Posted:
Okay so, I tried to stay away from this but it's gotten to the point where I feel as though I need to say something.
Maxine, I didn't realise that I'd annoyed you and Zehra so much by not PMing you about my internet connection at Uni once it was back up. I saw that you'd skipped over my go and figured that was the end of it. I thought letting you know I wouldn't be able to do it before hand would have been enough. I should have sent you a follow up, I'm sorry I didn't. I'll admit that it was irresponsible. I didn't take it as seriously as I maybe should have and was completely overwhelmed with Uni work by the time my College got internet in my room functioning again- it was my second term of University and I was falling behind. Even so, not considering its effect on everyone else was rude. I'm sorry.Zehra, I don't know what I did to upset you or offend you so much. I'd apologise if I knew, but I don't.I'm not trying to take the high road here, I get told that my long essays do exactly that as well as making me sound arrogant, derisive, pompous and 'Look-At-How-Much-Better-Than-You-I-Am' (direct quotes), but I'm just wordy.That all said, I am 100% NOT okay with this post, I think it's mean and hypocritical after how you guys reacted when somebody did this exact thing to one of you- and to be honest with you, it's really, really upsetting.I know that it was your intention to hurt peoples' feelings and you've all deliberately been as vicious as possible because your friend was upset, but I would like to hope that you didn't actually take time to consider the effect it would have on the people you were targeting when you made it. I'd like to believe that because this is the internet and it's a virtual platform, you didn't stop to consider the effects of your words on real people. Because I'd like to think none of you are happy that the result has been to bring a teenager to tears and to make me feel like scum over something as simple and as basic to me as sticking up for my friends. I like to think I have a pretty thick skin, but seeing people I thought were friends being so openly mean about me is really upsetting.I appreciated having you guys as friends, and I honestly DID consider some of you friends. I have defended some of the Chamelis and recommended your writing and humour just as strongly as I have recommended and defended Munchy. You can pretend you don't remember, but you all know that I have. We were friends, you guys. If you've ever had a friend suddenly turn on you, then you know what I'm feeling right now.I know you guys notice things like this as I've seen you comment on it when others have done it in the past, but I've unfollowed the Chamelis on Twitter. I didn't realise your opinions of me were so low and I don't want to fight with you. So I've just cut off connections on other platforms such as Twitter. I don't like being upset and so it just seemed smart to me to stay away from things and people that make me upset. I won't insult your intelligence by saying it wasn't personal. It was.
I'm half-expecting to see this mocked in future posts of yours, but as a group of people I once had a lot of respect for, I would be grateful and really appreciate it if you'd see this as me making a sincere apology and not laughing about it or belittling it by making snarky references to it in your comments to each other. I can't stop you, but I'm asking anyway.Ridz is a very close and very dear friend of mine and I know she is now one of yours as well. She knows and has known me very well for over a year now, if you have any doubts as to whether or not I'm being sincere here, you can ask her.
There's just so much I wanted to say here, but I stayed away for hours because I didn't want to say something that would upset you further.
And before I continue, let me tell you this: I saw your post on Rae's thread yesterday and wanted to comment there with a link to the 'Public Apology' post, asking you how the two instances were any different. If one person can go public with baseless accusations on a forum and attack another member viciously, then why can't another member defend herself publicly as well?
I'd think twice about using the word 'hypocrite' here, if I were you.
Anyway, my point is that I wanted to respond with the above, but I stopped myself only because I did not want things to escalate.
However, since you have now come here with more accusations, I feel compelled to respond.
At first bold: You did not merely 'annoy' us by leaving us high and dry on the Collab FF. We waited for days, and when there was no word from you, the next writer had to write an update asap. She has a life too, you know. As do the rest of us. It threw the whole schedule into a mess, and everyone was affected.
Except our readers, who were our priority, as always.
The incident with the Collab FF changed my entire perception of you, and the discontinued FFs (Of which I was once an ardent reader) have cemented that image.
I know that you have apologized for that, but I couldn't let this pass without telling you exactly what happened when you lost your internet, and then became too busy to post a note.
At second bold: Like I said, one should be careful about what words they use.
Yes, we all know what this post was about, there's no denying that.
However, I think that you have missed the intent behind it. We were trying to use sarcasm as our language and question just how concepts and genres and commonplace things could be considered plagiarism.
And that brings me to third bold: How can you make presumptions about what may or may not have been intended when this post was made?
Just think about it for a moment. Most of the members we are supposedly inspired by, are no longer active on the forum. So how could we have expected you all to read this, and be offended by it anyway?
As for making you feel like scum, that wasn't my intention. I didn't even think you'd see this, to be honest.
But I did notice the numerous other members who thoroughly enjoyed this thread, and I'm glad there are still people with a wicked sense of humor here!
And no, I haven't forgotten how enthusiastic you were about the Chamelis. Fan Faraktion was nominated by you, how could I forget that?
But things change, and so do people. If you feel that it's upsetting to follow me on Twitter, then that's your prerogative, of course.
As for mocking your post, why would we do that if your apology is as sincere as you obviously want us to believe?
One final word, and this is only because you are much younger than I am. Think of it as friendly advice,that's all I can say.
It is very important to choose our friends wisely and well. I have been blessed in that department with my wonderful Chamelis, who are witty, wise and will not take crap from anyone.
Also, they are the kind of friends who will stand by you, no matter what. If one of us chooses to go on another members post with questions, rest assured that the others will follow with their support. We do not let anyone fight their battles alone, or watch from the sidelines.
We also do not accuse each other of plagiarizing , and to this day, not one Chameli has left the group for any reason.
We have met and bonded in the asli duniya, and that is the kind of friendship that is priceless.
With that said, I completely agree with your last words.
It's better to end this here, and not let this degrade into a fight.
Good Luck for your future, Rafa.
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