To Van Dwellers

I’m not on Van Dwellers anymore. I’m still on Mobile Living. Just putting that out there since Micheal moderated my last posts.

0 comments

  1. I haven’t been reading vandwellers for a bit, trying to have a life other than on the net, but I’ll miss your posts. Do you have a link for Mobile Living?

    Cheers

  2. Where Are You !?! I miss you ….. and Diane called me tonight. She’s desperate! Nobody’s showing up …eeeekkk

  3. Where Are You !?! I miss you! ….and Diane called me tonight. She’s desperate! Nobody’s showing up …..eeekkkkk

  5. I’m sorry you felt that you had to leave.
    I would not take moderation personal, They’ve put me in moderation a few times too. If I go off on some tangent, I can almost expect it.
    Some of the things I’d like to say on there just can not be said there.
    Yahoo, is still a variation of big brother!
    There are some things best left unsaid, but not this. “I still think of you as a little sister. If you wish to stray, I’m OK, but I’ll still worry for you.”
    You know where the back door is, I’ll leave the LEDs on for you. Maybe you can stop by just to rock with the old injun on the back porch?

  6. Thanks for the link to Mobile Living. Just signed up to see how it is. Lessee…. that makes 51 Yahoo Groups now…. I need more sunshine.
    🙂

    Peter

  7. I left the van dwellers group quite awhile ago after being moderated by Jim and that weird possum guy. After I read what he did to Heather, that was it for me. They are a bunch of left-wing conservatives with delusions of masculinity.

  8. What did that Possum Guy do to Heather?

    What’s a left-wing conservative with delusions of masculinity?

  9. Sandy, I doubt Possum did anything to Heather. I mean, the guy medicates rabbits before killing them so as not to scare them.

    Ghost Dancer, I just don’t have energy to go putting where it won’t be recieved. The moderating is personal to the moderator – I mean, Karen moderated me once and actually emailed me to tell me not to use adult words, like, “gay men” because her children are reading. That’s pretty damn personal, because who else do you know that doesn’t want their kids knowing gay people exist? And Micheal’s line in the sand is personal, too. Vandwellers talked about getting by on nothing and sidestepping laws for years, before he became a moderator.

    Anyways, I’d love to keep in touch with you, Ghost Dancer.

  10. I understand that Heather has issues with Possum from her website. I’ll not post it here, but you could find it if you search the site.

    When men with delusions of masculinity moderate women’s viewpoints from a left-wing conservative leaning, it is clear that they have an agenda–to silence strong women. I think that a group devoted to van dwelling should allow van dwellers to share why they chose this mobile lifestyle as well as how they earn money, handle security, and cope with a mobile lifestyle. But over there, Goddess forbid you complain about the economy, price of gas, the war in Iraq, or anything that the “moderators” hold dear to their conservative hearts. Van dwellers = conservative? I think not. But you should see the e-mails I got from “Jim”.

    Anyway, I like following the adventures of Tara. I wish she’d start a van dwelling ecofeminist blog. >^;^<

  11. Woah, so I just received a email that Karen sent to the group saying that I sent several nasty emails to the moderator. I sent one email to the group that was moderated, and there was nothing nasty in it.

    So, Karen, if you’re reading (and I’m sure you are), I challenge you to woman up: prove it, or apologize for your libel.

  12. Tara, what you’ve written above is just not true. I have all emails to & from you, also all pending messages from you, & all moderated posts which may or may not have been approved. *NO*, I did *NOT* say you could not use “adult words like gay men”. I did say that all the swearing & abusive words were not necessary, & unwanted.

    Yes, I’ve got all emails regarding the latest go-round on the “starbucks issue” on whether or not to place you back on moderation… including the ones you sent in after that, & personal emails… & no, I am *NOT* sorry, … theft in any way, shape or form is not cool at all, no matter what you want to call it, no matter if it’s a mom & pop business or whether it’s a corporate giants.

    Yes, some VanDwellers get by on “nothing’ or on very little, some have little or no income, some have gov’t. checks, some are working & making good money now, some have retired & have varying sizes of retirement checks. None of which should involve theft of any kind.

    There are always programs of all different types to get help when truly, honestly needed, not just as a way to get even with the “big guys”.

    You might wish to learn to spell Michael’s name correctly. It’s remained the same on the group since he joined.

