Thursday January 31, 2008, 8:36 am
I've decided, since the TOS police here at Care2.com, eliminated my carefully nurtured 3.5 year long profile, based on a UNILATERAL assessment that I violated the TOS(even though I was in the process of testing a new approach, with full understanding of the core team), to reduce my participation, effective 1 February 2008. I have much on my plate this year, and need to work within an environment, that nurtures and supports growth and good will. I hope those of you with more open ness, can prevail. This is a note, sent to Randy Paynter(CEO); Clinton O'Brien(VP Business Development) today, via email.

I wish you all enough.

Note begins here.....

Folks,

I've agonized on sending you this note, but I believe it's in the best interests of all parties concerned. I'm not going to get into the 'behind the scenes' issues with the recent removal of my long developed, 3.5 year Care2 account. As far as I'm concerned, that's water under the bridge.

However, I will let you all know this. The manner in which your TOS is being administered by the invisible Customer Service Team, is creating quite a stir, both inside and outside of the Care2 community. The bottom line?

The general consensus in the blogosphere is that the leadership of Care2, in fact, may not Care at all. Recent issues that are troubling, and deserve your immediate attention:

The ads that rotate on your main pages, appear to be sourced from outside. Otherwise, folks like Newsmax.com, etc, who appear to be out of the realm of your intention, would NOT be pictured on your screens. I'm sure you don't know who's rotating inside the panels, but it's certainly making an impact on your membership, with a message that appears to be out of context for your intentions.

The hosts/moderators, with the exception of the core groups, are largely frustrated, due to the impossibility of connecting more folks of like mindedness, upon enrollment. I've discerned that one of the core reasons that Annie's list, and others like it, are so 'flush' with members, is that there appears to be a new auto enrollment feature, which lists certain groups when a person joins. That's good, yet would it not be helpful to send a note to a group moderator, about someone just joining Care2.com, who aligns with their interests?

The gap between your General membership (just under 8.5 Million folks) and the C2C crowd(around 2.5 million), is growing. That, in my view, is due to a lack of connecting tissue initiatives, one of which was the cause of the recent issues around E Cards to groups. I can attest that your technical folks have completely fumbled this one, and I'm almost certain that someone is covering up a major glitch, and blaming the messenger(me) for discovering it. That E Card campaign was among the strongest possibilities for closing that gap, that exists. Wonder why someone decided it's not useful to your business model..hmmmmmmmmmmm...

C2NN has the potential to eclipse other online services, WHEN someone makes that decision. With my departure from Care2.com as an active participant (yes, that's part of this too), the C2NN is simply parlaying more outside information, to the community. It's not surprising to me, to see only 100's of note it's on news from outside. What would it look like when that news comes from inside, such as a News feature when a Petition goes up, or something along those lines.

In parting, my comments to all of you are these. The 'behind the scenes' nature of your TOS compliance folks, has the same banal qualities of AOL and other community police groups. And, perhaps, that's needed. What I find professionally appaling, is the amateurish nature of how my account was handled, and the ensuing 'shrug it off' attitude' that I experienced.

My work requires me to associate with online social networks that function at a high state. I really considered Care2 to be among them, until the last 8 months, when the 'true' colors of Care2 came through.

I'm certain that your community will hardly miss my input, yet I'd suggest that you all consider this. There are few that Care2 about the world, and are actively doing something about it, than my team at In Business4Good Enterprises.

I wish you all the best, and hope that you take this to heart, and realize that this sort of behaviour, will create an attrition of good hearted folks, and leave Care2.com as the social network for the unhappiest community on the internet.

Patrick Michaels
Chief Encouragement Officer
InBusiness4Good Enterprises

Thursday January 31, 2008, 8:57 am
I hope Care2 heeds this message AND ACTS on it. Isn't it too bad someone has to point this out to Care2 and leave because Care2 didn't see the writing on the wall?

