End of the line

DanaC · 11-12-2008, 02:57 PM

Some of you are aware of the problems I had in my party towards the end of last year and into the summer. For those that aren't, the long and short of it was that I ended up lodging an official complaint against a fellow member (and also council colleague) for intimidation and harrassment (bullying, not sexual).

The process of such a complaint is long and complicated. It has to pass through various stages, meetings at which votes decide whether or not to progress to the next stage and then on and on....until a committee from the national party decide whether or not it warrants a hearing.

It warranted a hearing, and that happened on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, that's as far as it went. The decision the panel reached was that there was no case to answer, the evidence was too circumstantial.

It wasn;t a great surprise...I knew the second they started questioning me, exactly where it was going. When one of my witnesses gave evidence, one of the panel members turned to the accused and shared a joke with him at my witness's expense ("it's only a yes no answer" *rolls eyes and laughs*)

I was cross examined for an hour, mostly by the man I accused. When the panel questioned me they were entirely hostile.

One of my other witnesses was accused of 'sitting aggressively'.

*wry smile* Such is the machine.

I had to try though. I would do it again, distressing as it has been. I do not believe it was pointless. I do think he may pause for thought the next time he seeks a victim.

I would have done a summary earlier, but I got back from the hearing (an entire afternoon of tense waiting and an hour of cross examination) and fell quickly into my gastroentiritis miasma which took me out the game for a couple of days.

lookout123 · 11-12-2008, 03:07 PM

Can't you just off him and mark it up as a necessary sacrifice on the march to social equality? Maybe you're due for a good purge.

glatt · 11-12-2008, 03:13 PM

Sorry Dana!

Aliantha · 11-12-2008, 03:22 PM

Maybe it was the stress and disappointment that caused the stomach upset. I know that my stomach is the first place to react when I'm stressed. Doesn't take much to make me vomit. lol

I'm sorry it turned out that way for you Dana, but I guess that's politics for you. The party must have decided he was a more valuable member for whatever reason.

classicman · 11-12-2008, 03:58 PM

Bummer - Sorry to hear that.

You could always photoshop some picks and put up a webpage. j/k

bluecuracao · 11-12-2008, 04:06 PM

Can you bully him back? You know, all subtle-like, so he can't prove it?

Although...even if you weren't subtle about it, if he were to lodge a complaint, he'd look like a pussy. "You were bullied by a GIRL?"

heh heh heh

limey · 11-12-2008, 04:40 PM

Sorry Dana, that's a bummer. I know what you mean about having to make a stand. Sometimes you just have to - even if you know the system is stacked against you.

Aliantha · 11-12-2008, 03:59 PM

Hey...actually, on the subject of British politics, I saw they had a nice dustup in parliament yesterday. lol

I thought i was watching the Taiwanese for a minute, then noticed they weren't asian.

DanaC · 11-12-2008, 04:03 PM

*chuckles* thanks for the suggestions :P I particularly likethe idea of a webpage with some compromising pics!

I don't think so Ali. I get an upset stomach with stress, but not like this. What's more likely is that I found it even more stressful and was feeling quite weak on the day because I was already on my way down with the stomach bug.

I held it together whilst in the room...when I came out and got into our little side room where my people were I pretty much broke down. That isn't like me. I don't normally lose control like that just because of the adrenaline dump (which is what it felt like), not to the point of actually crying.

DanaC · 11-12-2008, 04:54 PM

*smiles* ta chuck. On a more upbeat note, the executive meeting, which i was dreading like a dentisttrip x5, was this evening. Would be first time engaging with the party since sunday. I very nearly didn't go. I decided I would, so got a lift with the secretary (who's a lovely bloke). We got to the workingmen's club where we hold the meetings and our regular room had been double booked somehow *grins*

Oh what a shame. Given ours was just a little executive meeting, seemed reasonable for us to rearrange...BC (his actual initials..I'm gonna go with them standing for Bastard Cunt for the moment) wasnt there but his wifey showed and one of their key allies. So they got to see I'd shown up...and had no opportunity to discuss any of it lol.

That cheered me somewhat :P

Cicero · 11-12-2008, 05:03 PM

Ass. He's an ass. He'll get it someday and you will be there to see it I'm sure. Time heals all that ails.

I'm sorry he's been such a pain, at least this served as an major inconvenience And you're right, he'll think twice next time, and may also follow through, but might get it worse.

I'm so sweet aren't I?

skysidhe · 11-13-2008, 09:44 AM

I am not aware of the problems but regardless your story is a painful one. I wish for you to be in better spirits soon!

Sundae · 11-13-2008, 09:57 AM

So sorry to hear it babba. Like you said, you know how the machine works, but it's rotten to have it confirmed.

But you did what you could. You behaved according to your own morals and made a difference. He probably does sleep easy at nights, but I bet this whole issue has worked on him like a splinter under a fingernail - you've unsettled him at least.

Nirvana · 11-13-2008, 10:04 AM

Doing what you feel is right is always a good thing even if it does not seem so at the moment.

