A Shocking Email

I received a shocking email yesterday, but wanted to wait at least 24 hour hours for a reply to my return message before I said anything about it publicly. It has been over that now, and I have not yet heard from her again, so here is the story.

I have been a member of a particular community group for over 11 years at varying activity levels. Two years ago, I became a lot more regularly involved, and started participating in yahoo groups and other meetings & brainstorming sessions to help foster & strengthen the community.

A few months ago, a relatively unknown person started a new yahoo group for the community and stated without ceremony that she was taking over an activity previously handled by the other groups in the area. There was some confusion as to whether she had spoken with the other folks about taking over, and I was curious, so I joined her group in addition to the ones I already was a member of. It never hurts to have too much information. *smile*

I proceeded to give my ideas, thoughts, assistance, and even money to her group to help with the things she needed done. (this was after we found out she was going through the right channels and had actually had permission to run the event)

Then, yesterday, right out of the blue, I have an email in my inbox from her. It states that there have been a lot of complaints about my "behavior" in the group and that I have been banned. I am also told that I will not be vending at the event as previously arranged, and if I take any further action, I will be escorted from the event. (which, by the way, is going to be held in a public park in an area that she has not reserved) *boggle*

Now I have no clue what in the heck I could possibly have done to offend anyone in her group, much less a bunch of them as she implied in her email. I never cursed, I was always pleasant and helpful, I smiled a lot, laughed a little and only responded to other people's posts, never even starting a topic of my own.

I sent her an email kindly asking what I did wrong, and apologizing for whatever it may have been and asking why I was not informed of any problems before it reached this point.

I honestly have no clue what I could possibly have done in her group to upset anyone, and really, I have rarely found anyone who is afraid to message me about something if I offend them. I'm pretty darned accomodating, and have happily changed a speech pattern or dropped a subject in order to preserve someone else's comfort level, even if I don't know them.

In every group I am in (and there are a LOT), When someone steps outside of a line, they are reminded of what the guidelines are (publicly or privately by the moderator), and essentially told to shape up or ship out. In other words, they have a warning, and are informed of what they did wrong before any harsh action is taken against them.

I wouldn't think it would be so hard for an adult to communicate with another adult, but from the information I received, I was banned from the group and the public, community event held on public city property for being friendly and helpful. I am so confused.

I don't think it is possible to ban someone from an advertised public event held on public city property. Unless of course that person is being "disruptive" as far as the police are concerned, and even then, one would need their help, and the police or park board are the only folks who can ask a person to laeve a public park. As for her supposed "escort", if anyone forceably lays a hand on me or my children, well, let's just say that that is assult. *smile*