    I doubt I’ll ever see this on the list here, which is fine with me, doesn’t matter, I just hope you read it before deleting it. I also hope you can get your life figured out, turned around, be happy & get the mega chips off your shoulders regarding several different things…

    You say you have a college degree in psychology… You might want to seriously consider using it for a good purpose, as in making a living.

    I wish you well.
    ~Karen~

  13. Sorry to see you go also Tara! Guess I will have to checkout the mobileliving group as well. Hopefully asshat jim won’t be there too.

    -Mike

  15. Here, I’ll post the email you say you didn’t send me:

    from: `~Karen~
    to: Tara
    date: Sun, Dec 17, 2006 at 12:47 PM
    subjectRe: OFFLIST /// Fw: [VanDwellers] Re: Today it finally happened
    mailed-byverizon.net

    No problem with mentioning your job, just not the specifics, because mentioning things like “sex industry” or about any “gay men” , or whatever, can get your group in big trouble with yahooey if someone complains… unless you’re in an adult rated group, which we aren’t.

    Thanks!
    ~Karen~

  16. Gee, where is the nasty e-mail you sent to Karen? She conveniently didn’t post that here. In my industry, we call that obfuscation. Also known as pretending not to understand the original question that was asked, Tara.

  17. A quick perusal of this here nifty website that Tara runs would show that she does indeed use her psychology degree to make a living, so that seems like sort of an odd thing to recommend.

    I haven’t been over on Van Dwellers, so I don’t know exactly how the moderation works over there. I do know that Tara and I disagree to some extent about things like theft and when theft might be appropriate, if ever. It sounds like Karen and Tara also disagree about theft. However, I don’t think someone should be silenced just because I disagree with them. That seems kinda creepy.

  18. You should remind Possum he is openly distributing (for profit) CD music and DVD movies illegally, and that is stealing. You only mentioned theft. Possum is actively engaged in ripping off the RIAA. Everyone should turn him in and have him brought to justice.

    Is Karen after Michael? Amazing how he became moderator so fast.

  19. Don’t usually comment.
    Don’t understand what is going on here.
    Don’t really care except for the fact that Tara’s made a decision that she feels comfortable with and there are too many stupid people giving her flack, which is a pile of crap. I second the call for her to create her own place to be in the groups. People will migrate to you and leave the other group in the dust – I guarantee it.

    Still wish she would come to the midwest, we need her kind of ppl.

    p.s. If yahoo can’t handle the words sex industry, then f**k em.

  20. Oh, yahoo doesn’t actually have a problem with the wordsd sex industry, Mo. “Karen” and “Yahoo” are not the same person/entity.

  21. Sandy wrote;
    “When men with delusions of masculinity moderate women’s viewpoints from a left-wing conservative leaning, it is clear that they have an agenda–to silence strong women.”

    Sandy could you please explain that?
    I’m as feminist as the next woman, and stronger than most, but Goddess knows I’m not following you.
    I’m not getting what makes them “men with delusions of masculinity” in your opinion.
    I’m not getting what you mean by “left-wing conservative leaning”.
    I’m not getting why if I’m moderated and if I’m female that automatically makes it about a man trying to silence a strong woman. Why do I have to impose gender into it? Couldn’t it be about a simple difference of opinion (and this has nothing to do about Tara’s situation, but in the abstract).

    Now, in my personal opinion, that Jim guy is a ring-wing conservative, sexist, racist asshat, but I saw him as the exception there instead of the rule.

  22. For what it’s worth, I don’t read VanDwellers at all, so the hubbub here abaout there is Greek to me.

    As I’m a friend of Tara’s, I’m pretty much on her side unless I learn I should be elsewise.

    So Tara … keep driving and I’ll keep reading. God bless you, sister. ~ Irish

  23. wow- you must have really pissed off this little karen because she’s actually pulling in the big guns! like your misspelling someone’s name! woooo doggie! how dare you! haha

    and I love it how she has portrayed your thoughts on theft to be an infantile wanting to “damn the man.” anyone who knows you that, like with everything else, your ideas on theft are really complex, nuances, interesting, and thought provoking.

    if the possibility of theft and sex-working and other things scares those over at van-dwelling, you really should get out of that carebear camping club and start your own awesome adult dweller club.

    you’re too radical for them, i guess. good for you.

    and since when did yahoo start banning groups for talking about gay men?

