Comments on: Cynthia’s Yearlong 50th Birthday Bash–May Update

By: Karen Hogan

Karen Hogan — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:19:00 +0000

Wow! 30+ people! Did you do a Facebook poll? Or did you interview the 30+ people?
Chronic need for validation and recognition? Because wanting to be recognized for what one has done and accomplished is a character flaw?
I have no idea whether you are one of the 30+ people I alienated or hurt or if we even had a relationship. I might or might not know who you are. This is an anonymous response. So how can I possibly take seriously your observations?
I do not see myself as a victim. Bullying is a serious charge. And anonymous posts are cowardly.

By: prosewriter100

prosewriter100 — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:36:14 +0000

Karen,
I have watched your interactions with others over the years and watching this most recent public interaction is disheartening, to say the least. In all the time I have had contact with you over the years, I have noticed a pattern you may not have seen. Maybe this has been pointed out to you in the past but I think this is important. You have alienated and held grudges and had fall outs with probably 30 + individuals in the Tri Valley Area. Each and every time you portray it as you having been “betrayed” and “not recognized” in some way, when in reality you have conducted yourself as a literary bully. Bossing people around and proceeding with a “my way or the highway” attitude. And then amazingly, you act surprised when people did not want to entertain your ideas or ways of thinking. You have said hurtful things to people, called them out publicly, written incorrect and distorted statements of reality, and in the end, you always, always portray yourself as the victim. I challenge you to maybe meditate about this. To ask “who is the common denominator of all this conflict”. If you don’t see that you are the common denominator, then I see that as tremendously sad.

Many, many people in this community are aware of your heavy handed ways and bullying behaviors and it is time for someone to say it is unacceptable. I would imagine in your normal pattern you will “go for the jugular” and accuse the writer of this post as an “angry person” who does not understand you and “all you have done”. There is a part of me, in writing this post that helps you to see that this has really very little to do with writing or prose but more to do with chronic needs for validation and recognition. Yes, maybe you have wounds and anger from your previous life. many of us do, but it is our job to make peace with that. I see you taking out your anger on the stage of writing and prose and not taking responsibility for those you have alienated and hurt. I challenge you to find some inner peace, and know that these conflicts you create really are deeply rooted in other pains you may have. But I do hope you can see this as an attempt to stand up against some of your very hurtful behaviors and possible have you see that you are not a victim of distorted realities of others, but merely a victim of your own internal anger.

By: Cynthia J. Patton

Cynthia J. Patton — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 21:26:58 +0000

Karen,
Once again, I have never claimed that I launched Storied Nights, nor do I do so in this post. The launch that I’m referring to is the Whistlestop Writers Open Mic at Swirl on the Square. I have ample integrity and all the ovarios I need, thank you.

By: Karen Hogan

Karen Hogan — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:42:57 +0000

Cynthia, well you sort of cleaned up the story . . . saying you took it over but including it in the launch category. The implication is still there that you launched Storied Nights. You had nothing to do with its inception. I applaud you for running with it, but I will never understand why you insist on erasing me from the real history. You would not have had Storied Nights were it not for my efforts. It’s a matter of integrity and shame on you for lacking it. You didn’t life a finger to get it going. Again, I’ll be interested to see if you have the ovarios to leave this comment or if you delete it.