Thursday January 31, 2008, 2:51 pm
I am noting this letter with a sadness that a woman with rose-colored glasses always has on. I am a dreamer - it comes with my birth....and my soul. I want to believe that issues I put my heart and soul into matter, and that those working very hard - as volunteers - also are working for making not only a difference, but making others aware of important issues that people might not otherwise be aware of. We are not businesses, we are not paid employees, we are just caring people....trying to do something to make a difference.

Despite whatever short-comings this site has, I do feel the PEOPLE, not the SITE earn the name of CARE2. Anytime a group of people who care come together to get ANY action accomplished, it's CARING. And I hope would think the site should be HONORED to have US on their site. If this isn't the case, then we ALL need to start letting them know they are hurting a lot of members' humanitarian work!

I guess the only other thing I'd like to say is that CARING PEOPLE are who make a site CARING. And I truly feel blessed to have stumbled onto the hard-working, dedicated, beautiful people (friends) who I have met here. THEY are who keep me on this site....and I"m so very proud to know them.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 3:17 pm
This is a long standing issue. Many terrific activists have left this site due to what they see as unfair and/or biased policies.
Active members ARE missed if and when they depart Care2. Especially those who leave in frustration. I believe that dispite the set backs and whatever we see as unjust decision making, that we do make a difference. It is the membership that makes this site strong and effective, not the staff.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 3:23 pm
Right On Kathy - There are man beautiful CARING souls on care2 and they ARE what makes the site.
Blessings and Love

Thursday January 31, 2008, 3:24 pm
Oops that was supposed to be many beautiful - sorry.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 3:25 pm
Thank you Kathy for forwarding this. I am so sorry that Patrick has encountered difficulties and I hope that these are resolved !
But ......I am so grateful to be a part of Care2 ~
There are so many caring people who truly empathize with our planet and all of its flora and fauna !

Thursday January 31, 2008, 3:27 pm
It is sad, I too have noticed my friend count dwindle. I was beginning to think it was me -- thanks for the share Patrick, it makes thinks a little more clear.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 3:32 pm
I agree there are a lot of great activists who have left Care2 and at the same time we have also accumulated some who "pretend to be activists" and are only here to cause trouble or an argument especially on C2NN. I am sorry that Patrick is leaving...Charter accounts costs money to those who don't know, and that is how Care2 functions in part...the rest is obviously advertising. I too have found some of the advertising popping up asking for single groups etc and things along those lines very annoying...and NOTHING to do with Care2.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 4:55 pm
thanks kathy for making me aware of this, patrick i am sorry and saddened that you are leaving, i hope that you are able to resolve your problems and come back... it's people like you that we so desperately need here on care2...noted with much saddness...:(

Thursday January 31, 2008, 5:00 pm
I have to agree....Care2, the staff....has deemed a careless attitude. I know I've struggled with my account...simple things that they swear have been "fixed" yet still persist. I gave up...and struggle to do what I can without them. Its the people who are involved with Care2 as activists and friends...that make this site work. I would like to invite my friends on my regular email list to join, but would hate to have their spirits stepped on like so many others have had. I hjave been blessed to have met some wonderful people here....I wish you well Patrick...wherever you go.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 7:15 pm
Thanks for all the nice thoughts. I'll be hovering, not leaving entirely. I'm fully engaged with our campaigns for Peace & Non-Violence, and that is the reason for my shift. I will drop in now and then, and see what's up. I'll be monitoring the groups, as usual, looking for some delicious posts. Vaya Con Dios, all. Be careful of anything that looks like a promotion, as perhaps the true reason for my DisAvowal, is that I found a niche that the Care2 techies either didn't know was there, or were keeping quiet on. Who can say? You are all invited to see this site, anytime, to keep abreast of our progress.

Thursday January 31, 2008, 11:05 pm
hi Patrick.......noted with much sadness, please keep in touch my friend.
Such is this srewed up world......this really has me thinking.....and thinking.

Friday February 1, 2008, 5:20 am
I left care2 for a while and looked around for something better which I did not find..Care2 is a mini world with many different individuals that form it...I know a lot of activists that left in frustration some came back others work in myspace ...perhaps we can not expect to much, it is a virtual world and does not replace real hands on ...