Pico and ME · 11-13-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

...one of the panel members turned to the accused and shared a joke with him at my witness's expense ("it's only a yes no answer" *rolls eyes and laughs*)...

OMG! This is when I really start to get misanthropic.

11-12-2008, 02:57 PM	#1
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	End of the line Some of you are aware of the problems I had in my party towards the end of last year and into the summer. For those that aren't, the long and short of it was that I ended up lodging an official complaint against a fellow member (and also council colleague) for intimidation and harrassment (bullying, not sexual). The process of such a complaint is long and complicated. It has to pass through various stages, meetings at which votes decide whether or not to progress to the next stage and then on and on....until a committee from the national party decide whether or not it warrants a hearing. It warranted a hearing, and that happened on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, that's as far as it went. The decision the panel reached was that there was no case to answer, the evidence was too circumstantial. It wasn;t a great surprise...I knew the second they started questioning me, exactly where it was going. When one of my witnesses gave evidence, one of the panel members turned to the accused and shared a joke with him at my witness's expense ("it's only a yes no answer" rolls eyes and laughs) I was cross examined for an hour, mostly by the man I accused. When the panel questioned me they were entirely hostile. One of my other witnesses was accused of 'sitting aggressively'. wry smile Such is the machine. I had to try though. I would do it again, distressing as it has been. I do not believe it was pointless. I do think he may pause for thought the next time he seeks a victim. I would have done a summary earlier, but I got back from the hearing (an entire afternoon of tense waiting and an hour of cross examination) and fell quickly into my gastroentiritis miasma which took me out the game for a couple of days.

11-12-2008, 03:07 PM	#2
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Can't you just off him and mark it up as a necessary sacrifice on the march to social equality? Maybe you're due for a good purge. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

11-12-2008, 03:22 PM	#4
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Maybe it was the stress and disappointment that caused the stomach upset. I know that my stomach is the first place to react when I'm stressed. Doesn't take much to make me vomit. lol I'm sorry it turned out that way for you Dana, but I guess that's politics for you. The party must have decided he was a more valuable member for whatever reason. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-12-2008, 03:58 PM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Bummer - Sorry to hear that. You could always photoshop some picks and put up a webpage. j/k __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

11-12-2008, 04:40 PM	#7
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Sorry Dana, that's a bummer. I know what you mean about having to make a stand. Sometimes you just have to - even if you know the system is stacked against you. __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

11-12-2008, 03:13 PM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Sorry Dana!

11-12-2008, 04:06 PM	#6
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Can you bully him back? You know, all subtle-like, so he can't prove it? Although...even if you weren't subtle about it, if he were to lodge a complaint, he'd look like a pussy. "You were bullied by a GIRL?" heh heh heh

11-12-2008, 03:59 PM	#8
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Hey...actually, on the subject of British politics, I saw they had a nice dustup in parliament yesterday. lol I thought i was watching the Taiwanese for a minute, then noticed they weren't asian. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-12-2008, 04:03 PM	#9
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	chuckles thanks for the suggestions :P I particularly likethe idea of a webpage with some compromising pics! I don't think so Ali. I get an upset stomach with stress, but not like this. What's more likely is that I found it even more stressful and was feeling quite weak on the day because I was already on my way down with the stomach bug. I held it together whilst in the room...when I came out and got into our little side room where my people were I pretty much broke down. That isn't like me. I don't normally lose control like that just because of the adrenaline dump (which is what it felt like), not to the point of actually crying.

11-12-2008, 04:54 PM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	smiles ta chuck. On a more upbeat note, the executive meeting, which i was dreading like a dentisttrip x5, was this evening. Would be first time engaging with the party since sunday. I very nearly didn't go. I decided I would, so got a lift with the secretary (who's a lovely bloke). We got to the workingmen's club where we hold the meetings and our regular room had been double booked somehow grins Oh what a shame. Given ours was just a little executive meeting, seemed reasonable for us to rearrange...BC (his actual initials..I'm gonna go with them standing for Bastard Cunt for the moment) wasnt there but his wifey showed and one of their key allies. So they got to see I'd shown up...and had no opportunity to discuss any of it lol. That cheered me somewhat :P

11-12-2008, 05:03 PM	#11
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	Ass. He's an ass. He'll get it someday and you will be there to see it I'm sure. Time heals all that ails. I'm sorry he's been such a pain, at least this served as an major inconvenience And you're right, he'll think twice next time, and may also follow through, but might get it worse. I'm so sweet aren't I? __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

11-13-2008, 09:44 AM	#12
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I am not aware of the problems but regardless your story is a painful one. I wish for you to be in better spirits soon!

11-13-2008, 09:57 AM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	So sorry to hear it babba. Like you said, you know how the machine works, but it's rotten to have it confirmed. But you did what you could. You behaved according to your own morals and made a difference. He probably does sleep easy at nights, but I bet this whole issue has worked on him like a splinter under a fingernail - you've unsettled him at least.

11-13-2008, 10:04 AM	#14
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	Doing what you feel is right is always a good thing even if it does not seem so at the moment. __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

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