I think you misunderstood Babaluji, Quirky.  The fact is, it's no badge of honor to have been the victim of the few, but extremely ugly, nasty, scum-of-the-earth premies who have inhabited the forums over many years.  They will never be allowed to post, ever again.  That's what makes this forum safe for you new guys.  Many of us do have a lot of battle scars from them, so please don't diminish that.

So, for anyone to second guess those of us who DO have the years of experience (just due to time, timing, and circumstances, really) it can be insulting and irritating, because it does take time and experience to be able to spot those idiots by reading the subtle nuances, tone, the writing style, and other things are noticed that give them away.  It's about time and experience, not honcho-ism or anthing like that at all. 

So, if there's a notice about this or that troll being a repeat offender, you can take it to the bank that the "old-timers" have gotten it right.  For someone to actually express sympathy for a known premie troll being deleted, it can also be very irritating because we aren't lying about these things.  Fact is, no new person will be able to spot them and you will get fooled, because in this case, us "oldt-timers" did too.  That's why I was so upset the other day.

Those premies have done some awful things to us and they aren't allowed in here, no matter how much they come across sincere, sweet, open, or especially if they are polite (that's one way they get in and stay in).  They are devious.

So:  premie troll comes, gets spotted and gets the heave-hoe.  Announcement is made.  Period the end, no further discussion is needed by anyone, and please, don't sympathize with them because they love that and it feeds them.  That's why we used to have an expression here "Don't feed the trolls!" 

But, when someone makes an issue out of the premie troll being blocked or gets insulted because a response to their blocking "becomes about them," rather than, say, being glad that this forum is now so safe from such premie troll intrustions, its also maddening.

The purpose of this forum is clear.  It's not my fault I got out of the cult earlier than someone else and have been around here longer.  And believe me, it wasn't a pleasure when those trolls inhabited the forum for years on end.  Discussing them is not the purpose of this forum, either.  It's just not necessary to extend a thread to this length over yet another discussion about hurt feelings by someone here over the invasion of a troll back into this forum.  It's insensitive to those of us who have been so hurt by them, and it's kind of like calling us liars when you second guess those of us who have been their victims, as well as those of us who can easily spot them.

The issue of these trolls is emotional and very sensitive me personally, and to many other so-called "old-timers."  When someone pushes this issue it does trigger strong feelings in those of us who have fallen for their tricks in the past, and gotten so burned, so when we're disbelieved by someone about it, that hurts us too, and it isn't about the person who's new, the issue isn't about who is voicing concern about those trolls -- for the most part, it's really about those of us who were so hurt by them.  But, we really don't talk about it here anymore, because even THIS MUCH ATTENTION, pleases them.

We just know them very well and we're not lying about the harm they have done to us intentionally.

Enjoy the forum, do express yourself.  DO be a unique individual, and Do know that because of our experience, you don't have to worry about any premies.  That's part of leaving a cult, too.  Not being concerned about premies anymore.