ALL PLEASE READ

Maddie&EthansMom wrote: I see there have been a lot of accusations lately and this board is no stranger to them, as we've had them in the past. Most other boards I've visited and become a member of REQUIRE you to post a picture of yourself with children, holding a sign with your name and what board you are on. Example: "Aimee from parenting club"

While we do not require this, we highly suggest it. It really helps put faces with names and ensures trust in those we speak with daily and share our personal lives with.

We've discussed doing this in the past and I think this is the perfect time to start. Please rest assured that you will not be kicked off the board for not participating, but it is a great way to gain respect from others. As moderators we have all done this as well.

I'll pin a topic at the top and I'll be happy to start.

ashtonsmama replied: Thanks for starting this, Aimee!

I'll get one up as soon as possible (our camera is broken and we have yet to have the money to buy a new one) so it may be awhile, but I do respect the purpose and I agree with the point of the photos!
So thanks for getting it going!

mckayleesmom replied: That is an awsome idea Aimee......Leithan is not home to take my picture, but Later I will try to set the remote on the camera up.....Does it help that LeaAnn has met me in person???

mckayleesmom replied: Im going to start making my sign...I have construction paper

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Cool beans I am in! I will try and get it posted by tonight!

Mom2BNTN replied: I'm still using my wedding picture for my avitar and my precious angel Dylan is in my siggy. I'm going to be posting more pictures soon, but I want to get a new hairstyle first. I love the curls I had for my wedding so I am thinking about getting a perm. I hope to post Easter pics of Dylan here as soon as we have some made.

kayla's mama replied: I'm in but all the pics we have of me are horrible.....But I guess I'll post'em

3_call_me_mama replied: Kinda sad that this sort of thing has to be done But i'll get Dennsi to set up teh camera and do a family shot with teh sign tonight or tomorrow.

This is not jus tfor the member right? it's for your whoel family, am I correct, so that way we know that the kids pictures you are posting are actually YOUR kid? Just want to get that clarified as it seems that some might be on a different page than others

Adrienne522 replied: I am a new member and I understand why this needs to be done. I do not have my child yet because my first is due on July 1st. So...a picture of myself with my name is ok to post. Help me out here....I am not sure what to post.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Okay, you guys...for this to work, we need a picture of you WITH your child/children and a sign reading "_______ from parenting club" You can even use your username. It doesn't work if we just get more pics of the same child.

HTH!

gr33n3y3z replied: ok lets give a try lol
Were not all that thin

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
That is perfect

Crystalina replied: I REALLY don't get this. Can someone explain it to me?

booey2 replied: Okay, I'll get the camera out tonight and have DH take one of me and the boys later tonight and hopefully get it up soon.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
We want a picture of you with both of your children holding a sign that reads "Crystalina from parenting club" It just proves that you are who you say you are. Not you personally, but in general.

HTH

Crystalina replied: Where does it go? In your siggy or is it going to be in a thread?

gr33n3y3z replied: it will be put here if I'm not mistaken

Kaitlin'smom replied: there is a pinned topic in General disscussion

luvbug00 replied: So this is what it has come to? wow. I've never been on a site that requires that.

Kaitlin'smom replied:
its not required just suggested

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I'll have Dh take on of me and Andrew tonight after I make a sign. It is a good idea.

TLCDad replied:
By no means is this required. It just helps others feel more comfortable. Again this is not required to be a member here. The only place it is required is to be considered as a moderator. All moderators have done this.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I will do one soon, I have to charge the camera, DH has yet to plug it in

3xsthefun replied: I will get a picture soon, Maegan is sick today so there won't be any from me until least Friday.

Crystalina replied: I'm glad this is not required. I for one HATE to be in pictures, I have posted a few of of me with my family though but they were professional and looked alot better.

