Q: What is this site and why is it here?
This site was designed to be a place where anyone could come and tell their stories. A safe place where victims are granted total control of what they say, how they say it, and who they say it to.
No stories are ever attributed to an author. When the writer chooses to register on our site, they can choose to identify themselves if they want to, or not… They can choose to register so they can come back and edit, add to, or remove their stories, or even write more than one if they need to.
But this site is also a place where people can come to read these stories. Whether to better understand victims, or to help others find the courage they need to speak aloud about their own experiences.
This site was put together by a husband and wife who were both victims of sexual violence. It was put together in a rush, in response to so much anguish as the Kavanaugh hearings where Dr. Ford would testify drew closer. They watched as friends – many they’d known for years – seemed to come apart slowly in various newsfeeds, ultimately revealing their intimate understanding of what Dr. Ford might be feeling. They watched comments posted and then deleted, ultimately realizing that so many, themselves included, had things they needed to say – things that needed to be said – and that they felt they couldn’t.
That’s the reason for this site. It’s the only reason for it, and we hope it helps.
Q: Is this site truly anonymous?
Yes.
We only collect the information you give us. If you choose to post your story without providing an email address, we have NO identifiable information about you.
If you do provide an email address we will create an account on this site for you and your email address will be used and kept for the creation of that account. But at no point will any user information you provide be associated with the stories you author. And you can edit or delete your account (and stories) at any time.
If the email address you provide identifies you, as many do, (Example: janedoe@yahoo.com) you should recognize that we’ll obviously have your name. You should also know that we will send you email to confirm your account and grant you the ability to create a password so you can return and access your account. You should also know that we will send you additional emails to notify you of various activities on your story, such as comments and other notifications. You should be aware of this if you’re not the only person that access the email address you register with and you DON’T want others to know about your post(s).
All that said, you should be cognizant of any details you include in your stories that might enable others to identify you through those details. If you want to remain anonymous, take care not to include certain information (names, places, etc.).
Q: I wrote a story anonymously (and didn’t provide an email address or create an account) and I’d like to remove or edit my story. What can I do?
Nothing. Because you didn’t create an account, we have no ability to establish that you wrote it.
Q: Will Google and other search engines find my story? Can if be found in Google search results?
Yes. Again, no personal information will be associated with your story, but Google and other search engines will certainly add your story to their indexes.
It is our goal that people that feel the need to tell their stories have a place to do so, whether that story be about their experiences, the experiences of others, stories of survival or recovery or even questions. There are tens of millions of victims, many who have been isolated or chosen to stay silent; and that’s okay so long as it’s a choice.
We intended this to be a resource.
We intent to continue to improve it and change it as the needs of readers and those telling their stories change.
If you have something you’d like to see changed or improved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
If you have questions don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
We sincerely thank you for your stories, trust and willingness to give when so much has been taken from you.
