Complaints regarding moderator @Sacreus

I am formally requesting that we remove @Sacreus from their moderator position. In my view, their constant pattern of ignoring valid points, belittling others, sheer ignorance, dodging direct questions, mockery, outright insults, manipulation, and blatant self-promotion without any merit—not to mention a general lack of literacy—is unacceptable. It feels like an insult to the intelligence of this community, and frankly, it only deepens the pain for anyone who has ever endured, or is currently enduring, the absolute nightmare of living with borderline personality disorder.

Look, I’m coming at this from the perspective of someone living with a BPD diagnosis. I have been battling this curse—BPD, not Sacreus—for years. Literally years. And dealing with all the fallout that comes with it... So, yeah, I’m joining the request here. I don't care how competent this guy might be at moderating some other random topic; in the thread Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) - vol.2 - *read first post*, he’s been spewing claims from the very jump that just fly in the face of common sense. When asked to actually elaborate or prove his points—specifically his claim that he somehow "cured" BPD in just a few months—he dodges the question entirely. He keeps insisting he never said it, even though I'm looking right at his own quoted post!

After being asked repeatedly, and after providing receipts (like what's mentioned in this post), this user/moderator has started straight-up violating basic rules of decency toward other members on this thread. You’d think someone handling a topic this specific would know better, right? Instead, he’s moved into direct insults (like in this post, right in the very first sentence) and then transitioned into classic trolling.

Beyond the fact that any user being this blatantly dismissive and insulting is unacceptable, it is even less acceptable when it’s the moderator doing it.
Not to mention the potential damage he's already done with these ridiculous claims about a "miracle cure" for BPD in a matter of months.
I really hope this thread can stay up without this kind of amateur trolling. Thanks...

Because honestly, I really, really don't need to be listening to this nonsense
and having people tell me to my face that I'm whining or that I'm a moron. Especially when it's a moderator. 🤦

I haven't seen this level of nonsense, blatant disregard, gaslighting, insults, trolling, or pure charlatanism on any American message board in a very long time.
The way he chooses to ignore—quite systematically, I might add—over thirty direct questions from various users is nothing short of psychological warfare; it’s causing genuine distress to many people here, as several posts have already documented.
Anyone with even a passing familiarity with psychology knows that being ignored is perhaps the most malicious, traumatic, and dangerous form of passive aggression. Honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find this much concentrated passive-aggressive behavior even in clinical cases of passive-aggressive personality disorder.
This individual is multifaceted in his danger to everyone involved in such an incredibly sensitive discussion. He leverages his position as both a therapist and a moderator to lead people down a false path—effectively steering them away from legitimate, evidence-based therapies and toward what can only be described as his own pseudo-hypnotic, carnival-style quackery. It is the exact opposite of established clinical standards; he actually advocates for hypnosis to treat personality disorders. He denies professional protocols, rejects established science, and ignores the very mandatory literature through which he supposedly obtained his license—only to pivot back to his own unverified, hazardous "systems" for which he holds no credentials whatsoever. This isn't just bad practice; it is outright fraud and malpractice under the Penal Code of the United States.
I suspect his ultimate goal is simply to build a client base for his private practice—which explains why he finds it so convenient to drop the name Mauro into his posts, making it all too easy for someone to track him down. In my view, he is dangerously exploiting this forum as a vehicle for self-promotion, aiming to profit from vulnerable and misled individuals.
There is no precedent in the world for a practitioner whose tenure lasts barely a few years yet feels entitled to insult and dismiss an entire professional field. To disparage an entire discipline like that is a betrayal of both the clients and the profession itself.

To top it all off, he brought his girlfriend into this thread—someone who has never posted here before—to use this discussion on hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a platform for their own self-promotion. They openly insulted 98% (and yes, I am quoting him directly) of mental health professionals, claiming their expertise is inferior to that of circus magicians. Is that not a direct affront to every single one of us who belongs to these professions?

casualwolf39 said:Please release us from the moderation of @Sacreus. Through constant ignoring, belittling, ignorance, dodging questions, mockery, insults, manipulation, and baseless self-promotion—not to mention the lack of literacy—they insult the intelligence of everyone who has lived through or is currently enduring the struggle with borderline personality disorder...