More then likely I will not be doing this. I hope people can still feel comfortable talking to me though. I don't know why people would need me to be holding up a sign for them to feel better about who I am. Thats JMO on the matter.

kimberley replied: i posted the ones i did for the mods in the pinned topic at the top of GD so you can see what we mean. i actually enjoy putting a face to all these names

My2Beauties replied: This is a good way for everyone to put a face with the name and have more trust in each other. There are many accusations going on right now, so this is a chance for everyone to put their name in the clear.

Crystalina replied:
I come here everyday, I must have missed something.

ions_momma replied: I will try to do this, but I am not sure how long it will take for me to get one on here. I dont have a digital camera, and our scanner is broken and I will have to develop the flim, which of course takes time. But I will try to get one posted, even though I hate pictures of myself!

ashtonsmama replied:

ilovemybaby replied: Oh no! You want to see my ugly face? LOL Just kidding. I do hate pictures of myself though.

I have a picture already that was taken in July I think last year. It's of me and Abby. Is that ok? I can add a caption under it in my digi scrapbooking program saying "Renée (ilovemybaby) from Parenting Club". Otherwise I can get Paul to take one when he comes home tonight and post it tomorrow.
I only want to use that photo because it's actually a fairly ok one of me I wasn't pregnant then HAHA Now I'm getting fat again.

kimberley replied: if i can post a pic of me with bags under my eyes from no sleep and being sick at 2mos pg.. you surely can post a recent one with a sign LOL

ilovemybaby replied: Yeah I can. I only said that because it would mean I don't have to wait until Paul gets home to take one of us together. And I wouldn't have to worry about uploading just the one photo to the computer.
But it's not a problem.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: In fact I will post the one I made for a mod myself. I don't look the best in it and only Jade is in it because I was pg with Jordan at the time. I will have to make a new sign with Jordan included tomorrow.

Heather77 replied: Well I won't be posting anything recent b/c I am extremely self concious of my weight.
I have older pics, and am willing to post an older pic of myself, along with a pic of my kids holding up the sign.

BAC'sMom replied: Ok now I got it.


Sure Aimee no problem I'll have it posted by the morning.

Brias3 replied: I hope I haven't offended anyone ever on this board with any questions I may have had in reply to certain posts and if so, I apologize! (Not sure who all of this is referring to....) I come to this community to be able to gain advice in parenting and have some sort of "commaraderie" with people who are in the same place as I am in child-rearing. I value the opinion and personality of everyone here and have really enjoyed having this outlet for myself in the short time I've been here.

Personally, I am not comfortable posting pictures of my children online for the very reasons that Aimee had to suggest this idea in the first place and therefore have never done so. The reasons I have not shared photos has nothing to do with anyone here or the fact that I have mistrust in PC, its just the mere fact that I have never been comfortable opening up the door to something as broad as the Internet, KWIM? I guess its just a scary thought how easy it is for someone to take something off a webpage and claim it as their own, you know? However, this idea is a good one and I'd be more than happy to do so, just to solidify and reassure everyone who I have met here. Thanks for suggesting it, Aimee!

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Does meeting Aimee help my cause? I need to figure out the lovely delay function on the digi camera, but then I'll do it.

kit_kats_mom replied: you could take a picture of your reflection in a mirror if you can't get someone else to take the pic. Just prop the sign on the counter.

I'm waiting for K to get home and then we will have an art project for tonight. I think I'll let her decorate the sign. I'm looking like a troll but I'll do it to be part of the club.

coasterqueen replied: Yippee! Should I take a pic AFTER I work out or before? I'll figure out how to set the timer on the camera tonight and get a pic of the girls and I with a sign when I get home. I have an old mod proof pic with Dh in it that I will find and post too. Dh is at guys night out tonight so I can't get him in a recent one.

DVFlyer replied: If the accusers don't believe who you are, it is their problem and while I'm sure most will have no problem posting pictures, the general forum population should not be asked to do this to pacify them. Also, while I haven't seen the accusations, couldn't fake pictures be easily created?

