I was just over perusing Kitty’s Consumer Beware for laughs and was amused to see they still all get in a tizzy when a consumer mentions me or my site.

I know some of you read both sites, and I know some consumers only know about one forum or the other, so here’s a little background.

Katherine “Kitty” Cook is a fake name used by the owner of Kitty’s Consumer Beware. Her real name is Cathey Baker, and she’s been a Texas-based salesperson for a quack electric tweezer device called GHR.

A few years ago, I started warning consumers about GHR on various hair removal forums, especially because it targeted vulnerable consumer groups. “Kitty” was too stupid and greedy to see she was helping a quack and scam artist rip people off. She’s still helping her pal by leaving up these bogus studies:

Kitty’s fake GHR studies

US Food & Drug Administration: Fake GHR studies (PDF: requires Adobe Acrobat)

“Kitty” even put up her own hair removal forum and dedicated it to me and others who tried to warn that she is a quack. Quacks tend to be very stubborn people who can’t be bothered with things like facts and science and critical viewpoints.

After a couple years of effort, I finally helped to put her client and business associate Judith Stephens of GHR out of business. “Kitty” is very upset that I called her out on associating with such disreputable scum. Birds of a feather, you know. You should have seen how caring and helpful Judith Stephens was, too.

That got “Kitty” and her friends mad at me.

As you might imagine, a site like hers that’s founded on quackery attracts a certain type of practitioner to participate. Over the years, Kitty has attracted a rag-tag band of self-styled “expert” practitioners who also dislike me for being critical of misleading electrolysis and laser marketing tactics. I used to post information on SoftLight lasers, pointing out that much of the data being used to sell the treatments were preliminary. When other lasers came out, I took the position of a consumer activist and demanded proof of claims and made comments critical of marketing hype and regulatory decisions.

I also made comments critical of an electrolysis trade group called SCME, which had taken a large “grant” from a laser manufacturer to promote lasers. At that time, SoftLight had been proven to be temporary despite marketing claims of permanence, and I urged consumers to take a wait-and-see approach before plunking down thousands on other laser treatments that had not been backed with any long-term data. I was also concerned about the confusion caused by marketing terms like “lasertrolysis,” which made a confusing issue even more difficult for consumers to understand.

That got “Kitty” and her friends mad at me, too.

Turns out SCME leadership hates a rival electrolysis trade group called AEA. I like AEA because they put the consumer first—they led the way in getting electric tweezers reclassified by FDA, and they have been a major force in getting states to regulate electrolysis and laser use.

When AEA, eMedicine.com, and QuackWatch published articles I’d written, that really got “Kitty” and her friends mad at me. They despise the AEA, because they feel it threatens their livelihoods. “Kitty” used to list QuackWatch as a reference until QuackWatch published my information. Now they are the enemy, too.

Enemies everywhere. Kitty and her friends are a bunch of paranoid kooks who honestly believe a host of enemies are trying to keep them down:

Doctors
The largest electrolysis trade group
Dermatology trade groups
Plastic surgery trade groups
Consumer health watchdog groups
Lawyers representing consumers
State regulators
The US Government (especially the FDA)

And of course, little old me.

They consider themselves the sole possessors of truth and knowledge about hair removal, and they think anyone who disagrees with them or their opinions is an enemy.

Rather than debate, they start their own sad little forum where “Kitty” can censor the facts, remove opposing views, and block links to sites and ideas that frighten them.

“Kitty” even conveniently “loses” years of consumer posts dating to 1999 that incriminate her pal Judith Stephens and others. She is either covering things up, or she is as inept at web hosting as she is at picking business associates and forum moderators. [August 2002 update: a partial archive is back online ]

So head on over there and tell ‘em I said hi! As you can see, I don’t censor links or phrases. I’ll leave that to the paranoid quacks.

Kitty’s Consumer Beware Forum

Beware Boards: A consumer asks about Hairfacts

While you're there, invite their readers to swing by-- I'd welcome more consumer comments! It's a shame to see good consumers being advised by such kooks.

