Posted: October 22 2009 at 8:30pm | IP Logged

I need advice on a situation i am in. I would be thankful for any feedback from others.

I have been a member of a website, Websleuths since 2006. I really enjoy sleuthing on the web.

The past month i noticed that several other members were picking on someone else and i stuck up for them and also told a mod. (now i realize i wasn't supposed to stick up for them according to site rules i was just supposed to alert the post). Anyhow, the ones that were picking on the person i stuck up for started on me. It turns out they are only members of the site with their main goal being to start fights. To make a long story short, i made a comment on the site with a reference to the "trolls". I have Aspergers and sometimes what i say gets taken out of context by people. I thought it would be okay i use the word as i had seen someone else had used it a few posts above mine. They ended up banning me for it, however i was able to message the administrator who changed that to a time out. I explained to her that i thought it was okay since i seen someone else wrote it a few paragraphs above and i also apologized for my comment about them "keeping their trolls in the basement." The problem is, i didn't mean anything bad by the comment. I used poor judgement with posting it after taking an ambien (no excuse, i know) and i was making an observation that i saw true. They banned me and then changed it to a time out.

My wife is also a member, and now she is on a time out as well for no reason aside from that we both live together and have the same ip. She has messaged the lady who owns the site to no avail.

Most people on the site seem open minded towards autism and people with aspergers.

I am not sure how to go about fixing the situation so that my wife and i can post again.

I am confused as to why i got "punished" and the others who actually are there to start trouble get away with it.

I really enjoy the site and think it for a many good causes so i don't want to be banned. I just wish there was a way i could get them to understand me and i really don't think they are being far towards me. They put my wife on a time out and she has her own seperate name. Evidently they think it is me posting, my wife signed up before i was timed out and she also sent an email to the owner of Websleuths.

Sorry for the long post, i really would like some advice and input on what i should do about the situation. I've been a member there since 2006 and this is the first time ever i got timed out. There seems to be a rise in the activity that is called "trolling" there and i don't understand why those people who want to make others bicker and i don't understand what makes them do that. Lastly, i don't think it's fair for them to get away with it and for the site to punish me in any way as i didn't say anything meaning to hurt anyone.

Advice needed!

Posted: October 23 2009 at 10:18am | IP Logged

Thank you for the reply and advice.

I am sitting the time out for now. I will take your advice and ignore the trolls, i just don't understand what people get out of it however i know there's all sorts of sickos out there so i guess they fall somewhere under that category.

It bothers me that people misunderstand me sometimes. I guess i don't come across the way i mean and what i say gets taken the wrong way. I need to be careful on my wording.

Posted: October 23 2009 at 6:38pm | IP Logged

madderakka wrote: Sometimes you are unfortunate enough to be the the first person to step a tiny bit out of line after the mods are fed up and you get the full brunt of their frustration. It could also be a numbers thing. I have seen trollish people gang up on one person and keep reporting them until the person gets in trouble or the mods realize it's the same people and tell them to knock it off. I agree with Dad2LukeandAlan that it's best to just not engage them. Just keep reporting them and eventually they will get bored and move on. I checked out the website and it looks interesting. It's cool that they have actually ID'd a few missing people. Thank you for the reply It's a great Website, its a shame there are a handful of troublemakers. Most of people are good people there though.

Posted: October 24 2009 at 10:45am | IP Logged

madderakka wrote: Have you considered putting something in your signature saying that you may come across differently than you mean. I've thought about putting one in mine.

That's a good idea!

How would i word it?

If they decide to let me back on (i'm on a time out) i will do that in the signature. I just need to word it right. At least one of the mods knows i have aspergers as i was having trouble figuring what another poster was saying at one point. I'm not sure if they care though. I wish that they would understand at the least..