Andalusian of the baroque type
by Justsayingfubb
This was the one that pissed me off... Fubbs was told over and over this mare wasnt in foal but noooo "SEND MONEY SAVE HER" she cried...and now this update....
I have to include an update/brag about Exclusive Report, aka Hope. You will remember her from this blog entry. I saw her in the kill pen and flipped out because she just screamed quality and you all know how I am about red mares. Oh, and we were all sure she was heavy in foal – it actually took two separate vets to convince us otherwise because she has major broodie belly! Anyway, so this gorgeous mare whinnied at me and said, HEY, get me out of here and with the help of some very kind donors, we did.
2 Vets to convince you? That would have paid Hercs board! Fubbs put your money where your mouth is.. You bitch about CBER and yet you defend SOS who lets ABR bail the horses then lets them sit for years now in 12x12 mud pens, adopts sick and lame horses as children's mounts when they have been assessed in a alleyway bareback w/ halter WTF is the real story there? Oh yeas they pay you for ads.
Remember your mantra if you adopt a horse dont cry for $$ after you adopt it? Why is it OK for you? And who the hell is "we" you have no cred with SAFE or Ponyup so who is WE???
I am honored and will hoist my fatt butt up on my OTTB today just to calm my 'I want to choke Fubb' nerves LOL..
ReplyDeleteWhat's especially interesting about Exclusive Report (along with Sweet year, another FHOTD feature) is that she appears to have been rehabbed at Serenity Equine Rescue, a place that FHOTD is not on good terms with (to put it nicely). Not just that, but for at least a month, maybe two, the Serenity page has included the tidbit "Ruling Flame and Exclusive Report go to new home" (scroll down a bit, and look on the left) http://serenityequinerescue.com/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteSo, where are these horses, really? Is SCR responsible for them? Serenity? Someone else?
I am a little unbsue why it waould take to vets to convince her the mare was open , 1 ultrasound should have done the job , and really what did it matter ? would she have let a heavy in foal mare go for slaughter? aAnd only take her home if she was an easy fix?
ReplyDeletebugger! spell check!
ReplyDeleteShould have read ,I am unsure why it would take 2 vets,
not"I am a little unbsue why it waould take to vets to convince her the" proofing FAIL
http://schwung.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=auction&action=display&thread=5488
ReplyDeleteBoth of theses horses were well cared for at my place. The were dewormed, bathed, had their feet trimmed, groomed, and Ruling Flame had as much to eat as he wanted since he was thin. Katie said she would bring me blankets (but never did) so I used some that I had that didn't fit the horses very well. Katie was told repeatedly that I could keep Ruling Flame but keeping both of them was not feasible. We had just picked up Tap and Rap and don’t have room for two more. Ruling Flame would have been started on trails here so that he could be adopted out more easily.
In the end Katie blatantly lied to me about them going to Serenity. This is the reason I didn’t want to get involved with this whole rescue/auction thing. I’m just so tired of the drama and lack of organization.
The reason SAFE gets my support is they have this site and post things like they are. It seems they are honest, including posting the financial status of the organization. IMHO, other organizations should follow suit.
A few threads later Katie / allslew tries to defend herself by cussing out fosters
If you think i have too many horses... well, it's because people like you commit to fostering and then quit after a week. Every year dozens of horses are dumped by fosters because they change their mind. Considering you've never been to my property, have no idea what my situation is or how many horses i have, you should probably keep that opinion to yourself.
ReplyDeleteKatie
www.secondchanceranch.org
DONT RESCUE HORSES YOU CANT TAKE CARE OF!!!!
I dont consider it a rescue if you farm them out for others to pay for.
Okay - that's all very well, but where are the horses and are they really close to going to new homes?
ReplyDeleteKatie, I know why I won't foster a horse from a rescue. I don't get to make my own decision about the horse. It is like living in a step-parent/"real" parent relationship. I have to do all the heavy lifting but if the "real" parent decides I doing it wrong, (Hair cuts, undies and shoes for example)I can get hauled into court or just endlessly harassed about "things" Don't body clip or you must use natural light shoes or the property must be open for my (the rescue) inspection 24/7 no warning. Or don't use bute or or or. Yeah, I'd dump a foster horse too. I don't know if you do that type of thing but at least one I know does. Why should I put up with that? Do what <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1225479,00.html>Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport </a> does. check out the foster/adoptive home so thoroughly that you could give them c4 and nothing would happen. You can get real knives on El Al airlines cause they know you so well by the time you are on the plane they don't have to worry. Try that rather than micro managing. Unless of course it is all about the drama.
