Unschooling or not?

There have been some really good threads at Always Learning lately, the link is in my sidebar.
It is Sandra Dodd's list, she is straight to the point and cuts through the crap which is probably why I like her.

I agree with many things she says, not everything but who agrees with everything. I agree that we can't babystep and pussyfoot around people's feelings. Kids are young once, we only have one chance with them, parents who are seeking unschooling do not have the luxury to take years to get it all the while their kids are growing up before their eyes. Wouldn't you rather be told straight out what things are like then to smack yourself upside the head 10 years later and wish you had gotten it sooner?

When people are seeking out unschooling by joining discussion lists then we need to be honest and forthright, we need to tell them like it is.
I am so sick of people being offended by one thing or another, it really gets old. Either you want to get it or you don't but don't blame us for trying to help.

I admit I have been kind of soft lately due to the fact of *offending* people in the past, not purposefully that's for sure.

I love it when people cut the crap and tell me head on what they think and it's high time I go back to doing just that.

I run a list with over 370 people on it and I have not been diligent in keeping it up to unschooling snuff. I have let many things go that should be addressed, I'm not a babysitter, I can't control what people say.

Someone sent me an email who unsubbed and pretty much insulted our group and said we weren't unschooling or gentle parenting.

She wasn't there very long and never posted and it was during a time of some turmoil by a few members.

I could have been really offended by some of the things she said but I'm not. I am actually a little taken back and surprised but I have to let it roll. I can not please everyone and I don't plan on it, somehow I think I used to want to.

I do not understand why so many out there want to claim the unschooling title without actually doing it. There are people out there giving unschooling a bad rap because they call whatever it is they do unschooling while it clearly is not. Everyone is free to choose what they do or don't do but don't call it something it clearly isn't.

Unschooling has a purpose, there is a reason for the distinction, to meet like minded individuals who live and learn in freedom.

I am not big on labels, I would call what we do *living* but since everyone lives...