Bye bye Araminta!

They are hopeless

Backing up your peerless prose
In case of what? God only knows.
You may not last another minute
So save it or just go and bin it.

If you value what you’ve writ,
Deletion may just hurt a bit
So what’s the point in running scared
Just write or else you won’t be heard

Does it matter; I think not;
Some of us don’t care a jot.
It’s had its day and now I fear
It’s just about to disappear.

Gone without a trace!

I’m also in trouble because I forgot to attribute this pome to Dear Ethel, who wrote it about a year ago!  Obviously things have not improved!

75 thoughts on “Bye bye Araminta!”

  3. Ara! How dare, how very dare…! . I’ve missed out on a lot of the action it seems, but this, along with Poets Cornered…Are you going to ask them to put you back? I won’t post/ comment there apart from the short story comp, now I think.

  4. Cor blimey! Well that should make you cut the ties that bind. You’re better off away from it.
    No time to save my stuff so hope it remains for a bit.

  5. Honestly, those morons at Oneshite could not locate their own dumb arses with both hands and a map FFS.

    Small wonder folk are deserting MyT if the DT will not support it. This is probably the next wave from the Cristina, Marinaid, Bravo deletions a little while back. Not to mention the blanket loss of comments to blogs. I don’t care so much about the tripe wot I wrote but the discussions that followed. Thanks to the incompetance of the Arkansas Chugg-a-bugs that is lost forever.

    Sorry to here of your deletion Minty MBE but I suppose we should wait to hear Ms (used to be a Mr) Day’s feeble excuse, ahem I mean response as to why this grave injustice has occured.

  7. Araminta is a known trouble-maker. 😉

    No, really, it’s bizarre … so normal MyT.

  8. Araminta gone – what can be done?
    Shall Larry never more have fun?
    I bet, else drinks are on the house,
    He’ll transfer to Detective Mouse.

  12. Sad.

    I have just been back over and the blog I had 32 comments on now has 31 – your comment gone.

  13. Thanks for your comments everyone. I’ve dashing around today but back now for a while.

    Claire: you haven’t missed anything. I was hardly on MyT over the Easter weekend, so it couldn’t have been anything I did. I just tried logging on this morning to discover that my account had been deleted! Blooming cheek.

    I really have no idea why. I sent a enquiring email to Kate Day with a copy to the moderators asking for an explanation for the deletion, but I have no reply yet.
    I can think of many rather more suitable candidates for this sort of treatment but as you say, Brendano and Furry, that’s good old MyT for you.

    Frankly, I hadn’t finished saving all the posts, but really decided it wasn’t so much the posts as the comments which were worth saving. I lost interest when I discovered that most of the earlier ones had disappeared!

    Isobel: yes, it does really make you wonder about bothering with MyT when they do this sort of thing; I wonder if anyone else has been culled, or is it just me!

  14. Now you see it, now you don’t.

    You can cry, or you can laugh,
    its normal on My Telegraph,
    But here your words will safer be
    on Bearsy’s site, DFMT.

  16. Thanks Levent, Boadicea, Bearsy and Nyn too. It is quite amazing how they treat their contributors, and it’s no wonder they are leaving in droves.

    I’ll let you all know if I receive a reply to my email.

  18. Hello Ara; people are saying they will miss you over there! Amicus has just said that,actually. I told him I was supposed to be flouncing on your behalf, but somehow got drawn into all kinds of silly arguments about knights in shining armour and the terrible state of our schools…
    I clicked on an old comment of yours and it was still there. I think you should make them reinstate you, hon.

  19. Hello again,Claire: it’s probably my other account. The one I opened when I couldn’t access my own for a week, some time back.

    They haven’t restored Christina’s, or Marinaid’s archive so I doubt it’s worth even bothering. Fed up frankly with MyT at the moment so I’ll wait to find out what they say if they bother to reply to me. I’d rather post here at the moment anyway, when I have time. I’ve been losing interest in The Other Place and this sort of thing doesn’t make me feel any more disposed to comment or blog there.

  21. Thanks Bravo: I’ll see what reason they give me first, if they bother to respond! I suppose I could, but I’m not sure it’s worth the bother. I’m tied up with real life at the moment, but I could make a fuss when I have more time. I know it worked for you, but they didn’t reactivate anyone’s account in the last cull.

    It does make one wonder why one bothers sometimes.

  23. The deletions that have taken place in the last couple of months don’t make any sense at all. My guess is technical failure or hacking activity.
    Why would they want to get rid of you, a voice of reason, and keep all the rednecks and sundry on their site? It is the British Telegraph, and therefore cannot display behaviour or activity as such.
    I guess what I am trying to say Araminta, do not take it personal.
    Anyway, and I am sure we all agree
    On this fine site, DNMyT
    That this is their own loss
    Unless they want to be known as purveyors of dross.

  24. Well I am seriously confused, I note that your account has been deleted and not suspended which is the norm.

    Not to worry, google have cached most of our offerings no matter where we go, here is Myra’s blog from April 1st complete with all your comments.

