Being Nice to Your Face

Strapline: The trouble is, being nice often means saying what others want to hear. But it's kinder to tell the truth – especially when it protects vulnerable people.

Update:

382 signatures. Thank you.

But here's the truth: since 2024, Southend Council has done nothing to bring the people doing the abuse to account.

Not one meaningful action. Not one investigation. Not one word of accountability.

If the reported individual incidents had been dealt with properly, this would have been sorted by now.

The incidents I reported (all ongoing since 2024):

· A 92-year-old war veteran, going blind – I was told I could not help him. Quote: "If you help him, we can't get his plot."
· A pensioner blamed for rats because he feeds wildlife – I was asked to get a letter signed by plot holders against him. I refused.
· A disabled plot holder recovering from surgery – threatened with eviction without anyone asking about his health.
· A gay plot holder – homophobic harassment. The committee took no action.
· The AGM – suspended. No elections for over a year. No democracy.
· Me – shouted at, called misogynistic, threatened with losing my plot, told "you know nothing" every five minutes for two hours, reported to the council using false claims that my own friends had complained about me (they hadn't).

And then the smear campaign. 12 false posts online in a single night. Reported to Essex Police. Incident number: 42/54633/26.

No accountability. Not from the committee. Not from the council.

Being nice to your face doesn't help anyone. Telling the truth – even when it's uncomfortable – helps people make better decisions. Especially when it protects vulnerable people.

I just helped people. That's all I did. And I was punished for it.

I'm still fed up with it all. But I'm looking forward to better days – if the council ever gets their finger out to bring the people doing the abuse to account.

Link: https://c.org/9jtfrDHdrV

Thank you. Every signature matters.