public triumphs (recounting New Hampshire presidential election, American Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina), personal tragedy (death of my father, loss of my beloved dogs, the story of my sister with MS), and the joy of getting pregnant/giving birth/raising my now eight year old twins. In 2012 when I began figuring out the connection between micronutrient deficiency, growth retardation and cerebral palsy, my first public discussion on the topics began here, and when I worked on the dratted paper explaining it all, I talked about that, too.
This site is someplace between a habit and a home. I have a reputation here. What is that worth? In real life my family walked with our newly elected Democratic Representative in a local Memorial Day parade and I am NOT a racist, a misogynist or a homophobe. I am a rabid supporter of civil rights issues, I support legalization of marijuana, but think people who chance losing their children over it are idiots, despise illegal drug use, and am adamant about a strong social safety net.
Am I DEMOCRAT enough for this board? Is my reputation strong enough to survive a mistake or a mistyping or a misunderstanding or a temporary moment of over the top passionate typing? If or when I am banned, and the grave dancing begins (the Woo Wars alone ensure those!), how will I handle the "little death" of that moment? Will the glee of the cruel erase the good memories I have made? Will I question the number of hours I have spent here, reading and responding to "imaginary" people, and wonder why I bothered?
What will my reputation be worth? How will I be remembered? Will I be mourned?
This playpen is run by good people who deservedly receive income from their efforts. I submit that there is a value brought by long term members and that at some point an arbitrary kick to the curb is inappropriate by our hosts. At some point you stop typing or texting and pick up the blasted phone to repair a relationship before it goes off the rails.
If you value it, anyway. That is what you do when you care about people. And yes, with thousands of posters, many of us long term, the phone tree approach might be necessary - the details are not mine to work out - but (to circle back again) NYC_SKP is not the first "long timer" who has been booted; some have been welcomed back, and some have not.
This is an online discussion forum, and the long term rules are still being wrestled with. A good reputation has to have some value.
Doesn't it? Or is this place just a "what have you done for me lately/posters come and posters go" internet site instead of a community?
I post under my real name. I have received death threats (thank goodness not serious ones!) for some of my public stands. I am REAL - and so are the rest of the PEOPLE who post here. And, to be fair, at some point the board itself has a "personality" with a reputation of its own: thoughtful discussion, courteous behavior, insightful views....all provided by quality posters who bring their best to the site on a regular basis.
Long term versus short - a reputation for being a "good" poster either has value or it doesn't. The whisper I hear is "who is next?"
And that is not a good reputation for this place to have. 
Sinning versus Criminal Behavior: one involves God, the other Law Enforcement.
This may seem like a simple concept, but it a big issue when a religious leader (usually fundamentalist) commits a "sin" and falls from grace. The cry for forgiveness - complete with acknowledgements of unworthiness of all sinners - is usually accompanied by an expressed faith that, having approached the Lord with humbled heart, the sinner has repented, and received forgiveness from the Almighty. With approval from on high already given, can the congregation follow suit? Already aware of their own lack of perfection, and well aware of their own humanity, forgiveness, along with explanations, rationalizations, and sometimes just plain excuses, are all inevitably offered by those who *like* the sinner and wish to continue a positive relationship.
The problem comes in when something is presented as a "sin" but is in reality considered A CRIME by the rest of society. Sins are not necessarily crimes - lust in one's heart, secretly coveting someone else's spouse, taking the "name" of a deity in vain, etc. - and not something the judicial system in this country is going to pay attention to. Even "moral failings" - adultery, non-marital sexual activity, immodest dress - are not CRIMES.
Petty crimes - pilfering from the collection plate - probably get more law enforcement calls, but the major crimes - rape/murder/molestation - are where all heck breaks loose.
Josh Duggar committed a crime. His parents covered it up (another crime). His victims were encouraged to bury their own feelings for "family unity/religious love" and this lack of Justice outrages decent people.
The sin is on their souls, and frankly, not the business of the community. The CRIME is the issue, and the cover up.
None of us is perfect. I suspect the young teen who began molesting his sleeping female victims was acting out his own abuse, but again, the crime of covering up the situation has made that difficult to investigate. The narcissism of the confession is telling.
The 15 minutes of fame is over for this family. Unfortunately, he may appear to be a martyr to those who can't grasp the difference between accountability for one's "sins" versus one's CRIMES (unless the perpetrator has dark skin),
My $.02 - your mileage may vary.
"Once he choked her unconscious, I didn't need to get to know him!"
Top ten list of "things I thought I would never need to explain" except that apparently I had to spell this out for someone who was trying to justify letting two young "lovebirds" stay in her home after the boyfriend was released from jail following his arrest after an incident of violence.