[ August 27, 2002, 05:21 AM: Message edited by: Andrea ]

Oh, and just in case that wasn't long and boring enough, those who want more can check out:

Hairfacts: Kitty's Consumer Beware (WARNING!)

Another of my favorite features "Kitty" has added to her site is a Top Secret Password-Protected Moderator-Only Forum!!! Ooooh!

Sheesh. What kind of paranoia is that? It's like something out of the X-Files. I like to picture the six of them with their tinfoil hats on as they type their secret messages to each other.

I mean, really. What is there to say that you can't say in public? What can there be to hide? It's just hair removal.

A legitimate forum like this one has everything out in the open and available for all to see. The only thing restricted here is information of an adult nature, which is available to anyone over 18.

But hey, I guess the world is full of choices, and they are good for an occasional laugh.

Is there any place on Kitty's Consumer Beware that promotes AHRS?

Hey Steve--

No, "Kitty" was a GHR salesperson, and there was a rivalry between GHR and AHRS. Who stole from whom isn't entirely clear, but they both have claimed the same "studies," which currently appear on the the "Kitty" site.

Kitty's Consumer Beware: GHR/AHRS disputed "study"

"Kitty" has stated that both AHRS and GHR are not companies she recommends, but she inexplicably leaves up this disputed data, claiming it belonged to her client Judith Stephens of GHR. Mmm hmm. The two of them are a real believable pair-- just ask all the consumers who got ripped off by these two.

AHRS is currently in operation under new ownership, different than IHRS and Rejuvenu.

Hairfacts: AHRS (WARNING!)

Maybe "Kitty" is a nice person who got involved with a con artist by accident. The fact that she continues to keep Judith Stephens' stolen AHRS data on her site suggests a more active role in Stephens' deceptions to me.

Honest people make mistakes and get involved with unsavory characters on occasion, but they cease to be honest people when they do nothing to correct their mistakes.

Update 1: I just went over to their site, and I see that other consumers have asked "Kitty" why she's censored links to QuackWatch, HairFacts, and HairTell, and why she fears an open dialog about the GHR scam she was involved in. I see the consumers got some very testy replies!

Kitty's Consumer Beware: "Kitty" gets touchy about the truth!

It's pretty obvious who is telling the truth, huh? Kitty & pals are embarrassed that they aligned themselves with Judith Stephens/GHR, and they hate me for pointing out that they tarnish their credibility by their continued association with a known quack and con artist.

If they weren't so stubborn and so convinced they know it all, they wouldn't be so petulant when consumers ask them legitimate questions about their credibility.

Quacks are a very tenacious lot. They stick to their guns no matter how much proof you have they're wrong. I think we're starting to see the true colors of the person behind the fake name Katherine 'Kitty' Cook.

Consumers can decide for themselves what's what. Censorship can't cover up the truth!

Update 2: I see "Kitty" has now joined the Rejuvenu crowd in calling for a bounty on my head! You know they're getting desperate when Kitty's GHR crowd and Lee Cole's AHRS crowd put aside years of fighting and backstabbing each other to attack me.

It's truly pathetic. I feel sorry for these people, raging against consumer activists with these kinds of tactics. They try my patience, but I will continue to tell the truth and present the facts instead of the silly quack attacks of those involved with Kitty's Consumer Beware and Rejuvenu!

[ August 19, 2002, 12:30 PM: Message edited by: Andrea ]

LOL!

Today we have this gem from practitioner David Hardee, whose site epilate.com is hosted by "Kitty." David is naturally a staunch defender of the whole Kitty/electric tweezer thing, and he's a moderator on her forums.

quote:

---

Andrea is nothing more than a criminal mouthpiece and undercover agent for an international electrolysis organization that will stop at nothing to keep consumers away from lasers and the practitioners that use them. Her tactics involve lies, confusion, misinformation and no-holds-barred psychological terrorization against anyone in the hair removal industry that does not agree with her views. Libel, slander, harrassment, conspiracy and restraint-of-trade will serve to launch this self-annointed "queen-bee" of hair removal (and her "hive") into a new world. The courts will rip out her "stinger" and she will choke on her own venom. Anyone interested in making $1000 for information leading to her "capture" can click on the above link to find out more. $1000: it's really getting serious now!

