Friday, June 5, 2015

I Try To See BOTH Sides of The Issue....But Then I meet Someone Like This.....

I am someone who likes to form her opinion based on the arguments presented by opposing sides. After I read both sides of the issue, I make my own determination as to which side I can morally support.
The other day, Saturday May 30th, I requested to join “Concerned Citizens Of Pickens County – THE WHOLE TRUTH”. Their group's post can be read without joining; I read some of their posts and wanted to learn more about their side. I especially like the comments from one of their member, Mr. D Bracken. I felt he was asking important questions...presented his arguments well, and was very wise when he was dealt personal attacks by some of the admins.
I have been a member of the more positive toned group, “Concerned Citizens of Pickens County” for many months now. I have spoken with Robin Miller and she has been super nice. Even when she didn't know me and I sent her random questions. Overall, I felt comfortable in going to their page....reading their posts and commenting when I wanted to.
When I sent the request to the group, “Concerned Citizens Of Pickens County – THE WHOLE TRUTH”.... I had read their terms and felt like they weren't asking weird requirements. They want to limit their group to people who live in Pickens County....Check...I live in Pickens County. They wanted truthful people to join.....check...I am sometimes TOO TRUTHFUL...

After a few hours, I was messaged by Johnnelle Raines. In her message, it contained a standard message that was most likely copy/pasted and sent to all who request to join...Here's the message...A message to those who request membership in this group - Because the issues discussed are Pickens County issues, we try to limit the membership to people who actually live in the County. If you request membership, and the admins are not able to see that you live in the county, we will message you privately. If you do not respond, in a reasonable time-frame, we will conclude you do not live here.”
Pretty simple, right? So, I thought that if my privacy settings were too private, I thought I should send her a reply stating my personal connection to Pickens County. I sent her this reply....
Yes I live in Pickens County... My Dad is the former Pickens County Administrator... I live in Liberty...
My mother taught for 35 years.. At DWD when she retired.”
I thought that my reply was pretty self explanatory...and It clearly stated how I am connected. The discussion would have ended there...or so I thought. Nope...Instead, I was sent this message by Ms. Raines.....Note the escalated hostility....
I have heard from several sources that you are the author of a several pages that are inconsistent with our mission of exposing the truth. Could you please share the face book pages you are author of or belong to?”

At this point, I was starting to regret my request to join her group...I met the requirements prior to sending my request....So, I replied with another simple message....
I own a photography business... That's the only page that I am the author of.. Search (my business name)... Gray and Black logo. How is a photography business inconsistent with the truth when pictures don't lie?”
I thought that my reply was a simple one...I do own a photography studio...I obviously run the Facebook page associated with it....So, I went back and re-read their requirements...Yep, I still qualified....but not to her satisfaction. On the day I requested to join, I was finishing up a newborn photo-shoot and was in the process of driving back to Liberty. Since Ms. Raines wanted me to send her links to my page, I sent her a picture looking through my windshield...to give her a valid reason why I could not send her links to my page. I always pull over when I feel I need to reply to something....I don't see how anyone can text and drive....Turning on my blinker is sometimes a challenge in itself...

Along with the picture of the road I was traveling, I sent her a message in case she did not understand why I sent her a picture of a random road...lol
Should you need a valid reason as to why I can't copy and paste the link to my business page, I thought I would show you that I am driving =)”
Not unreasonable......right?
Sunday, May 31st, 9am Ms. Raines sent me this message...
There are 3 administrators of our page and we will discuss this and get back to you.”
Ok....not a problem....I understand...I think....lol
Well it has been proven YOU LIE...You are the author of a page called Help Liberty grow...so I don't think we want people who blatantly lie by saying "That's the only page that I am author of." So We here at CCPCWT won't be accepting your request.”

Wait? What? I thought I had read the rules.....Pickens County resident...and they wanted truth....Got it... I replied with another message and I was honestly taken-aback by her hostility and yelling capital letters....I must have missed something again.....(Seriously regretting this request...)
That's been given to my parents.. But you now need to change your description of your group... It states that you just have to be a resident of Pickens County to join... Who's lying madam?”
Since I work almost everyday, coupled with the fact that I had not thought about that page since I signed it over/gave it to my parents back in March of 2015! I told the truth...My parent rarely get on Facebook...my Dad HATES technology and he refuses to give up his circa 2001 flip-phone...LOL 
I am now at the point of beating my head against a wall.....asking myself the following questions...
How in the world do you manage to find such difficult people on Facebook?? Requesting to join this page MUST be some form of punishment.....Good job, Katie.....Seriously!!”
I should have just left it at that and walked away....But, me being me.....I sent her this reply...
And my soul purpose of wanting to join your little group was to read both sides of what's going on so that I have a clear understanding of what both sides say... Now I can clearly see that you and the other admins have something to hide... I joined the other group with no problems... Thanks for making this easy for me to decide which side of the fence I belong on......”
See? I told her my soul purpose for my request...I was honest about my intentions...I implore everyone to know both sides of any issue before making a decision...However, I now believe that getting a mammogram is less painful than my simple request to join Ms. Raines group. When juries make their decisions, they see both sides before they render their verdict....Same principle should be applicable to this subject....right? Apparently...NOT!
Ms. Raines sent me this final message...
Opening statement of our page..."We here at Concerned Citizens of Pickens County the Whole Truth want Pickens County Concerned Citizens to have access to the TRUTH about Politics in Pickens County" and the final statement... " This page will be RESPECTFUL and will NOT TOLERATE lies. Our motto is the "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." 
At this point, I was already over the fence and running towards Robin Miller and her calm, peaceful and non-hostile group....


My last reply to her.....
No need to explain the hostility.. I get it.”
Whew! That was beyond anything I have ever encountered on Facebook.....
 (Except for that lunatic Smith...weird but true; he reminds me of Jeffrey Dahmer).....
Someone needs a hug....or some happiness....WOW!
So, with all that being said, I want to thank Robin Miller for making all of us here feel as though we're safe from people like that. The fact that a SDPC board member surrounds himself with folks like this....makes me very thankful that they are ELECTED officials!
I guess the gist of this entire post....STAY AWAY FROM THE CRAZIES! 

( It should be noted that The SDPC board members who hang out with people like this....should speak VOLUMES! Saitta should take a long hard look at his behavior, the "friends" he commonly slums with and realize that he should be a reflection of the people.....not one who hangs out with, as one SDPC board members told me....."She is a complete nutcase...She's got some issues...and is to be avoided!!" After my interaction with her.....I think the board member was right on the money!)

 I also forgot to mention, that I run a photographic history page, a parents page and a real estate page on Facebook.....2 blogs.....This one and one called "Linthead Tales".....in honor of my Papa! Yeah.....all those pages/blogs make me look super suspicious.....LOL Stupid Sheep!