I'm absent too . I dont know for how long.

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#1

Hi Folks,

The DIY section is as good a place as any to put this, it will at least show up in the recent posts list. The “major contributors” section doesnt for some reason. Plus there have been a lot of DIY posts of late.

Recently the forums moderator, Dee Fahey, stepped out for a while to deal with some personal issues in her life. I’ve made an effort in her absence to step up and ensure that every question and every concern, got at least SOME kind of answer within a day, even if that answer was to ask some of the pro’s to take it on because I didnt feel I had enough knowledge. I have no wish to ever be a moderator ( I dont have the patience or personal skills to be such, and because of issues in my own life, not enough time ) on this board, but I’ve always felt every post with a question deserves SOME kind of answer, within a day. I’ve always been able to do that to some extent, and felt it a worthy effort.

Unfortunately, I too am having some really overwhelming personal issues that have put great strain on me personally. Not anything to do with this board, which I have always felt was a worthy effort. However, I am definitely distracted. I’m also not licensed (such doesnt actually exist in my country) but pretty knowledgeable about a fair bit of electrolysis.I am however, definitely out of my element in answering some of the more technical questions.

For the time being , I’m not posting for personal reasons, and because I believe something might be occurring in the background I was before now unaware of. I’m terrified to be contributing , and thinking I have in some way offended someone from here. There are reasons I would think this, that some of the more clued members might also pick up on those reasons if they look at the board closely enough.

For the time being, I’m not going to be posting. At all. I’m once again asking every professional on this board, to step up and answer everything you can. I’ve seen fantastic efforts towards this by some very noteworthy electrologists on this board lately in response tot hat request. Keep it up, I mean it, fantastic effort. I hopefully will deal with the issues in my personal life soon, and possibly get a response as to whether I have somehow caused an issue in an effort to help or not. But until that happens, I wont be saying very much at all. I’m sorry, and hopefully my absence will be short lived.

Seana

#2

I’m around, and my concerns have been adressed. Unfortunately I’m still swamped on a personal level, so I’ll be poking my head in when I am able.

Seana

#3

I don’t understand your “leaving” post … the part about being “terrified to be contributing.” Looks like everything is going “swimmingly” … to me anyway.

#4

I had a concern, it was addressed. Something was removed and I didnt know why. A change was also made in board management. I now have the answers from Andrea. I am a little sensative about coming off as “too overwhelming” on the board but it’s largely impossible to avoid at the moment with the level of contribution. I think you can understand where I am coming from based on experience, as I have in the past had people take offense to my taking part, most especially in the professionals section.I was inspecific, because I dont like drama, and have too much going on personally to deal with it here. Make sense? I’m going to ask Andrea to delete this thread, because its a non-issue.

#5

I think it would be wise to add to your signature that you’re not a professional if you’re going to post in the professional threads. No offense intended, but take the cochlear case where the professional answer is “not without clearance from your doctor and/or the manufacturer” not “let’s find a way around it even though I don’t have the formal education necessary to make these calls.”

#6

Yep, you’re right. I’ll look to see if I have a copy of my “old” disclaimer that stated exactly this, or make another.

To be clear:

I’ve contributed to this board, for now going on 10 ish or so years. In the last 3 of those years, those contributions have been at least daily.I’ve been a practising electrologist, at least on myself, for those 3 years. It’s not however all I do. I conduct at least 3 -4 sessions a week on other transpeople.Many of these sessions I do for free, but not exclusively so, in about half of the cases I recieve smallish “donations” ( $20 or so for a 2 hour session) in others I recieve a rate of $50 per hour. This would be from people who can actually afford to pay me, but the bulk of my “clients” cannot. Transpeople, especially those living on social assistance, are amoung the most marginalized financially groups int his country. I’ve never

In Canada, and except in the province of manitoba, there is no “Licensing” . It doesnt exist. You could become a “CPE” from the FCEA but the large majority of electrologist are not CPE’s.

