Detroit

I really hope that this deletion was at the poster's request because I'd hate for there to be anyone here reporting posts on a support chat.

Deletion messages say if they're at the poster's request.
I think the deleted message was a duplicate of one (also deleted) on kittens thread. It was, iirc, mainly a robust criticism of MN moderation, and an indication that the OP might think MN wasn't for her. I don't remember anything which I'd have thought broke specific guidelines but tbh I thought it was a bit unfair and possibly, as afaik Detroit is a fairly new member, perhaps not aware of some of the pressures MNHQ is under. I rather fear there is stuff going on behind the scenes they can't share openly, but that's speculation on my part.

Anyway, if you're still here Detroit, please don't go. There are many women here who understand and share your concerns and want to support you - even if only by distracting wittering about wildlife. If women like you leave, only the controlling males win. Bugger that!

I totally, utterly agree with Lang.

MNHQ - I really hope that this deletion was at the poster's request because I'd hate for there to be anyone here reporting posts on a support chat.

Detroit, I hope you are ok. I can't share any wildlife stories, only observations of a very silly mini poodle who lives with me.

Well said Lang. This might appear to be a casual and cheery chat thread @MNHQ but Detroit's IRL situation is desperate. Some understanding / compassion would be appreciated.

Why are women the only vulnerable group who don't deserve a bit of extra kindness and concern when in a difficult situation?

Detroit I too thought raccoons were cute little bandits until I met one at very close quarters while in a hot tub. It hissed at me, but thankfully did not get in!

Hey Detroit are you ok? Can’t imagine what on earth you said to be deleted but I’ve noticed it’s a bit trigger happy round here at the moment. It’s almost as if we have a lot of threads running discussing issues which TRAs would rather see buried

And yes. Detroit - are you okay?

And @MNHQ - look, this is a support thread. The OP is in a terrible situation, homeless, in need of refuge, and operating on the edges of her nerves. Many of us are concerned about her and are offering the only support we can - online messages of sisterhood.

Deletions with the bog standard message look bloody Orwellian in this situation. If you're not prepared to offer a woman in this situation a bit of latitude - which says a lot, and none of it pleasant, if you ask me - then can you at least provide a custom deletion message that has some kindness about so that it does not drive a woman in extremis to cut herself off from the little support she has and leave the rest of us worrying ourselves to death?

DUTY OF CARE counts for something.

I thought the same thing before they mugged me for my trail mix.

This made me actually LOL!

Hey Detroit are you ok? Can’t imagine what on earth you said to be deleted but I’ve noticed it’s a bit trigger happy round here at the moment. It’s almost as if we have a lot of threads running discussing issues which TRAs would rather see buried

Anyway, sending good thoughts

O men!

I can't ever look at Nemo the same way.

Holy shit, I literally didn't, and read Nemo backwards....!

I can't ever look at Nemo the same way.

The fact that opossums have 13 nipples but very small brains is, to date, the best of all the things I didn't expect to learn on MN. Well that and the fact that clownfish prove that TWAW of course.

Here's the link,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_opossum

Blimey! Just noticed they have 50 teeth, but brains only 1/5th the size of a raccoons.

I just read on wiki that the 'playing possum' is an involuntary reaction to fear, like fainting. Seems like a very odd evolved characteristic. the page on Virginia opossums has a picture of the mother carrying her young - draped all over her, and another of one 'inhabiting a piano'. Also the surprising information they have 13 nipples - a circle of 12 with one in the middle. That's from a cursory scan, I hardly dare read the piece properly, I've exceeded my 'learn something new every day' limit I think!

I thought the same thing before they mugged me for my trail mix.

I can't be the only one who loves raccoons? They're wearing Zorro masks and they have adorable little hands. Like bandits of cuteness.

Opossoms are fearless. I run em off clapping my hands. You do not want them to think they can come inside!

Bit like Spartacus all racoons are Zorro.

I just had to google opossums - I'd somehow got this far through my life without actually knowing what US opossums were.

Hmmm I still think I’d quite enjoy watching some little arsehole raccoon Zorro bandits! Opossums sound interesting too. We used to live way out in the country and I miss my woodpecker. He used to come and sit on the fence every morning waiting to be fed, plus we had a Robin who used to fly at the windows if there wasn’t any food out! The best thing about our cottage though was that it was very old and had stone walls. The back wall was inhabited by loads of bees, I’m not sure what kind but quite big, and they used to buzz out and around all the flowers in the garden. I used to grow sweet peas just for them even though we had a family of bastard gnawing thieves mice who liked to eat any young plants I put out.

So glad you got a kind nurse.

The raccoons sound like arseholes. Do they want to be Zorro or was Zorro trying to be a raccoon?
I don't understand how anyone can kill deer either. Red deer are (I think) the largest wild animal in the U.K., beautiful creatures indeed.

This summer we had the evil grey squirrel in the attic. The very noisy and nosey fox family and the very cute hedgehog on the path.

Detroit!

Hey ya! I'm good, glad to hear you are doing ok and have seen a nurse.

I love raccoons but as cute as they are they can be real assholes. (Kind of like some people).

I had a run in with an opossum not too long ago... funny story. My bluetick had one cornered, they got in a fight. My dog was hyped to have what she thought was a formidable foe and then it dropped like it was dead. Now, I know they are notorious and where the phrase 'playing possum' comes from but at the moment my adrenaline was racing and I was trying to get my sweet dog away so she would not get injured. I put her inside - she was doing her hound dog bawl the whole time. My dumb ass went outside assuming that because the opossum hadn't moved it had died so I went about gathering materials to pack it up for removal by animal control. Walked up to that big opossum (size of a large house cat but with bigger teeth - they stand on their back legs so they look bigger) poked her with a pitchfork to pick her up (to put her in the disposal container) and she stood up bared her teeth and claws and hissed at me. I ran away squealing like a scared child (quite unusual for me regardless of circumstance). A few days later I heard these little noises coming from the corner of the yard where there is a great deal of dense foliage - there in the foliage was a bunch of little baby opossums and their mom who I had encountered earlier in the week. Because they are unlikely to carry rabies we let them be and just kept a closer eye on the dogs when they're out and about in the yard (they have a lot of space so a 5x5' area is way to avoid). We used to have tons of raccoons but apparently opossums and raccoons don't like living together. So now instead of a bunch of little bandit eyed cuties who go through our trash and steel dog bones we are left with opossums whose babies are cute but the adults are pretty mean and not very cute.

Love the wild life though!

This morning I had to chase a male peacock out of my front yard because it was harassing an egret and a crane alongside blue jays and finches that were feeding on grubs/bugs in the early morning hours.

The coyotes have been few and far between lately as I haven't seen one myself in many months and haven't been getting alerts from neighbors about them either. I do wonder where they went and if they're okay. I hope animal control picked them up and they were placed somewhere they can be safe and roam free as they should.

Right now I'm at my mom's feeding her dogs - she has two giant golden labs they are very sweet boys each 110lbs+. When I walked in the door the older one immediately leaned up against me blocking me from moving (for pets/snuggles) and the younger one stood on his hind legs and 'hugged' me. (Standing on his hind legs he looks me straight in the eye and is able to lay his head on my shoulder which he does).

That's all I've got for today. It is good to "see" you again Detroit please don't be a stranger. 🤗