Hi there!

Are you filing a complaint against the moderator @Sacreus or just the user Sacreus? Based on what you wrote, it sounds like the latter...

If this is about a moderator, please include specific links regarding their moderation actions. I will review the entire thread, but if there is a particular disciplinary step you feel was unfair, please link it so I can look closer...

If this is about a regular user, I have to say that no one can be restricted from a thread simply because they ignore people, dodge questions, lack knowledge, self-promote, or write poorly. If a user is being belittling or insulting, those posts should be reported using the flag icon and sanctioned accordingly. However, the user still maintains the right to participate in the discussion, unless their behavior leads to sanctions or an eventual ban from the forum...

I see that some posts have been flagged, but as I mentioned in the announcement, I need a little more time to read through the whole thread to understand the context...

Best,

@Nicole Turner35/">@@Nicole Turner35, ambercyclist50

I'll take a look through the whole thread. I find myself agreeing with casualwolf39 regarding moderators participating in discussions—it’s perfectly fine. When a moderator joins in, they're just engaging as a regular user, which should be entirely separate from their mod duties... Any posts that break the rules are subject to the same sanctions as anyone else on the forum.

ambercyclist50 said:By ignoring more than 30 direct questions from the community, he’s causing genuine distress to several members. Some people have even gone as far as posting about the emotional toll it's taking on them.
Anyone in the field will tell you: ignoring someone isn't just rude. It’s the most malicious, traumatic, and dangerous form of passive aggression there is.

Even if that were true—and I'm not even going to get into the weeds on this whole situation—it’s completely irrelevant to this forum. You can't really fault anyone for choosing which replies to pick or which questions to ignore. No one is under any obligation to post anything specific just to keep a discussion moving. Unless you're acting as a moderator handling technical inquiries, nobody owes anyone an explanation.

ambercyclist50 said:He’s out there pushing hypnosis to treat personality disorders, which goes completely against everything established clinical standards dictate. He’s basically tossing aside the fundamentals of the field—ignoring the very science and the mandatory medical literature he used to earn his license in the first place. Now, instead of following proven protocols, he's operating via unverified, dangerous methods that he isn't even licensed to perform.

I’ve read plenty of solid literature on hypnotherapy, and I haven't come across any of the claims you're making—except in that one presentation you linked yourself. And let's be honest, that wasn't exactly a peer-reviewed study; it was more like a collection of caveats regarding specialized medical backgrounds and the lack thereof. As for hypnosis, there isn't even a professional consensus on the basics, much less the specifics. Most things in psychotherapy lack universal agreement, though I know you prefer to present your own theoretical frameworks as if they were gospel.
That second link you mentioned actually looks like a more seasoned, expert take, so I skipped over it at first. But honestly? It’s nowhere to be found in this thread. I’ve combed through the posts multiple times and there’s nothing there besides that childish nonsense. Even if it did exist, we'd just be looking at one person's opinion, not some established industry standard.

That’s nothing more than pure charlatanism and quackery. It's actually a criminal offense under the Penal Code of the United States.

This is straight-up lying and defamation, which is also a punishable offense under the Penal Code of the United States. 😁

It all comes down to this guy’s posts about his little "techniques"—which, for the record, he’s never mentioned here before. He basically jumped from a thread on hypnosis and hypnotherapy straight into this one just to run a shameless self-promotion campaign. To make matters worse, he openly dismissed 98%—and yes, I am quoting him—of mental health professionals, claiming their expertise is somehow less significant than that of a circus magician. Isn't that just a massive slap in the face to everyone of us actually working in these fields?

We aren't hanging out because we share an interest in hypnosis. He didn't drag me into this, nor have I ever supported his claims regarding treating BPD or jumped into your arguments. Sometimes I browse the BPD threads just to follow one specific user I’ve known for years, but that's about it. I rarely chime in since I’m neither a patient nor a therapist—though, to be fair, I haven't been completely silent on these boards in the past. Unlike most people here, I’m not entirely sure how much knowing someone with actual or potential BPD qualifies me to offer any constructive input. I only spoke up because this specific off-topic subject is something I actually know from both theory and practice, and you were being quite authoritative while spreading blatant misinformation about a field you clearly don't understand.