Friday February 1, 2008, 5:29 am
I AM SORRY PATRICK FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU. HOPE YOU GO ON WITH YOUR ACTIVISM.
LOVE AND PEACE AND OF COURSE A BIG HUG ;)

Friday February 1, 2008, 8:11 am
I'm so sorry to see you go. I'm sure you've seen this coming. I have.

Friday February 1, 2008, 9:09 am
George Orwell your comments on AR's do not help anyone and are totally biased and without ground.
All true AR's are human rights activists too. They campaign for all kinds of humaa cruelty as well as animal cruelty. In fact most of us started from roots in child abuse and womens rights.
Animal liberation=human liberation.

BTW can someone tell me what TOS stands for?

Friday February 1, 2008, 9:10 am
Oops never mind I just got it. Terms of Service right!

Friday February 1, 2008, 10:21 am
I don't know about everyone else here, but I only know people who were removed cause they violated the TOS. So if you call some one names or are going around saying they are gong to sue over 'inflamtroy' posts towards them and in responce go around threatning everyone who disagress with them.
I thank Care 2 for getting rid of such things. People flag people constently, people do not agree with everything everyone says and does and it is when they are disagreed with that name calling starts and flaging of profiles and 'trolls' come out of the wood work.
I guess if you don't like how Care 2 chooses to work, there is always Yahoo...

I personally do not agree with the cliams and think care 2 is a great site that doesn't have enough people working for them cause they can't afford to. Making that better they would have to make this a paid subscription site and that would lose them about a few million members, if not all but the few hundered who do pay would be left.

Friday February 1, 2008, 10:24 am
Another thing. i really think the problems lay with in the members of which people choose to be friends with and the groups you chose.
Freedom of Speech is all well and good, but then freedom to be assoociated with that speech is also.

Friday February 1, 2008, 11:25 am
I've flagged his post as inappropriate. That's acceptable practice. My editorial was simply to enlighten the community about the 'heavy handed' and 'invisible' reach of the Customer Service folks, who apparently operate with little or no oversight, rationale for their actions. This sort of approach, suggests an Orwellian(couldn't resist it) approach that signals a significant shift in the core of Care2. The people of Care2 are remarkable indeed. They are not the focus of this issue. I'm focused on the hidden folks in admin, that make UNILATERAL decisions. Seems that perhaps a review of the US Constitution is in order for the leaders of Care2, or perhaps this is truly a autocracy?

Friday February 1, 2008, 1:27 pm
sorry to hear Im passing round the care2 world

Friday February 1, 2008, 4:20 pm
I'm sorry to read so many negative comments about Care2. I've been a conributing member only for about a year or so now, and I don't know anything about the inner workings of the site. I really don't understand what Patrick and some others are talking about so far as the administrative side and the owner's. I have noticed changes being made, for example, sthe other day it took me long minutes to find the "Submit" button, and I could have sworn it used to be elsewhere on a page. And I remember that it was changed once before in the year or so I've been here. One thing that has bothered me tremendously is the petitions that pop up. WTF is this??! Bad manners is what I call it. Nobody likes pop-ups. Look at the $M industry that popped up just to eliminate pop-ups! And if I want to sign a petition, I go to the Petition Site.

All in all, though, I enjoy coming onto C2, reading the varying perspectives of very interesting news articles, and reading the comments of fellow members of the community. It is heartwarming to see the intelligence and knowledge of the vast majority of posters, and to see members galvanized into action on urgent matters. It is disheartening to read the mind-numbing rants of ignorant, biased and/or childish members who need to find some other outlet for their discontentment.

I absolutely do not recognize any of the points brought up by Orwell. Perhaps they are fabricated from dreams of channeling a dead author.

Friday February 1, 2008, 4:34 pm
noted . . .

Friday February 1, 2008, 6:41 pm
I forgot to add we have Scammers on Care2 who link to you as a friend and then put over some sob story about they can't afford their Meds and ask for money. I was stupid enough for fall for a couple of them at Christmas time and later after I sent money to them found that they had scammed others. I think Care2 Admin should be on the lookout for ones who join here and post fake medical conditions and ask for money......x

Saturday February 2, 2008, 5:41 am
I wish that you wouldn't leave. You do so much!! Sadly noted.

