Friday Rant, Saturday Apology. Anyone Interested, Check In...

[JeffreyWilliamson]

Hello All,

Yesterday evening, after being alerted in the morning by a fellow DUer about rumors of bodies in South Texas, I posted this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4042011

It got heated, people questioned my credentials, etc. At one point checking GD today, I saw a thread about the disease lab at UTMB in Galveston and after reading it had enough. I went to the Lounge, and typed up a little satire thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8109602

That thread got locked earlier this afternoon. I saw it on the phone, but was not where I could respond. In the first thread above, where I had pasted the link to the second, satirical thread, there were some out there that saw the chance to take a bite out of me, and did so. And I deserved it frankly, for the tastelessness of what I had done.

Let me take a moment now to apologize. I'm sorry...

We live in a culture fed on South Park and The Simpsons, and I guess in a way I'm a product of that. I thought it would be okay to do a little roasting of those conspiracy buffs out there, but I did cross a line. I noticed this evening, in the first locked thread that I linked to above, that there was a poster that was missing someone in Bolivar. I want to be very specific in my apology to that DUer now--I didn't mean to hurt you. And I will try very hard not to do so in the future. And if I can be of any help to you whatsoever, please PM me and let me know how.

For the others that found my "zombie" post as a great opportunity to disprove that I am a resident of Galveston, and a few posters do come to mind, just so you know, I am really from Galveston.

My name is Jeffrey Williamson.

I am gay. And a Democrat.

My address is around 50th and Avenue O, Galveston, TX 77551

PM me and you are welcome to my cell phone number and exact address, which you will find is in area code (409), and prefix 771, (Galveston).

Here's my MySpace page:

www.myspace.com/dreamingofpiper

And then there is this, the pictures I took of my boss' daughter's house on Monday:

This is how high the water came in:



This is the kitchen. The water knocked over the fridge:



Here's how the saltwater ate the paint off the walls:



And here's more paint, this time in the bedroom:



Sorry it's not the video I took, but I don't have a way to upload that now.

Now, after this defense of my own identity, let me stress again that I am sorry for the thread I posted earlier today. It wasn't meant to poke fun at disaster survivors--I am one myself as of this moment. It was meant to show how crazy we can get when we take a rumor and run with it. Yes, it was in bad taste, and yes, I regret having done it. And I apologize again for upsetting anyone. This has made me sick for the last hour or so.

So anyone out there that was offended, I'm sorry. Anyone out there that doesn't believe I am who I say I am, please know that I am. And to anyone who is searching for someone on Bolivar or Galveston, please don't give up hope, because there are NOT bodies out there. Your family and friends are safe. You will see.

Thanks guys, and sorry again. Promise I won't be such a smartass in the future.

Jeffy

(Edited to remove my exact address, after recs from others.)

[liberalmuse]

1. I'm glad you posted the first thread.

I had read about bodies in trees and figured there was a cover up, so it was refreshing to get the scoop from someone who was actually in Galveston. I believed you were who you said you were.

The second thread is pretty funny. I don't know why you'd be upset. God forbid if anyone posts something that debunks the popular meme of the day. Too many people pull the 'your concern is noted' crap, and to me, it just looks like they are burying their heads in the sand if something akin to truth bothers them so much they have to be sarcastic jerks.

You probably should remove your address. Assholes like Rush Limbaugh and freepers have been known to lurk in these parts.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

4. Not afraid of the Freepers...

I will go back and change the address. There are crazies out there. And thanks for your response.

I had a laugh at the zombie thread I posted, but shouldn't have. I got out lucky, but knew some would not have. There are a lot of people out there burying their heads in the sand, but calling them out isn't worth cutting into someone who is hurting. I shouldn't have done it.

I just want anyone who posted in that thread and saw that to know two things:

1. Sorry for the offense. I was lucky and others were not. Should have realized that and should have acted as such.

2. I really am here, and there is reason for those out there to hope. There have been losses but a brighter day is on the horizon. We survive, we rebuild...

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. I hope you know that you

Have had a traumatic experience that needs to be processed.
As would anyone who went through and are going through what you did.

There were many here on DU that went through Katrina, and pay for that experience
every day, where a sound, a smell or a noise can release those memories.

I look forward to your video that you can share.
Hang in there!

[Suich]

3. If there is still time, please delete your phone # and address!

People can pm you if they want to know.

Just sayin'. Thanks for posting. I truly appreciate it.

[Jamastiene]

5. Please remove your address.

It's probably not a good idea to put that up there. It's good you gave the apology for those who have family and friends down there. That's a good thing. It's nice to see an apology in this day and age where everyone seems to just be sniping at each other and there is no courtesy. :thumbsup:

[coffeenap]

6. Please just take care of yourself, your family, and friends. Don't

worry over what was done here. We who have not experienced what you have cannot begin to comprehend what you must be going through. Heal and forgive yourself. Best wishes from your DU family.:grouphug:

(And do block that personal info if you can; lots of people here know the dangers of too much honesty.)

[MsTryska]

7. for what it's worth...

i thought your satire was hilarious.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

8. Thanks for the support...

...I just get really tired of some of the tinfoil stuff sometimes. Especially when I am in the middle of it.

