Wow, lesson learned.....geesh

I'm doing research for a book and posted here a couple of days ago with a forensic toxicology question. The only other resource I had found was through an individual's website; I emailed this person and he in turn directed me to his yahoo messageboard where this subject matter is discussed for me to post the question.

I have never belonged to a Yahoo messageboard before. But, no big deal, right?

I joined, then copied and pasted my question originally posed in my email to him at the board.

The next post to the board, and specifically in response to my post, was from the same gentleman (owner of the board), asking people to sign with their full name when posting as there are criminals seeking this type of information. I'm paraphrasing, as he wrote several paragraphs about the nefarious nature of people and how law enforcement warned him about this.

He specifically referred to "the newest post which is a perfect example of how this raises suspicion."

Well, I absolutely took offense. The thing is, in my original email to him, he had my full name and contact information. He knew exactly who I was and could have verified it if he had wanted to. Granted, he might not have meant to point at me, but the wording was certainly that way.

I responded politely that I didn't realize one needed to put their name with posts, as I wasn't used to that (heck, the only boards I frequent use screen names as here at DU...besides, people can fake "real" names all they want), but I would certainly do so since he was requesting this. I also mentioned that I found it offensive that, since he had my full name and contact info, he would use my post as an example of "suspicious" behavior and inquiries. I wasn't shitty or sarcastic at all (not like I'm being in this post...lol).

But the minions were then unleashed!!!

There were posts about how it's only common courtesy to post one's name, that "me thinks one doth protest too much," that I'm way off base taking offense with their dear leader, blah, blah, blah.

Needless to say, I never got my question answered, but I sure have no interest in any Yahoo groups now.

Oy vey. It's bad enough having Agent Mike on my ass from posting here, but now I probably have some Interpol after me now regarding any unusual poisoning deaths.


:eyes:

which led to much spam as well as very long diatribes from random crazy persons sent to all list members (which I guess would be non-commercial spam) so I bailed after a month or so. As to the forensic toxicology, I remember similar difficulties when I just wondered how succinylcholine is spelled. (Didn't want to kill anybody; it just came up a lot on Forensic Files and I wondered how in hell you spell that.) I thought the CourtTV boards could help you, but they seem to be focussed just on current cases and current CourtTV shows. You might want to search the archives, though. I'm sure you've seen it, but this is an offshoot of the CourtTV site that seems apt: http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/toxicology/10.html

avoid that place like cyanide