  24. I find it very sad that people have decided to go seperate ways over what is essentially just differences of opinion. 🙁

    Nobody will ever agree with people they know all the time. For people to then go and “take sides” and vow to not associate with people over a difference of opinion is pretty sad, and yeah, pretty silly and immature in my opinion.

    Live with the differences. You don’t have to agree with them, you don’t have to like them, but to withdraw and leave a group over them is kind of admitting defeat. It may be considered as a sign of defience, or a a sign of independance, and in their own way that is good. But it is really extreemly poor form to then go encourage others to not associate with people because of a difference of opinion you have.

    This so reminds me of childhood fights “I won’t be your friend if you’re their friend.” I really wish I could take people by the shoulders and say “Put this behind you, take a deep breath and think about what this is doing to a community you were once such a brilliant part of.”

    Then if that did not work I would probably slap all involved in the face and say “GROW UP and stop acting so childish over a simple difference of opinion. Stop this ‘he said, she said’, stop this destructive blame game and focus on the good, because belive me, there has been good from all sides.

    Sorry to get agro, but I’ve seen brilliant groups torn apart from this stuff in the past and I am furious to see this happening to a group I care much about.

  25. ouch! ouch! ouch!

    since when does a disagreement with a few individuals make the whole group suddenly and instantaneously worthless? rub my face in the shit?……i consider myself judged and found wanting.

    care bear camper, indeed

  26. I missed the offending emails. I did a search but didn’t find theft information.

    Just curious as to what started the rift. I don’t participate much, since I’m off the road for a while now.

    I really enjoy Van Dwellers as well as your Blog. I haven’t checked the site in a week or so and found you left by checking your blog.

    Just WHAT did you do, Tara. LOL… You were ripping off Starbucks???

    I like you and wish you well. I can’t imagine you stealing … bad karma.

    You don’t seem to be the kind of person who would incur bad karma.

    I shudder at the risks you take .. I’m 65! .. however, you have made my day more than once! I hope y0u find home in Alaska wonderful! I look forward to reading about your adventures there.

    Carolyn

  27. I missed the offending emails. I did a search but didn’t find theft information.

    Just curious as to what started the rift. I don’t participate much, since I’m off the road for a while now.

    I really enjoy Van Dwellers as well as your Blog. I haven’t checked the site in a week or so and found you left by checking your blog.

    Just WHAT did you do, Tara? LOL… You were ripping off Starbucks???

    I can’t imagine you stealing … bad karma. You don’t seem to be the kind of person who would incur bad karma.

    I shudder at the risks you take, Tara, makes my motherly instincts come out … however, you have made my day more than once by your love for adventure and life!

    I hope y0u find home in Alaska wonderful! I look forward to reading about your adventures there.

    Carolyn

  28. Not to tie up Tara’s great blog site, but I see that Lori is disturbed that she can’t follow me. But before I splain all that, here’s a thought: If you participate in a group where you know that censorship is going on in a way that is detrimental to the dessimination of information, then you are voting for that censhorship. If you vote with your feet and leave, you don’t support that type of censorship. I’m a big girl and no amount of reading someone else’s opinion regarding the use of services or the “theft” thereof will induce me to do anything that I’m not morally comfortable with. The van dweller group as a whole advocates “stealth parking” when they know for a fact it can be illegal to sleep in your vehicle in many localities. With that said, I hardly see how any “moderator” can decide on a case-by-case basis which “thefts” or illegalities are ok and which are not. That is my job as an informed member to decide.

    As for left-wing conservatives, those are the folks who make up the rules as they go along. Some might label them the religious “right” but in my book they are merely fanatics who have strayed so far left that they are hell-bent on destroying what few freedoms remain. Like muslim terrorists, they operate from fear–fear of female power, the liberal right, and of freedom itself. Here is an interesting article about how the brains of these left-wing ultra-conservatives just don’t work right: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-politics10sep10,0,5982337.story. At least there is now scientific evidence to support what I’ve thought all along.

    >^;^<

  29. I can assure you I have done NOTHING to Heather, Ever. I have never met her, and only talked to her once on the phone about buying her old red van. Heather has weird issues with any Man who is friends with her Mom. That is her problem, not mine. I am still good friends with Wendy both on and off of the net.

    As far as the other comments, for the record, I am a Paleo-Anarchist and a Wiccan. I don’t really give a damn if an opinion comes from a Man or a Woman. If I agree with it, I will say so, and if I disagree I will also say so.