I have been told that the girlfriend assaulted him first, then he choked her unconscious, and she called the police on him when she came to. (The home owner saw the marks on her neck.) The police deemed the situation to be "mutual combat" but since he had an outstanding warrant (driving on a suspended license) he got hauled off to jail. He was released Monday (after two weeks in jail) and the two lovebirds were back together again before his release.
It is actually the home owner I am most upset with because the line "but the girlfriend wants him back!" was actually used as part of the justification, along with me "not really knowing the guy" which is when I used the quote in the subject.
It is "not my circus, and not my monkeys" but I predict this is not going to end well. The girlfriend moved in with the homeowner less than two months ago, has lost custody of her child to the state, was stealing from the home owner/called the police to get the home owner arrested after initiating a tug of war over the stolen property (that was a shocker/didn't work, thank goodness), and now this...all in two months!!!
Apparently I am a judgmental cynic. I do not think "a stern talking to" is going to prevent the next episode of "drama" from happening, which I predict will occur before the end of April.
"But they have no place to go!"
"He choked your granddaughter unconscious - who cares?"
The CRAZY is strong with these ones....ARGH!
Karma has bitten someone. I feel bad for the guy.
His incompetence cost half a dozen people their jobs, and he FINALLY got fired.
There was a time I would have celebrated, but now I just feel sorry for him. He tried to protect himself by throwing other people under the bus, and it totally backfired on him.
He was enabled by a supervisor who has apparently managed to save himself by blaming this guy. It is an ugly mess. I am grateful to be NOT involved, and hope my former team is able to function with a competent person in the role.
I am surprised by my pity for the man, especially after he did so much damage....?
My (Rejected) Poster for a regional Cerebral Palsy Conference.
Good luck guessing why it got rejected. Also, it had pretty graphs, charts and a cool breakdown of the demographics.
MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY AS AN UNDIAGNOSED SUBSET OF CEREBRAL PALSY
Objective: What if a subset of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) instead or also have correctable micronutrient deficiencies?
Promising preliminary observations using oral supplementation of liquid micronutrient compounds show improvement in movement disorders including muscle tone and strength, gross and fine motor skills, and coordination. Positive changes were also seen in children with growth issues, notably weight, height, and appetite. Children with diagnosed cognitive and communication developmental delays also displayed improvement, as did a significant subset that reported sensory processing issues. However, we have yet to perform a randomized trial to assess the validity of these findings.
How can one design a study to determine if a subset of children diagnosed with CP possess micronutrient deficiencies and whether remedying these deficiencies improves CP?
Methods: Subjects were enrolled from June to December 2012 with an average observation period of 118 days. Enrollment was open to a heterogeneous group of children displaying mobility issues (including CP), neuromuscular issues, growth retardation (including failure-to-thrive), cognitive/communication or other developmental delays, and sensory processing issues. Parents were instructed to administer liquid micronutrient compounds on a consistent schedule and report changes or lack thereof on a bi-weekly basis. Data were obtained through a combination of online parent reporting and one-on-one interviews. Eight categories were defined to evaluate change during the observation period: four primary categories (muscle tone and strength, weight/height, cognition, speech/communication) and four secondary categories (bowel function, appetite, energy/stamina, and sensory processing). For each of these categories, the parents responded that there was either observed change or no change, and then described the change as being positive or negative. For purposes of this project, positive change was considered improvement.
Results: 122 children were recruited. There were no other statistical differences in demographic or baseline characteristics. All improvements are based on documented parent reports. During the observation 88 children (72%) experienced improvement in muscle tone and strength. 104 children (85%) experienced improvement in weight and/or height. 71 children (58%) experienced improvement in cognition. 81 children (66%) experienced improvement in communication.
117 children (96%) experienced improvement in at least one primary category. 101 children (83%) experienced improvement in two primary categories. 79 children (65%) experienced improvement in three primary categories. 47 children (39%) experienced improvement in all four primary categories.
Improvement in secondary categories included bowel function (n=81, 66%), appetite (n=79, 65%), energy and stamina (n=85, 70%) and sensory processing (n=40, 33%). Overall, 102 children (83%) experienced improvement in four or more defined categories.
Discussion
Cerebral palsy has several well-known risk factors including prematurity, low birth weight, and possibly insufficient maternal nutrient intake in pregnancy. The correlation between pre-term birth, nutrient deficiency, and cerebral palsy is the focus of our project.
