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I had more detail on here concerning my problem, but it seemed that I had too much here.  Here is the condensed version.

I need some advice.  When I was 17 I started hanging out with my cousin.  He got me started on marijuana.(  I stopped both hanging out with him and smoking 2 years later.)  He dealt it.  I knew he did but never stopped him.  Included in hanging out with him was going places with him, whether he or I drove, where he more than likely sold to others.  This was almost 10 years ago.  On the PHB it asked if I had ever sold drugs.  I never did.  But, I guess because of a guilty conscience, I put on the PHB that I had.  Now I am DQ from ever getting a job at the FWPD.  Is there any way to correct my false admission so that I might one day be able to start a career at this or any other PD?  I have spoken to others in the LEO field and they state that I never should have put this on there, but where do I go from here?  I don't know what to do.  Any advice would be helpful.

Also, PLEASE DISREGARD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PSYCHOLOGY.  That was a tangent that was taken that some are perceiving to be my trying to make excuses for what I did in my past.  There is no excuse.  I have been told by posters here and by other current/former LEOs to just try a different route/agency to get experience and work my way up that way.  If you agree with this advice, please let me know.  If you have any other ideas, I welcome those too. Thank you for your time.

I'm sorry I am unable to assist with a recommendation as to a "fix" for you paperwork glitch. . . . .I find it a little presumptuous of you to ask people here that probably have never met you and have only "talked" to you over emails and private messages to "vouch" for you with a department.  To ask for insight into how to make your paperwork right is one thing.  Good luck finding someone to "vouch" for you.

In response to the three posts that have been made to this topic in the last thirty minutes...

A. jlu492-I realize this is a public website.  Apparently, there is a difference between dealing yourself and associating with someone who does because, technically, anyone who has ever done any type of drug, even once, associated with a drug dealer.

B. msp1672-I don't expect someone to "vouch" for me without knowing me.  I really would just appreciate someone to help me find an employee of the FWPD to listen to me explain my situation or advise me on how to fix my paperwork.  I just want help.

C. izzy84-You did not offer any help whatsoever.  But thank you for taking the time to voice your opinion.

Adladle says ...

In response to the three posts that have been made to this topic in the last thirty minutes...

A. jlu492-I realize this is a public website.  Apparently, there is a difference between dealing yourself and associating with someone who does because, technically, anyone who has ever done any type of drug, even once, associated with a drug dealer.

B. msp1672-I don't expect someone to "vouch" for me without knowing me.  I really would just appreciate someone to help me find an employee of the FWPD to listen to me explain my situation or advise me on how to fix my paperwork.  I just want help.

C. izzy84-You did not offer any help whatsoever.  But thank you for taking the time to voice your opinion.

I'll stay Out  next  time.Sorry.

From your last post it appears that you have not accepted that you made some VERY POOR decisions early on.  You are trying to salvage your argument with some mumbo jumbo about, ". . . .well, I wasn't completely formed in the brain.", which is exactly what you are trying to say with your ". . . but neurological developmentally speaking. . . ." argument.  If that was the case, then maybe we should raise the age limit for driving. . . . .or voting. . . . .possessing or shooting guns. . . . . or joining the military.  Can you see where your nonsense argument leads?  You try floating that by an oral board and I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that your interview would come to a screaching halt right there on the spot!

Children should be taught the difference between right and wrong at an early age and obviously you didn't learn it or just too bull headed to comply with what was right and wrong because not only did you associate with a drug dealer. . . .YOU WERE ALSO USING IT!  I think you need to find a new explaination as to how you have rehabilitated yourself.  One that is more of a "Yeah, I screwed up back then. . . . .I have seen the light because of x, y and z. . . . . .I am at your mercy, please give me a chance to prove myself".  Something other than the explainations you have given to this point.

Yes, departments have lowered their standards to a point.  Hell, some of the bigger cities in the U.S. have had officers that had felonies.  They didn't last long and someone with serious misdemeanors or higher on their records are usually picked apart to the Nth degree by defending attorneys in a trial.  So, you may have to explain yourself in court (assuming you get hired on somewhere) as to why you should be believed over bad guy who said you "planted evidence" or are "lying about his part in x crime".