ReplyDeleteI don't trust rescues. They start out with good intentions (And what road is it that is paved with them?) then they get crazy. Each and every time. And the more they call for money, the crazier they get until each and every person is guilty until proven innocent. Then, they get to be judgmental on top of asking for copious amounts of money.
ReplyDeleteJudge, jury and executioner they are not. And that's my opinion.
I just thought of an old poster I saw a long time ago Don't remember what the photo was of but the words said "The only constant in all your failed relationships is you" Think that could be said of a lot of rescues.
ReplyDeleteRescue smescue if the are trading off a lot they are Horse Traders Period.
ReplyDeleteIts like high school who is the Rescue Queen...Which turns into the Hoarder Queen. It is never about the horses.
I think "rescue" is the most overused word in the horse industry right now. Have you noticed no one actually "buys" a horse any more? Everyone "rescues" a horse.
ReplyDeleteThe word rescue is defined as freeing from confinement, danger or evil.
How is it a "rescue" when the horse had a happy home, but was simply for sale? Most are healthy but possibly need grooming, training, or a hoof trim? All of those things are normal care. They are certainly not in a dangerous or evil situation.
Buying a horse at an auction is not "rescue" it is "purchase". Yes the horse might be in some danger of being shipped to slaughter, but there is no way to know if you purchased it at an auction that someone else might have bought it and given it a good home.
I believe a true rescue is where the horse is in imminent danger of death, either by starvation or untreated disease. I do not buy labeling a horse as a rescue simply because someone did not like the way the owner kept it, unless the horse was in DANGER.
I think animal rescues and horse rescues in particular are guilty of making mountains out of molehills. Yeah so what... You all bought a horse at an auction. yeah so what that horse needed a trim, de-worming and feed. The best kept horses in the world are only 6-8 weeks away from needing the EXACT same things....
Extremely well said Anon 9:06!!!
ReplyDeleteHeh...all the rescues begging for money tempts me.
ReplyDeleteOlder dog needs help!!! His owner dumped him and I have been struggling to keep him out of the shelters, but his medical needs are running into the thousands. Please, send money or he'll have to go to the pound!!!!
Seriously, my ex gave me back my dog when his new wife complained. I willingly took him in (the dog, not the ex) so he's MY responsibility. Why are horses any different?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBHM: Today's FHOTD post re: Shagya Arabs being rescued has kicked up a little dust storm. Someone posted in the comment section:
ReplyDeleteconcerned says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 4:27 PM
Fugly, I am begging you to take this down for right now. Local people are working on this and this is absolutely jeapordizing the rescue already taking place. She will absolutely refuse to work with us if you leave this up. 21 are already placed in knowledgable GOOD homes. Whether we will be able to pick them up now is up to you and everyone else contacting her in attacking way. Please stop for the horses sake! Everyone! You are not helping in this instance. Wait until we get them out PLEASE! Excuse my spelling but please take this down for now. There is a story here but it needs to be silent for now.
fhotd says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 4:45 PM
I was sent it by 10 different people begging me to cross-post it. Actually, when I went to my e-mail, I realized I got sent a plea to take these horses for free last September that I missed. I don’t take things down without a REASON and “needs to be silent for now” does not ever cut it. Besides, it is already cross-posted all over hell and creation, my taking it down won’t make it disappear.
concerned says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 4:28 PM
Edited to add that it was 12 not 21 but will be zero if this keeps up.
And then:
ReplyDeleteconcerned says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 5:08 PM
I usually respect what you write Fugly and am glad that you are there to expose things. However in this situation your post along with everyone else calling her and emailing her is Not helping. This was going very smoothly and now all the publicity is freaking her out and she may not let them go. You have stories that you hold back on until the horses are out and safe, you’ve posted about them before. This is one of those cases. Yes there is a bad story here, yes on many things that I am sure you can guess on. Not arguing that with you. Just begging EVERYONE that is not directly involved in the rescue to shut up for the sake of the horses getting out of there until they are all of the property. I almost contacted you myself about this but recognized it was more important to get the horses OUT of there first. PLEASE EVERYONE IF YOU WANT TO HELP THEM PLEASE STOP! If these horses all go to auction now, instead of bypassing that and getting into appropriate homes, can thank yourselves for that! The people lined up for these horses are quality knowledgable horse people, not joe blow looking for a free or cheap auction horse to yahoo around on.
fhotd says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 5:21 PM
No one is emailing Nancy SKAKEL. The e-mail is to the person who said she was trying to place the horses. Different Nancy.