Give me 5 minutes and I'll post a picture of Brad Pitt holding a PC sign and tell you it's me.

kimberley replied:
as stated a few times.. this is NOT a requirement to be a member here. just something some people can do to A. familiarize themselves with other members and B. feel closer as a community since we are dealing with our most precious commodities.. our kids!

and it is quite easy to see if a pic has been photoshopped and if someone does that, and we can prove it is false, their account will be terminated because that is in violation of our Terms of Use.

this is actually a quite common practice on many other parent boards.

Crystalina replied: If you don't want to post it publically could someone pm me and tell me what the heck is going on? Is there something we should be leary of? It sounds like there may be a member who is lying about having a family/kids. I have never noticed anything but then again I've never claimed to be quick. There is obviously something not right.
And I can understand having a thread with pictures to see who you are talking to but I don't get the signs. I'm not trying to be a snot because afterall it has been stated more then once that it is not required but I just don't get them (the signs). Is it just to honor the site or to prove your a member?

1lilpeanut2love replied:


What the heck is going on?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

MyLuvBugs replied:


Can I make one too, with a big arrow that points at me? lol

Sorry. I know you're being serious Aimee, I just thought it'd be funny to have a large blinkie sign with arrows like in the cartoons.

kimberley replied: the signs are a way to authenticate who we are. it is easy to grab a pic online and say that is my family. it is much, much harder to fabricate a picture with a family holding a sign that says "Parenting Club/ User name". there are ways to tell a picture has been modified.

and no matter what board you join online.. be it for pets or motorcycles or parents.. there will be some yahoos who think it is fun to "pretend" and create a fake persona. it happens. things like this usually weed them out

MyLuvBugs replied:
I vote Swimsuit shots! Just kidding! You dont' want to see this bod in a swim suit right now.

kit_kats_mom replied: the signs are to prove you are who you say you are. For example, I could be some freako who is just bored. In order to appear part of the group, I could steal some pictues off of someones photobucket account, webpage etc and claim that I am the pretty lady with the beautiful kids. When in fact, I'm just someone with no kids (or a sad life). I can't begin to imagine why someone would make up a fake family on a message board but it has happened here quite a few times. It would be much more difficult to get a picture of the model with her kids and the parenting club sign with your user name on it. I suppose it could be photoshopped but it would be hard.

DVFlyer replied: I understand it's not mandatory (and have posted MANY pictures of me and my family... although without signs), but it was presented as if it was because of the accusers we were asked to post them.

That's what I have problem with.

kimberley replied: timing is coincidental. i thought it would be a fun assignment when i heard about it

and yes, i have seen your MANY pics got any more to share?

Crystalina replied:
That's kind of what my problem is also. I feel that no one has questioned me so far, I think , so why now. I don't want to have to prove who I am. I understand questioning someones intentions but I feel I have not given a reason to be questioned (maybe this will be that reason ).

But it is not required so...

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I for one don't think it should be this big of a deal. It's just a way to prove that we are who we say we are, nothing more. We're not being accused of anything.

That said, Dh is getting home late tonight and my camera doesn't have a self timer feature that I know of, so I'm going to have to post my pic tomorrow. If I get too impatient I might stand in front of the mirror with my camera but that might be hard to do with a squirmy 10 month old trying to get it from me.

My3LilMonkeys replied:
From my experience in the last 15 minutes (wanted to get it done today so that I didn't forget) I can tell you yes, it is hard. Kinda like stuffing an octopus into a laundry bag.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Now that's an interesting mental image!

kimberley replied:

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
I'm sorry... I think I have been misunderstood and I really don't like being misunderstood.

I am in no way accusing anyone here of anything. I feel bad for those who ARE accused of being fake and whether or not you or anyone else has witnessed these attacks, they are there and us mods get e-mails and PM's almost daily from people who are suspicious of certain members. No one likes to deal with 'fake' members and think people are pulling one over on them and we do understand that and have dealt with it a lot in the past. I know it may not bother some members and we try to accomodate everyone and put people's minds at ease. This was more a way to make minimomy feel better since she was being accused. If she is asked to post proof that she is real then everyone should. I think it is only fair. Like Kim said, this was just an opportune time to ask.

