Wow!
I can feel the tension from where I am and let me tell you, I'm a heck of a long way from where you guy's are!
Relax max, take a chill-pill or go stroke a cat or something, no-one on this god given earth can advise anyone, who are not themselves personally involved in the situation involving children.
Problems involving parents and their children and between parents who have children in a divorce situation, are best sorted out with what we are given naturally...time.
A divorced couple who seek assistance from a professional, are those who are at a point where they cannot communicate any longer and end-up inadvertently hurting their children psychologically.
These places you speak of are there to assist young mothers (or single parents in general, so I'm lead to believe) We have similar organisations over here that assist and try to understand a situation and assess the position in fine detail before offering a suitable answer to their dillema. It's then up to the individual whether they accept this or not and the decision for the well being of the children will come first and foremost, irrespective of what the parent will decide in this matter and if the decision made by the parent involves the well being of the children.
We are not here to point fingers at those who are at least trying to sort out an "adult" mistake. Those who find themselves in a situation as single parent, need a pat on the back and have some support should it be needed, support thats not overwhelming and to lend an ear, only if it's required. If it's to feel sorry for someone in this situation, just be ready to get told to bugger off.

TarynW

This $1100 is irrelevant. Posting is free, so the amount is for sponsorship. Sponsorship shouldn't have any effect on the operations of the website.

What's the problem with being asked to post under another name? It doesn't have to be the real name.

Okay, so Antje has since said he/she made the post. Was this clear at the time of the post, when they stated they were the CEO of PALE?

As for the notion that it's 'none of anybodies business' whether a poster posts under the name of the organisation - again, that's sidestepping the point.

It has been brought up as a topic for discussion, the point of this site.

I agree with you that in the end, it is their call. Ultimately, nobody here has actually called for banning people from OLO - but as this is a site which discusses topics, isn't a fair topic for discussion, the notion that if someone posts under the name of an organisation, this person's individual approach will cause people to form a certain impression of that organisation?

And, can you tell me, where precisely this thread discredits the organisation? The thread was to offer advice to the CEO of the organisation.
I've still yet to see anything that has proven that advice to be invalid. The very existence of this debate shows that an organisation should adopt very clear policies in relation to spokespeople.

It would be quite reasonable of a journalist to write an article with the paragraph: 'A spokesperson for People Against Live Exports (PALE) stated that the government should consider relaxing gun control laws."

Were this to occur, the effect could be devastating on the organisation.
PALE (the organisation) does not have a large enough profile yet for journalists to be out for these kinds of comments - but were the group to raise its profile, which should be its ultimate aim, then this kind of thing could indeed occur.

Yes, it's their business how they operate. That doesn't mean other people can't comment on the practice, without it being construed as a personal attack.

Comments have been made regarding a breach of Forum rules in what I presume is the Beautiful Tears thread

"Note that on that same thread a person was using the thread to advertise their book! I don’t see Robert opening a thread complain about that poster! and it’s not my intention to cause that poster any problems either. I am simply drawing your attention to Roberts’s double standards. " http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=989#17404

Fair call except that those who care to look will note that I was one of a number of posters who pointed out that breach of rules and the original poster concerned had the grace and maturity to apologise for doing so http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=874#15237 "I want to apologize to all of you as I didn't realize I was doing anything wrong. My intent was not to promote my book although it does appear that way after reading it again. My intent was to find a group of single parents for support. Again, I apologize sincerely." and in the same post "I have asked that my post be removed and again apologize for offending anyone."

Looks to me like the poster concerned behaved in a manner she can be very proud of.

Also from the post mentioned first "This other person is very much in bridge of OLO rules and if you read it he is friendly and even suggests a personal visit. Which takes me to Robert and the other poster misusing OLO. It’s not an introduction service." - actually the idea of visiting if I was ever in that part of the world was suggested by PALE http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=874#17090 "Robert you should vist V next your that way.". I happen to agree that I'd be pleased to meet V.Amberlee, she seem like someone I'd be honored to have as a friend. Matchmaking no, enjoying getting to know some of the people I meet on OLO yes.

It seems that the posts from Antje and Taryn are comprised of strawman after strawman, distortion after distortion and almost no addressing of what is actually said or done.

More to follow.

R0bert

Sorry if this is dragging on too much for some of you but for some perverse reason I'm finding this interesting.

I'm intrigued by how much Taryn presumes to know about my private life, she apparently has access to my financial records and is observing me closely enough to know how I spend my time. Kind of creepy.

I looked the rules up earlier regarding use of accounts

"If you are a registered user or subscriber to this site or any of its products or services, you acknowledge and agree that:

- you are solely responsible for the protection and confidentiality of any password or User ID that may be issued to or subscribed for by you from time to time ("User Password");
- you will not reveal (or cause to be revealed through any act or omission) your User Password to any other person;
- you will immediately notify us if your User Password is lost or becomes known to any other person;
- you are solely responsible for all access to and use of this site via your User Password, whether such access or use is by you or any other person;
- registered user or subscriber services are for one user only and you will not let any other person use your User Password or any registered user or subscriber services; and
- any information you provide to us at any time becomes our property.

On face value the post which claimed to be from David was in clear breach of the second last rule. If as Antji claims the post was typed by herself then I'm fine with accepting that the post was a dishonest rather than a breach of rules. Note that Antje only made that claim after this thread was opened.

As for threats of legal action, I'll be interested to see where I've attacked the organisation represented by Antje and Taryn.

R0bert

"This other person is very much in bridge of OLO rules"

What on earth does this mean, and why do both 'PALE'and 'TarynW' use the same malapropism?

This being "in bridge" has featured prominently in posts from PALE members recently - but what are they talking about?

They might of course mean 'in breach', but that would be a curious coincidence.

I'm beginning to think that "People Against Live Exports and Intensive Farming" consists of about 3 people.

Whatever the case, their antics in this forum can only work against the credibility of the organisation that they purport to represent.

Interestingly, their website (http://www.livexports.com/) says:

"Antje Struthmann

Known as the Marsupial Whisperer, Antje is the CEO of PALE and a close friend too all animals."

Is Antje the CEO of PALE, or is it "David"?

Hilarious, but of negative value to the interests of animals, in my opinion.

morgan
As you read our site- probably for the first time you will see pale in conjunction with RSPCA QLD .
We have `one` RSPCA QLD computer and web site man for over two hundred computers.
When he gets time there are several changes to me made.
Again you have tried to defame me personally.
Yes I am also know for my wild care work.
I will now bring this to the attention of others because we have a saying.
enough is enough
I have said before and I will say it again it takes a new low to try to cause trouble for a person working to improve animal welfare or a NFP group of people.
I have long suspected you are a person who requires help.
While I feel sorry for you if that is the case you have left a trial of comments targeted directly both at myself and pale which will not be tolerated.