It’s not an insult; it’s just a fact. Most people who graduate with a degree in timber industry management aren't actually better at building scale model ships than a hobbyist working alone in their garage—mostly because that's not what they study in school. It’s the same logic with mental health: just because someone finishes a degree in psychology or psychiatry doesn't mean they're suddenly more skilled at hypnosis if their curriculum didn't include extensive training in it. A professional who practices it every single day is going to have the edge.

The issue here is that you seem to have this need to be the "expert on everything." You try to claim authority over subjects you don't actually know, and you take any disagreement as a personal hit to your ego. As it happens, both Sacreus and I actually know a thing or two about this topic. Also, regarding BPD, I'm not seeing how you're even connecting us to that.

@Michelle Evans

Honestly, I’m fed up with both of them. 🙂
I honestly think everything @Sacreus posts is just straight-up provocation and trolling (I actually ended up reporting him for insults because he just kept going with that condescending, smug tone).
The way he writes carries way more weight here because of how sensitive this topic is—and it doesn't help that @Sacreus is also a moderator. On top of that, he loves to brag about being a psychotherapist. Look, we all know the deal: moderators shouldn't be setting an example that makes other users think this kind of behavior is okay, even if they're technically posting as "regular users" using standard fonts and all that.

Let me give you a hypothetical scenario:
Imagine an online forum for people living with HIV. As most of you know, there’s no cure; there’s only antiretroviral therapy. Now, say I’m a doctor and I’m also a moderator there. I jump into a general thread and drop something like this:
"As a physician, I have successfully cured HIV within just a few months."
The immediate fallout? First off, I’d be making absolute fools out of every virologist, immunologist, and fellow doctor in the field. Second, I’d be giving false hope—hope that will eventually be cruelly ripped away—to everyone living with HIV. Worst case? I’m basically giving a green light to HIV-positive people to stay silent about their status and recklessly spread AIDS because—hey—it’s supposedly fixed in a couple of months, right? 🙂

Then, when people demand I get specific—how did I do it, why haven't I cured *everyone* with HIV, why haven't I started a global revolution to save millions... (note well: back in 2010, there were 34 million people living with HIV) and why isn't there any mention of this in medical circles, or where is the study to back up these claims... since apparently, nobody else knows about this magical cure I used to suddenly fix someone with AIDS... I’d just snap back with this:

"Like I already said... just because something hasn't been officially recorded doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If a new plant species is discovered, does it not exist just because it hasn't been documented yet? Such strange logic regarding how one perceives the world..."

-- And I’d keep using those kinds of twisted, pseudo-intellectual sentences, comparing my nonsense to the discovery of chemical elements and whatnot...
Now, imagine I'm posting on that forum as a regular user.
But I'm also a moderator at the same time.
That automatically gives my posts a certain level of authority. It doesn't matter if I'm using "normal" text...

A bunch of people in that thread would keep asking me for proof.
And my response? After systematically ignoring them and essentially belittling anyone who asks, I’d just insult them by saying stuff like "Why are you guys nagging me?"... "I have experience working with the mentally challenged, so I can repeat myself a hundred times if I have to..."

My God, in that scenario, I’d lose my moderator status in seconds. Between the warnings and the reports for insults and trolling, I’d probably be hit with a temporary—if not permanent—ban from the forum. If I ever actually realized the mess I had made, on so many different levels, I’d probably be banging my head against a wall until I hit an aneurysm just to make sure I never did something that stupid again.

I’m filing a formal complaint against the moderator @Sacreus. It seems they've been deleting posts simply because they don't align with their personal views, all while simultaneously insulting Nicole Turner35 and handing out sanctions to HY.
It’s honestly quite dangerous to grant moderation authority to someone who clearly operates with such blatant double standards. Even more concerning is that, as a moderator whose word carries weight here, they are actively promoting two or three specific therapies. By doing this, they are essentially undermining the immense, long-term effort put in by everyone navigating PT and offering nothing but false hope to those who are just starting their treatment journey.
I have absolutely nothing against them posting as a regular user like anyone else.

bluemason3 said:Even if that were true—and I’m not even getting into the whole debate about the premise here—it’s completely irrelevant to this forum. You can't hold anyone accountable for choosing which replies to address or ignoring certain comments and questions; nobody is under any obligation to post anything specific just to facilitate a discussion (unless, of course, they're acting as a moderator handling technical inquiries).

