Due diligence

...and I was right. It was one of those days. I am so down in the dumps right now I'm in the cellar.

I had a discouraging experience in cyberspace today, and I'm still so broken up about it, I need to vent. So I'm sharing with you, my dear blog readers.

Here's what happened:

First, I was feeling sucky because I'd been having some blood sugar issues all day. I'd already suggested to Jenn Watson that she take Pepto Bismol, but she's pregnant and shouldn't, so I felt badly about that misinformation. And I was hungry.

Since it was a slow day at work today (I was waiting for a meeting), I was happily reading the gluten-free blog roll and read about some coffees in Brazil that are being adulterated by corn, cereal grains, trees and bark. Recalling that I'd seen a post about decaf coffee being gluten free, I made a comment on the Celiac Disease Message Board about the post, questioning products from other countries and labeling issues.

Well folks, I was the second person to do this. A nice lady named Donnie (we call ourselves the conspiracy theorists now and have bonded over this horrible episode) saw the same thing and posted before me. And as if we'd suggested that McDonald's French fries had gluten (BIG debate issue -- I asked Donnie) and vinegar was a culprit (it's not -- it's distilled). We were slapped down. SMACKED down. FLAMED. I am still crispy and sore from being raked over the coals. The moderators all but made fun of us on the board and called us stupid. It was a message board bang (you know, like a gang bang).

To make matters worse, the moderator of this forum, who is a REAL doctor (not a worthless fake one like me) posted a mean spirited parable that was a direct attack on us. I was so hurt I started crying at my desk. I wrote the moderator and expressed my outrage with her handling of my feelings and opinions. I wrote a couple of posts in apologia, and tucked my tail and sulked.

Well, Donnie jumped in and did what I wanted to do. She stirred up the fire. And if the flames weren't bad enough, I pissed on the fire.

After Donnie posted in anger, I decided to, also, noting that we had "two dead messengers" who'd been shot for suggesting people should be wary of internationlly produced products. BAD IDEA. We got out wrists slapped again by the moderator, who said she was leaving for a camping trip and would have to deal with this later.

Take that, you village idiots. How dare you disagree and spread an urban rumor.

So now, HOURS laters, I'm feeling very bruised and wounded. I need information, and in a sense, this site is more than recipes. It's good, solid information for people like me dealing with gluten intolerance and Celiac disease. To make matters worse in my mind, this is the second time I've been flamed. I got flamed the first time I posted by the parent of two Celiac boys who called me "cavalier" in my attitude because I suggested I would go to Quiznos here and order a bread-free sub. HORRORS.

And now I'm in deep regret. I need a resource, but I don't feel like I can post on this site. And I can't stand not sharing my thoughts and opinions. I mean, I am a maven of sorts -- if you've read the Tipping Point, you know what I mean -- I do my homework, and there's a journalist still in me that investigates things. Not posting and lurking will be almost as hard as not eating gluten.

I feel like I've had an argument with a friend. And you, my friends reading this, know I try not to ever do that. I feel horrible.
Defeated. Exhausted. Depressed.

(Needing) Much love (and encouragement right now),
the fire pisser