    If there is anything that you would really like to recover, it is out there somwhere, just takes a little time!

  25. But then it could be the, hhtp/ Araminta at wordpress, line.
    They do hate competition. As I said before, when I advertised this site, well maybe a bit more blatantly, 🙂 they suspended my IP address and I couldn’t even sign back in. But this problem has be rectified.

  26. Ah, thank you Rainer! I’m not taking it to heart, but I am a little peeved!

    Soutie: yes, I notice that too;; a tad draconian I thought. Goodness knows what I’m supposed to have done.

    Thank you for the retrieval, I’ll give it a go, but frankly I accumulated so many blogs in my time on MyT, it could take some time.

  27. Ara

    Here’s your upside down rose (ha ha I remember it well, now that I’ve seen it again) it even has a comment from the ‘mad’ poet Christopop!

    what a pity that ‘he’ was driven out, I liked him.

    In fact my email address here is actually his, I originated it when I started to edit his critiques for him.

  30. Thanks again, Soutie. Yes, I thought Christopop did a great deal to promote the creative writers.

    Bravo: interesting, covers a multitude of sins, I would have though!

  31. Well, this just about sums up the state of MyT, Araminta. Seriously, I really do lament the deterioration of the site compared to what was there when I first joined. Admittedly the cycling types all arrived to have a crack at blogging for the prizes (Tour de France) (including me as a reader of the cycling types!) but the others there were such interesting writers too.

    It’s appalling that MyT is considered by the Telegraph to be so worthless that the management are allowing it to be tortured to death by the OneShite idiots.

    I emailed Kate Day back in January about the loss of my blog comments and the deletion of my one prize-winning blog (Roly’s actually but I was his ghost-writer!) and she replied and said she’d investigate. A reminder later, she said she was still on the case. No reply to my last reminder in March.

    I may rant more in a blog on MyT but I doubt it will make the slightest difference. Ooops, the buzzer’s going. Pasta is served! 🙂

  33. So, without revealing the contents of the correspondence here; which I have been told on another occasion is punishable by instant deletion, it seems that mischief is afoot!

    Whilst is seems perfectly acceptable to have as many accounts as one can be bothered to open under various names, including impersonating other bloggers, it is not so, if you openly admit this fact. Or let us speculate if the moderators attention is drawn to this fact.

    Well, what a shambles! Very very interesting, but frankly, quite bizarre!

  34. This is my response to KD: slightly amended, because I do not want to quote her:

    Dear Kate,

    Thank you for your response. I must admit I find the whole affair quite bizarre. I have been completely open about the reason for having two “Araminta” accounts, due to technical difficulties some time ago with my original log in. This was nearly a year ago!

    There are a number of people on the site who have done the same. Would it not have been possible to check with me?. The account which has been deleted was my original account which has a registered email address too. I have used this other email account to communicate with you before, and have received no notification of an impending deletion on my other email address account.

    I do feel quite aggrieved about this situation and the loss of my archive. I would have much preferred that my detective mouse account be deleted if this was causing a problem.

    I have been a contributor to MyT for over two years now, and I do feel that deletion of my account was not justified. Many members regularly breach the Terms and Conditions and do not have their accounts deleted in this somewhat draconian manner.

    [Deleted quotation from KD’s response]

    I do feel that there is a certain amount of mischief making occurring here and your wording above does nothing to dispel this feeling.

    Would it be possible to re-instate my original account please, and if it contravenes your Terms and Conditions to have two accounts, delete the account which remains?

    Many thanks,

    Araminta

  38. isobelandcat :

    Sorry, just read no 3, has poets cornered been deleted too?

    No, Isobel, not deleted: just that I have withdrawn from being Poets Cornered.

  39. … though in that respect I could be accused of having two accounts and being two people on MyT.

  40. You could indeed, Nym: odd sort of standards really, don’t you think. If there is no intention to deceive, one would have thought it reasonable, but apparently not, if some one reports it.

  42. Just a thought. If one has received a MyT ASBO (warning) at any time whatsoever, a suspension of an account can occur any time thereafter without any warning whatsoever as well. It has happened to others before. All it takes is a concentrated effort by several bloggers (or multi ID’s) who bear a grudge to chip away and report and there you are gorne! If you are really that keen to stay with MyT, just reinvent yourself many do just that.

    🙂

  43. A very pertinent thought, Tocino. I think you could have a point about the “grudge” factor.

    I’m not entirely sure I need to re-invent myself. I still have one “Araminta” account that still works, but I may not bother to use it. My feeling is, at the moment, that it simply is not worth it. Leave the lunatics to take over; then as someone mentioned earlier, they will eventually turn on themselves. Let them, as far as I am concerned. I shall watch them with interest and amusement, or maybe not even bother. I will post here. Much more rewarding and a troll-free zone; although I see one has tried to comment earlier! 😉

  45. Furry: I’m not sure it is a good idea to explain; it would give the troll the attention he craves, but it is possible to see the comment in the Spam section on this site. Trouble is, that what he wants, but I do find it amusing. 🙂

  46. Isobel, Poets Cornered is my alter ego. No one else is Poets Cornered as it is an account of mine. I have just left all the postings up there.