So , whats a “professional” ? All professional electrologists on this board have a “flag” indicates such. I do not carry this flag. But my contibutions are taken seriously. I know my stuff. I work hard to keep educated on the processes and physical effects of electrology. But the average person here can be excused for not noticing the lack of such a flag next to my name.
I used to carry such a disclaimer on my profile. I havent since I changed from the “SeanaTG” handle last year. Over the years I’ve used “edri” I think, and often, just read. I’ve come and gone so sometimes not remembered what I posted under previously.

As you know, I contribute, a LOT. I do not hold any special position on this board other than “member” . I am not a member of staff here. Some people, Michael included, have commented in the past that a "DIY’er " shouldnt be posting to the professional section. Time after time I have been advised by board management that these posts are WELCOME and helpful. But that doesnt stop some, from saying things either directly to me, or to other professionals on this board, or board management , without my knowledge. Back room politics are alive and well here at hairtell. For that reason, I’m sensative to the subject.

I dont see that I can avoid being an occasionally "overwhelming influence " here at the moment. I’m doing too much to make sure that questions dont get “missed” and ignored for months on end. Things that SHOULD and COULD be answered sometimes get missed completely. James commented on one such thread, I did on another, so it is happening I see it personally, as my job, that this does NOT happen. I’m personally sensative to such comments. Additionally, I have about 10-12 very serious personal issues that I am adressing that have caused me great stress in the last 5-6 months. Call it drama. So I am absolutely sensative to drama here, whether or not it is happening.If it is, or I suspect that it may be, I’d rather cease contributing, than take criticism or create drama. But I think the board needs someone to make sure things dont get missed. Right now, we kinda dont have that if I stop posting which I have done before for periods because of exactly this issue things get missed.

I should probably just seek to obtain my CPE as it’s the only certification obtainable in my country… But the income I get from doing electrology, barely covers supplies ( if that ) and I cant afford to do so on my own.I live on $300 a month with 2 special needs kids.

So in absence of “Licensing” what’s a professional? Is a professional someone who recieves money for a service? This is where I fit into the “Diy’er” club, and the "Not quite DIY’er club.

I’ll add a discalimer as you suggest, but really, it wont help much. The issue is , people dont read them . Because I seem to know what I’m talking about ( because I DO know what I’m talking about and have taken formal and informal training in such) people read into it what they want to read into it. Some completely miss that I am a semi-DIYer. The language I use and the way I communcate ( because the it’s the proper way to commuicate such things) seem to be more at issue , than whether not licensing exists in my country.

An example:
I have several other electrologists who I consult with regularly in Canada. People like Rea at follikill, and Timeforyou. None of these electrologists, unless they have their CPE ( which I believe Timeforyou has but am unsure on Rea) could actually carry the “professional Electrologist” flair. They are hands down professionals.

#7

Chalk me up as one of the professionals that don’t have a “hairtell pro” banner. I’m in NY, which isn’t a licensed state, but I did go to school, carry liability insurance and operate my practice full time as my only source of income (I expect to get paid, not just a donation if someone can afford it, though I do occasionally give out free time and/or discounts to people). I’m not a fan of the CPE, as I think it is an entirely meaningless piece of paper that shows you know the answer to some questions (at least for the day you took the test), even though you may not have a clue as to what you’re doing when it comes to the practical part of electrolysis. I think the AEA is a pretty useless organization anyway, but that’s a rant for another day.

Now, as far as formal education goes, there’s only so much you’re going to get, even going to a professional electrolysis school and taking a 320 hour course (the AEA’s minimum to take the CPE). The key is less in what you do know (since the fundamentals of electrolysis aren’t that hard to grasp), but in knowing what you don’t know. I’d venture that the majority of electrologists don’t have a clue about how to actually create a machine from scratch, as they are trained in the practice of applied electricity, not electrical engineering. As such, they need to know to defer to someone with more knowledge if a question arises outside the scope of what they actually do know… and frankly, as someone that has taken courses in advanced math, modern physics, electrical engineering, etc, if those classes were a prerequisite to getting into the hair removal field, almost nobody would be practicing. We all want to help people, but the truth is, bad advice is worse than no advice and a simple “I don’t know” is sometimes the best advice someone can be given.

