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Sure, or maybe behind every 5 or 10 screen names there is one living breathing person trying to make it look like there is wider support for this than there really is. Just like your own ID magically appeared yesterday just so you could make this seemingly warm, heartfelt post. For all we know you are just the original poster in disguise, and you could be out to get our names and addresses as part of some Jerry Falwellesque moral crusade.

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Curiously, the "proof" that this is legitimate consists of going to another website to view posts. I haven't read every post here, but apparently there are no neighbors or friends speaking up, and by friends I mean somebody who has actually done something like visit this person in the hospital.

And though the petition site may be legitimate, it doesn't mean this cause is. So you put this plea on BDSM boards and folks sign. It is obvious where folks found out about it. For all anyone here knows you are just some Jerry Falwell moral crusaders using this ploy to get the names and addresses of "deviants", and for those of us who aren't public with neighbors, friends, and employers about BDSM activities there is a real risk that you'd use this info to try and ruin our lives.

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So all your talk about decency is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors, and it's the sort of "trust me" talk one usually hears before the sales pitch to buy a nice bridge connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn.

Something stinks about this. This whole "sign or she dies" urgency looks phony and manipulative to me, as do posts by "people" (or ids created) who signed up yesterday.

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My final suggestion -- if you really want to do the decent thing, sell your computer and send her the money. That way, you can help her directly and you won't annoy us any more.

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ORIGINAL: Tempestspet

The person in front of the grocery store, at your door... or wherever in your face asking you to sign a petition.. still highly likely that this could be a scam... hate to tell ya. Just because someone comes up to me in person, I don't trust them anymore than on the internet.
jennifer

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I am not an unfeeling, uncaring person, and I am rather irritated by the fact that this is being implied by those who have a different viewpoint. Nor is this situation an exterme example of something that has the potential to be really bad. It's unfortunate that the extreme prevelance of situations that -are- bad has required individuals to become wary in order to be safe. I've been trying to emphasize the fact that I know nothign about the individual in this case, and that I would be equally suspicious of -any- such request, simply because it is a good idea to be that careful.

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ORIGINAL: MaggieLynn

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I am not an unfeeling, uncaring person, and I am rather irritated by the fact that this is being implied by those who have a different viewpoint. Nor is this situation an exterme example of something that has the potential to be really bad. It's unfortunate that the extreme prevelance of situations that -are- bad has required individuals to become wary in order to be safe. I've been trying to emphasize the fact that I know nothign about the individual in this case, and that I would be equally suspicious of -any- such request, simply because it is a good idea to be that careful.

Would you be willing to contact her if she is agreeable to her information being given? Would you be agreeable to contacting me?

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ORIGINAL: perverseangelic

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ORIGINAL: Tempestspet

The person in front of the grocery store, at your door... or wherever in your face asking you to sign a petition.. still highly likely that this could be a scam... hate to tell ya. Just because someone comes up to me in person, I don't trust them anymore than on the internet.
jennifer

Yup, it could, but the ones I sign only ask for my name and signature, not for my e-mail address or anything similar. Also, I know that written petitions can have significant impact. Internet petitions are still in the early stages with very few taking them seriously.

Look, I'm not trying to be an ass. I'm simply saying that on the net it is better to be suspicious than get yourself in trouble. I -hate- having to be this fearful of others. I hate that I can't simply trust everyone to be who they say they are, because that's how I prefer to be and that is my natural impulse in my interaction with the world. However, I -know- that there are people who would take advantage of me out there.

What sucks is that even if the ratio of scammers is very low (lets say 1 in 50) there is =zero= way of telling whether the individual you're talking to is that 1 in 50.

Why is distrust being equated to being an unfeeling person? I hate having to be distrustful, however, I would rather be this way than placed in a situation that would be...well...bad. I work to change the world such that I don't -have- to be so suspicious, however, in that work I've come to recognize just how risky just about everything can be. That doesn't mean I don't do -anything- it simply means that I'm careful about what I choose to become invovled in and how I become invovled in it.

I am not an unfeeling, uncaring person, and I am rather irritated by the fact that this is being implied by those who have a different viewpoint. Nor is this situation an exterme example of something that has the potential to be really bad. It's unfortunate that the extreme prevelance of situations that -are- bad has required individuals to become wary in order to be safe. I've been trying to emphasize the fact that I know nothign about the individual in this case, and that I would be equally suspicious of -any- such request, simply because it is a good idea to be that careful.

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ORIGINAL: buffiyum

i am not sure where the petition in question is but i would like to wish the girl well on this medical journey in which she is now embarke. to you i send out much positive energy and hope that it will help you in these times to come.
sign: buffy

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ORIGINAL: siamsa24

I do hope that the money comes in. Please take my advice on the fundraisers, if you need help please message me on the other side and I will be more then happy to guide you through the process of several different fundraisers.