Moderating the forum

[Judy Trickett]

I am outta here! Yep, gone, leaving, never to return..........

It has dawned on me, via a few recent threads, that daycare bear is very much a parent-centric forum. And the reason this is not okay is because it boasts itself as a daycare provider forum and site. The sole purpose of daycarebear is to make an income from providers who use their database services to post their daycare openings. Well, as the old saying goes, you can't bite the hand that feeds. Daycarebear exists, and makes money solely off of dcproviders. So it also goes to say that you can not have a forum wherein you welcome providers in an attempt, yet again, to boost revenue (by ads on page refreshing - YES, daycarebear, like any other website that appears "free" to use counts on its members to have ads in their face all day) and then not support those providers while using the forum.

In recent weeks there have been a number of threads started by parents wherein the parents were allowed to post inane, nonsensical threads but providers, when simply answering the questions posted truthfully and without filtering were asked to be "respectful". And then, of course, those posts are closed.

Well, daycarebear, I respectfully say that you seem more intent on supporting parents than you do dcproviders. And it's not even that I (we) ask that you pick sides but a little equality would be nice considering that the very providers you quash and close posts on are the ones paying your bills.

Daycare is a much unappreciated and thankless job. And, sadly, there are no water coolers with co-workers hanging around in our playrooms with which to vent our concerns, as does every single other segment of EVERY other working profession. So, in short, providers come here, to a forum. And once again, oftentimes, instead of receiving the support that is very much needed providers are give rainbow and sunshine responses and/or berated from those in the same profession. And God-forbid anyone give an honest-to-God, REAL unabashed answer or they are warned to be "respectful". DaycareBear has simply fallen into the societal norm of undervaluing and constantly wanting to stifle and negative talk from daycare providers. Well, I have a newsflash for you......we are not some Polly Anna, Rosy-cheeked, overweight cherub of a grandmother who feels like being walked on and disrespected. We have a RIGHT to be heard as well.

Maybe the name should be changed from DaycareBear to DaycareDiarrhea? You know, something more fitting?

I have always said that daycare forum saves childrens' lives. And I still believe that to be true. But I have to amend my original statement to say that REAL, HONEST daycare forums save kids' lives.

Anyway, I'm outta here. If you want to find me you know where I am.