[JimmyJohn]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

When I first began to post on this forum we had made a short visit to a friend who had moved here and we really felt love and first sight and I was very suspicious that this place was too good to be true and not what it was cracked up to be. I had many questions about everything and asked if anyone had ever met the builder, what kind of person was he, is he up to something... I wanted to know about the bond and on and on and on.


A few people suspected me of having an agenda and stirring the pot and why was I looking for trouble. They were not diplomatic and put me firmly in my place. They called me a troll and other hurtful things.


Now that I am a firm believer that this is the nicest place on earth to live for seniors, I too feel the same way about people who seem to question how wonderful this place is. Many folks who post regularly feel the same way and act protective of The Villages and how things are done here.


There are many controversies that come up, over time, over and over and when they appear AGAIN, we who have been there and heard that, time and time again.... think, oh not again and aren't very patient sometimes.


There are the poop threads and the roundabout threads and the debates over politics and religion. There are people who thrive on tension and others who just don't want to hear the same old, same old argued about.


There are new posters who are soft and diplomatic and those who have all of the diplomacy of a freight train. There are some doves and some banty roosters. There are those who say it like it is and those who you wonder just what they are saying. There are those who have been contentious in the past, trouble makers who have been banned and who appear again trying to appear like a new person. There are mostly genuine seekers of knowledge who sincerely want to know about this place and whether or not they want to finish their life with the lot of us.


There are those when questioned about what their motive is will be hurt and quit, and those who will rephrase and restate and those who take umbrage and immediately get defensive.


That is the nature of the world and internet interchanges. You cannot read the face, the body language and look a person eye to eye, and read other subtle clues about them.. and sometimes you misread them.


Over time, after a number of posts, we are all better able to gage the attitude and character of posters and we form our own opinions based on our information, our attitudes, our beliefs and our life experiences.


I think I have learned more about people and life and social interactions between older humans on this forum than I really wanted to know.


And I have found real, true, caring friends too.

It may be because I have recently quit drinking, but I see this also as a clear to the point post. Thanks Gracie for a great post. Firm, to the point without any negativity.