In the end, you have a rather large hill to climb.  I'm not saying it can't be done but you might want to talk to a professional friend that you can bounce ideas off of to get your answer to a more acceptable state.  Also realize that this is an employers market right now.  If ANY departments are hiring right now, they have the ability to be a little more stringent in their hiring standards due to the amount of aplicants that they do have now with laid off police officers trying to find jobs also.  Either way, good luck in your endeavors.

msp1672 says ...

From your last post it appears that you have not accepted that you made some VERY POOR decisions early on.  You are trying to salvage your argument with some mumbo jumbo about, ". . . .well, I wasn't completely formed in the brain.", which is exactly what you are trying to say with your ". . . but neurological developmentally speaking. . . ." argument.  If that was the case, then maybe we should raise the age limit for driving. . . . .or voting. . . . .possessing or shooting guns. . . . . or joining the military.  Can you see where your nonsense argument leads?  You try floating that by an oral board and I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that your interview would come to a screaching halt right there on the spot!

Children should be taught the difference between right and wrong at an early age and obviously you didn't learn it or just too bull headed to comply with what was right and wrong because not only did you associate with a drug dealer. . . .YOU WERE ALSO USING IT!  I think you need to find a new explaination as to how you have rehabilitated yourself.  One that is more of a "Yeah, I screwed up back then. . . . .I have seen the light because of x, y and z. . . . . .I am at your mercy, please give me a chance to prove myself".  Something other than the explainations you have given to this point.

Yes, departments have lowered their standards to a point.  Hell, some of the bigger cities in the U.S. have had officers that had felonies.  They didn't last long and someone with serious misdemeanors or higher on their records are usually picked apart to the Nth degree by defending attorneys in a trial.  So, you may have to explain yourself in court (assuming you get hired on somewhere) as to why you should be believed over bad guy who said you "planted evidence" or are "lying about his part in x crime".

In the end, you have a rather large hill to climb.  I'm not saying it can't be done but you might want to talk to a professional friend that you can bounce ideas off of to get your answer to a more acceptable state.  Also realize that this is an employers market right now.  If ANY departments are hiring right now, they have the ability to be a little more stringent in their hiring standards due to the amount of aplicants that they do have now with laid off police officers trying to find jobs also.  Either way, good luck in your endeavors.

Thank you for your comments.  I understand what you are saying.  I am just considering what I am learning in my psych class right now, that the prefrontal cortex [the decision making part of the brain] is the last to develop.  Usually not until the late teens or early twenties in some cases.  My 'freely admitting to making poor decisions' is what got me in trouble in the first place.  However, I will admit to making poor decisions.  I regretted making them before I even tried to become a cop.  But, my poor decisions then, just like the consequences of those decisions now, are how we learn.  Psychopaths start exhibiting tell-tale signs of their mental disorder long before they start killing.  Maybe if we, as a society, started requireing brain scans or MRIs to be performed on every individual upon a certain age, maybe we could stop a lot of criminal activity (intentional and accidental) before it even happens.

twoliver says ...

Adladle says ...

msp1672 says ...

From your last post it appears that you have not accepted that you made some VERY POOR decisions early on.  You are trying to salvage your argument with some mumbo jumbo about, ". . . .well, I wasn't completely formed in the brain.", which is exactly what you are trying to say with your ". . . but neurological developmentally speaking. . . ." argument.  If that was the case, then maybe we should raise the age limit for driving. . . . .or voting. . . . .possessing or shooting guns. . . . . or joining the military.  Can you see where your nonsense argument leads?  You try floating that by an oral board and I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that your interview would come to a screaching halt right there on the spot!

Children should be taught the difference between right and wrong at an early age and obviously you didn't learn it or just too bull headed to comply with what was right and wrong because not only did you associate with a drug dealer. . . .YOU WERE ALSO USING IT!  I think you need to find a new explaination as to how you have rehabilitated yourself.  One that is more of a "Yeah, I screwed up back then. . . . .I have seen the light because of x, y and z. . . . . .I am at your mercy, please give me a chance to prove myself".  Something other than the explainations you have given to this point.

Yes, departments have lowered their standards to a point.  Hell, some of the bigger cities in the U.S. have had officers that had felonies.  They didn't last long and someone with serious misdemeanors or higher on their records are usually picked apart to the Nth degree by defending attorneys in a trial.  So, you may have to explain yourself in court (assuming you get hired on somewhere) as to why you should be believed over bad guy who said you "planted evidence" or are "lying about his part in x crime".