And like I say, it’s already all over the net, the cat was out of the bag for 2 days before I posted. If you don’t want me to post about something, and there is a legitimate reason to hold back, you should have filled me in before – instead, 100% of my mail begged me to post this. So now it’s up. I don’t take things down once they’re up.
Then someone who knows the owner stands up for her and says "there's more to this story, she fell on hard times," and Fugly backpedals a bit:
ReplyDeletesaddlesore says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 5:58 PM
This was so shocking to me — I know Nancy Skakel. I haven’t talked to her in probably five years now, but she’s no stranger.
Before you bash her, I understand she had fallen onto hard times — in the past, she was a legitimate breeder with a good knowledge of bloodlines, and one of the founding members and breeders of Shagyas in this country. She had some excellent stallions and mares, and was friends with many Hungarians who advised her on her breeding program. I never saw her abuse/starve a horse in the past. She always cared greatly for her horses.
The Shagya is a rare breed in this country — it’s not romantic or silly, they are nice horses. They were developed in the Austro-Hungarian empire as calvary horses and make excellent sporthorses. They have a strict registry and inspection policy with breeders that really care about their horses.
I am astounded that it came to this with Nancy — the Shagya community is really close knit, and I would have thought she would have dispersed long before it became a media event. I am horrified that these horses are being given away in this fashion. Guess it’s all fun until it’s someone you know that turns out to be featured on fugly … wow.
Ugh. Well I hope the folks that get this group of horses appreciate them.
fhotd says:
APRIL 7, 2010 AT 6:07 PM
I agree that she’s knowledgeable and intelligent. The many articles she wrote about the breed prove that. It is always more surprising to me when someone like this doesn’t see the writing on the wall early enough to disperse quietly, and especially given that the horses were mostly broke horses who should have been able to find homes.
However, there is a history of financial problems here, as shown clearly in the court records. The financial problems were not just in the last year or so.
This is the original post about Nancy Skakel, written by Fugly:
ReplyDeleteBreeding Trainwreck Du Jour!
TAGS: BACKYARD BREEDERS, FREE HORSES, STALLIONS
Everybody got your Breeding Trainwreck Checklist ready?
Fantasy-related farm name: CHECK! “Paradise Flats”
Hairy rare breed of horse: CHECK! Shagya Arabians. Here is the breed’s website to learn more about them. They are actually pretty cool horses.
Multiple stallions: CHECK! Four of ‘em
Issues with Having A Real Job: CHECK! Nancy Skakel, the Breeder Failure of the Day, left Illinois after she defaulted on her educational loan and lost her nursing license.
Issues with Actually Caring For Horses: CHECK! Reported one missing in 2005 after “not seeing it for several days”...wtf … seriously who the HELL are these people who do not look at every horse every day?
Issues with Paying The Mortgage (And Multiple Court Judgments) Before Making More Horses: CHECK! Just search “Nancy Skakel” in the Washington State Court Records.
Issues with Paying Other Necessities (Like Car Insurance) Before Making More Horses: CHECK!
The farm’s address also comes back to a Huntingdon Investment Co., which is an Oregon corporation that currently has a service address in Florence, a long way from White Salmon. Wonder what that was about and if it contributes to the train-wreckage here?
They’re free for the taking – sounds like the Sheriff got her to surrender them and he wants to auction them April 16th if they don’t have homes, so please do go and get them if you have space. As you can see, we have some old pictures and some that are probably recent. They’re not starving yet but I’d assume “not up to date on anything” is a safe bet. OF COURSE four of the mares are bred…’cause when you’re in foreclosure, you should TOTALLY make more horses! Why ever not? *head explodes* Poor ponies, the place looks like a pit.
Anyway, I will say she did one thing right – most are BROKE or at least have had their groundwork. Hoo-fucking-ray! For once. So if you would like a nice BROKE Shagya Arabian, contact this person who is helping them find homes (serious inquiries only, please, don’t annoy the poor woman if you’re not serious about it):
Nancy Carlson at nancyjane@hrecn.net
If you’re local and you know more about what happened here, of course I’d love to hear the tale. She sounds like someone who hid it well as she was pretty much a major player and an authority in the Shagya world as recently as last yea
"I will SHOOT my horses before I let anyone in the outside world know I am in trouble and they need to go. I'd rather see them DEAD than in the hands of the likes of Fugs and her terrorists."
