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    Willow wrote a new post

    Deep breath...

    I don't think I've strung together so many words in a format like this since term papers in college. It's a lot harder than poetry. But I'm going to give it a shot. Probably the only time I'll ever...

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    • Good write. Unfortunately, there are shadows on the net. 98% of the time, these same shadows are one cell narcistic amoebas that spew hate. One’s best tool, on the media, is common sense. A Mod should be given the tools to vanish an imposter of the human race. Abuse of any nature should be flung from the balustrade of Stars.

    • Thank you for being who you are – both mouse and lion. (or R.O.U.S – love the reference!)

      All my life, and especially in my years of poetry forums, I’ve only ever become aware of dramas after they’ve happened. I don’t know whether I’m ridiculously inattentive, or just lucky, or if I should feel guilty that I wasn’t in the trenches fighting (which is ridiculous when I’ve not even been aware there WERE trenches). In this case I know I’ve just wandered in after the fact… but I appreciate what you’ve done for the community and will do the same if the situation ever calls for it. Thank you for leading the way.

      Have a good rest.
      ❤k

      • If you see someone being harassed/abused, speak to Fia or Bobbington. They did a great job sorting this out. Moderators handled it on DU, so you may have been fortunate enough to appear after the fact. The beauty of having a life outside the site. I’m glad you’ve never had to see it. It’s gut wrenching. We have to look out for our community. I’m on duty any time I’m online. Thank you

    • Amen, Willow. Into the book it belongs! I agree with you 100%, and thank you for getting out of your comfort zone to make this known. It is our community and creative home, no one should have to put up with that kind of bullshit. Also, this was well written my friend. Appreciate you.

      Damian

      • SO far out of my comfort zone that it’s taken me this long to recover. People bicker & snipe at each other all the time. It’s human behavior. But outright abuse…that shit don’t fly with me. Thank you, my friend

    • Thank you so much for this.

    • Kudos! Never mince words. The mighty pen!

      • Oh shit, I’m not sure I even know how to mince words anymore. Life is too uncertain to dilly dally around. I say it as I see it & I will tear down walls to rescue someone trapped inside a predator’s grasp. Thank you

    • I think the culprit should be named, so everyone knows that they are not good people.
      I don’t want to be friends with, or even comment with, on someone with poor morals.

      • Thank you for your honor. Mary covered the naming. I will add, if you see abuse or harassment, take it to the site administrators. They handled this very well.

    • The poetry community needs writers that are passionate. But some people turn it into something else. And I get the Internet can bring out the worst in us but we should all encourage the art and put aside the BS. Honestly I dealt with a lot of this on DUP and that’s why I keep to myself. I deal with enough drama off the Internet.

      • We all need a safe space to clear our heads, to express the shit we maybe can’t in the “real world.” There will always be those who prey on us. I’m just not willing to sit down & shut up anymore. I too dealt with it on DU. Life is hard enough. This should be our safe{r} space. Thank you

    • I fear that no space is safe from people like that. Everywhere I go, there is always at least one. I will say that this is probably one of the better places because people actually care but it is still sad when people abuse something that should be so far from that.
      I too, as many others have said, wish we could name the offender or even the victim. Too often people like that get away with it because they operate where no one else can see and their targets suffer more for it. I would have liked to potentially lend support to whoever the “she” is that was treated this way. It doesn’t erase what was done but some of the most meaningful interactions I’ve had with other people is when I found out they stood up for me even when they didn’t have to and had nothing to gain. I hope maybe someday they’ll come back and give it a try.
      At least there are people like you who are willing to speak up for them and against that type of behavior.

      • The she in this case was the account Adira. The abuser was named above by Mary (Adira)…who has returned. Any time you see anything like what was described, reach out to the site administrators. They may already be aware & working on it. Or they not be aware yet. Much of this community migrated from a site of nearly 20 years that closed in May. We’re probably pretty protective of our new home & this new community. Predators are on every corner, but this community can shove them back into the gutter if we look out for each other. Thank you

    • Mary, thank you for pointing me towards Willow’s post. I am glad action was taken and hope this beautiful place on the internet will remain free of this person. Willow and you are amazing gifts to this place. Never forget that.

      • As a community, we can make this a safe space. Report what looks like abuse. Nobody needs to just quietly take it. Too many women on DU fell to his abuse. Some never returned. Until he attacked Mary here, I hadn’t realized she was one of his targets on DU as well. I’m glad the administrators shut it down before he got a foothold. Many thanks to them!

    • People who bully online are miserable people, period. So they lash out in little pussy ways. They are insecure, depthually lonely, because no one wants to be around them. etc.
      Always call them out on their BS. Always. Send me their screen names, etc. I can be brutal.
      There are a few writers on here that I do not care for their material at all. Same as the other place. That’s putting it mildly. Yet, they have a right, as we all do, to participate. It’s easy enough to ignore them. But i will defend pretty much anyone from being harassed. The same as in real life.
      Never run from an online coward. Light them up.

      • Bickering & difference of opinions are to be expected. As you said, I ignore that. This was beyond that. This was vile abuse. But the administrators took care of it. Now we just look out for each other & build a strong community.

    • He didn’t only attack women who wrote erotica. He went after women who processed their trauma out loud on DU. Some of them left the site. Some returned, others never did.

    • Absolutely, girl. In a heartbeat I would do it again. Good to see your face here again!

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    Willow wrote a new post

    Whatcha Got?

    y'all like to act like we're irrational animalslike we just flipped the bitch switchbut that ain't itwhat I am is sick & tiredfed the fuck up with fighting for what should be a givenconstantly trying to validate my existencebecause people...

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    • hi beautiful Willow this is fierce 💕

      • I’m tired of seeing predators get away with their behavior while nobody stands up for their victims. I had hoped it wouldn’t appear here but it followed.

    • Nice to hear you ROAR! The subject of this poem should definitely beware.

      [I don’t know (or want to know) any details, but I have to confess this makes me a little leery of trying to re-enter this space. Ah, the internet sucks sometimes!]

      Keep writing your fierce and beautiful heart.
      ❤k

      • If anyone has problems with harassment or abuse, speak with Fia or Bobbington. They handled this situation beautifully. Yeah…I was…pissed. No, make that outrageously furious. I’m calm now. Many thanks to the above mentioned site administrators. Predators are all over the place, but these guys are watching out for us.

    • Powerfully penned, Willow. I think this is a, Mic Drop! Appreciate you.

      Damian

    • Roar! Claws activated!

    • Like the sick dog he was. I can’t remember the last time I was so upset…

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