And I am sorry for what I posted, regardless of how many people thought it was funny. It wasn't really called for, I should have stuck with facts.

Maybe as an out of the closet gay guy from 94 still listening to RuPaul on the car stereo, when I see someone acting dumb, I have a tendancy to "read" them. That was the source of the satire, but in the end it was wrong.

The partner accuses me of being insensative a lot. I usually blow him off. Tonight I logged on and found out he was right.

[MsTryska]

9. i think youa re being too hard on yourself...

I didn't really see it in bad taste, or unnecessairly cruel, but sometimes DU has a very thin skin and people refuse to appreciate a little levity.


They'd be angry at that hilarious scene from Steel Magnolias when everyone's tearing up after the funeral.

[Lisa0825]

13. Having been extremely frustrated with the tinfoil myself,

I enjoyed the satire and sincerely appreciate your factual topics as well. I live in TC and work in Galveston. Maybe one of these days we'll get a chance to meet up :pals:

[thewiseguy]

10. The water would have swept away bodies in Bolivar

Entire houses were wiped out. How do you expect to find bodies there? :wtf:

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou080918_tj_search_bodies_bolivar_ike.8e35ae67.html?npc

I appreciate the fact that you came to your senses and decided to evacuate in the last minute. However, since you have not been to the Bolivar peninsula, I think you should refrain from commenting on the status of the missing there.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

11. I never expected to find bodies there...

...since it was widely reported here that the Coast Guard assisted in evacuating large numbers of people before, during, and after the storm.

What really got me going were tall tales of 900 - 1500 bodies floating off the coast, when what was really floating off the coast were the timbers of Hooter's, Murdock's Bath House, and The Balinese Room, along with a couple of fishing piers and whatever credibility our Mayor had left. I also really enjoyed reading about people hanging from trees--apparently the invisible kind of trees since they don't tend to show up during flyovers...

Got some interesting "post-drink" pictures of my fine 1995 Honda Accord/Paperweight I'll try to put up later. It's got an O-Man sticker on the bumper, although I suppose it won't get much viewing anytime soon.

Kicking for the Coffee Crew...

[Ellipsis]

12. Sunday hug.

:hug:



Screw the naysayers!(politely)

[cwydro]

14. Thanks for posting again.

I had no doubts you were real.

What some people don't realize is those threads about missing bodies are disrespectful too.

There is rarely any coverage of hurricanes that hit us down here on our tiny islands.

We don't care about that, but loved ones who live elsewhere do not need to have fearmongering fools scare them when they can find no real news.

After Andrew, there were rumors the Keys were wiped out, while in reality, we had no damage at all except in the very upper Keys. My parents were terrorized by those rumors at the time and I have never forgotten it.

Those surge pictures bring back memories. Hang in there.

[chknltl]

15. Typical DUer

Is there such a thing as a typical DUer? Well there are the not so typical DUers, the exceptionally talented writers like Nance Greggs and Will Pitt, the investigative reporters like Kpete and Hissyspit, that hurricane Katrina surviving artist Swamp Rat, and a whole host of uber smart thinkers-(a list that could be so large that the point I wish to make with this post would be over-encumbered so insert your fave here). These folks, who have earned our gratitude time and time again are NOT typical DUers.

On the other side of the spectrum are the newbies-generally a bit shy, not sure of cultural protocols inherent in an extended family so large as ours-they are not typical DUers either.

Then there is the vast majority of DUers, they are neither superstar nor newbie. Typical???-but what makes them typical? Frankly I can not name a single trait, not a single aspect that I can pinpoint that says: THAT is what a typical DUer is! So is there a such a thing as the 'typical DUer'?

When one examines pre-Ike back-threads of JefferyWilliams the easy thing that comes to mind is: Typical DUer! He is typically progressive, typically informed, typically mad at what the cons have done to our country, typically cautiously optimistic at the same time typically fearful of what the future may bring. He uses a bit more snark than is typical but who here isn't secretly coveting a DUZY? Another-words Jeffery Williams IS THE TYPICAL DUer! (OK a typical DUer with a not so typical low post count but typical nonetheless).

When I saw the Zombies OP, I enjoyed it. There was that snark I had seen in those back-threads trotted out to drive an important point home! I admired that OP on in my mind, "Well Done!", I thought. That photo was perfect!

BUT THEN I READ ON

As I read on through thread, I ran across fellow DUers who were hurt, most showing outrage at the callousness of the OP! As I read on I found myself seeing the other side of the coin, I found myself feeling their hurt too. No, I don't know anyone personally who has experienced loss from a hurricane, well except for fellow DUers that is. No I don't have any loved ones who are missing, no pets who have been left behind, no home that was destroyed.

As I read through the Zombies thread I grew up a tiny bit. I was no longer the cheerleader of JefferyWilliams's OP. In the end I was grateful for the locking of that thread. I remember feeling a pang of guilt for my earlier admiration of the OP mixed with a touch of gladness that I had not posted such an OP myself! I guess that makes me a TYPICAL DUer TOO now doesn't it?

It is good that I am a part of such a family-I am thankful to each and every one of ya', superstar and typical member alike. Thank you JefferyWilliams for this thread.
:hug:
Oh hell-did I just hug a gay guy????

PS: Great photos btw, thanks for adding them to the OP.
c