Hi Brett, I'm "the powers that be", more or less. I figured you'd kinda just misjudged the community & would figure it out. I keep a pretty close eye on what's going on & most spammers are summarily deleted.

I don't have a problem with you hanging out here, I will note that there are a lot of women here who value (value might be a bit understated) a mama atmosphere, and an atmosphere where we don't have to "educate" someone else on our experiences, or "be told by experts", but the community expectation is also that *we* are the grown-ups on the playground & we are expected to act as such & not get in pissing matches over the swing set.

If you haven't already, you might just kinda surf around & get a feel for the place. To switch from the playground metaphor, we're a community & hipmama is kind of our living room where we kick off our shoes & sit down with a cup of coffee or tea (or something else) and just talk about what's going on in our lives, what we're thinking about stuff, what's pissing us off, etc.

"Do not forget. Remember and warn."
-- Plaque fixed to the hollow shell of Sarajevo's National Library

Great. I'm good at playground metaphors. I was the king of kids pissing behind the big deformed elm tree in the playground in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan's East Village when I ran a pre-school there. Thanks for recognizing that I'm not evil--or at least not a spammer. I look forward to sharing with you all. And encourage you to share back.

Uncle Brett
http://www.askgayuncle.com

It does seem rather spam-ish, I have to say.

The powers that be have been notified, he should be gone soon.

I'm not a mom. I'm an uncle. And an early childhood expert. And an author. I just thought your forum was cool, and thought we could share. Sorry if I offended.

I kinda liked your site. really. It had me laughing & is well put together. I actually kinda think you rock.

Poor Uncle Brett just didn't realize how much we we get our hackles up when we sense a potential scammer.

And that tummy shield is RIDICULOUS!!

That thing looks dangerous as well! lol

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5149062

with an uncle being on here, although I can see the argument that this is a mama-only space. And I'm willing to believe that this is a person (but really, real live people can't be spammers?). H

owever, if there were actual posts about issues, concerns, questions, sharing ideas, news, etc.-- even the tummy shield or whatever -- instead of mostly plugs for the book and links to the blog, the latter is what I think is on the problematic side. I know that some bloggers cross-post here & on their own blogs and I think that's fine too. But it just seems that Uncle Brett would like, primarily, for me to buy his book and not really engage here on the site. I don't know what the rules are about this or if there aren't any and everyone else is cool with it, then I can easily ignore!

i guess if uncle brett has anything to offer us by way of good conversation, stories, jokes, advice, questions, etc, then he has as much right to be here as anyone. but i agree, the book pushing has got to stop. we get it, you have a new book out! is that the only reason you're here??

I'm happy to share and be a part of the community. That's what I want. Next time I check in, it will be with a hilarious and helpful conversation, story, joke, advice, question, etc.

U.B.
http://www.askgayuncle.com

I love me some hilarious gay uncle advice!