Introductions

[STIDW]

Resolution started a thread suggesting we introduced ourselves which appears to have disappeared.

I think it's a good idea knowing posters backgrounds so there are no misunderstandings, I've been mistaken for a lawyer, feminazi (whatever that is), a man etc etc. Actually I'm a Jill-of-all-trades having qualified and worked in technology, then occupational therapy and more recently I've been self employed. I'm divorced and have two young adult children living with me.

Some years ago when I first came to the internet looking for information about family law I was appalled at the unreliability of information, advice and guidance which often encouraged posters to engage in malicious, destructive and unproductive strategies with disastrous results. In those days there weren't many lawyers around to correct the inaccuracies and it took a great deal of research and listening to others to piece together the information and make sense of it.

Perhaps the mods removed Resolution's post because he said he was a lawyer and a poster perceived that as touting for business. I think that is very short sighted because lawyers who have not only studied the law for years, completed on the job training, undergo further training year in year out but also have experience of court work day in day out are in the best position to challenge misconceptions. The lawyers here are private citizens who contribute in their own time. They are supportive and in the spirit of MN assist posters in their parenting by helping them make informed decisions. I think their contributions should be welcomed.

But when I see that Melvin monstrosity person, posting self-important shite all over the boards, I can quite understand why any proper lawyer would want to kill- him-- stamp firmly on his comments...

I think it's fantastic that people on MN can come here and get such decent advice from qualified people who kindly spend their spare time coming on here to help. They are also I think very good at knowing which point the only possible answer is 'you need to see a solicitor'.

I posted a rather complicated and detailed query on here with very little hope of anyone really knowing much, and was surprised to find that I got quite a bit of solid useful advice (along with some stuff that luckily I knew enough to disregard).

As someone who has over the past few years repeatedly been in situations regarding family law where a bit of advice late at night, when solicitors' offices are closed, would have been desperately useful and reassuring, I wish I'd known about MN at the time.

Aside from the lawyers there are of course people like me, who have gone through lots of stuff, and can give advice on the basis of experience, but this needs to be sufficiently caveated as NOT that of a professional and will inevitably have personal bias in it! For example, I could unhelpfully rant about CAFCASS for days. I guess there's a skill in working out which people are more or less helpful and which people are just posting rubbish, which is where vulnerable people can get caught out, and why having proper lawyers on here is so very helpful.

Sorry, long post that probably loses the point.