In the end, you have a rather large hill to climb.  I'm not saying it can't be done but you might want to talk to a professional friend that you can bounce ideas off of to get your answer to a more acceptable state.  Also realize that this is an employers market right now.  If ANY departments are hiring right now, they have the ability to be a little more stringent in their hiring standards due to the amount of aplicants that they do have now with laid off police officers trying to find jobs also.  Either way, good luck in your endeavors.

Thank you for your comments.  I understand what you are saying.  I am just considering what I am learning in my psych class right now, that the prefrontal cortex [the decision making part of the brain] is the last to develop.  Usually not until the late teens or early twenties in some cases.  My 'freely admitting to making poor decisions' is what got me in trouble in the first place.  However, I will admit to making poor decisions.  I regretted making them before I even tried to become a cop.  But, my poor decisions then, just like the consequences of those decisions now, are how we learn.  Psychopaths start exhibiting tell-tale signs of their mental disorder long before they start killing.  Maybe if we, as a society, started requireing brain scans or MRIs to be performed on every individual upon a certain age, maybe we could stop a lot of criminal activity (intentional and accidental) before it even happens.

 Be careful what you wish for.  What actions would you suggest for the government to do when they find a psychothic brain scan on a person?  I do not want the government mandating that I have a brain scan just as I don't want the government involved in my healthcare. 

If caught early enough, medication/therapy will help.  If not caught early enough, nothing will help.

You finally said enough in your last couple of posts that I finally got the fix on you. . . . .YOU'RE A PSYCH MAJOR!  My dealings with psychologist have never been very good.  My sister was brainwashed by some psychologist bastard into believing that my father had some how "molested" her during her youth (if you knew my father, you would know that would be an inconceivable idea and a non starter).  As I have 2 sisters and the older of the two does not have these issues, in my professional opinion, the psychologist was just shooting in the dark and planted a memory that never happened only because that was what THEY wanted to believe and my sister is the victim to this day!

I also worked with a psych major who happened to think that he was sooooo much smarter than everybody else.  He has worked at two different posts and at both posts he had distanced himself above everybody so much that nobody wanted to work with him.  As far as I'm concerned, psych majors are wanna be psychiatrist but don't want to go through all the schooling, but do want to fix everyone that don't need fixing.  Sounds like a bunch of liberal idiots in D.C. right now!  Oh, by the way I greatly dislike most of them also.

Now that you know where I am coming from, let me give you some advice:  QUIT TRYING TO OUT THINK THE PEOPLE ON HERE WITH YOUR PSYCH BULLS__T!!!!  WHAT'S DONE IS DONE AND YOU CAN NOT GO BACK AND CHANGE IT NO MATTER WHAT NONSENSE STUDIES YOU PUT OUT THERE!  CRIMINALS DON'T NEED MRI SCANS OR EVEN JUST A GOOD HUG. . . . THEY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH LIKE ADULTS!  IF THEY COMMITTED THE CRIMES OF MURDER THEN WE AS A SOCIETY NEED TO PERMANENTLY DEAL WITH THEM AND DO IT WITHOUT THE "I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU" NONSENSE!  THAT STUFF JUST MAKES ME WANT TO PUKE!  GIVE THE MURDER THE SAME DEATH HE GAVE HIS VICTIM. . . .NOTHING MORE BUT NOTHING LESS.   IF HE SHOT THE VICTIM, THEN SHOOT HIM.  IF HE BURNED HIS VICTIM TO DEATH THEN BURN HIM.  IT IS A VERY SIMPLE IDEA AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RECIDIVISM THAT WAY!

Now I will get off of my soap box and give you the wish you best of luck statement. . . . .however, if you are going to keep up with the bulls__t ideas that I've seen so far, then I will retract that last statement and hope you find a good job f__king with other people's minds like a good psychologist.

Steve

Fine, I have read and re-read this post ad nauseum, and I grow wary and weary  about  forced MRIs and Pet scans, and clinical intervention.  Yes, absolutely, there are some idiot pyschologists out there, that is why anyone I ever referred anyone to was a MD , a Psychiatrist.  I don't care Adalda who any psychologist is, they CANNOT prescribe any meds, only an MD can do that, and yes, we did have Ph.D. psychologists in med school, who would we would present to, then, we would have to go to the attending MD for the script for our patients.  Yes, a lot of the people with pyschological problems are put on meds, and twoliver is right, a lot of problematic people, with mood disorders, psychotics, severe personality DO, etc , do stop taking meds, but, the judge that oversees the case can and does, under the advice of the MD, require these people to go in for depot injections.