Animal studies as early as the 1950s have demonstrated the link between trace mineral deficiency and increased morbidity, including poor growth and weak muscles. Veterinary science recognizes the role that trace minerals play in avoiding deficiency diseases, and widespread supplementation from the 1950s to the 1990s has largely eradicated these diseases in farm animals. Trace minerals are considered essential for optimum health, growth and productivity, carrying out key functions as catalysts for enzymes and hormones. In accordance with this established science it is still common for trace mineral supplements to be given to both large and small livestock animals.
In human medicine trace minerals are considered ubiquitous in a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet, occurring naturally in the environment. Healthy human beings are, by definition, assumed to be in a state of homeostasis, with all metabolic needs met, whereas insufficient intake of dietary nutrients leads to deficiency diseases. However, there are certain population subsets that are unable to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet, most notably pre-term infants. The premature infant is at increased risk for nutrient deficiencies, and breast milk, while a preferred food source for full-term infants, does not contain the higher amounts of essential nutrients needed by pre-term infants. Because of this, it is common practice to supplement the pre-term infant’s food intake with vitamins and other essential nutrients. Total parenteral nutrition is also commonly administered to these infants, but despite the intent to act as a complete dietary supplement, several key nutrients are absent, such as sulfur, cobalt and iron.
It has been demonstrated in previous research that the premature neonate is also at increased risk of trace mineral deficiency because trace mineral accretion occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy. This accretion process would logically be interrupted in pre-term infants born at gestational ages of less than 38 weeks. In the case of a diagnosed deficiency of an essential nutrient such as iron, calcium, or Vitamin D, it is standard practice to instruct patients to increase dietary intake of the needed nutrient(s). To diagnose a nutrient deficiency there are well known, standardized tests for essential nutrients, however there are currently no standardized tests for trace mineral deficiencies. Additionally, most trace minerals do not currently have a USRDA, the assumption being that they are already present in minute amounts in the typical patient’s diet.
By definition, cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of non-progressive permanent motor disorders that appear in early childhood. However, not all diagnosed movement disorders are CP. For example, in the 1990s pediatric research established new testing protocols to identify the group of conditions called “inborn errors of metabolism”. Before these tests were developed, some patients with one of these conditions could have been diagnosed with a movement disorder, and being within the umbrella diagnosis of CP, subsequent treatment may have progressed without addressing the underlying disorder. Re-defining these cases as inborn errors of metabolism led to developing specific treatment protocols with substantial improvements in outcomes.
Our goal was to measure the effects of micronutrient supplementation on mobility and/or growth rate in a population diagnosed with, or at risk for CP.
Infants and children who had a diagnosis of prematurity or growth retardation as well as those with CP or other neuromuscular issues who were not necessarily premature were recruited. Liquid micronutrient compounds were administered by parents on a consistent schedule, and observations were documented for eight categories: muscle tone and strength, weight/height, cognition, speech/communication, bowel function, appetite, energy/stamina, and sensory processing. Any changes observed were documented in parent reports.
Based on observational data, 117 children experienced improvement in at least one of the primary categories, the most common being weight and height. Improvement in this category was characterized as “muscular weight gain” usually followed by an increase in height, as per expected growth patterns.
88 children (72%) experienced improvement in muscle tone and strength; these changes were reported as an increase in core strength (trunk) followed by changes in tone and/or strength of the extremities. Changes in strength frequently led to changes in mobility levels, and improved fine motor skills and coordination were often noted.
Certain patterns were observed in the chronological order of positive changes among the participants: improvement in bowel function was most often the first change noted, occurring within the first 10 days after starting the supplements. This change was more often noted in younger children and infants, likely due to older children using the toilet independently. Increased appetite was observed between 14 and 21 days, although if there was no increase in appetite there were still some positive changes in other defined categories. Improvement in the remaining six categories typically began to occur between 42 and 56 days.
Evaluating positive changes in sensory processing revealed an interesting circumstance: of the 18 participants with known sensory processing issues, 9 (50%) observed improvement. However, an additional 31 participants also reported improvement in this category. These 31 participants were primarily focused on more serious neuromuscular (mobility) issues, developmental delays and failure-to-thrive concerns.
We found during the course of observation that relying on parent reporting for specific measurements was a limiting factor - accuracy and completeness was an issue. Another known limitation was the lack of clinical diagnosis and evaluation to establish baseline characteristics. Most importantly, we cannot be certain, without a control group, that there is a causal relationship between supplement and outcomes. We would appreciate feedback on how to identify children who might benefit from this nutritional treatment, and also how best to conduct a randomized trial to properly test the value of this treatment.
What do the NYPD and the Westboro Baptist Church have in common?
Neither know how to behave at funerals.
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Gender: FemaleHometown: South East Michigan
Home country: United States
Member since: Tue Jul 27, 2004, 01:19 PM
Number of posts: 10,559