Again, if you dont' agree or have a problem with it, please don't feel like you have to participate or that anyone will think any less of you for not doing so.

TLCDad replied: This was simply something for fun and for others to feel closer. It is in no way used to find or weed out fakes. I have my own methods of detecting those. Its funny how they think they will get away with it. Posting fake pics is taken very serious here and not only is it against our TOS it is also against the law. And if suspected and requested by any official law agency, we will provide any information they request, including ISP information. Everyone's privacy and confidence is very important to us, and fraudulent activity will not be tolerated.

With that said, we also have a strict policy of no one directly accusing anyone publically. This is what I or our mods are for. So again this was not posted to find any fakes or accuse anyone. If you do not participate, I am not going to be thinking anything different of you nor should anyone else. I understand how someone does not want to take their picture. I myself do not like my picture taken. So do not feel like people will think your fake if you do not particpate.

I also want to assure everyone that although we have had some trouble users in the past, it isn't a large number. Actually since we have very good moderators here, we do not have as many as most other boards. In fact I keep reading good feedback about how well this site is moderated.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

b&bsmom replied: I will work on the picture thing. I understand why you would like us to do this. I also understand it is not mandatory. Although I hate my picture I will make an effort to do this. However, it may take awhile I have to figure out how to do it first.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I read and posted on the pinned thread, before I read this. This is something fun to do, if you choose to, IMO. I have seen some members pics of recent, but this is great since whoever decides to do it, will have a very recent pic with their kids. Me included. I just found the camera, (I moved it to a new spot and forgot where it was) so I will have Chris take pix of us on Fri. This is great!

Bee_Kay replied: Wow, I had no idea that there was any fake type thing going on.... maybe I have my head in the clouds sometimes

This is news to me

luvmykids replied: Perfect, I can combine my new hair, new car, kids, and making the sign will be a great craft project for the kids. BUT DH lost my camera so it may be a day or two.

CAMSMOM1 replied: I 100% agree with this. I think it's a great idea. It would make me feel more comfortable with everyone. Like many have said, it's easy to post pictures of kids. And many of us, do not have pictures of ourselves in our siggies/advatars, and it's a nice way to put a face with a name.

Sure, none of us really like to take pictures of ourselves. But we should feel comfortable enough to do it once, so everyone knows who we are.

I will put some new batteries in my camera, and I'll be posting them on the pinned topic, hopefully by tomorrow. I might have to go buy a marker, cause all I have around here are crayons.

JAYMESMOM replied: Ya'll are going to have wait until Saturday for mine. My sister is getting married and we all will look real pretty so I will take my sign with us to the church and have someone take a picture. I hate my picture taken and my 2 year old always wants to be the photographer at home.

BTW-I will warn everyone I am not responsible for the sea of pink.

so if I look like a cotton candy puff don't blame me.

crazymum replied: I think this is also a good idea, I try to get a picture in sometime during the week, digital camra isnt working so steven will have to get it fixed and as soon as that is done i will post.

amynicole21 replied: I tried to do this last night, but DH is a complete MORON when it comes to taking pictures. He would wait until I was moving or adjusting one of the kids, THEN take the picture He is no longer allowed to touch the camera I'm going to take it myself this weekend.

DVFlyer replied: Got it. Thanks for the explanation. I misunderstood the intent. Definitely something fun for those wish to participate.

jem0622 replied: I took my pic off b/c of siggy requirements and have had issues with it since. I will get one back up and hope that it doesn't max me out on the siggy. Sometimes simplicity is best!

Thanks TLC Dad for explaining! You always do a super job behind the scenes!

ETA: I will put the family picture back up, but don't plan to do the sign thing. If you want to boot me out, then no harm no foul! I have met a few from this board when my Gabe was really small and we were posting to IV. Don't know how many of those folks made it over here?