As far as everyone getting an MRI or CT/PET scan, do you have ANY clue how much that would cost?   Additionally, that is so big brother, so against the law and oath of every medical  practitioner.  That is like screening everyone for schizophrenia,  please, you know NOT of what you speak. Your psychology class is correct in talking about neurological development, and the human brain is on average, not fully developed until age 25!  Nontheless, as said on here before, we are a society that lets every kid at 16,sometimes even 15 get behind the wheel of a 2000 lb car loaded with volatile gas( i.e. a missile), we let people vote, and drink at 21, we let GI's go into battle at 18.  While a lot of us did goofy things as a kid, you are the FIRST one I have ever heard of that said, oh, well, my brain wasn't developed...........BS!  It was developed enough for you to decide to ride around and abet a drug dealer, and while you are trying to make amends for it now, there are a lot of underpaid, or laid off cops in the same competition you are, so I would strongly advise you never talk to these cops with that mentality, yes, it is interesting in theory, but, they didn't screw up like that, I know cops who have been laid off, and they never did that kinda behavior.  I did some stupid stuff too, I did underage drinking and parties, but, I passed my background before graduating with my MD, yes we have to do that with PD as well. and even tho they giggled when I told them that, the DEA would have been upset if I did what you did, and they would not have given me my DEA /DPS license. 

  Yes, the frontal cortex is a social/inhibition  part of the brain, but, guy, the amgdyla that lies in the temporal lobe and the hippocampus are the reptilian/rage parts of the brain, as is parts of the medulla.  I do get so sick of undergrad pysch students going on and on, until you work with PATIENTS with problems day in and day out, don't even bother to advise on here. 

Theory is always good, go for your Ph.D. in Psychology and work with patients consulting and evaluating for the judicial system.

ShockUSMC87 says ...

Texas2step says ...

Fine, I have read and re read this post ad nauseum, and I grow wary and weary  about  forced MRIs and Pet scans, and clinical intervention.  Yes, absolutely, there are some idiot pyschologists out there, that is why anyone I ever referred anyone to was a MD , a Psychiatrist.  I don't care ADalda who any psychologist is, they CANNOT prescribe any meds, only an MD can do that, and yes, we did have psychologists in med school, who would we would present to, then, we would have to go to the attending MD for the script for our patients.  Yes, a lot of the people with pyschological problems are put on meds, and twoliver is right, a lot of problematic people, with mood disorders, pychotics, severe personality DO, etc , do stop taking meds, but, the judge that oversees the case can and does, under the advice of the MD, require these people to go in for depot injections.

 

As far as everyone getting an MRI or CT/PET scan, do you have ANY clue how much that would cost?   Additionally, that is so big brother, so against the law and oath of every medical  practioneer.  That is like screening everyone for schizophrenia,  please, you know NOT of what you speak. Your psychology class is correct in talking about neurological development, and the human brain is on average, not fully developed until age 25!  Nontheless, as said on here before, we are a society that lets every kid at 16,sometimes even 15 get behind the wheel of a 2000 lb car loaded with volatile gas, we let people vote, and drink at 21, we let GI's go into battle at 18.  While a lot of us did goofy things as a kid, you are the FIRST one I have ever heard of that said, oh, well, my brain wasn't developed...........BS!  It was developed enough for you to decide to ride around an abet a drug dealer, and while you are trying to make amends for it now, there are a lot of underpaid, or laid off cops in the same competition you are, so I would strongly advise you never talk to these cops with that mentality, yes, it is interesting in theory, but, they didn't screw up like that, I know cops who have been laid off, and they never did that kinda behavior.  I did some stupid stuff too, I did underage drinking and parties, but, I passed my background before graduating with my MD, yes we have to do that with PD as well. and even tho they giggled when I told them that, the DEA would have been upset if I did what you did, and they would not have given me my DEA /DPS license. 