I have read enough quality literature regarding hypnotherapy, and I haven't come across the claims you're mentioning anywhere, except in that one presentation you linked yourself (which, by the way, includes relative limitations and warnings concerning specific professional and medical backgrounds, or rather, the lack thereof). That isn't some peer-reviewed professional paper. As far as hypnosis goes, there isn't any professional consensus on much of anything (in fact, there’s no consensus on most things in psychotherapy, even though you seem to love presenting your own theoretical frameworks as universal truths).
The other supposed link you mentioned, which you claimed was a more experienced or professional work that I skipped over—well, it doesn't exist on the subject. I’ve searched multiple times and found nothing but childish nonsense. But even if it did exist, it would merely be the opinion of a single author, not some universally accepted standard.

And this right here is lying and defamation, which is also punishable under the Penal Code of the United States.😁

We aren't "comrades" just because we share an interest in hypnosis. He didn't drag me into this, nor have I ever supported his claims regarding the treatment of BPD or jumped into your mutual arguments. Sometimes I read through BPD threads because of one particular female member who posts there, whom I've known for years, so that’s nothing new. However, I rarely get involved since I am neither someone with BPD nor a therapist (though it isn't true to say I've never posted on those topics before), and unlike most non-professionals, I'm not entirely sure how much knowing someone with actual or potential (undiagnosed) BPD qualifies me to offer any constructive commentary. I only stepped in because this was an off-topic matter that I happen to know somewhat through both theory and practice, and where you were very authoritatively stating very incorrect things about a field you don't even know.

It isn't an insult; it's a fact. Most people who graduate from a forestry program end up being worse at building wooden ship models than a self-taught hobbyist, simply because that's not what they study in college. Just because someone finished training in psychotherapy, psychology, or psychiatry—fields which, as a rule, do not include extensive (often non-existent) training in hypnosis—certainly doesn't make them better than someone who does it every single day for their livelihood.

The problem is that you feel this need to be the "father of the topic," trying to act as an authority on subjects you don't understand. You perceive any disagreement as a personal attack on your highly perceived status and ego trip, and it just so happens that both @Sacreus and I actually know a thing or two about this. Aside from that, as far as BPD goes, I don't see how you're linking us.

You're in the wrong thread; these are COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE MODERATOR @Sacreus

casualwolf39 said:You've got the wrong thread. These are formal complaints against moderator @Sacreus.

He called me out directly in the post I was quoting.🙂

Nicole Turner35 said:Speaking as someone living with a BPD diagnosis—someone who’s been wrestling with this nightmare for years, literally years—and dealing with everything that comes with it... I’m backing this request. I don't care how "competent" this moderator might be at managing other threads; in the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) - vol.2 - *read first post* thread, he’s been pushing claims from the jump that fly in the face of common sense. When asked to actually explain or prove his claims—specifically that he miraculously cured BPD in just a few months—he dodges the question and pretends he never even said it, despite us quoting his own damn post right back to him.

After being asked multiple times—with quotes provided (like what was mentioned in this post)——the moderator starts blatantly breaking basic rules of decency toward other users on this topic. You’d think he’d know better, given how specific this subject matter is. On top of that, he moves straight to direct insults (like in this post, right in the first sentence) and then settles into classic trolling.

Beyond the fact that any user being this dismissive and insulting is unacceptable, it’s even worse coming from a moderator.
Not to mention the potential damage he’s already done with those claims about some "miracle cure" for BPD in a couple of months.
I just hope this thread can stay up without this kind of amateur trolling. Thanks...

Because seriously, I really don't need to deal with this nonsense because of my BPD
and having someone tell me directly that I'm just whining or that I'm a moron. And that's coming from a moderator. 🤦

Good grief, what a joke. Just because you clearly have trouble accepting different perspectives and identify so heavily with your diagnosis—not to mention if you're almost fetishizing it—that isn't your interlocutor's fault. Is your name Borderline or is it Nicole Turner35? When you introduce yourself, do you say, "Hi, I'm Borderline"? Get what I'm saying? You're grilling @Sacreus while being sarcastic and belittling him from the start (even using the third person), and you aren't even considering his response, which you'll inevitably find "unacceptable" later anyway. In the end, you're just throwing a tantrum like a kid.

