Can I be reported for abuse by answering someone’s email? I answered a R&S question & the poster emailed me.

Question

The email began, “I am having a bit of a crisis of faith here” and ended with “Thanks for your answer and any other help you can give me.”

So, I emailed her. A few emails later, I got a reply that was very hostile. She accused me of things I didn’t do, such as name-calling & harassment. I was baffled by this because I never called her any of the names she mentioned, nor would I ever! I was respectful in all of my replies. I did not seek this person out – I’m not in the habit of taking it upon myself to email strangers about their beliefs. I feel that’s invasive unless they invite you to discuss it.

Anyway, I emailed her to try to clear the air, and she called me a liar and said that it was me who emailed her first! I absolutely did NOT! And, she threatened to report me for abuse.

I’ve never been reported before, so what would happen? Would I be banned? I honestly feel like I’M the one who’s been abused in this situation. I only emailed her because she asked me to.

Would I be banned based solely on her accusation, or would someone check into our email accounts for proof? I would welcome someone to check! And, is it possible that users and emails somehow got mixed up because she’s saying she never sent me that first email, that it was me who emailed her first?

Thanks for all your answers! I would prefer not to report her just because she threatened to report me. I'm willing to forgive and forget. She hasn't emailed me since my last reply, and I'm not going to email her again. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have sent that last email, but I wanted to try to clear things up. I just wonder if it's possible she somehow has me confused with someone else? She actually seemed like a very nice person during her first couple of emails. I honestly don't understand where the anger directed towards me is coming from. It's insane!

Maybe it WAS one of my answers? She said she was a Wiccan Christian and that she still prayed to Jesus. I told her I didn't understand how it was possible that the two beliefs could be harmoniously combined. I also asked her what she tought of a couple of verses (ones that proved that point). But, I was not disrespectful to her in any way. I told her I wanted to try to understand things from her perspective.

Answer 1

It's clear from things said hereabouts that Y!A admin are up to their necks and don't usually have the resources to investigate and reports. So instead of anything like justice they seem to bust anyone about whom they receive complaints. It's deeply unpleasant and unfair, and some here are exploiting the mechanism badly.

The 'block user' feature is probably an attempt to deal with this in part. Block someone, and they can't reply to your questions in future.

CD

Answer 2

Not at all. Without the Report Abuse button, this site would be a cesspool of problems like spam, chat, adult language, etc. Many responsible users depend on it to alert the Answers Team to the aforementioned problems in order to keep this site wholesome for all to enjoy. You should be able to get the idea.

Answer 3

There are people on here that wants answers to questions, then there are those that want you to agree with everything that they have to say. They preach a sermon on whatever and want YA! to say amen. If she reports you, then you can best beleive that you will probally get violated. The violation system just does not work. You can get reported for an e mail. I had a woman that went off on me because I said that I was not clear on what she was saying and if she could explain it further and site a reference. She went crazy almost. You can get banned if YA! team think the violation was bad enough. It is nearly impossible to protest it when you get a violation. I have been trying to get a response for nearly a year on one of mine. I just get the same form letter over and over again.

Never forget that there is a bunch of young kids and unstable people on this site. If you do get a violation protest it, and keep protesting it daily. Best wishes.

Answer 4

This one didn't really want the truth from you even though she claimed to. Once you told her the truth it hit a sensative spot with her. I bet she'd rather you just lie to her and then she'd be ok.

Don't worry, it's not you, but when someone emails me, I respond and usually lock up my email, unless I can see that they are truly decent. In your case that one behaved much like a wench, not a decent person.

I would report her to Yahoo and include her hostile email and explain that you had no malice against her and never called her names. Ask them to contact you to confirm all is resolved and that you won't receive any penalty.

Gees, most are lost. ..hang in there.

Answer 5

Rev,
The best thing I can tell ya is to use Y/A as you means of communication and try to avoid any email and especially IM.Good advice no?This person may be a little off, or may be stalking you, or may be letting satan use her to stop you from doing your utmost to sooth folk in this forum. whatever it is ,I would not reply to another email from them even if it seemed like an apology.You should pray to Jehovah also for direction, dont listen to the minds of men,listen to your heart, for God speaks directly to it. see satan has a way of blocking God from you because satan wants you to try and see if God will speak to your mind. But God speaks to the heart,and then the mind opens up. I know, because all my life I was fighting God, I was letting satan confuse me through every means my mind could think of, It was only when I open up my heart to God that I was able to get closer to him. During this time of trouble in your life, dont be afraid to let people pray for you, I KNOW prayer works, my daddy was at the brink of death sunday afternoon and last night he got up and with a walker was able to get all the way down the hall to the bathroom! Prayer does work. Use the force within you. Use your heart.

Answer 6

You won't be banned for a single incident.

Sounds like you ran into one of the many nuts who come here. I've had similar interactions - that's why I don't have email here.

Answer 7

I would use the block and she will not be able to bother you anymore. you will not be banned from yahoo, they just take points off. silly and stupid but that is what they do. if she has your email I would forward it to yahoo. don't let some stupid person make your day bad. I had that happen to me and I just blocked the person

Answer 8

Just keep copies of all of it. If it ever becomes an issue you can prove what went on. You are taking it all a bit too seriously I think.

Answer 9

Doubtful. Most likely an empty threat.

She would have to forward an exact copy of your e-mail to Yahoo to get you in any trouble and I doubt she even knows where to send it.

Answer 10

the world is full of the mentally and emotionally crippled. do yourself a favor and block her account. it's easy, just click on that little red circle/slash symbol on her account.

then put her and her nastiness out of your mind and keep on providing answers for the rest of us!