 

  Yes, the frontal cortex is the social part of the brain, but, guy, the amgdyla that lies in the temporal lobe and the hippocampus are the reptilian/rage parts of the brain.  I do get so sick of undergrad pysch studies going on and on, until you work with PATIENTS with problems day in and day out, don't even bother to advise on here. 

 

Theory is always good, go for your Ph.D. in Psychology and work with patients consulting and evaluating for the judicial system.

 

Shut Down.........

Here is the thing.  Everything I have said on here about the psychological aspect of this dilemma was just an idea that a student who has just recieved his A.A. thought up after taking a couple of psych courses.  I'm not trying to say that I have all of the answers.  I am not saying that even though I knew what I was doing/not doing was wrong, I shouldn't be held responsible based on the formation of my brain.  The bottom line is that I wish there were a way to keep crime from happening in the first place.  A lot of times there are influences from outside sources (i.e. abuse), but sometimes there is no known reason for someone doing what they do.  The amygdala and hippocampus, being parts of the reptilian brain, are (I believe) the first to form.  The fight or flight mechanism that promotes survival, these are usually controlled by the rest of the brain as it develops.  Sometimes these influences can affect how the brain forms.  I am not trying to advise in any way.  I am just throwing an idea out there for which I truly value the feedback that I am getting.  I haven't broached this idea with my instructor, I just happened to bring it up here.  Hopefully, it is an idea that may one day be perfected ,in a legal way that doesn't infringe upon the rights of people, to help keep the innocent safe.  The real purpose of this forum topic was to see if anyone knew if there was a way to alter a PHB to more correctly represent the truth after it had been submitted.  Apparently there isn't.  My question has been answered.  I just have to find a way to get into the LEO field so that I may one day be able to prove myself worthy to remain in this field.  So here is another question I will pose: If I am able to get a job in the LEO field (jailer, guard, etc.),and through determination and perserverance maintain that job so that I have work experience as a member of the LEO 'family', will that help to mitigate my past mistakes?  I understand it won't make the past go away, but some work experience in the LEO field will look better than none, correct?

Texas2step says ...

"A lot of times there are influences from outside sources (i.e. abuse), but sometimes there is no known reason for someone doing what they do.  The amygdala and hippocampus, being parts of the reptilian brain, are (I believe) the first to form.  The fight or flight mechanism that promotes survival, these are usually controlled by the rest of the brain as it develops.  Sometimes these influences can affect how the brain forms."

 

Really, ya think?  Maybe you should apply to NIH or NSF with that hypothesis for a grant, oh wait, that was researched dating back to Mayan times.  You have just stepped on my last nerve man.........you have an AA and a couple of psych classes?  Talk it to your professors, maybe they can give you a hand.  Come back and talk to me after you finish your Ph.D. with 4 years post doc work , and I will talk.  Again, as I stated plainly before, we had psychologists we presented to in Med School, they were awesome Ph.D.s, but again, they are Ph.D.s not MD's who can order the tests and prescribe the meds you speak of NOT a Ph.D.!!!!!!!!

Now, you wanna tell me how the brain develops guy?  After you have gone through the degree of schooling you will need to do just that, but, that is a 8 year (at least) road before residency........now, please DO NOT try and lecture me about the sympathetic nervous system, or how the brain integrates and develops....it just isn't happening, not now at least. 

 

Now, I will let the LEOs step into this quagmire, if they even want to, but, it sure seems like you have been given good advice.  Advice you just try to come at with a different angle, but, seemingly, get the same response, however, on that subject I cannot speak.

 

Good luck to you.  I think there is good prospects for you with a Master's or Ph.D. as I stated before, evaluating patients in the judicial system.

Yeah!  What she said.

Let me guess, you are the type of person that comes up to police officers during their 30 minute lunch time with the "Can I ask a quick question?  I have a friend (lie already, they mean themselves but we let them continue) that was stopped for _______.  Can the police really do that?"  Officer answers with an answer that doesn't quite fit what they were looking for so they continue, "Well, if such and such took place and it was the second Tuesday of the week, THEN can the police stop them?"  Problem is, they are looking for a specific answer and will keep changing the scenario hoping to finally get a scenario that will get the answer they are looking for.  Why?  So they can run that excuse through the court to see if they can get cleared of their issue.

