Topic: Requests for Information = Attacks on Lyme Community
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
A small group of individuals has been soliciting information from support group leaders, activists, organizations, patients and physicians in several states about a variety of topics...
Including information about Lyme support groups and organizations, their members and meetings, physicians in their states, a specific doctor's office protocols, their treatment methods, etc.
Some of the replies they receive from unsuspecting responders have been used in an attempt to discredit members of the Lyme community, both behind the scenes and on public websites.
To appear credible, individuals seeking information have been known to provide a list of false credentials behind their names.
Organizations and groups have been forced to send out notices that the person claiming to be connected with them truly isn't, in no way, shape or form.
The offenders often state that their purpose or mission is to "help" patients or our LLMD's, to share the ``truth'' with others, or they claim they want to update their referral lists, etc.
Their communications have been known to be either casual, ``sickening sweet'', mundane and/or they have included libelous and flaming statements about others.
The offenders have been warned to cease and desist and they have been informed that any further attempts on their part to make contact with specific groups and individuals constitutes grounds for harassment.
In spite of the warnings, they persist and have expanded their efforts throughout the community, which has prompted an investigation into the matter.
The public posts generated from the information they dig up (a few are linked below) have been noted to contain not only hateful comments, but often disparaging information about patients, advocates, organizations, labs, books, media efforts and Lyme doctors.
Income tax reports, business routines, affiliations, associates and partners, and other personal information has been publicly posted on websites without the targeted person's knowledge or permission.
These incidents are not one time offenses involving one person, or simply a personal opinion on a topic; they involve a series of continuing attacks on many different people who are often too sick to deal with the stress of being harassed or the continued stress of watching others, especially their doctors, being harassed.
In the past, when people have responded to them in an attempt to set the record straight, the negativity has escalated in frequency and intensity, making those who respond a bigger "target" and worsening the situation for themselves and those they are connected to in the Lyme community.
Therefore, if you are contacted by any individuals fitting the description above, I highly recommend not responding to their requests for information about yourself, your group or others.
If they continue to contact, harass and/or threaten you, the laws state you must inform them to stop before authorities can take legal actions.
Please note- anyone who receives threats, emails with viruses (several computers have crashed recently after opening emails), etc. should report the incidents to law enforcement officials as soon as possible.
I am truly sorry there are people in our community who find pleasure in purposely disrupting people's lives, for no apparent reason.
It is way past time for this viciousness to stop.
However, from what I understand, some of these individuals plan to step up their attacks and have threatened to ``get'' people, so please be aware of the situation and take precautions.
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Adamm...
You are fast. I hardly got the page back up and had a response.
I was going to post the following... not to you.. but in general. So it may answer your question in the process. And no.. this isn't the feds. But an interesting thought!
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I will not discuss the people involved in this situation... or provide any more details. I'm sorry but I can't at this time... so please don't ask.... and we will all be hap hap happy.
The best I can do is to say that they are patients (as opposed to Adamm's guess of government reps).
I am also not inclined to discuss this at all because it is just so sad that so many are being hurt by it (and personally, I am so sick of it)... but if you wish to comment... please do.
Please do NOT attack the offenders... or anyone here.
Our goal should be to stop this madness and this hateful display so we can all move forward in the goal to help others.
posted
I'm sorry, I just don't understand (brain fog?) what this is all about. I read all the links you posted and all I see is a discussion of different topics related to lyme. All sorts of opinions were stated in each topic discussion. I do not see any conspiracy...just people sharing their personal opinions.
There is no mention on these links of anyone "out to get" anyone else.
Posts: 345 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2008
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I think Dr. Jones is a wonderful doctor and incredible human being. I sent a large check for his legal defense. I also believe in free speech, even when I do not agree with what is being said, unless it is to promote dangerous treatments.
I think we would better serve our community by showing concern for the lyme patients on THIS forum who are exposed to dangerous ideas on almost a daily basis now (Simple Green, OSR, MMS, tile cleaner for toothpaste????) YIKES!!
We also have someone here who may be slowly killing himself with poisonous self-treatment, with others egging him on to keep going. (Thank you to those people caring enough to ask him to stop) I am constantly worried that other people might believe that they can get better by trying some of this stuff too. This is the kind of thing we should be trying to stop.
Please read my posts--I have only offered support to others here. I have no agenda and no special "knowledge". I do feel the need to speak up when people are publicly accused of wrongdoing with no evidence in sight.
I have read LNE and have gotten lots of great medical info there. From what I can see, most of the posters there have had to stop posting due to medical, financial or other personal reasons. I just don't see how they can be a "threat" to anyone.
You may not like their opinions, but I still do not see "an attack" of any kind being plotted against the lyme community.
I hope I am able to speak my mind here without being accused of being "more familiar" of some kind of wacky conspiracy. I may have lyme fog but I am not an idiot. (Well, not a complete idiot, anyway.)
I apologize if I am reading too much into what you are saying. (That really would be due to my lymebrain)
Jeanne
Posts: 345 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2008
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
Jeanne, I agree with you. And I do know some of the backstory on many of these posts.
I am saddened by the vehemence of the disagreement, on both sides. And I know by personal experience how painful it is to have one's character assassinated.
-- Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
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