Yeah I failed thanks instantcert!

[barcotta]

I was content to sit back and let my fellow forum members provide feedback in this thread, but I after the latest email from rescueswimmer I felt that it might be helpful to give this thread some framework. After all, it appears that rescueswimmer posted here looking for help and was buried in hatred and "scrutiny"--or so you might believe based on rescueswimmer's most recent post wherein we learn that rescueswimmer was returning to the thread to apologize. To be clear, I do not hate rescueswimmer or anyone else that I don't even know, and my sole intent is to exam this thread to determine exactly what happened and why.

So let's start with the premise that rescueswimmer posted here looking for help--based on the following statement:

"...let's just see what people have posted to try to help me where I went wrong."

The first two rescue swimmer posts are the only ones that apply here. I looked for language that suggested the initial post was a request for help. I found only the following sentence:

I suppose I need a reminder of why one should pay 20 dollars a month (since these ads explain how easy it is to use and pass exams).

That's the closest I could come to a help request.

Now let's assume that the reason rescueswimmer posted to this forum was to bash instantcert and anyone who disagreed with the viewpoints expressed. Examining the rescueswimmer posts in this thread I identified the following:

I know this sounds mean, but I'm really starting to question instantcert and the intentions of the webpage writers.

This made me wonder if some of the questions were actually valid or if someone actually looked at these "flash-cards" right.

I don't care how much you study on this webpage. It's useless when you look at the "material" they offer here.

I got a 48 and I needed a 50. So, yeah I'm pissed off pretty bad.

Thanks for nothing instantcert. Keep my 60-80 bucks and screw over the next person in line.

I appreciate everyone's concern and trying to help. I really do, but I don't appreciate when someone patronizes me and tells me I should have studied harder, not use IC as a primary source, and not bitch and get bitter if you fail.

If I have missed anything in either category, please let me know. Assuming that I've done a reasonably competent job parsing this out, I don't see any reason our forum members would expect rescueswimmer to return to this thread to see what kind of "help" we would provide. Nonetheless--this thread was FILLED with help. I don't believe there was anything here that would lead a member to believe that rescueswimmer would be returning with an apology while collecting the helpful suggestions offered, with perhaps the following exception:

I appreciate everyone's concern and trying to help. I really do, but I don't appreciate when someone patronizes me and tells me I should have studied harder, not use IC as a primary source, and not bitch and get bitter if you fail.

Since it is not possible to determine what people are going to do in the future--I don't believe it would be reasonable to expect that the members of this forum would have expected an apology based on the actual rescue swimmer posts.

There are two other areas I believe are worth revisiting. The following closed the second post from rescueswimmer:

I feel like the true 20 dollars is just going to all of you that open a more outstanding line of communciation...

I don't understand that at all. What does that mean? The "true 20 dollars???" Who, exactly, is opening "a more outstanding line of communication?" WHAT is a "more outstanding line of communication???"

Finally, in rescueswimmer's third post, the following statements are made:

I really appreciate the HATE in this forum.

I've already been called an idiot and scrutinized.

I knew I was going to get some sarcasm but man it must feel good to make fun of someone so much and put them down.

But let's just rag on eachother and not help eachother out. For everyone else that isn't an ass..

So I looked back to find some hate and scrutiny. The first three posts were nothing but helpful and kind. Not a harsh word to be found anywhere. Rescueswimmer posted in reply in part:

...I don't appreciate when someone patronizes me and tells me I should have studied harder, not use IC as a primary source, and not bitch and get bitter if you fail.

That brings us to the post which contains the word "idiot." However, contrary to rescueswimmer's assertion that he or she was CALLED an idiot, we find the actual quote as follows:

Perhaps you're a poor test taker, or suffer from terrible pre-test anxiety. Perhaps your just an idiot.

This was arguably the harshest post in this thread. At that, it appears that the poster was suggesting rescueswimme may be an idiot as one of three possible explanations. Inartful, perhaps, but certainly distinct from someone making the statement, "You're an idiot." While we can see that the patience of this poster had been stretched thin, this was clearly the exception.

If someone else can find other hateful or sarcastic language--or examples of ragging on each other, putting them down and not helping, please reply.

Otherwise, my review of this post reveals that despite a flagrant attempt to smear and undermine instantcert with baseless, hateful and untrue comments, this forum's members responded with patient, measured and sincere assistance in great numbers. While in life you usually get what you give--in this case, rescueswimmer gave instantcert an underserved slam and received virtually nothing but help and support. I don't understand why rescueswimmer responded as though this was not the case. Certainly, no other member who responded in this thread has written anything for which they owe an apology.