What insults? Name them. You called yourself a moron.

Where are the actual answers to ambercyclist50's questions regarding his approach, other than him reciting exact, widely accepted, and self-evident "facts" that he refuses to actually discuss? If we can do this without an empty bank account.

The admin team needs to look at maxmagnus's recent outbursts that led to the thread being locked. Pure hysteria, making things up, and projecting everything onto everyone else.

Seriously people, is this thread a place to exchange info or some closed-off cult? If someone lacks the basic maturity, patience, or respect for healthy communication, they should just ignore the "unsuitable" opinions.

I have zero interest in ignorance or being sold a bunch of smoke and mirrors by @Sacreus.

Bring back @enciklopedista bpd-a=enciklopedista bpd-a

redheron30 said:she should just ignore any "unacceptable" opinions.

That sounds great in theory, but it’s hard to do when we have a moderator like @Sacreus who just wipes away anything he doesn't personally like and hands out penalties to whoever happens to rub him the wrong way.

Hey there. How's it going?

So, I guess Sacreus is basically that one rare breed of moderator who actually has zero clue about the subject they’re supposed to be overseeing—BPD. Honestly, what he’s pulling here is just a textbook example... It’s just a total abuse of power, really. Just constant, narcissistic ego-stroking combined with this blatant disregard for actual scientific breakthroughs and hard facts. It's nothing but pure, unadulterated self-promotion without a single shred of merit to back it up. I guess that's just how it works now, huh? Maybe.

So, looks like the mod is out here just nuking posts again. Just deleting everything in sight, I guess. Typical. So, what was actually on the agenda? I mean, what were we even talking about? just to defend himself, I guess.
So, I guess we've officially hit that point where the moderator is basically pulling out the disciplinary toolkit just to cover their own tracks. It’s like, instead of actually addressing the issue, they’re just handing out warnings and nuking other users to build a little defensive wall around themselves. Honestly, it feels less like keeping order and more like a desperate attempt at damage control. Just my two cents, maybe.
So, look, I’m not saying they’re officially sanctioning @Sacreus—they aren't doing that—but when it comes to everyone else on the forum? Yeah, they're definitely laying down the law.

He doesn't even need books, I guess. He just carries himself like some kind of self-appointed, all-knowing god who knows everything there is to know. Then he goes out and does things—or at least, that's what he claims are actually beneficial for his clients. Real smooth. I mean, honestly? It’s just harmful. Everything about it feels pretty damaging, if you ask me. I guess it’s just one of those things that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, you know? Maybe I'm being too cynical, but it just seems... toxic. Just my two cents. so... hypnosis in BPD? yeah. maybe. i mean, honestly, who knows? i guess we can talk about it, but it's kind of a mess. It’s going public.It’s just giving people false hope, I guess. Just straight up scamming people. Man, if only BPD was something you could just cure in a few months... but nope. It just relentlessly... He’s basically just playing god with people's lives and their entire futures. It's messed up.!
I honestly can't even remember the last time I ran into someone this twisted, self-centered, and just straight-up reckless. It’s actually kind of wild. And you're telling me this guy is allowed to be a moderator with those kinds of attitudes??!! Seriously?
Everything I just laid out is pretty damn obvious, honestly. It’s all right there on the surface, even though he’s trying his absolute hardest to mask it with that typical, ignorant attitude of his.

I mean, look, I guess people who pick the moderators are responsible for their own choices—just like the rest of us are—but in this specific case, they were basically played. They got totally manipulated by a complete fraud (for BPD), someone who’s probably just pathologically obsessed with self-promotion and constant self-aggrandizement. Just my two cents, I guess.