  48. Quite, Nym: bit like Ethel, dreadful pomes etc., but if I mention her, she will probably disappear! At this moment in time, I’m afraid I could not care less! 😉

  51. It really beggars belief, Araminta! (sorry, I’ve come over all Victor Meldrew). At least you have had some sort of explanation from Kate Day… mumble, grumble.

  54. Ara; well I’ve said it over there and I’ll say it again here; the place will be seriously adrift and bereft without you. I think I should have gorn before you – in fact I’m sure they very nearly did, that night I told Cheech to get a vibrator!
    Apparently Tigerbrite, BRendano and RIchard d’Orleans got zapped too. Unbelievable when the total baskets are allowed to run amok on there with their stalking and their anti-everything-and everyone else-campaigns. I agree with Jan; it beggars belief. Shame, it should be a great site, run by a national newspaper etc etc, but it’s turning into the complete opposite.

  55. Claire: you are a real sweetie, but really, the site will survive in one form or another despite my absence. I have a great fondness and loyalty to The Other Place, believe me, but enough is enough. I would have been right there with you a year ago, but no, not now. The final straw, I think. Ridiculous state of affairs, but should they sort it out, I would happily go back. It is not going to happen and it’s sad.

    I hope I am I wrong, and one part of me says, stuff these people, let’s fight! When I have a moment to spare, I will seriously consider it! 🙂

  56. Claire,

    It was a good site and the chances are it will be again? It has always had its ups and downs and can be addictive as well. What Bearsy has managed here though is to capture the best of MyT and its bloggers (and I do not put myself in that category) and give those who want it, an alternative. I feel sure that more will join us here and I hope that Bearsy and his helpers have the fortitude/time to take this site forward.

    🙂

  58. Ara: like I said, I just speak as I find, hon. It really was uncalled for though. You were one of their best bloggers. I might write a poem in protest!
    I had no idea that the mods were in the habit of firing off asbo warnings before the final countdown. But then I wouldn’t, since I have lost all access to the hotmail account with which I registered. Ach! Peu importe. You on Facebook, Ara?

  59. I didn’t even qualify for ASBO, Claire, how dreadful is that? Just zapped! 🙂
    I have a Facebook account, Claire but I’m not there much. Too many sites and so little time.

  60. Tocino, I hope too that others will join us. I just read some of Marya’s poetry that I missed but took ages finding it as an ad has been placed right over the clickable links. Sabina’s posts are tremendously engaging. I miss all my favourites, in fact. All those people are genuine, interesting and interested writers – no multiple IDs. They would all fit here among civilized people.

  62. Tocino; I agree; this site has creamed off what was on there, and I mean that in the best possible way. My T was/is addictive, and not in a good way most times. But I will keep going back as long as it’s running because the creative writing competitions are so unique and the writers are great company.
    As for you – well you’re featured blogger here, so surely that must count for something?! Nice one, well done. Even if you do look a tad, um, hairy, these days 😉

  63. Isobel; yes, that’s what Bubbles was saying. And Cheech is here, yes, but this was back in days of yore when one could cheerfully launch a full stream of obscenities to Cheech on Dark Side without fear of reprisals. Or so I thought – until I made the vibrator comment and every blog I touched disappeared into ether!

  65. Yep! Il n’y aura plus personne…
    Thanks for stuff on value added btw. got a job interview in a couple of weeks.

  66. Cor. Maybe you can explain it to me sometime!
    Do you use a blog page for school homeworks etc?
    It’s a great way of setting a question and everyone has to post their answers as comments which you as administrator can see but no one else can. You then mark and reveal them after the deadline has passed.

  70. Isobel; thanks!A friend who is an ASTeacher looked at my last set of GCSE residuals and worked out that my value added was plus 4. Basically means that if a child got 2 grades above their target, that is plus 2. You add them all up – or subtract them in the cases of those who underachieved. My mate reckons plus 4 is good, so I’m going with that line!
    Nope; don’t do emailing/blogging over homework. More excuses for kids to miss deadlines and expct the teachers to mop up the mess afterwards, in my view!
    Ara; Boa; I think MyT could be about to implode at this rate!

  71. Claire, I wondered as a friend of mine, also a French teacher, is using it to good effect and thinking about setting up a blogpage on a Frenchsite.

    Metin gone?! By his own choice?

  73. Hello, Isobel and Claire: no, Metin has not gone. Boadicea and I were discussing a post of Metin’s which was removed by the moderators yesterday evening.

  74. I haven’t seen Darcey/Richard for some time, but yet another one who probably wasn’t totally enthusiastic about goings on elsewhere.

Add your Comment