Hello, Ladies! I wanted to apologize for disappearing off the face of the earth for the past several days, and I wanted to explain what had happened. A few days after releasing the first episode of my podcast, I received a very hostile e-mail to my podcast's e-mail account. The writer was harshly criticizing me for podcast that "sounded like an 8 year old made it", calling me a "hypocrate" [sic], and all in caps. The writer claimed to be a member of the Atkins forum at 3FC, but didn't leave a name or screen name.
As a result, I felt rather injured--I didn't think any of you ladies would have done something like that. You're all very straightforward, and I felt that if you genuinely felt that I shouldn't be podcasting at all, you would have said so without all the hostility, and not in an anonymous way. After a few PMs with the mods and admins, I discovered that the writer of the e-mail was BambiFox. The IP address of this e-mail address is the same as the IP address she had been using the site from. BambiFox didn't leave 3FC on her own, she was banned for attacking members of 3FC and the 3FC staff. The admins/mods I communicated with told me that she sent some VERY graphic and hostile PMs to them, and after her banning, she has sent a hostile e-mail to me.
I just wanted to apologize to all of you for avoiding posting in the forums or mentioning my podcast again for fear that this anonymous writer was one of you. I should have automatically known better. None of you would have done anything like that. I had also thought that now that BambiFox was banned, she would have directed her hostility elsewhere, but I guess that's not the case.
In any case, I'm going to continue podcasting, regardless of what BF thinks of my style or quality. I'm also going to continue posting on these wonderful forums--I'm embarrassed I ever let someone like that make me afraid of posting in the first place.
Oh, lord - I'm really sorry that you had this experience, love. And I'm really sorry too that it sounds like Joyce is feeling so much bitterness about her time here. Arse. I hope that she finds a more positive focus for her energy.
And I hope that YOU don't feel disheartened, and that you carry on making PodCasts!
Oh my goodness, what an incredibly immature thing for her to do.
Even though I'm not on Atkins, I do try to eat low(er) carb. I listened to your podcast last week, and I thought you sounded great. It was good basic information for someone trying to decide if low carb was something they should try or not. And you have a lovely voice and your points were well thought out and informative. I should have commented on all of that earlier, but better to be sure you know it now than never.
My heart-felt apologizes go out to you. You in no way deserved to be treated like that. No one does.
Your podcast was beautiful, eloquent, and well thought out. It gave more information about the low-carb life than many people who are doing low carb ever know. I will say it gave me some low-carb food for thought. You are giving people good information, too.
Also, you got the idea in your head and you took action. Now that's a wonderful thing. Someone doing something, not just talking about doing something. I'm sure your mom is really proud of you.
Lastly, even if only a few of the ladies from this board listen to you, we are a small representative of your true audience. And you are doing a good for the woman who wants to or is doing low carb.
I am waiting for your next podcast. You are awesome Azure.
I am so surprised. But yo know BF did also challenge everything that Jersey was also saying when trying to help us in the forums. I think that everyones feelings, thoughts, and efforts should be accepted and not criticized. Well, I think you are doing great and I hope you continue to make more episodes of your podcast for the rest of us here at 3FC.
Thanks for the responses, ladies. I 100% intend to go on making podcasts--right after I got the e-mail I sat down with my friend (who inspired me to try podcasting in the first place) and talked about it. He shared his first hate-mail story and it made me feel better. Actually, instead of give up, I borrowed some recording equipment--I'm trying to make the sound quality a little better. Right now he and I are still trying to get it to work 100%--but once we do, I'll get another podcast out there. There's no way she, or any one else is going to stop me
The things I was worried about were mentioning the updates here, or talking about how I was doing on my diet (she made some personal attacks responding to a post I made, and she said she'd read about me "crying" on 3FC about how I couldn't control myself with peanut butter, how it's pathetic and I have no right to tell anyone about low carb). Isn't it silly how I let one e-mail deter me from sharing my ups and downs with my internet family? I'm not worried about it any more--some of the podcasts on Low Carbing I've enjoyed the most were by people who were still in the fight.
I agree with the rest of you, I hope she eventually finds a more positive place to focus her energy.
All I can say is I know what it's like to be disliked (even hated), treated differently and either attacked or ignored for being outspoken, smart and successful.
In your case, when you add to the mix that you are undeniably DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how jealousy comes into the mix!
You rock. Period. People are threatened by witty, ambitious, smart, successful and beautiful women. It's a sad fact of life. Until we, as women, celebrate each others' strengths and beauty we will always be our own worst enemies.
I think you are fierce and fabulous. Actually, I KNOW you are.
I am so sorry you had to endure that. I came back at the end of BF. And I am sorry that I did not understand all that went on (actually glad that I did not) I know a little conflict never hurt anybody and some people can actually grow with some conflict, knowing that there are more than 1 side to the story. Some can only see one side no matter what. I guess BF is better where she is.
I found when I had lost a large amount of weight that I learned from my cravings and falls of how to get around it and how to help others. If you do not fall or suffer from cravings how can you help one that does?? Like a skinny chef who can trust them???? you need to be able to go past the road blocks to continue on or how else can you help others. And you need ot hear how others can get past road blocks as your solution is not the only one or necessarily the best for tha perosn listening to the pod cast. what works for you will not necessarily work for me. So go ahead and get stuck on your peanutbutter, or chocolate somethings or let your sweet tooth get ahold of you, it will make you more a survivor than if you did not suffer.
