Oh my! What has happened?
 

What has happened? This site used to have such good responses to questions, and concerns fellow Villagers have.

Lately, the responses have attempted to be sarcastic in nature, try to make a joke, or otherwise, belittle the original poster. I am not pointing to any single person, or topic, but a general trend.

I've subscribed to this site for over 4 years, and found it to be quite useful, adding insight to the many of the issues and concerns of fellow Villagers.
Let's please try to get back on-track, and be more considerate of the OP.

Give the masses an anonymous (well almost) platform and this is what will happen. Just look at the vitriol on the Internet in general. The more people that sign up the greater the chance of having some nasty ones.

Sometimes it's good to laugh.

I admit I am more skeptical than usual and I am sorry. Sometimes making light of things is good and sometimes changing the subject with humor is good but sometimes people really do want to be serious.

It used to be a great site.

Only a few people on here can really be anonymous. Us Top Ten posters in quantity anywhere are fairly easy to identify.

I try to get good information when I can and only remain skeptical about things when they are not multiple sources to an OP's ideas.

I still feel that this a wonderful site for information about the Villages. It does leave a great deal to be desired in the Political Section but that is mainly because everyone is anonymous for the most part on there except for a few times when genuine handles come up or you can recognize people by a motto they use.

I don't like rumors or innuendo...I find them trite and unnecessary when coming from fully formed adults with decades of experience. When I read a post that is a "I read this somewhere..." or "so and so said" then I call the person out to verify what they posted. They rarely do and our lives(what is left of them)don't need the stress some people perversely provide by chicken little proclamations. I find it insulting and self serving.

Am I angry? No...just intolerant of ignorant behavior designed to instill anxiety and provide self worth through internet acceptance.

Maybe this site can go back to being gentler and kinder but I think there needs to be more transparency. Those of us that have been on for a long period of time can pretty much know one another, (at least by their posts), so we have a good idea of where people are coming from. Some have become very good friends.

Some anonymous posters want to stay that way so they can say what they want to say, without being confronted face to face. In my travels about, I have met people who have asked me if I am "2BNTV", and I said yes, and they were very pleasant.

If more people would think before they post, maybe some people's feelings wouldn't be hurt so easily. If more people would stop before they hit the "submit" button and say to themselves, "is this something I want to put out to the public at large", maybe things would get back to normal.

That's my opinion and I stand by what I say.

BTW - This has been going on for a long time.

totally agree. My mother used to say "if you can't say something good about it, don't say anything". I try to adhere to that. I estimate I don't read more posts than I do. Ignoring is very helpful at times.

As usual Joe, you have it right and I agree with you other than for remaining, or wanting to remain, anonymous. I prefer to go unrecognized although there are a couple of people I chose to know me.

It used to be a great, fun, interesting site, now it is none of those things. Although we do get some interesting medical topics. Great pity because it was the first thing I did with my coffee in the morning.

Also, in my humble opinion, it is now a Garage Sale site - too much "junk" for me to wade through. By all means use the site to sell, but please have a separate category, don't have it mixed in with day to day topics.

My favorite subject!
Discussing the actions of the minority representation as a general condition.

Most (pick a number, I choose 97.473856%) do and say the right thing(s).

Papa, I think you are right. Just recently the OP requested information. Several posters responded. The OP came back in all caps and asked if anyone read their post. I responded that is the reason I often don't respond to posts. My post was removed. The all caps post remained.

No comment. Actually, just one---this thread needs to make a distinction between nasty, degrading and insulting responses and humor(whether you personally find it funny or not) There is a COMPLETELY different intent behind each of these types of posts, they cannot be lumped into one. And as Forrest Gump said, "That's all I have to say about that"

Agree, tired of it.

You know which poster's you feel are making these posts............use the ignore feature and they will go away

turn off the classified - I did and it made this site easier to read and follow a thread if you wanted to keep up on the replies.. If I want to see the classified, just click on it..

Papa - New posters come and old posters go...just like neighbors in the VIllages...it's the cycle of life.

I'm in a little different situation. I own a home in The Villages but, unfortunately, it is rented in a long-term rental progarm. I only get to TV for two weeks -- twice a year, if I'm lucky! This year it will only be one time!

TOTV is one of the sources that helps me know what is going on in TV. I use the site for ideas on contractors. And I save threads for when I finally get to move to TV for recommendations on things like: hairdressers, vets, doctors, groomers, etc. I have a "to do" list for the contractors when my home is next empty!

I do think TOTV isn't as helpful as it used to be and a lot of posts are way too negative. I try to ignore some of those posters! And, it seems like some of the posters that were so helpful when I built my home in 2012 are no longer / or rarely posting. I think they get preoccupied with all the activities in TV.

For me, its a mixed bag on the classifieds. I keep an eye on furniture, golf carts, property rentals, etc so I have an idea on the price of things in TV. But, I raise my eyebrows on some of the items advertised for sale. Why not take them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army?!?

Oh my! What has happened?
 

:agree: (Boy...am I glad I didn't start this thread. ;) )



Very true. Unfortunately that minority can definitely have a negative impact on the ToTV experience for many others...as this thread demonstrates.