    So sayeth Possum

  30. That’s the problem with Possum and Karen as moderators. They can disagree in the forum, but others that disagree will be moderated and their post often deleted. I guess you get to do that when you own the group, but I think Ghost Dancer is the owner. Anyway, Vandwellers has poor moderation and always will with those at the helm with their sense of judgement.

  31. Why do so many gripe about my being a Moderator on Vandwellers? I have done very little on that group since this Winter due to poor internet access. Think I am not telling the truth? Look for yourself!

    Date Member Activity
    Jun 10, 2008 9:43 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7086 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 10, 2008 9:43 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7086 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 10, 2008 9:43 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7086 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 10, 2008 9:44 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7085 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 10, 2008 10:58 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7087 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 12:27 am thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7088 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 12:18 pm ranchdoublek Edited message #7089 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:18 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7089 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:19 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7090 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:20 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7091 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:20 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7092 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:20 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7093 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:23 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7095 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:24 pm ranchdoublek Edited message #7096 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:25 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7096 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:26 pm ranchdoublek Edited message #7097 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:26 pm ranchdoublek Approved message #7097 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 12:26 pm ranchdoublek Rejected message #7094 via web by ranchdoublek
    Jun 11, 2008 1:00 pm icurapossum_hunter2 Approved message #7098 via web by icurapossum_hunter2
    Jun 11, 2008 2:05 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7099 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:05 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7099 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:06 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7100 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:07 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7100 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:07 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7101 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:24 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7102 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:24 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7102 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:54 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7103 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 2:54 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7103 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 3:18 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Edited message #7104 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001
    Jun 11, 2008 3:18 pm thecottageindustrialist2001 Approved message #7104 via web by thecottageindustrialist2001

  32. Sandy,

    Okay I understand what you’re saying.

    I disagree with you, but I understand what you’re saying now.

  33. Whoah! My inner voyeur is thrilled to read an internet drama that doesn’t involve me.

    It is not “admitting defeat” or doing something wrong to leave a group of any kind that sucks up energy and time that could be better spent elsewhere. A place with mods who tell anyone not to use the phrase “gay men” (and then lie about ever having said that) is definitely a place to avoid. It’s a dangerous, soul-sucking waste of time to (try to) post on boards or in groups where people censor what you’ve taken the time to contribute.

    And the people who pretend that gender couldn’t *possibly* be a factor? OMG.

  34. There are also people who pretend that gender *must* be the only factor?

    OMG.

    True should be in between.

  35. When a woman can’t type the words “gay man” or discuss her job, then if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, why it’s Donald Duck! It must be a man thing and there are usually enough women around whose job it is to sooth and protect men’s tender egos. I seriously don’t think men in general or Yahooey in particular need that much protecting in this society. My children certainly didn’t need to be protected from gay men or sex workers online. They needed to be protected from straight men and priests.

  36. Karen appears to be very protective of the Vandweller’s group and very frightened of Yahoo. Anything that might cause members to get offended and complain, or to lead to her getting in trouble with Yahoo, or to the group getting messed with by Yahoo, seems to cause her to react somewhat violently.

    For example, if you have too much sex-related or adult-related discussion, then Yahoo will lock your group behind an “adults-only” wall. Yahoo sucks, but Karen is pretty clearly over-reacting.

    Also, if you discuss or advocate illegal activity, the group could get shut down by Yahoo, the moderators might get into trouble, and, at worst, the Law might come down on the group members, or on all vandwellers as a class. That would be a bad thing, and Karen would have to take the blame for having allowed it to happen. I doubt that’d happen from getting free Latte’s, but I can understand why she might come down so hard.

    I can also understand why Tara wouldn’t want to arse with Vandwellers anymore. She has this blog that she owns completely and absolutely. She can advocate for, and express, and share, whatever she wants here. Her writing is wonderful. If she wants to risk posting tips on how to rip off corporations, then that’s her choice to make and her risk to accept.

  37. I also left vandwellers at about the same time. It was attracting wackos. those who wanted to be soothed and stroked for their insane behaviors. Im rather midline. But like you, I am a feminist thru and thru. But I am sixty and missed the revolution. Van dwelling is a way to seek freedom for me. Its always there to run to… I just cant tolerate the I am always right, I am man attitude….

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