Let's keep this in the forum.

Emailed information can only benefit the person at the other end, not the entire population that reads the forum.

I'm an RSO because of my conviction for viewing child pornography online. The effect has been far less than I had expected, but I also understand that it will always be there in some way or another.

When I was in the halfway house looking for an apartment, the first building rejected me because of my status as an RSO. The second building did the same. The third building was a smaller place - maybe 20 apartments, privately owned instead of a big corporation. They had a policy on the books which prohibited them from hiring felons. I didn't know that when I told them about my background, and that's a good thing because I wouldn't have tried. They liked me and my honesty, they could tell that I was a good person who regretted a poor decision I had made, and they talked the owners of the building into officially changing their policy to allow me to rent there.

It taught me a VERY valuable lesson: I would much, much, MUCH rather rent from a landlord who knows about my past and doesn't care than rent from a landlord I think I need to hide something from. It was SO nice to be able to be myself and not feel like I was hiding anything.

Similarly, I have told my employers up front rather than letting them find out on a background check or through other means. Again, I'd much rather work for someone who accepts me for who I am than feel like I'm hiding things that can never come out. Yes, that means I have had job offers rescinded, but it also means I've never worked for someone who didn't accept me for who I am. That is HUGE.

The biggest possible issue I see for the future is if I ever become a parent. Being an RSO will mean I won't be able to volunteer in my kids' classrooms, and would probably do best to not let my kids' friends come over to our house unattended. I'd rather than not be the case, but I certainly won't let it ruin my life.

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Paedestrian