Bonnie, I understand your opinion. I don't personally totally agree with it because I think your position is a little extreme, but you certainly have the right to feel the way you do.
Sometimes it isn't due to cowardice or even a lack of belief in the veracity of a cause that drives some towards anonymity. Sometimes there are valid or extenuating reasons.
You are right that there are differing circumstances for different people.
But the same rule,demand and logic should apply. Lacking personal intimate knowledge you are left with a opinion you have formed. Not everyone that has an opinion should be required in something like this to broadcast their name. That is not what I was referring to.
If, as an example,I quite routinely on this forum, call you a liar, deluded ,whatever,and demand proof for every word you say,then I better be prepared to do same. Do not tell me I am lying because an anonymous person said so. This is basically just what happened with Sam's e-mail. Now I believe in order for him to have credibility he needs to put his money where his mouth is. Do not give me anonymous unless you are ready to let me do same
My husband would only let me participate if I remained anonymous because he was concerned about repercussions against me. When he got comfortable enough with the situation, he allowed me to step out of the shadows.
That is not what I am referring to. Sam,Ian,Anyman,one or three people write as if they have intimate,personal, first hand knowledge. Using that so called first hand anonymous knowledge and have done their best to cast doubt on Bob Pickle and Gailon Joy.
I don't care which side does it, put your money where your mouth is or keep the mouth shut. Ian,anyman,and Sam should face the same requirements they demand of others. So far it seems to be lacking. This e-mail is more than a little suspect quite frankly. Look at the writing style and some of the phrasing. I will tell you beyond a doubt I thought at first I was reading a post by Sam. Not one sent to him. Not every single person in all cases should be suspect because of their anonymity . However there is little excuse for being afraid to put your name to a defense of someone you believe to be Innocent. For those that lack personal, first hand knowledge is a little different than those that claim "TO KNOW' and any that disagrees with them is either delusional or dishonest.
They do not have to take responsibility for one single word they say. And can keep saying it.
While the affirmations by those not willing to put their IDs where their sympathies were were not helpful to your seeking a remedy, and while I'm sure you were experiencing some feelings of frustration and, perhaps, even desperation for a solution, at least they were expressing a level of solidarity with you. I'm sorry that you found it without any value.
Frustration was not in my vocabulary. Livid is a better description. For anyone, especially those that claim to be christian to hide facts and refuse to help in a manner that would have done some good was not what I considered solidarity. It was pretty much our family fighting on our own. There were those few that had the most to lose that stepped up to the plate. Yes we were desperate because of the children. There is no way on this earth I could have lived with myself if I refused to help someone elses innocent children.
Personally I don't have the facts outside of a few instances that formed my opinion. But I do know I put little faith in anyone failing to do what they demand of others. I have not seen evidence of proof, denials and putdowns are not proof or evidence that what they in fact are saying is true. They in turn say the same of Pickle and Joy
IMO, Sam has absolutely no business posting that without identification. If anonymous e-mails are going to be posted as proof of something ,then don't demand different from others.
What Sam did was underhanded and quite dishonest. I have my differences with Gailon,but I still expect the rules to be a bit more equal. I have no reason to believe Sam anymore than I have reason to believe Gailon.
The bottom line is for me,the same rule should apply.
This whole thing is like playing board games with my oldest brother. As soon as I came close to undersatnding the rules and winning, he changed the rules on me.
Without proof of the origin of the e-mail what he posted was rubbish or rumormongering by Sam. That great little word that gets tossed around so freely.
Sam need to back up that e-mail with a name,otherwise he should shut the mouth over it
edited to correct sentence