I'm Helen. I'm a mom of 2 teens, wife to my sweetie and I work from home as a telephone advice nurse. 'Triage' is from a french word meaning 'to sort'.
In nursing, it means to determine the level of urgency of care needed- so I'm a sorter of sorts:-)
In my free time, I like to bake and do home projects, like painting (walls, not pictures) My current fun is making handmade soaps and other bath and body goodies.
They Kicked Me Out!
For the past few weeks I’ve been enjoying the company of other soap makers on a popular forum. Recently some comments were made by other members in response to my new Etsy shop where I plan to try to sell some of my soaps and other bath items. Personally, I think it’s my own business when and how I try to sell my own handmade items, but I appreciate that others have their own opinions.
Anyway, some of the members got into the discussion and I think I posted one comment in jest that said something like “whoa, I guess you knocked me down a peg. Have a super day” but nothing really nasty at all. Other than that, I’ve just been posting photos of my soaps, commenting on other photos (positively!), asking questions and generally just trying to have fun being part of this community. Well….last night I tried to log on and couldn’t. Long story short- my account was deleted by the admin. Another member sent me a link to my last forum comment which had been replaced by this:
“Juicybath2’s account has been delted. Admin has determined her attitiude and bahavior to be detrimental to our community.”
Ok, what?? I have NO CLUE what they are talking about. Some of the other members have been discussing my banishment on one of my threads, and this is part of what the admin posted tonight:
“No one will ever get banned for just giving their opinion, so don’t be scared of that at all!
Juicybath turned out to be not that kind & sweet towards others, and got personal with some forum members.
She did not get banned for selling (too) early; although the mod team does not encourage that.
When a member gets banned they get informed about it. With a rolling IP you could sign up again; but the admin always deletes these new accounts.
The mod team does understand the impact of banning a member; and we do not enjoy it. But we do take pride in having a friendly forum where everyone feels respected. That’s why sometimes it just has to be done…”
Wow. I would love the admin to show me where I ‘got personal’ with other members! I honestly have no idea what they are talking about. I was never nasty or unkind to ANYONE on that forum. I challenge anyone to find an unkind word I used there. Oh, and as for the part about INFORMING me…..NOPE. No emails, no discussion…they just deleted my account without a word.When I contacted one of the moderators to ask what was wrong, she answered and said she would talk to someone about it and then….nothing.
Real nice way to run a “friendly” forum, right? I guess this is a first for me. I’ve never been banned from anywhere before 
Update: I’m sad to find out that other members are leaving the forum after this fiasco. I guess this is what happens when a moderator decides (for some false reason) they don’t like a member and ban them. They are trying to tell everyone that I was harrassing members via email and PM. NOT true, but of course they don’t have to prove it because they just say they aren’t allowed the post the private comments. The other moderators don’t even understand it. Other members have sent me links to other soaping forums, so I’ll go and have a look at those today. I don’t want to be part of a toxic environment anyway, even if it’s on the web!
September 24th, 2009 9:14 am
I’m sorry that happened to you Helen. We’re very glad to have you at NW Soapers.
Take care,
Mike
September 24th, 2009 10:05 am
I was banned from SMF for the same reason pretty much!!!
And your at a much better forum now !!!!
I’m there as well just under a different name. The name given here is the one i was banned under on SMF.
September 29th, 2009 1:43 pm
Hey– fellow Ban-shees, welcome to my blog:-)
Helen´s last blog ..Soapy Fun
October 1st, 2009 1:55 pm
I just noticed that you were no longer on the forum. I miss your pictures and comments! Your pictures and advice inspired me to try HP, and I love it now. All the best with Etsy!
October 1st, 2009 2:01 pm
Hi JustPeachy!
Thanks for visiting. You must come and join us at this wonderful soaping forum I’ve now joined. It’s such a nice group- friendly and laid back..no kicking out for ridiculous reasons there!
Hope to see you:-)
http://nwsoapers.proboards.com/
Helen´s last blog ..Soapy Fun
October 12th, 2009 4:08 pm
Uh, yeah banned for having my OWN opinions. Oh well, NW Soapers is so refreshing. Love it there. I was actually called an ass by the mod for everyone to read. Whatever, it was very unprofessional there.
October 27th, 2009 10:07 pm
Hi Juicy – I followed you to NWS!!!
November 3rd, 2009 8:05 pm
Hee hee! This sounds like my kinda blog…..with a bunch of bad a** trouble makers
j/k
I think I would have started singing a modified version of “Take this Job and shove it”
Goes something like this……”Take this forum and SHOVE IT! I ain’t postin’ here no more…. ”
Kim´s last blog ..Simply Scrumptious!
January 19th, 2010 7:43 pm
First and foremost your soaps are amazing!!!
I like to lurk on soap forums, I find it amusing to watch all the “drama”.
Tread carefully, a gifted soap maker like yourself may find your products being copied. If you want to be in business and not doing this as a hobby, keep in mind “branding” your business. All posts are public and would your want clients/future accounts reading it???
Time is better served, getting your products out to the general public, not the soap making community that spends their days posting on forums. Just my two cents???
Which brings me to the question why are handmade soapers such as nasty lot? And why aren’t there more handmade soaps on the market?
Cheers
Grace
January 20th, 2010 12:03 pm
Hi Grace- Thanks for reading:-) My favourite soap forum has no drama. We are all really supportive of one another and we teach and learn from one another. It all sounds so sugary sweet, doesn’t it– but it really is. I don’t spend much time at the ‘other’ forums. I don’t have time for that crap.
Good questions- I have no idea why so many soapmakers are nasty. There are LOTS of handmade soaps on the market, if you know where to look. Farmers Markets and craft fairs are great places to find us.
At the moment, I’m not really worried about anyone copying my products. I’m just having fun learning and sharing ideas with other soapmakers and trying to get better and better. I have a great career and soaping is just a side project for now. Who knows what will happen but I’m taking it slow with the business side of things. I want it to stay fun and creative…not like an assembly line production.
Thanks for the nice compliment about my soaps!