As far as answering questions in a timely manner goes, most of us are busy with clients and what we contribute here is done out of passion and the desire to help people make more informed decisions. As replies are a purely volunteer service, sometimes, that means that it might take a couple days to get an answer if everyone is busy. If you have the time to answer questions, that’s fine, I just think it’s important to note that there are times when the best professional answer is “I’d err on the side of caution and say it can’t be done without a waiver from the doctor/manufacturer” and that if that’s not going to be the answer, it’s best to be clear that it isn’t a response from a professional. There’s a reason why lawyers will generally open a comment online with something like “I am a lawyer but this isn’t professional advice, for advice, please consult your attorney…” and that’s because there can be a recourse in liability if you give advice and someone is damaged because of it, even if you’re not the one that personally did something to them.

For the record, I have no problem with people learning and doing their own electrolysis. Some may go on to become full fledged professionals, some may become a “semi-pro” like you (and I wouldn’t be surprised if you know more than a lot of people that call themselves professional electrologists), others may never even finish working on themselves, much less take a larger interest in it. We certainly don’t need to lock any secrets up in a cathedral and I am always more than happy to share all the information anyone could want with a client or potential client.

Finally, as someone that has been on the internet since before most people ever heard of it (I predate the web by a few years), and one that has run dozens of online forums, I find it best to simply stop posting if that is your intent, rather than making an announcement about it. The announcements almost always come off as attention seeking and requests to delete such threads even moreso. Eventually, it becomes a sign of instability and incredulity, as does the “need” to move from one account to another. I have plenty of personal drama in my own life (as does everyone), but I check it at the door when I get to work (and that includes when I’m answering an email from a client at home too).

#8

WOW! perfect post Rochester-zapper. “Me like-um so very mucho!”

Further to your last paragraph, when somebody says “There’s a 'problem’and I’m ‘terrified’.” The reader instantly starts to think “Oh shit, maybe I said/did something wrong (in my case … “again”)?”

Leaving in a “big flurry” is not necessary, and you are probably right that’s it’s an “attention seeker?” It’s like a GF that starts crying (for no obvious reason) and all your alarms go off. After a while you don’t respond to it … and then they think you’re insensitive.

The thing I’ve learned about the internet is that whatever anybody says, it evaporates in about 5-seconds. GONE! So, if there was a misunderstanding there is no need to hold a grudge … just move on, always think positively and live in the present (and get ready for the future).

Your post made me happy today and I’m GLAD for it! Thanks!

#9

Ummm I never said I’m leaving. I have personal issues at the moment and cant keep up with everything I’m reading right now. That’s all. I’m having to deal with said issues still. I’m still dealing with them.

#10

Seana … “Don’t worry about NUTHIN’.” Everything is fine, don’t dwell on any of your difficulties (if you can).

Look, I went through cancer, two (recent) deaths of best friends (one a suicide) and a broken rib (I fell off a ladder … just like the old fart that I am. I was in bed for 3 weeks!).

There is so much in the world to get upset about. I try to focus only on the really bad stuff that I might be able to fix. The other stuff only gets in your head and drives you crazy.

(It also helps if you don’t watch the news for at least a day or so. Just turn everything OFF, walk outside and go barefoot on the dirt … I do that a lot.)

Hang in there, the storm will pass … know that it WILL! All of us ARE “pulling for you.”

Don’t worry about the patients on Hairtell either. By the time you get around to answering their question about their “pimple” the thing will already be GONE. Nicely, virtually NO electrolysis patient is ever in medical crisis (althought they think they are)!

After 40 years of this … you WILL get “used to the screams!” Ho humm! Yawn!

#11

Well life decided to throw even more issues at me late in the week, so I’m trying to keep up with questions here, but still struggling somewhat. To be clear, I’m not going anywhere. I just cant do everything I want to right now.