I miss Renegade. She was a good writer. She wrote from her heart and she wrote with her soul. Her final posting addressed her concerns about the dark underbelly of Blogstream. It was her usual post and the reader could feel her sincerity, her passion, her love of this Blogstream and her commitment. The tragedy, of course, is that she found it necessary to deactivate the next day.

Her blog was gone, the post was gone and she was gone. In her wake lingered only the dark underbelly that had broken her spirit, her heart. A dark underbelly that has ingrained this Blogstream as thoroughly as fat in well marbled meat.

It’s to that dark underbelly that I now choose to speak. It is that dark underbelly that I want to expose. It is that dark underbelly that I want to disappear and in so doing free us of the mean-spirited negativity it spreads.

October has been a month of great sadness, jealousy and suspicion here at Blogstream. Who can argue with that? If you believe that the pen is mightier than the sword; it has been a violent month as well. Starting at the beginning I would put this question to you. How did you learn of Lucy’s post about Squash? Did you happen by it or did you, like me, receive a PM recommending you go to the post?

The first 112 comments were within the first hour. How many bloggers have that sort of attention in so short a time? Not even Whit could stand in the face of such an onslaught. Beyond that, the comments were answered as quickly as they arrived and with an increasing vicissitude.

The evidence infers collusion while the actions speak directly to the very point Renegade was making. What happened that day was connived, orchestrated and carried out with efficiency and with a total, unabashed savagery.

Dear reader. Have you ever received a negative PM? Have you ever been asked, or told, to avoid this or that blog because the blogger is nasty to disagreement? Did you avoid that blog because you knew that to be true or did you avoid that blog because you were told it was true? Please grant me the indulgence of bringing this incident to myself.

I have been downright nasty twice. The first was on my other blog, CUBA: No Way Jose. It’s over there and I invite you to read the comments. Here, at the Factor, I have been nasty to BillsBullits. Mr. Bill showed up and began using profanity and obscenities. Obscene and profane comments are not welcomed here, ever.

This blog is not about argument and disagreement. It is about discussion on a wide variety of topics. From burying a loved one to legalized marijuana. From sex offenders to gun control to the foolishness of Bill O’Reilly. Nothing to be disagreeable about. Only open minded discussion. But the dark underbelly PM said nasty, so nasty it is. But the posts and comments are below, show me.

There is a third important event and I promise to make it short. A blogger posted asking for advice to tell her friend. As it turned out it wasn’t her friend at all, but her. I gave my advice and it wasn’t what the blogger wanted to hear. The comment was deleted and the blogger began a campaign of her being attacked. This single event, though seemingly trite, put Lagniappe directly in Lucy’s cross hairs. Didn’t it, Lucy?

Armed with no more to go on than the words of your friend, wasn’t that really when your negativity toward me began? And do you not carry it to this day as a revenge unsatiated?

Have you yet to exact a price for my post about the hypocritical Christians that pummeled junglejoe that night, with you ring leading that debacle as well?

Is there no end to your negativity, your spiteful ways? How long will you carry the hate this post will surely inflame?

Was not my “Forgiveness” post a step in the right direction? What have been your steps? When I posted “The Witches Of Blogwick” I was confronting Lucy’s accusation that I was a child molester. Would you, dear reader, not have done the same thing? And within that post there lay an important question. What ever gave Lucy that idea? Where did such a nutty, unsubstantiated thought come from?

Only two bloggers knew of “Mr. Q-tip Popcorn Man”. Only two. Richard Knowlton (Young, Broke, Republican) and prisonerofhope. Richard, I know you more than a little and I know what came between us. You do too. I am asking you now, as the close friend I once was, to comment here. Did you tell Lucy that I was a child molester? Prisonerofhope, I am asking you now, as the Christian you assert yourself to be, comment here. Did you tell Lucy I was a child molester?

POH, I have every reason to believe you did and your silence will confirm that fact. For you, even after you returned to Blogstream, continued your negativity in a weak attempt to explain yourself to your followers. Inspite of my complete forgiveness of you, you posted even more negativity and hatred.

Peeking out from behind the Scripture you profess to follow, you would not let it go. And that negativity carried on through countless PM to countless people. As recently as three days ago you continued your barrage toward me by accusing me of being the dreaded Lucifer. Is everyone keeping up with this? I am a nasty person, a child molester, househusband and Lucifer! How do you know? Lucy and POH say so.

POH, you were certain. You, and your not so subtle innuendo, pointed your finger directly to this blog. You have deleted the post and the comments but you know I am speaking the truth and you were satisfied; the intended damage was done. Once again you basked in having had the last word.

I am the non-Christian in your eyes. I am Lucifer and I am househusband and I am every other blogger who dare stand up to you and Lucy for the next 10 years. Your blanks are already filled in. How powerful you must feel that your words are so completely swallowed.

You knew it and your PM spread that hatred all over this Blogstream. As you have pronounced me a non-Christian, I am certain you would understand that I don’t see the Christianity in your actions. I am blind to Christ and I am asking you to show me what Jesus would have done. My guess was forgiveness but that fell short to your omniscient Eye.

In the post below I talked of the route Lucifer and househusband traveled to contact me. In the comments is an example of how the underbelly twists and plays with the facts. A commenter puts the words of Lucifer and househusband into my mouth. I said!

I can only wonder how many PM have been sent to Pioneer telling him that I accused him of a conspiracy. Intelligent people package a group of facts and arrive at a conclusion. The cunning arrive at a conclusion then try to piece together some facts.

Lucy. POH. You are people that endorse and perpetuate negativity on this Blogstream. You are two people who will not let anything rest. You are humped over by the weight of your bag of grudges. You will continue your dark underbelly in spite of anything that anyone can do. It feeds your very existence.

Within your public face you play games and preach. Within your darkside you also play games and preach. I have tried to make amends to you and have failed. I now turn to your supporters.

Dear readers, do you not see? You all leave comments talking about this being a Blogstream for all of us to enjoy. A Blogstream where we should all feel free to be here and to be ourselves. A Blogstream where even the lowest of the low can function without harassment, without negativity, without belittling, without the approval of Lucy and POH. I am asking you to stand up and be counted.

Leave a comment below and denounce the negativity that is secretly spread. Denounce the criticism of anyone who doesn’t play by rules set by others. Take a stand and free us all from this dark underbelly.

This is another post where my comments are inappropriate. My comments are above. I hope and pray for your comments below. Blogstream for everybody with negativity towards none.

Renegade, I miss you so much. I read your posting and you were so very right. I wish I could write with your passion. I wish I could feel with your soul. I wish I could tap you on your shoulder and ask you to read this post. But I can’t. All I can do is promise you that although you and your strength are gone, you will never be forgotten.