tcsmpsi asked this question on 5/9/2000:
After very careful considerations, I have had to make the decision of no longer making a public presence in this forum. Hopefully, this will make it easier for the surpassing of my ratings on this site. The focus of the energy by those who feel threatened by 'high ratings' is of a negative nature, and it has become noticeable to me in my field work. One of the calls yesterday was an emergency room sexual assault of a child, and I noticed that the drain of energy from this, interferring with my being %200 of myself which is so necessary on this type call. I am not removing myself as 'expert' from this site, as I have long term commitments to some of the victims, and I always welcome sincere questions from others. There are some very distinct predjudices and unethical behavior in this forum at this time, which have come to my knowledge in more ways than one. I have done what I can about it at this time. In our international web policing agency, we have agents which are extremely adept at following trace paths on the web. I do not make unwarranted conclusions. Nor, do I ever threaten anyone.
To all of the 'experts' who have been so impeccably supportive, I thank you from the depth of my being.
Sincerely, Michael Carter
wwnelsonfive11 gave this response on 5/10/2000:
Michael:
I have been involved in the treatment of both sex crime victims and the sex offenders. I don't handle the violent offender, nor do I counsel the serious habitual offenders. However, because I do counsel the offender I have received a ton of complaints, threats, verbal abuse and even profesional critizism.
Our center has had to move several times due to this. However, there are two things that drive me to continue. One is that there are still victims and victimizations. Two is that we have a track record of over 92% success ratio! And we track our people for up to 10 years!
Most people don't understand that, in counseling both the victim and the offender, we are affecting other potential victims by eliminating abuse that would have happened before it happens!
So I have learned to just let that criticism roll off my back. I understand that I counsel in a highly emotional field. Nothing will stop me from continuing this work. I am training several others to take my place when I am gone...for whatever reasons.
I have been impressed by many of your responses in this venue. I would be saddened if you were to reduce your affectiveness in here simply because of the criticism, or because of the ratings abuses. You and I have the same reasons to be in here. To be of help to those who are abused! That's all that's really important. If we let the hecklers drive us out...then they win....and the victims are the losers!
I think the key is to simply accept that there are going to be hecklers and abusers of the system, but it is the true victims that matter.
However, I will respect your decisions, whatever they may be. I would like to be able to converse with you from time to time to help each other. Please keep those avenues open.
Thanks
William
The average rating for this answer is 4.6.
tcsmpsi rated this answer a 5.
Thank you William. I have always known of your sincerity in this work. In the many years I have been involved in this work, I have been stabbed, shot at, ridiculed, two contracts put out on me, and of course all the other variants. Always, there comes a time when one must 'back off' a little to allow truth to flow on it's own. I'm not really going anywhere William...how could I? :) I know there are always going to be hecklers and abusers, but when that energy is focused on oneself for a time, it becomes a bit different. Thank you again William for your support. It means more to me than I can properly mention in words. But, I think you know that. :)