You have been no different except you are using your 3 psych classes to try to come up with an excuse for your past misdeeds.  Unfortunately, a real doctor found your nonsense writings, showed you where they were nonsense and yet you still try to salvage your argument.  HOW DENSE ARE YOU?

I think the problem here is that you keep trying to float an idea by everybody here that has absolutely no place in law enforcement.  Let's face it, you were born 65 years too late and on the wrong continent.  Experiments of this sort were already done on the less fortunate (i.e. those born with Downs Syndrome among other ailments and even a specfic race. . . .yes Jews!).  These people had experimental surgeries on them to see how they would react to different procedures.  Oh, if you don't believe me, go look up the medical experiments of Dr. Mengela of Nazi Germany.

At the present time, we still have a right to our bodies and only we can make the decision as to what is done with them.  On a sour note, if NOBAMA gets his way with Health Care, THEN you might get the green light to proceed with your experiments against the will of those that are the target of you nonsense. As one of the previous posters said, go to your professors and see if you can get a grant for your experiments.  Right now as the law reads, we are bound by the law AND Constitution to (in simplest terms) wait until the deed has been done before we can step in.  If we could convict someone for what they were thinking, I believe that everybody would probably be doing time in prison at some point or other.  Good thing we haven't reached Big Brother stage yet.

Remember that 911 is nothing more than the clean up crew.

Steve

msp1672 says ...

Let me guess, you are the type of person that comes up to police officers during their 30 minute lunch time with the "Can I ask a quick question?  I have a friend (lie already, they mean themselves but we let them continue) that was stopped for _______.  Can the police really do that?"  Officer answers with an answer that doesn't quite fit what they were looking for so they continue, "Well, if such and such took place and it was the second Tuesday of the week, THEN can the police stop them?"  Problem is, they are looking for a specific answer and will keep changing the scenario hoping to finally get a scenario that will get the answer they are looking for.  Why?  So they can run that excuse through the court to see if they can get cleared of their issue.

You have been no different except you are using your 3 psych classes to try to come up with an excuse for your past misdeeds.  Unfortunately, a real doctor found your nonsense writings, showed you where they were nonsense and yet you still try to salvage your argument.  HOW DENSE ARE YOU?

I think the problem here is that you keep trying to float an idea by everybody here that has absolutely no place in law enforcement.  Let's face it, you were born 65 years too late and on the wrong continent.  Experiments of this sort were already done on the less fortunate (i.e. those born with Downs Syndrome among other ailments and even a specfic race. . . .yes Jews!).  These people had experimental surgeries on them to see how they would react to different procedures.  Oh, if you don't believe me, go look up the medical experiments of Dr. Mengela of Nazi Germany.

At the present time, we still have a right to our bodies and only we can make the decision as to what is done with them.  On a sour note, if NOBAMA gets his way with Health Care, THEN you might get the green light to proceed with your experiments against the will of those that are the target of you nonsense. As one of the previous posters said, go to your professors and see if you can get a grant for your experiments.  Right now as the law reads, we are bound by the law AND Constitution to (in simplest terms) wait until the deed has been done before we can step in.  If we could convict someone for what they were thinking, I believe that everybody would probably be doing time in prison at some point or other.  Good thing we haven't reached Big Brother stage yet.

Remember that 911 is nothing more than the clean up crew.

Steve

Actually Steve, I am not.  I never denied that I made poor decisions and that I am now, in a fashion, paying for them.  I was just stating the fact that the brain, while not an excuse, is in some cases a very small contributing factor.  Regardless, there really isn't any excuse for what I did in my past...I was just young and dumb and made a very poor decision for my life at that time.  Be that as it may, in the end I am still the one to blame.  I don't want to do experiments on people.  Regarding Obama, I don't agree with more government oversight when it comes to our health plans.  The idea that I have mentioned numerous times that you are referring to is not just psychology but Forensic Psychology, as such it specifically deals with psychology in a legal (courtroom) setting.  It looks at the fact that sometimes monsters are born that way, and sometimes monsters are created.  If you looked at the original question, it had nothing to do with psychology...this just ended being a tangent that was ventured onto.  Additionally, after Texas2Step put me in my place, I wasn't trying to salvage my argument.  I was trying to state that I wasn't trying to argue.  How can you try to judge someone based on a few typed words in a forum of a networking site?  I am just trying to find out what my options are, careerwise, at this point.