ReplyDeleteI second that! Hear hear!
I am in my early 50's my OTTB is 9. I will have her put down when I am unable to care for her due to health or old age even if that turns out to be next year. Fugly and her merry band of head hunters will never, over my dead body, touch her.
ReplyDeleteShame on you Fugly
What a sad deal, that the rescues have perpetuated such a miserable mean attitude towards owners that have fallen on hard times. If we pulled together it would be cheaper, easier, and a whole lot more fun. Oh, but there wouldn't be the opportunity to be self righteously mean...
ReplyDeleteEndurogirl says:
ReplyDeleteApril 7, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I just got an email back from Nancy saying that all the horses had “wonderful new homes”
fhotd says:
April 8, 2010 at 12:21 am
The information I got yesterday was that she had surrendered them and they were up for grabs. I don’t know what the current situation is because all of a sudden, no one is talking.
OF COURSE NOT YOU HEARTLESS B*&CH YOU WERE ASKED TO STAY OUT OF IT NOW THEIR BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS
Way to go Fubbs another job well done NOT! You will gets yours someday and the world will be a better place.
ReplyDeleteCan that woman who had to turn her horses over (or any of fugly's victims, for that matter) sue her for defamation of character?
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love horses, no horse is worth the abuse she and her gang hands out to humans she doesn't even know.
ReplyDelete~AO
This is horrible. She won't take the post down after being asked to do so by people involved in the rescue. That's beyond irresponsible. I'm sure that other sites mentioning the incident do not have their readers email the person in question.
ReplyDeleteShe refuses to take the post down because it's the only power she has in her life. Kinda like a little kid with all the candy who has the say so on who they'll share it with.
ReplyDelete~DK
ETA: I kid you not, my captcha this time is huffeces
I believe she feels she's being "journalistic" by refusing to take the post down. You know, sticking to her guns, freedom of speech, bringing the horror to the light, and all that.
ReplyDeleteAs a professional journalist, I can say what she is doing is far, far, far from responsible journalism.
To be responsible and journalistic, she would have to start by actually using more than hearsay when writing about various incidents. She would need to interview and quote folks on both sides of the issue. You know, get a response from the people she is gutting in print? She also would need to carefully source and confirm everything she reports, AND she would need to contextualize the information.
So, for example, Skakal has had financial trouble and has unpaid bills and judgments against her. What is the context of that? Did she have a catastrophic health event that left her with unpaid medical bills? Did she go through a tough divorce that left her with more debt than she could handle?
Things happen to people, and the context DOES matter. As a reporter, your job is to provide the most comprehensive and careful portrait you possibly can while still bringing to light heretofore unknown or hidden information.
Even the most venomous and angry opinion writers are required to source their opinions, check their facts, and use some moderation when expressing their dislike of something. With Fugly, it's just a free-for-all.
I can think of a half-dozen stories she has "reported" on in the past year that would have seriously benefited from some actually legwork.
Take this week's Canadian slaughter piece, for example. Why not call the Canadian equivalent of the USDA and speak to them about the video? Why not call the slaughterhouse in question? Why not quote these people on the record or have a line that says "so-and-so refused to comment for this story"? Sometimes what people refuse to say can be far more damning that what they do say.
Or how about Capstone Stables? Why not interview the judge and the trainer and include their actual words in the story? When the trainer finally did contact her and try to get her side of the story in print, Fugly suggested that someone is lying!
Of course, the Capstone story has special meaning for Fugly. Because, really, why would she report on something that's such small potatoes? And why would she be so cruel to a young novice rider--outing her and her trainer publicly and giving her readers an opportunity to go after them?
I can answer that one pretty easily.
She writes: "MARCH 15, 2010 AT 7:43 PM
I have standing, my horse was in the class. (And nope, he wasn’t perfect so I am not saying he should have gotten a ribbon, but there is an exhibitor who the judge would have placed 6th that deserved to have 5th if the incorrectly entered horse hadn’t taken 1st)"
Then later, she writes: "MARCH 17, 2010 AT 6:17 AM
Ultimately, none of their justifications work. They didn’t pick up the ribbon at the gate? WHO CARES…it still did not go to the person who earned it. The 2nd place horse was really the 1st place horse, and somewhere in that class was a 6th place horse that OUGHT to have left with a ribbon."