Obviously degrading and insulting is different than (attempts at) humor. But they can be lumped together in one respect...they can both be inappropriate. Degrading and insulting are never appropriate. (Attempts at) humor can definitely be inappropriate. (Lay it on me, ge.)

I have been on here months and not years. However, the “attacks” against rickeyd in the new patios villas thread was really a bit much. They seemed to never end. I too have been victim to some of this and it is unfortunate. Occasionally there is a “pack” mentality here.

Some believe anonymity is the problem but I think it would be a mistake to have our names posted. If I want suggestions on a door lock because my current lock is faulty, or I want recommendations for a safe to store a collection of widgets - I don’t want someone to drive by and say ‘hey, that house has faulty locks, a great gun collection and no safe…” If my name was posted, allowing someone to find my address thru a million online directories, than I would be left posting about the weather. And I can assure you, some would attack that - I know because they have. Just my opinion, worth what you paid for it.

The ability to speak freely is the cornerstone of any forum. However, we can speak freely with civility.

As an example:

Faulty lock - Are you implying the developer is installing bad hardware in homes?
Need a safe - Why are you scare mongering? TV is the safest place in the world.
Weather - anything other than 'the weather is perfect' will have you labeled as a complainer.

Others should follow your lead instead of making meaningless nothing posts about everything that are just a waste of bandwidth, kinda like this one.

I have been able to get a great deal of useful information from TOTV in the 2 years I have lived in The Villages. For that reason, I intend to continue to read the posts nearly every day.

What I have noticed is that there are a few posters who frequently post comments which they believe are humorous. Once one of these post appears in a thread, it is not uncommon for a few more posts to be reactions to the "humorous" post and the original topic gets abandoned unless someone gets the discussion back on track. If it is a topic that I am interested in I find it frustrating to see these off-topic posts.

It has been suggested that one can block the posters if you do not want to read their posts. The problem with that is that some of their posts are on topic and quite informative. I don't want to lose the ability to read them.

Finally, when someone attempts to make a humorous post, they may want to keep in mind that not everyone shares their sense of humor. Just because some may comment that they think it is funny, does not necessarily mean that they are speaking for the majority of TOTV readers.

I apologize if I have offended anyone, but I wanted to express my opinion for whatever it is worth.

Well said.

Well said also. Would be nice to read a different viewpoint without the same old rhetoric over and over and over and over. It's ground hog day around here every day !

No offense at all. IMHO, many on ToTV share your view.

I have no reply. Actually, just one - - I agree.

Maybe two - - There are positive, negative posts. If a contractor is bad, if a restaurant is nasty, a post with negative (truthful) information is positive for the community.

I so agree. But some people are looking to get everyone upset and being anonymous they don't care, they are safe behind their computers.


I think we should know the truth but we don't have to accept an anonymous person's version of it. If it is unusual, over the top and just plain smells funny or has an agenda, then that kind of post is usually challenged and it should be.


We, most of us have a vested and invested interest in this place and there are all kinds of people that it is to their advantage and furthers their business to disparage almost anything here. There are those who have moved here and don't like it here for a myriad of reasons and they want to share their unhappiness. That is fine if they are being truthful. There are people who work here and hate working here and don't like us "rich old people". There are lots of people who are extremely annoyed with the majority view and attitude.


Some posters are very good at ferreting out the troublemakers. Don't shut them up.

I agree. I love our ferrets.

A thread related to this topic was out there a couple months ago. Since then, I have created my Santa Clause (I did mean to misspell), list........Naughty & Nice list of posters. I can't always remember............so I need a list.

I dislike posts that are more than 140 words. I don't want anyone to change anyone's opinion or sense of humor because that's what I want. I'll block some one I find bothersome. I haven't blocked anyone yet.

There is no question this site has degenerated over the last several years from providing primarily class A, sincere, helpful and accurate information about The Villages to fewer such postings yet growing amounts of generally time wasting drivel.

A couple of years ago I reluctantly started an ignore list which still remains in single digits but needs to grow. I grew tired of repeatedly and predictably seeing frivolous, nonsensical and deleterious one-liners from the same old, same old posters.

I try to keep my responses on topic and relevant. I think that is still true of the majority here. If I think someone has gotten the necessary response, I'll happily join in the joking around. I have no qualms speaking up when I think a post has gone too far, whether in negativity, stupidity, meanness or humor. I try to be gentle about it but don't always succeed. If things don't interest me or I feel I have nothing to contribute, I say nothing. Lately, there has been little that merits a response by me. Sometimes silence truly is golden.

As I suggested to someone else that I know, sometimes, time is better spent reading a book.

I think I'll follow my own advice.

I really enjoy your input, Redwitch!

I do have a vested interest in TOTV as I have been on here since July 2007 or so. Been through different owners/administrators and some varying groups of Top Posters.

Still believe this is one of the best sources of information on the Villages.

:-)

site has improved. You no longer get people actually threatening to hunt you down like a dog. Yes there is some sarcasm, yes there is some humor, and sometimes a thread just gets out of hand. But The information is great, the people give their heartfelt thoughts, and sometimes there's comforting words. I do it fine times that I do not post because what I want to say would not be appropriate. It's just life I don't let the small things bother me especially the things that I can't change.

Are you kidding?!