Banned: Chronicles of the Parent Cult

Last night I submitted a request to become a member of a certain yahoo group for Brevard Mothers. I was sent an email letting me know that all members must be approved by the moderator, which I fully understand. So, this morning I received my "questionairre" which requested rather specific information from me, including my phone number, legal name, child's name, age, where I worked, etc all with the explanation that "we can't be too careful where children are concerned.

Now, I totally agree that when children are concerned, you can't be too careful, but at the same time, here's someone I don't even know, nor do I even know that they are a legit organization, asking me to give out some pretty specific information on blind faith. They also had many "restrictions" on their members, according to the email I received. Members are "required" to attend at least X number of functions per month, must be available for certain things, etc.

I'm all about participation, but I don't like being told what I have to do and when. What if I don't WANT to take my kid to the beach this weekend? He doesn't like the beach. Etc.

So I sent a reply stating such things and that while I wasn't opposed to giving such information to someone once I knew WHO I was giving it to, and that there are enough scams on the internet that I had a right to be a concerned parent.

The response I got back was one which indicated that I was a whacko paranoid type of person and that they had never once been questioned by ANY of their members regarding their gathering of personal information.

This was quickly followed by a second and third email informing me that I had been banned from their group and that this decision was final.

Too funny. I guess I questioned the wrong authority. :)

I'd follow in Erin's footsteps and post the exact messages, but I deleted them before I had a chance to fume.

Oh well, it was worth a good laugh. Guess I'll have to take Jonas to another county to play now.