Saturday February 2, 2008, 1:59 pm
sorry this happened to you, it scares and concerns me....

Saturday February 2, 2008, 2:09 pm
The C2 staff is not invisible as you claim.

See: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/feedback

Care2 Feedback and Suggestions Group

Saturday February 2, 2008, 3:10 pm
Paige,

That feedback group is nice folks. The behind the scenes arbiters, who decide whether an account suspends, respond to complaints(you know, that happens at care2 sometimes), are invisible, and apparently, non-accountable to justify their TOS decisions.

Saturday February 2, 2008, 9:10 pm
Hey folks. Just found out that mysteriously, this news item was removed from Society front page news, even though it has 100+ note its. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...wonder how that sort of thing can happen in a FREE Speech society, eh?

Monday February 4, 2008, 11:28 am
So sad, but par for the course! Neocons go to great lengths to bring the masses into line. Can you say Homeland Security? Don't think you are safe from them here on care2. I goggled my name and came up with more than ten pages of info on what my fingers have been into for the last year and a half. And I'm just one little person sitting in a 400 sq. ft. apt. in Canada, so how do I rate so much attention? Because I'm stating my opinion on both Governments. I suggest if you think I'm being silly go Goggle me.

Monday February 4, 2008, 11:33 am
Noted, big hugs to you Patrick (((((()))))

Monday February 4, 2008, 2:38 pm
(Ah, Patrick; "charter member"?? YOU GAVE THEM MONEY???)

Monday February 4, 2008, 2:41 pm
Hm. I really doubt that anyone in government or the people making money off of C2C are about silencing or imprisoning or whatevering any of us here. Any of them that care about what we think are happy that we're here sitting on our duffs in front of a computer, worrying about how powerful we all are and what sort of persecution that the powers that be are planning against us.

Monday February 4, 2008, 3:42 pm
I see the Care2 Response was "trust us, we know what we're doing"... Bu$h has really taught Corporations how to do it!;)

Tuesday February 5, 2008, 2:03 am
The Care2 News Network is a farse, that's it.

Tuesday February 5, 2008, 8:30 am
Laura is right Patrick. I am fed up with a lot of what goes on here, but as has been pointed out above, there is not really anywhere else one can go - fight back, even if it means a ban by the Care2 thought police!!

Wednesday February 6, 2008, 3:25 am
to make this effective, please post this to your own blogs, and then, once it's there, add that blog page to the Care2 news, with the bookmarklet.

Wednesday February 6, 2008, 9:21 am
Hi Patrick. Sorry to hear about whatever it is that happened to you. I am curious about something, if Care2 has something against you, then why do they allow you to make these postings and not dump them as well?
I am probably one of the most un-convincing people I know. I question the reality of everything, even life itself. So, deep inside my mind, I've also wondered the reality of site's as this one. So I came to a conslusion. Even if it isn't as real as they portray, if nothing else there is alot of people here that feel the same. That in itself is good. The net has given us virtual meetings from all walks of life. It's real good to know there are many of other countries who feel the same as I do. Or..., could they all be made up? Could this site be something the uncle of our country has created in some kind of experiement to find out what the 'world' is thinking? I find it hard to believe that they are all made up tho, I'm not, but then, how do you know?
Hope for the best, hang in there. Peace

Friday February 8, 2008, 8:32 am
It's not about liking me or not liking me. The issue here is that during a perfectly agreeable TEST of the back end of the Care2 E Card system, and with the full understanding of some of the core leaders of Care2, SOMEONE in the TOS police group, decided to remove my longer term, charter membership,with a lame TOS claim. When I challenged this decision, the response was..." We have thoroughly investigated this issue, and have made our decision" When I enquired about the details, the response was " We are under NO obligation to validate our decision making process, NOR are we obliged to disclose how we made our decisions". Now, I can imagine how that would go, IF and When I post that to the group, for all to see, eh?