Since she didn't reveal that she had a stake in the story, these comments immediately raised the question for me of what WAS her standing in the class? And what IS her stake in this fight?
That's why real journalists aren't allowed to report stories that constitute a conflict of interest. Period. Fugly has no journalistic training. She has no editor to rein her in and ask her tough questions. She appears to follow no code of ethics that would govern her behavior and help shape her stories in a way that minimizes harm.
I encourage all of you to read SPJ's Code of Ethics at http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp to get an idea of just how off-base Fugly is.
Oh heck. My blood is up on this one, so I'll highlight the Society of Professional Journalist's Code of Ethics that Fugly regularly breaks:
ReplyDeleteSeek Truth and Report It: Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never plagiarize.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
Minimize Harm: Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
— Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
— Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
— Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
— Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
— Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.
Act Independently: Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
—Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Be Accountable: Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
— Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
— Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
— Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
But FHOtD isn't a journalist, or that will be her defense. She is "only" a blogger. FHotD is a blogger who I believe (she has never disclosed this) makes her primary living off her her blog and the advertising she sells. I believe that SCR doesn't care, but maybe the other advertisers will.
ReplyDeleteKaede: You are absolutely correct that she will try to pull the 'I'm not a journalist card," but let's look at the facts regarding blogging.
ReplyDeleteChristopher B. Daly writes "In fact, bloggers stand squarely in a long-standing journalistic tradition. In this country, their roots go back to the authors of the often-anonymous writings that helped to found America itself by encouraging the rebellion against Britain....
'Common Sense' and other pamphlets like it were precisely the kind of political journalism that Jefferson had in mind when he insisted on a constitutional amendment in 1790 to protect press freedom -- anonymous, highly opinionated writing from diverse, independent sources. In historical terms, today's bloggers are much closer in spirit to the Revolutionary-era pamphleteers than today's giant, conglomerate mainstream media. On those grounds, blogs deserve the full constitutional blessings that the First Amendment guarantees.
But that is not to say that bloggers have carte blanche. It is important to remember that the First Amendment is a limit on the government's power to impose prior restraint -- that is, to prevent ideas from reaching the public by shutting down a newspaper before publication. It has always left journalists open to consequences that might arise after publication -- such as being sued for libel or being ordered by a judge to reveal a confidential source." [http://www.bu.edu/cdaly/whoisajournalist.html]
So, Daly argues that, yes, bloggers do have a role to play in the journalistic continuum.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation takes it one step further. They define a journalistic blogger as someone who "is gathering news for dissemination to the public, not the method or medium she uses to publish." Thus, under this standard, FHOTD is, in fact, framing herself as a journalist. And she also wishes to take advantage of certain journalistic privileges as she does her work. For example, "Some states have laws that specifically protect the speech and privacy rights of journalists. These can include reporter's shield laws and retraction statutes, fee waivers for Freedom on Information Act requests, even campaign finance laws." [http://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal/journalists/privilege]
We know, of course, that she invokes her First Amendment rights as they pertain to journalists on a regular basis, i.e. her use of copyrighted material for purposes of editorial comment; her use of public records to build her various posts; and her liberal application of retraction statutes to her own work. A person who is "only" blogging and not reporting could not enjoy these protections, as a 2005 court ruling made clear. [http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2005/tc2005037_7877_tc024.htm]
In fact, I would say it's fair to argue that bloggers are pushing the mainstream media (MSM) to do their jobs better and faster, and believe me, even if Fugly is engaging in advocacy journalism, it's still smells like, looks like, and reads like journalism--albeit poorly done journalism. So her argument would hold no water with me.
If you still don't agree with me, read this article which talks about how the bloggers vs. journalists argument is dead, dead, dead. http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/02/distinction-between-bloggers-journalists-blurring-more-than-ever059.html
Kaede, FHOTD is a paralegal. She works at a swanky law firm in LA with a view of the ocean. She also writes a column for Horse Illustrated. She owns Atkinson Network, an entity that owns the Fuglyblog Horse Reunions and Pretzel Kitty websites.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon 7:39 a.m. for reminding me of her Horse Illustrated column. This furthers my claim that she is acting as a journalist in her various endeavors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this very important "journalistic" information. Most of us lay people aren't fully aware of that a journalist's rights, duties AND accountability are. I'm so glad to see that ANYONE who writes a blog should abide by certain guidelines when "reporting" about events or "newsworthy" stories. I'm also glad to see that they, too, can and should be held accountable for every word they write. I love the sentence that says "But that is not to say that bloggers have carte blanche". Nobody has that right to say whatever they please with NO proof to back them up. NOBODY can make claims about someone else unless they have proof of wrongdoing.
