Sometimes it is.  You just never know. [as an aside . . *my* mother is in Iraq, freaky huh?]Going to a community you trust and asking for help is reasonable.  Expecting good advice . . maybe not.

I dunno buzz, self preservation is the most basic of human instincts, I know if someone, even kin had threatened to take my life, on numerous occassions I would be leaving.. or arming myself. I don't see this as bad advice. I'll go a step further and say sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

What would you suggest?

What most others have suggested, leave first then contact the REAL experts.

Hmmm . . looks like that's what *I* did. 

Normally I 'might' agree with this - but being this is the internet and the fact that I worked in the medical field as a nurse I'd tread very lightly here.

A one sided conversation does not make it all true. You have all given the advice to leave - I see no other option if a person is truly in fear of their life. Just because some of you know this poster doesn't mean that you can truly know the situation 100%

Sitting here in a skinning forum will not help anyone.

Advising them to grab a buck knife without knowing the true details will help no one.

Advising them to get out and seek proper help is all that should be offered in this case.

This may be a community but it is an internet community.

Keep that in mind.

she's grown up amongst the originators of online skinning sites.

That's a very nice compliment. Thank you, Jafo, although I still think I have plenty of growing up to do.

What Jafo says is true. Most of the people I knew from skinning sites that have come and gone are mostly here. This is where I come when I have questions and seek opinions and answers. Usually, the results are more than satisfactory regardless of what issue or question.

knows too that she will find sympathetic and intelligent comment from her peers.

Those were my thoughts. I simply needed someone outside this sphere that I'm cased in to say something. Things look and feel different from the outside. No, I can't say and describe all that has happened, and quite frankly, all everyone has thus far is simply my side of the story. No one is here to confirm it. Such is also the case with professionals.

This may be a community but it is an internet community.

Before Skinz.org traded owners and most of those skinners migrated here, I was known for one thing: turning an online internet community into a real life network where people knew each other face-to-face. I only succeeded in bringing together a couple of people once (ash, shoggot, l0c, matrix, and myself), but I haven't given up hope to hold other meetings. College didn't offer me much in the way of time to pursue that to a greater extent. Now I hope to get the chance to travel and meet up with some of these people. In turn, they'll meet others.

I think one of the most useful things a person in desperate need can do, is learn very quickly to listen to their 'can do' voice.

If one of those 'can do' things includes making contact with a community in which the individual feels relatively safe, and in a way that helps them see those words reflected and possibly made more tangible & manageable, it would seem a shame if that voice was diminished by our inability to listen - so while I understand the concerns, I think it's good that the thread is given the space to breathe.

Sometimes people don't need all the answers, they just need something that gives them the strength to go on and find the answers for themselves.

Hello Everyone,

I figured the last message I leave the community shouldn't be that I might not be alive anymore. It's been well over a year since this post got started, and I have taken the advice of getting out to heart. I booked myself a plane ticket, paid for by my Significant Other (SO), and left July 10, 2008 for the United States. I've been living with my SO ever since. However, I had to leave once Christmas to go back to my parents because I was unable to stay for longer than 6 months on a travel visa.

Since my return again from Taiwan, I have acquired myself permanent residency status here in the United States, allowing me to live and work here freely. In addition to that, I'm a new mom. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy June this year and have been quite busy with being a mother.

While I haven't made any posts, I've been lurking around in the background just watching, as I always have. Currently, I'm looking for inspiration to start writing again because that has always been my ultimate goal.

 

Just wanted to let you guys know I'm okay... actually, more than okay. I have my own family to care and love now

 

Thanks again for all the support.

 

Sincerely,

Elffie

Elffie!

It's really good to hear you are ok and doing well. Congratulations on your new family - wonderful news

At last you may have some peace and happyness.

Hope to see you around

Hi Elfie..... Glad you are happier these days, take care. B[]

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you, Elfkura....but please allow me to congratulate you on getting out of what sounded like a harrowing situation, and congratulate you on coming to America and starting a family here.

Though times are tough here now, please stay and raise your family here!

 

*edit: Just a thought....why not write your own story...your life history to now?

Hi Elfie, it's certainly good news that your life has taken a turn for the better and your future is brighter.

Congratulations on your new family, and be well, all of you.

After reading the OP and following, it is wonderful to know that you have found peace. Good luck with your writing!

Hi Ellfie. Glad to hear from you again and that your doing fine.  Happy that you can stay in the US and also happy for your son.  I really hope everything works out for you and your own family.

Nice to see you made it out of that tough situation and are now very happy, Elfkura.

Congrats on being a new mother, too!

Be well, and drop in again anytime!

Congratulations on several counts there, Elfie.

It's good to see you have your life 'fixed'.

...and it's good to hear from one of the 'oldies' after all this time...;)