Recently, I was sent, which I thought, was a personal email.  I was asked to
put this on my page as an xmas story and name the ferret in the holiday
spirit.  I thanked her for the story, but it was a sad story and my site is
not a rescue site.  It's a happy little fuzzy site.  I named the ferret Noel.
 
I then received another email from the same person.  Asking that I put in a
plug for a commercial site on my page.  The commercial site is not in
GeoCities/Heartland.  And it's a COMMERCIAL SITE.  (As a Community Leader, I
can't/don't want to break any rules.)  But, the site she was talking about
does a wonderful thing.  It provides/sells gift certificates for ferret
shelters (did I mention that in her first email she stated that she's having
peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches for xmas?).
 
OK, I fell for it.  I named the ferret, created an ornament, put it on
Dinky's page (she insisted), made a link to her page with a wonderful bio,
and a link to the *store*.  I felt special.
 
Two days later, I saw on the FML "to name the rescue ferret."  It is a sad
story, my heart goes out to "Noel."  But, I will not be used like that.  It
makes me wonder how many *personal* emails she sent out (and who the hell is
Noel) before she went world/net wide.
 
If you have received a *personal* email of the preferred ferret name, would
you let me know?  I am willing to help any ferret lover (as we all are), but
don't try to use me.
 
I am the fuzzy-ferret Pet Gazette reporter for GeoCities.  There are rules,
you HAVE to be in Heartland and fit the GC guideline content rules.  I have
listed the requestors site in the gazette, twice.  I haven't seen the story
on her page, BTW.
 
At this point, it makes me even wonder if the story is real.  Or, was it
just a "send money" cry for help.  By all means, SYLS, support you local
shelter, but don't play me for a fool.
 
I...I....I gotta go.
 
Toni
Dinky(Noel shines brightly on my page, but it don't go no where no more)
 
[Moderator's note: I'm trying to figure this one out... checking out web
pages and such, but I don't quite see a problem yet, though I do understand
concern.  If anyone has more to add, please email Toni and I'd appreciate a
copy too.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2156]