[graciegirl]

There is a difference to me if someone posts an opinion about The Villages, whether they have lived here for say five plus years, or just arrived, or do not live here at all.

There is a difference to me if someone posts an opinion about The Villages who owns property here rather than rents here on occasion.

How do you feel ? Have I just committed a politically incorrect faux pas?

My opinion is not on the worth and integrity of the poster but whether they really "know" about The Villages in the way people do after having lived here year 'round for several years.

I have visited New York many times, but I don't pretend to know it (or love it) the way people do who have called it home for a very long time.

[asianthree]

I do agree with you Gracie sometimes when I read a post it’s hard to understand if they live here full-time, part-time have just visited or Long term renters. One of us is here full-time. I am still part time. We first started coming to TV in 2007 but did not purchased our first home until 2010. So we are Relatively new only almost 8 year owners.

I think however there is a difference between those who come here and rent year after year ( our friends have come to the same house for over seven years) Staying 3 to 7 months at a time.They have stayed here enough to know the village as well.

Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish those who have just flown in spent a week or so and and then have negative comments to make about where we live. So that’s my opinion if this is political will get dumped out in this forum in a minute.

[Taltarzac725]

My parents own the Villages' home but I have been here with them since June 2005 or so except for jobs I had in Palm Harbor, Florida or visits to family members in various areas like DC and the Tampa area. Family members and their friends from Cape Cod, MA; Itasca, IL; Woodstock, IL; Rohnert Park, CA; outside of Green Bay, WI; Burke, VA; and elsewhere visit.

[ColdNoMore]

I personally enjoy reading the opinions of everyone who posts here...whether they meet an 'arbitrary qualification' or not.

Some I agree with...some I don't.

It's kind of analogous to the early days of this nation when only white, adult males who owned property...could vote.

It's hard to fathom that anyone in this day and age, would like to regress to a similar exclusivity...for posting on this great site.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

I personally enjoy reading the opinions of everyone who posts here...whether they meet an 'arbitrary qualification' or not.

Some I agree with...some I don't.

It's kind of analogous to the early days of this nation when only white, adult males who owned property...could vote.

It's hard to fathom that anyone in this day and age, would like to regress to a similar exclusivity...for posting on this great site.

With most TOTV posters I encounter, I cannot tell if they are snowbirds, home owners, renters, or even if the actually live in the Villages. Unless I have shared many posts with them or know them in real life. I do know maybe 100 of the posters on here in real life and then there are all those lurkers who never post who I run into asking me if I am Tal. That is often a strange conversation since they do not post. Or only have a small number of posts.

[Bay Kid]

I am a home owner, but I live on the Chesapeake Bay most of the time. I found TV because of Dad bringing Mom every Jan./Feb. to stay around Sumter Landing. They love the friendly people, beauty and safety. I love that plus all the great golf. My neighbors are great. I enjoy TOTV every morning. I prefer the happy post and the knowledge that is shared.

[Villager Joyce]

I would be curious about the criteria for joining other TOTV-type sites. Is anyone familiar with the rules for places like SunCity, Plantation or Kings Ridge? Do they have sites and what are rules for joining?
As an aside, I so totally disagree with the all white male statement. We’ve come a long way baby. Time to let go of all the negativity because negativity does nothing but beget negativity.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

I would be curious about the criteria for joining other TOTV-type sites. Is anyone familiar with the rules for places like SunCity, Plantation or Kings Ridge? Do they have sites and what are rules for joining?
As an aside, I so totally disagree with the all white male statement. We’ve come a long way baby. Time to let go of all the negativity because negativity does nothing but beget negativity.

They probably have Topix sites and I recall that Talk Host -- the man behind Talk of the Villages back around 2005-2010(?) was working on setting up a site like Talk of the Villages for Plant City. I did look at it a few years ago but have not since. Cannot find anything like it online now?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

They probably have Topix sites and I recall that Talk Host -- the man behind Talk of the Villages back around 2005-2010(?) was working on setting up a site like Talk of the Villages for Plant City. I did look at it a few years ago but have not since. Cannot find anything like it online now?

I do remember that Talk Host did not want me on the Plant City web-site they set up. I tried to Register on it back when it started but was not allowed. It did have some interesting information about the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Sun City seems to have a site like the Villages.com site but I cannot find anything like Talk of the Villages for it.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I do remember that Talk Host did not want me on the Plant City web-site they set up. I tried to Register on it back when it started but was not allowed. It did have some interesting information about the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Sun City seems to have a site like the Villages.com site but I cannot find anything like Talk of the Villages for it.

Pooh Pooh to anyone that doesn’t want you on their site!

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Pooh Pooh to anyone that doesn’t want you on their site!

That would have increased their post count by a little. I had not planned to post much of anything on there though. It looks like that site might have folded as I cannot find anything like it now online. Talk Host had moved to Plant City with his wife. He was the person who got me interested in Talk of the Villages after he gave a talk about it at a July 2007 Villages Computer Club meeting. There was a lottery for people who signed up with a trip to somewhere or other. Have never seen the person who won the trip on Talk of the Villages after that if my memory serves me.

I did find the Topix for Plant City but no Forum that looks like Talk of the Villages. Plant City Forum » Topix

[Fraugoofy]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

There is a difference to me if someone posts an opinion about The Villages, whether they have lived here for say five plus years, or just arrived, or do not live here at all.

There is a difference to me if someone posts an opinion about The Villages who owns property here rather than rents here on occasion.

How do you feel ? Have I just committed a politically incorrect faux pas?

My opinion is not on the worth and integrity of the poster but whether they really "know" about The Villages in the way people do after having lived here year 'round for several years.

I have visited New York many times, but I don't pretend to know it (or love it) the way people do who have called it home for a very long time.

I do think it makes a difference. I also think your age makes a difference. If you are 50 when you move to The Villages your experience is quite different than if you are 70 when you first move here. I think your background makes a difference. I think where you were raised and how you view the world makes a difference. I think if you live in The Villages and are still working full time you have a different view. There are many factors that influence how you view TV. I thank you for this post GG.

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[MrPelota]

I am brand new to TV and agree with the OP. I am learning DAILY about TV and feel like I can sort through the advice pretty well. I do enjoy the diversity of the posts (don’t care for the ones who put down others) and appreciate the forum. Thanks!

[twoplanekid]

I would encourage everyone, new to TV or old to be a participant on talkofthevillages. I try to stay focused on the ideas or questions presented thus trying to minimize anything that could be construed as a personal attack such as questioning another’s experiences or motives.

[Abby10]

I think the OP makes a good point. I don't think it's a matter of excluding anyone, but a matter of weighing the value of someone's knowledge or opinion on a topic. I have caught myself more than once from responding to a post because I realized my knowledge of the topic is mainly hearsay from a cousin, friend, or neighbor who lives there, not from my own personal experience. I own in TV, but unfortunately do not live there yet. I have visited off and on for about 7 years or so and have done a lot of research on TV, to the point my husband thinks I'm obsessed and I don't deny it. Still, I tend to put more weight on the opinion of someone who has actually lived there and experienced it on a regular basis than someone like myself.

Fraugoofy in post #15 also makes some excellent points regarding this. Being willing to look at things from different perspectives gives you a better overall picture.