What Happens In A Church... Can't Be Talked About With My Therapist?! What?!

[Ivan the Elder]

In the "Legal Policy... Terms of use" for myptsd it states:

"Once you post it (text only), it belongs forever and becomes copyright MyPTSD."

While this appears to transfer copyright to myptsd this will not hold in court. For it to hold it isn't sufficient to simply press a "post" button. It must include an agreement to not just post but to also agree to the terms of use including transfer of copyright each time something is posted. This site does not do that for text material.

In the case "Metropolitan Regional Info. Sys. v. American Home Realty Network, 722 F. 3d 591 (4th Cir. 2013)" it was held specifically that "we therefore hold that an electronic agreement may effect a valid transfer of copyright interests."

The issue here and on almost all forums is that simply pressing the "post" button does not constitute an "electronic agreement". In effect, the person doing the transfer can certainly do so via electronic means on a web site or any other electronic method but for it to hold that agreement must be presented for agreement every time that a transfer of copyright is to take place. It must be spelled out for agreement to take place. Doing otherwise would be very similar to Microsoft saying something to the effect that "Since you made a license agreement when you installed Windows that means no matter what or when you install anything else from us the same conditions will always apply even if we never again show it to you".

Not good enough. If for any reason a question about who owns written copyright on this or any other forum with similar terms and conditions it won't hold for items that don't even exist when the agreement was made. Transfer of copyright must be made at the time the transfer takes place.

I point out that this is an area where I have done actual legal work. I run multiple web sites and this very issue is of importance to me and customers of mine. The wording and operation of law is exceedingly dependent on the precise wording and logic of the actual law and legal terms. The good lawyers are the ones with an intuitive understanding of logic, the same as computer programmers. While I am not a lawyer I have been programming for 52 years.

I should also point out that the simple ability to edit a post throws the copyright claim out the window immediately. Allowing you to edit the post automatically grants you ownership of the post. I can change it or even make it go away. Obviously it is mine. Also, it would be foolish to in some way enforce such copyright ownership. Then the web site owners would be fully responsible for any act of libel, not a healthy way to run a forum. It is also for that very reason that transfer of forum text copyright must be made clear with agreement made in every case it happens. That was fought in court by forum operators so that forum operators would not be held responsible for libellous postings.

 

[stillstanding2]

I have wanted to and been working on posting a response to everyone who has written. I haven't gotten...

Thanks for your kind update, but I still think you blame yourself too heavily for what happened. One of my thoughts was that even before the incident with the recorder, what triggered their hostility was learning that you were talking to a therapist, an "outsider" who might learn secrets. Even the peanut butter silliness could have been meant to embarrass or intimidate you into not acting independently as you did with those sandwiches.

You are still a hero of mine. At least those people now know that you will stand up for yourself if provoked. And you may also be watchful on behalf of others.

Oh, and I might say thanks also for setting me straight on your wishes about my writing. Since I relate so well to what happened to you, it could have been personally painful to me to write about that any time soon.

You calmed the old firehorse in me that rushes toward the smell of smoke. Not many people have succeeded at that!

And stop blaming yourself for not being a pushover!

 

[Ivan the Elder]

Justmehere, It sounds like you have made some real improvements in your self. You are setting an example for me to follow in some respects. I do know that if I were to find myself in any sort of similar situation as you did I would never trust the people involved again. But, that is me and even with all that you have taken so much time to explain there must be far more that I and others do not know about your circumstances. That is as it should be and you have explained more that I would expect to hear from most people, including me.

It is of course up to you what you decide and how this all turns out. At least you have that ability. I envy you that. For nearly everything that has happened to me this year I have not had any choice in what and how events took place. Virtually everything was with me under extreme duress, against my will and better judgement. It is finally coming to a point where I do now have some say in what I do, when I do it and if I do it at all. It is almost a novelty for me compared to how things took place up until quite recently. Even so I am still living in a place I do not want to live in, many things I used to have are now permanently gone and that includes the animals I love so much.

Take your time and make your decisions calmly and with grace. I am certain whatever you decide it will be done the best way possible. Just remember it is you that counts first, then others, if they should even be considered at all.

 

[joeylittle]

@Evan - Now I'm replying as staff - this site is under the jurisdiction of Victoria, Australia. I doubt your citations apply. If you want to continue this topic, take it to the Help Desk, we can respond properly to you over there.

It's not really a full resolution to the crap that happened, but it was a huge step in the right direction and a lot of reason brought into the mater that I really badly wanted to see happen.

I know it's not a resolution - but really, I don't think situations like yours often are. I'm offering this as support, not criticism - I often feel very disappointed when I finally get to say my piece in front of whomever I'm in conflict with - there's so much anxiety that can back a situation, and then it suddenly turns into just words, and then it's in the past, but it doesn't seem like anything changed.

(That's my experience of it, anyway)

So, try and not feel to let down, if you can. I think you're doing great.

 

[Ivan the Elder]

No sweat Joey, as I said there is no such thing as international copyright and I am in Canada. It's a small world now but it still has borders. I don't really care which is why I always put up my images as public domain. If I don't want them taken and used I don't put them up. The internet is such a cool place and in the real world rules no longer apply, with some exceptions but those are in "high places". I first was on line in the late 70's, all text and almost no security of any kind. Some of my early work: (1960's) Had to blur out my last name. I am still on some lists regarding things I am still not allowed to talk about.

I really do have severe PTSD and some of it came from the military. But that is the part I still can't talk about. I live in Canada since after my discharge I found that in my previous line of work you never get a real discharge. Living up here makes it harder for them to check up on me.

 

[Escape Goat]

justmehere,

I don't know if I can fully answer to what you are experiencing here but I can relate you my own experience as having been born and raised a "Vatican One" Catholic.

To me such a fanatical culture never added up and neither did the incredible hypocrisy that it and its parishioners stood for. There was that earlier time in my life I knew I was steeped in that vast Sea of Hypocrisy in which the shore was nothing but another wave.

My example and experience of the church-going culture was extremely conditional and (I didn't know it then) my mother being a teacher in the Catholic School Board, it was a condition of her employment that she attend unfailingly every Sunday. If she couldn't attend for any reason, I was the one dispatched to represent her, being the oldest child.

When I reached the age that I could choose for myself as opposed to kowtowing to Mom's wishes, I defected the faith, washed my hands of it all, and chose to not raise my daughter in the same.

In conclusion I will tell you the truth to my "denomination": it is really a crime syndicate that destroyed the culture and ways of our aboriginal peoples with its impositions and molested an awful lot of little boys. That being said, I have been the trend breaker in my family in my refusal to uphold this horrible fascistic monster hiding behind the façade of a house of worship.

 

[Bluemoonwillow]

I know rules in different areas may be different, but unless otherwise stated ther is no expectation of confidentiality with a church bible study. There is with a lawyer, a priest, few other exceptions I cannot remember. Legally as far as I can figure you did nothing wrong. If the church had said what we discuss stays within these walls then recording may Have an expectation of confidentiality. I think your church organization may be over stepping themselves a bit. I had more but I am getting befuddled writing this much even