ReplyDeleteIf I accuse someone of a wrongdoing, I had better be able to PROVE the person is guilty of that wrongdoing and that does not include "because I said so".
Too many innocent people have suffered because of unfounded claims against them....just because someone like Fugs said it. Bull.
I'm so sick of her taking our First Amendment right and overusing it to justify her vicious diatribes.
Our Founding Fathers took the media (press) very seriously, and with the vocation comes serious responsibility.
ReplyDeleteOf particular interest to this crowd on FHOTD-Review, I think, is the idea that "private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy."
Again and again, Fugly opens private (regular) people up to public scrutiny and mockery for no "overriding public need" that I can think of except to pander to the lurid tastes of her readers. Of all of her sins, I think that's the one that rankles me the most.
The list of people who could expect a reasonable amount of privacy but don't get it goes on and on: Skakal, Capstone Stable, owners of horses, breeders of horses, sellers of horses, etc. These are not celebrities, politicians, government employees, CEOs or other notable people who are advancing themselves in the public eye.
In contrast, when she writes about Julie Goodnight, the Parellis, Cleve Wells, etc., those folks are fair game. They are advancing themselves as experts in the field and should expect to be held up to public scrutiny, particularly if their methods are dangerous or otherwise need scrutinizing.
I'm not convinced that Josephine Blow, small breeder with 20 head of horses, falls into that category, never mind that she has a modest (or even silly) Web site to advance her business or that she shows. I think Ms. Blow and her ilk can expect a reasonable amount of privacy.
I agree with you 100% HLS. I'm an information scientist and spend my time trying to figure out how to get my research subjects err clients, make that clients factual, non biased information in a timely manner.
ReplyDeleteThe type of thing that Cathy does muddies the waters. I'm all for an open market place of ideas. But those ideas must be held up to thorough scrutiny. What FHotD reminds me of is the ditto heads that followed Rush Limbaugh back in the day. His ideas weren't being examined and discussed. It was all "Ditto Rush". This Limbaugh always came back to criticism of his lack of journalistic standards that he is an entertainer not a journalist. Drives me wild.
To me Fugly is more like the Weekly World News than any legitimate publication. Many of her posts are akin to Bat Boy and Alligator Man in the amount of public good, research and verification she does....
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved when Big Foot became a sommelier. I wondered what kind of tang a Big Foot hair would add to a white wine.
ReplyDeleteSince when is she a paralegal in LA? As of last summer she worked at Petco North of Seattle
ReplyDeleteAnd here we start with the justifications about why she will stud out BYC when he doesn't have a ROM.
ReplyDeleteI’ve already been informed, through intermediaries of course – (pussies!) – that my horse WILL NOT be placed because I DARE to speak out about those who do wrong in the show ring.
"My horse really is that good, but it was politics that kept him from winning. Therefore I am justified breeding him even though he doesn't meet the qualifications I expect everyone else to meet before they breed their studs."
It would be sad it it weren't so freaking predictable.
The VLC is not breeding material, he does nothing to improve the breed whatsoever and he needs to be gelded.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure most of you know about the Phoebe Prince story (15 year old Irish girl comes to US, dates football captain, is relentlessly bullied and commits suicide; DA has now charged 6 teens in connection to her death).
ReplyDeleteSo of course, the outpouring of hatred has begun. The six teenagers named are being targeted for online harassment, threats including death threats, etc.
And then there's the collateral damage. Here is the story of a woman who shares a last name with one of the defendants. She's not related to them but has been falsely identified as the mother of the defendant.
She's had her personal information published, including her telephone number, her home address (along with a Google Map of the location), her email address, her work email address, her employer, etc. The threats have been so scary that at one point she had to leave her house for a week for fear that some nutcase would find her. There have been multiple calls for "people on the ground" to go to her house.
Sound familiar?
GD, that story kills me. I live in the area and have been hearing about it for quite a while. But the fact that these kids harassed & bullied this poor girl to that point is sad enough. But somehow these people think its ok to harass and bully them in return?? Where is the logic in that. Im glad they are going after the kids, but am absolutely amazed that none of the teachers or other adults at that school aren't. The whole situation is quite pathetic really.
ReplyDeleteGD That sounds just like what the Fugly Followers do. It's only a matter of time until someone snaps because of her and her followers, and for her to be charged....
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