Westridge & Other Schools(Formerly LDS Perceptions thread)

[_Yoda]

Since Bob Crockett has made the comment on several threads now that Eric's initial post "humiliated his family", I thought it best to go to the source.

Here is the original post, which, by the way, was dated March 9, 2008. This mess has been going on for over a year. I'll further address that point in a moment:

This is somewhat off-topic, I just wanted people to see it before it gets moved...

My step-sister who goes to school in Utah came down with a bad infection and was very seriously ill, to the point where my mother and step-father told me she may not make it. After a week in the hospital, she is doing better, but I went to my email inbox to find that I was CC'd on the following email from my step-father - needless to say he's one of the F.A.R.M.S cronies and what I consider to be a Mormon Blowhard:

Hello Family, Friends, Colleagues, Students, and Saints:

There are several reasons we have seen what was a very ominous situation become a very hopeful situation. First and foremost, if her cousin, *****, had not followed her premonition to check on **** last Monday, and then get her to the hospital, we might be having a very different (and tragic) report to give you.

We are certain that the prayers and positive thoughts offered by so many people played a significant and profound part in ****'s healing. Also, the many expressions of concern, hope, and love offered by many people that contacted us via email, telephone, and text messaging, enabled ***** to know that you are all rooting for her, and this gave her (and us) strength.

Also, in our LDS faith community, we give actual priesthood blessings by the laying on of hands as discussed in the New Testament and elsewhere, and ***** was the recipient of several of these. I was present for some of them and was struck by the amazing power and faith of one David ****, a Melchizedek Priesthood holder and a man without guile, who boldly rebuked the very disease that brought harm to our daughter.

And something more: members of our congregation back in California, along with others, fasted on behalf of her, and we believe this had a profound effect in opening the heavens and receiving a miracle.....

I want to ask him why God decided to give this poor girl such a horrible disease, or why the priesthood blessings didn't cure her outright, and so on...

I would like to ask Bob, (if he has the guts to answer.....He seems to have disappeared since I kicked his ass yet again on the thread Inc started about DCP and bishops), and anyone else who cares to respond.....What is "humiliating" to Eric's family about this post?

He mentions that his stepfather is a "blowhard and a FARMS cronie". OK....that's not the most flattering terminology, but for someone who is having a dispute with a parent, I would consider it fairly mild. Also, where did he disparage his sister? He spoke of general concern for her being sick.

He posted the email his stepfather had sent, but took out all of the in real life references. Unless you specifically received this email, you would have no idea who this was.

Also, at the time Eric posted this, no one knew whether he was male or female.

Also...the question he asks here seems genuine and heart-felt:

I want to ask him why God decided to give this poor girl such a horrible disease, or why the priesthood blessings didn't cure her outright, and so on

He was seriously in turmoil as to why someone who he loved would have to go through something like this.

The point I have made to Daniel about all of this from the beginning is that I understood that Daniel was just trying to be a friend to Eric's stepdad, and felt he was doing the right thing by telling him about this post. I understand that. HOWEVER, in my opinion, as a mother of a teen-aged daughter, and a daughter who is in her early 20's...I felt that this was a wrong move. Alerting Eric's stepfather was not wise, in this situation. Eric simply posted this on a board where he felt comfortable, and was looking for some consolation, friendship, and answers to his questions.

Yes, he was venting. But, frankly, I think what he said about his stepfather was pretty mild....and he said nothing negative about his ill sister at all.

If Eric's comment had simply been left alone, it would have likely been completely forgotten by now. I had to search for this original post, and I had to go through 3 pages of posts on various threads to find it.

THE ORIGINAL POST HAPPENED A YEAR AGO.

So.....my question to Daniel and to Bob is.....

What is "humiliating" about this post?

Also.....maybe....after taking another look at this....there might be some way to come to an understanding where a lawsuit could be avoided?

Eric....if Daniel were to sincerely apologize to you....would that make a difference?

[_why me]

I would not post an email from someone on a message board unless I had the writer of the email's permission. In this case, it was perhaps not given by the stepdad. Also, it would be interesting to see what type of discussion came from this post by Eric. Perhaps it was not the most flattering to the step-father but I don't know since I have not seen the thread.

Calling a step father a cronie or a blowhard is not the most flattering and it may show some hostility between the two.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I'll leave this discussion in the charitable and confident hands of those who know less than I do about the relevant facts.

[_Doctor Scratch]

I'll leave this discussion in the charitable and confident hands of those who know less than I do about the relevant facts.

Why? Liz asked a perfectly valid and legitimate question. In fact, Ray, myself, and others have asked some variation of this question on numerous occasions. You have avoided answering every single time.

[_Yoda]

I would not post an email from someone on a message board unless I had the writer of the email's permission. In this case, it was perhaps not given by the stepdad. Also, it would be interesting to see what type of discussion came from this post by Eric. Perhaps it was not the most flattering to the step-father but I don't know since I have not seen the thread.

Calling a step father a cronie or a blowhard is not the most flattering and it may show some hostility between the two.

Here is a link to the actual thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5434&p=133161&hilit=+sister#p133161

The thread is 10 pages long, so I didn't read through it all. I think you'll find a mix of opinions, but most posters were very supportive of Eric, and hoped that his sister recovered soon.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Because of the nature of the situation and my relationship to it and (my many vocal critics here will laugh, but it's true) my ethical commitments, I'm unable to discuss this situation adequately. But I see no benefit in discussing it inadequately. So I won't be dragged into yet another interminable conversation, with a largely hostile and accusatory group, about a matter in which one of my hands is effectively tied behind my back.

Have a good time, though.

[_Yoda]

I'll leave this discussion in the charitable and confident hands of those who know less than I do about the relevant facts.

I understand that there is "more to the story", as you say, but if you take a step back and look at ONLY WHAT IS POSTED in Eric's OP, can you see why most of us here are confused?

Isn't it also possible to concede that maybe reporting this to Eric's stepdad was a bit of overkill?

What I'm trying to get at here is....What, IN THIS SPECIFIC POST, is humiliating to Eric's family?

I'm actually hoping to get an answer from Bob Crockett on this. I believe that he was the one who specifically stated that Eric "humiliated his family" by posting this.

Although I question the ethics of posting the email in its entirety, Eric did blot out all of the in real life references.

[_Pokatator]

Because of the nature of the situation and my relationship to it and (my many vocal critics here will laugh, but it's true) my ethical commitments, I'm unable to discuss this situation adequately. But I see no benefit in discussing it inadequately. So I won't be dragged into yet another interminable conversation, with a largely hostile and accusatory group, about a matter in which one of my hands is effectively tied behind my back.

Have a good time, though.

You're right I laughed. It is a hell of a time to bring ethics into the discussion.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Great questions, Liz. Is all of this stemming from a "zero tolerance" attitude towards anything and anyone who would dare question the Church?

[_Dr. Shades]

rcrocket is dead wrong about all this. GoodK's post IN NO WAY humilitated his family. How could it? He left absolutely NO identifying information whatsoever! Casual readers, such as myself, had absolutely no way of knowing the players to whom GoodK was referring.

Not just that, but the phenomenon that GoodK pointed out was indeed a discussion-worthy one. His stepfather mentioned prayers, postive thoughts, numerous priesthood blessings, members back home fasting, etc., as being instrumental in her recovery, but NOWHERE does he mention competent medical authority as being a factor in her recovery. Ergo, it's clear that GoodK's stepfather's voodoo-mentality was under discussion here; his family members were merely the backdrop at best.

Were no one contacted in real life, no humiliation would've been at all possible.