Look, I don't want anyone thinking I'm just using aggressive rhetoric for the hell of it. I’m a former non-border sufferer myself—someone who’s lived through way too much personally—so I feel like I actually have some sort of deep insight into how this whole mess works. But honestly? What @Sacreus is saying and pushing doesn't make any sense at all. In my last post, I was genuinely trying to help him see that BPD is its own specific thing, you know? A different beast entirely. But man, his ego is just massive, and he’s got this pathological rigidity that makes it impossible for him to budge even an inch. He just won't listen.

I don't even know how to put this into words, honestly... Honestly, this guy acting as a moderator on this thread is just dangerous... and totally unqualified, if you ask me. Look, if you actually want to help people who’ve spent years grinding just to stop feeling like a shattered mirror, maybe try contributing something useful for once. And while we're at it, let's finally get rid of @Sacreus as a moderator.
So, you might read my objection and think it’s just one big pile of insults, but honestly? If you actually take the time to look closely at all of @Sacreus's little cheap shots, the hypocrisy, and the constant manipulation, you'll end up right back where I am. You'll realize everything I'm saying is actually true.

posted by maxmagnus:

Sacreus — you’re honestly insulting our intelligence at this point. You're treating us like total morons. I have no clue how such a malicious and twisted individual like you ends up moderating a psychology board. Just look at that massive wall of text from Nicole Turner35—if I were in your shoes, I’d probably just commit hara-kiri right then and there and never show my face on this site again. Your patients in Cleveland must be absolutely pathetic!

I’ve never seen this much trolling, disrespect, and blatant ignoring of users in all my time here. Ignoring people is actually worse than calling them idiots—it tells them they don't even exist. People like you belong in Alcatraz, but maybe not in a group cell—more like solitary confinement!

You need to be stripped of your mod status immediately and kicked out of this forum once and for all.

What do you even call this? Democratic Talibanism? 🤷
And then this guy has the nerve to throw diagnoses at everyone else. ☕

Jerry Vaughn2 said:The guy doesn't even need books—he just acts like some self-appointed god-tier expert who knows everything without trying.

Maybe you confused him with someone else whose initials are HY—you know, the guy some people name their unborn kids after and others dream of becoming one day. Not that there’s any bias or "divine authority" involved, obviously.

Honestly, I have no clue which camp is right here. Some say BPD is a lifelong sentence, some say it's curable, and others claim it isn't even a thing. I'm just trying to get some actual info—so why the Censorship?

Jerry Vaughn2 said:- acting as a mod by deleting posts from the thread just to protect himself
- using mod warnings to punish other users just to defend his own position
- failing to sanction @Sacreus while targeting others instead

There were two other active mods working (probably more than him), so how can you be sure who deleted what? 🤔

which are harmful to clients (hypnosis in FDNY patients)

You're just parroting New York’s baseless claim. There aren't any scientific papers specifically targeting the link between BPD and hypnosis, and most issues—both direct and comorbid—are regularly treated with hypnotherapy. It might be useless, or maybe it's great, but claiming it's specifically harmful is an unsupported stretch.

My grievance starts with the moderator @ElonMusk, who refuses to hold user @ElonMusk accountable—instead choosing to scrub any posts that don't align with his narrative. It’s become clear he’s leveraging his mod powers solely to shield @ElonMusk, even going so far as to slap me with a 45-point penalty just because I called him out for being unprofessional—all while he sits there letting him call splitters "morons." To make matters worse, @ElonMusk isn't punishing @ElonMusk for blatant trolling, nor is he addressing how @ElonMusk uses his moderator status as a built-in endorsement to lure clients into his private practice... it’s a massive conflict of interest.

As for user @ElonMusk, he’s a whole different breed of problem—nothing but insults and pure trolling...

Hey, guys over at the local corner deli, why don't you go set up your own little private chat room? We can take our arguments over there instead.

Look, Beljki, I have zero interest in debating technical matters with self-proclaimed "experts." The same goes for those armchair pundits. If you’re acting as legal counsel for @Twitter, then just say so and be done with it.

Your contribution to this old thread is so negligible that I don't even consider you a factor in the discussion regarding the BPD topic—not that we're even talking about BPD right now.

As for Vatroled, insulting someone's basic intelligence is an insult, plain and simple. You should probably take a closer look at Splitterica's massive, mile-long post. As Max would say—it's enough to make one want to commit instant hara-kiri.