You go girl!!! We all are here, You are doing far more than any of us!!
she made some personal attacks responding to a post I made, and she said she'd read about me "crying" on 3FC about how I couldn't control myself with peanut butter, how it's pathetic and I have no right to tell anyone about low carb
Oh, how pointlessly cruel. Honestly, I'm STILL so surprised by all this. But, hey, I know what it's like to be infuriated by someone or something - I guess that she's just letting her anger get the better of her at the moment. It's such a damn shame. I really don't want to think of Joyce as a troll - I want to think of her as the bubbly, life-loving, supportive person I saw. I really hope she finds a more positive focus for her energy.
As to the substance of that assertion, though - speaking as a teacher, I have to say that it is FAR more useful to understand people's difficulties. The stuff that comes naturally to me, the stuff I find effortless (mostly the arts and lit stuff) - I worry that I'm not teaching that stuff well enough, because I'm not able to truly understand the kids who are having problems with that. I mean, I try really hard to break it down, but the truth is that I was always good at these things. Whereas the stuff that I found difficult myself when I was wee, the stuff I struggled with (maths and PE) - I'm SO much more able to understand where they're coming from, and help them with learning, and give them confidence by reassuring them that its okay to mess up, and that it's okay if it takes them a while to get there, and that I messed up too, or struggled, but that I kept at it and now I can do it.
I definitely don't try to put on some kind of facade of perfection as a teacher. I don't know everything, and I don't know how to do everything - and I don't think that learners need to imagine that their teacher is some kind of flawless paragon. I think it's a damn sight more constructive for them to see me as a learner myself, and as someone who makes mistakes AND LEARNS FROM THEM. As someone who has knowledge and skills, yes, but more to the point someone who knows how to go about acquiring NEW knowledge and skills, and how to persist when something is difficult or problematic. How to overcome obstacles and solve problems, and not be disheartened.
Far from pretending that you're a perfect low-carb robot, I think that being honest about the bumps in the road gives you MORE things to draw on for your podcasting. As a listener, I'd be more inspired by someone who's achieving success DESPITE the occasional lapse and imperfection - it's much less intimidating, imho.
aww & here I am STILL trying to figure out how to even listen to your Poscast, azzie!
Cyber Wacko-ness can be unnerving & I certainly understand your distrust & need to stay away until you sorted it out . . . so glad you did, found the guilty culprit & are back! (I just kind of Posted to you on the "5k Results" Thread - not knowing this crud was going on - around pg 9, I think.) You've been so helpful & motivational for me personally az - would havejust hated if you "vanished" over baloney like this.
And I'm glad you mentioned the word "troll" fay . . . I suspect that is exactly what "bambifox" is/was . . . just someone that has a LOT of time on their hands to create disruption on mb/s & not a "real" person at all.
Whatever.
The important thing is you didn't let it get to ya for long GF! So glad you had someone like your friend nearby who had a similar experience!
Location: NW New Jersey But, My Heart's In Pittsburgh!! GO STEELERS & PENGUINS!!!
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Kim,
Sorry to hear of your unpleasant experience with Joyce. I, too, was the "attacked" by her on more than 1 occasion. Its just too bad she obviously has nothing better to do with her time.
I listened to your podcast & thought it was great! I was criticized here (by guess who!) repeatedlyfor simply telling people interested in doing Atkins to read the book. When people ask me "what has made you successful on Atkins?"...I always answer "reading the book & following exactly what the book says". I've been on low carb message boards for 4 years now and I can honestly tell you, when people complain they aren't losing or they've stalled...9 times out of 10, they are doing the program incorrectly. Regardless of whether or not a label says "low carb"...."low carb" junk is still junk just the same!!! Bottom line, if you aren't doing Atkins the way Dr. Atkins wrote it...you aren't doing Atkins correctly!
I'm glad you're back Kim Keep up the wonderful work and don't ever allow anyone to keep you from sharing your experience & knowledge regarding low carb with others. You are truly an inspiration to us all here
Last edited by JerseyGyrl; 04-14-2008 at 10:04 AM.
Azure, I'm sorry too and also surprised. I can't imagine why Joyce would attack you except that maybe she feels bad about being banned here and you're the only one she can take it out on. You might be the only one she can contact right now. Another reason we should all be careful about protecting our identity on the internet.
I can't quite beleive she's a troll, at least in the sense that her purpose here was to be disruptive. I think she's a real person with real issues and she just got carried away. I thought when she posted here that she never understood how she sounded. I'm guessing she's run into the same type of problem in real life too. But then, I may be too forgiving which is easier for me since I wasn't ever a target.
I think we just all need to keep in mind that we wouldn't be here if we didn't feel pretty strongly about all the weight issues. We're all looking for answers, but the answer is going to be different for every one us. I don't think "Atkins-by-the-book" or "South Beach" or "Weight Watchers" is going to work the same for every single person. Even though we really really want it to. Sorry, if I'm sounding too preachy.
I'm Sorry I've Been M.I.A.
Actually, I KNOW you are. 
Thata Girl 
Keep up the wonderful work and don't ever allow anyone to keep you from sharing your experience & knowledge regarding low carb with others. You are truly an inspiration to us all here