---

Bwahahahaha!

"Kitty" and her paranoid pals crack me up... "undercover agent for an international electrolysis organization," that's an all-time classic...

Heh, now I see Kitty/Judith Stephens' pal Shelby Owens is offering to match Lee Cole's $1000 for my home address with a grand of her own!

Some background: Shelby and I used to get in arguments on another hair removal board, and she obviously took it all pretty personally. Shelby also hates me because I agree with rival trade group AEA that laser and electrolysis should be regulated in all states. I also feel laser hair removal should be performed under medical supervision. She doesn't.

Shelby owns Laser Associates of Northwest Florida. She's an experienced practitioner of electrolysis and laser, but like David Hardee and other Consumer Beware moderators, she has chosen to align herself with the Kitty/GHR quacks. An unfortunate decision, to say the least.

Anyone who continues to support the no-needle people like GHR, Removatron, Kitty's Consumer Beware, IGIA, and Rejuvenu is making a clear statement about where the consumer stands in their eyes. These people have bilked consumers out of tens of millions of dollars over the years. Apparently, Shelby thinks helping Lee Cole's cause is OK.

This hair removal stuff is my hobby, an offshoot of my other consumer information sites. For people like Shelby, it's their livelihood, so the stakes are higher, I guess.

Aligning yourself with scam artists like Lee Cole and Judith Stephens speaks volumes about the kind of person you are, in my opinion. If Lee Cole is going to call me a terrorist, let's extend that metaphor and say you're either with the quacks or against them. Shelby has chosen to side with Lee Cole and Judith Stephens. So be it.

Over the next few, years, it will be my pleasure to demonstrate to Shelby, David and others that siding with people like Lee Cole, "Kitty," and Judith Stephens instead of with consumer activists, medical professionals, and government regulators was an extraordinarily bad decision.

What's that boxing guy say?

Let's get ready to rumble!

Hmm... today I see that "Kitty," Shelby, David, and pals have once again censored the facts and removed the thread where consumers question their decision to align themselves with Lee Cole and Judith Stephens, two notorious hair removal quacks.

I'm not surprised at all. "Kitty" has a long history of omitting facts that don't fit her version of the story. It's pretty obvious who "can't handle the truth" (to quote Jack Nicholson ).

Luckily, I have a hard copy. Anyone who would like a copy is welcome to email me or ask on this forum.

And as far as "Kitty" not taking money from the hair removal industry, that's ridiculous. Many Consumer Beware moderators and contributors are actually "Kitty" clients!

The "Kitty" site has always been a thinly-veiled advertising platform for her clients to promote their practices. Below is just a partial list of sites "Kitty" & pals have hosted and still host via webspinner.net/a1host.net:

Judith Stephens
GHR electric tweezer
hairfree.com
216.83.168.218
216.83.167.4

David Hardee
Laserbeam
epilate.com
epilatormuseum.com
216.83.168.224
216.83.168.223

Shelby Owens
laseawayhair.com
216.83.168.152

Judy Adams
laserblazers.com
208.16.215.180

Michael Green
nomorehair.com
216.83.168.154

Marissa Lee (Copeland)
betterlase.com
216.83.167.5

Esthetica Laser Hair Removal
gethairless.com
216.83.167.20

Carole Warren
advancedlaserhairremoval.com
216.83.168.170

etc., etc.

"Kitty" & co. make plenty of money hosting all those client-- er, I mean moderator-- websites on her commercial-- er, I mean consumer forum...

That's why "Kitty" can afford to spend the time making this pretty new layout. Don't buy the "Kitty" lie!

Thank goodness that site's getting redone, by the way. The current amateurish layout is a hot mess!

[ August 23, 2002, 01:41 AM: Message edited by: Andrea ]

Just stumbled on this thread today, over a year later. I understand why I was rejected this past weekend on consumerbeware.com. They don't take nicely to hairfacts or people that raise questions about laser saftey. The crowd gathers around and bashes one over and over and over. They are very paranoid to the extreme. What a creepy group.