Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDave
Last spring we had a bit of discussion about this as a part of a different thread. I cannot remember what that thread was, but I do remember a couple of things.
I read through the Wikipedia definition you listed. I think it's pretty much on the nose. In the case of the Villages, it doesn't mean you like living here. It means you are totally devoted to the place to the point that you refuse to hear or recognize anything negative, even if it is clearly true.
I think this comes up with things like the post a couple of days ago by a woman worried about the recent accidents and whether this was common here. While she eventually got several good responses, most of them really dispelling her worry, the first few were very defensive of TV, and a couple even rude.
I've mentioned this sort of attitude a couple of times and continue to be puzzled by it. This place has some really wonderful, unique things. Like any place else it has some issues. Pretending there are no negatives just doesn't make sense to me. I think when people have such knee jerk reactions to reasonable questions, it makes new people feel like there is something to hide here. I think it actually adds to some people's paranoia. Those people that take the time to make serious, well thought out answers do a much better job of selling the place in the long run, at least they did to me.
I will say one other thing about the kool-aid term. During the earlier thread I mentioned in the spring, I got a message from a guy who was really hurt by the use of the term. He in fact had a friend who died there. (That may be what you are remembering.) I apologized on the thread and have tried to avoid using that term any longer. Unfortunately, it really does describe the kind of blind faith that Jonestown represented. While I will try hard never to use it again, I'm afraid it's become part of our language.
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It isn't a guy, Dave, it is a girl.
And I try not to use the term for her sake.
There is NO reason for anyone to be rude, snarky, snipey or just plain mean to anyone on this forum because we disagree with them. Some of us who others label as K.A. drinkers are just positive souls and try very hard to keep the truth out there. It is just as offensive to be negative when there is no reason for it to us positive folks. We aren't dim witted, we don't work for the Morses, we don't gain anything by our attitude that this place is dang nigh perfect. It is HOW we perceive it.
There is a group of folks who for their own private reasons feel that NOTHING is perfect enough to celebrate, and others who are jealous of people financially more well off, and others who suspect that all big business is corrupt.
Naturally anyone thinking to move here would have to think just as WE did that this is WAY too good to be true. I was VERY suspicious after we came here the first time. WHAT is going on there. That was five years ago and it is still as nice as when we were looking at it, but I now feel so good about our choice to move here.
We don't need to encourage anyone to live here, they are coming in droves. WHO we need to encourage are happy souls, good drivers, people who want to enjoy life and get along with others. The other kind are kinda making me all snarley.