[Northwoods]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

I still like my idea of a daily post limit. lol

We have so many power posters that are "passionate" about certain subjects that they spend their entire day replying to every post in every thread on their chosen subject. Whether it be Covid. Whether it be County Commissioners, local tax/impact fees, anti developer rants, etc. Give them 10 posts a day. If they can't get their point across in that many posts, come back tomorrow and try again.

Then we have the soapbox preachers spouting off whatever ideology they feel that we should all aspire to on any given day.

Granted, it seems people have a lot more time on their hands these days, but for goodness sakes, take up a hobby other than social media..

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I don't watch television, usually. I don't subscribe to any streaming services either. I have no idea what the Good Doctor is, other than the reference here about a previous thread that was shut down. I can tell you though - it isn't "mainstream TV throwing their opinions" at anyone.

They're providing content to people who want to watch it. If it's mainstream, then they're also selling advertisements. There have been people kissing during prime time on TV for decades, it's nothing new. The only thing that's "new" is "who" is doing the kissing. If that offends you, then that's a reflection of YOU, not of the show you're complaining about.

I don’t care who kissing who as long as it’s not in my face.

[J1ceasar]

Please please please get off your soapbox how this is such a terrible place and you can't stand the people who are writing such garbage if you don't like something skip it and get over it everyone has a valid opinion except when you don't like it? This is not church this is not school people are allowed to have their opinions and if they want to say it in a nasty way to emphasize their opinions let them God gave you a brain to decide to skip someone or mute them or not read the opinions. Your viewpoints are exactly what gets this country in problems too many people on both sides going down and trying to take over something just because they can you don't like it start your own blog

[davem4616]

I've begun to lose interest in TOTV...a year ago it was somewhat of a 'life line' to the outside world, and I waiting to see what the topics would be...then it stopped being happy place

I post rarely...just tired of the nastiness and constant blaming of the developer for everything from a bad round of golf to the rain spoiling a BBQ

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by J1ceasar

Please please please get off your soapbox how this is such a terrible place and you can't stand the people who are writing such garbage if you don't like something skip it and get over it everyone has a valid opinion except when you don't like it? This is not church this is not school people are allowed to have their opinions and if they want to say it in a nasty way to emphasize their opinions let them God gave you a brain to decide to skip someone or mute them or not read the opinions. Your viewpoints are exactly what gets this country in problems too many people on both sides going down and trying to take over something just because they can you don't like it start your own blog

Who are you directing this to?

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by davem4616

I've begun to lose interest in TOTV...a year ago it was somewhat of a 'life line' to the outside world, and I waiting to see what the topics would be...then it stopped being happy place I post rarely...just tired of the nastiness and constant blaming of the developer for everything from a bad round of golf to the rain spoiling a BBQ

Forgot dog poop, food not as good as NYC, round abouts

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by psych2002

I am brand new to the villages I haven’t even moved in yet and I was looking at this website for direction when I read those homophobic remarks the other day I wondered if I had made a mistake I commented because I struggle letting such ignorance lie i’m not gay but many of my loved ones are and I found those comments reprehensible especially in the name of God thank you for your post and sorry teacher I talk text and there’s no punctuation here :-)

I thought you could talk the punctuation into the text. I've seen a friend do it on her iPhone. At least your post was short. Now I understand why that post way above yours (#14, I think) was so hard to read I ended up abandoning the effort. If you want to be heard, I suggest using punctuation or keeping it short.

Also... paragraphs make it easier to read. If there's no punctuation or the post is one looooooooong paragraph, people might not read it.

[Luisa]

Originally Posted by Boomer

For the past several days, I have watched TOTV descend into a maelstrom, and I am starting to have no hope for the forum that has been a part of many of my mornings since 2007. I am in the habit of giving the opening page a scroll and posting, if finding a topic I want to be a part of.

I am not big on the number of posts. In fact, when I was nearing 100 posts, all those years ago, I sent a PM to Mr. Tony, the owner and admin, asking him to please delete some of them. I laugh about that now, but then, I was blushing to think how habit-forming TOTV was becoming for me.

Now, almost 14 years later, I have barely passed 4000 posts, and I admit, I also find that number to be a bit embarrassing because it represents time I could have used cleaning off my desk. But I have been holding onto the excuse that I write posts like some people crochet or do puzzles -- a hobby.

Like so many of you, I found TOTV when I was looking for anecdotal information about life in TV. I could find advertising, but that was it. A tenacious search led me to TOTV when it was in its infancy. In those days, we had some ups and downs, but the overall tone was helpful -- and often, just plain fun.

I know TOTV has changed owners since, possibly more than once. TOTV sold for the first time in 2011. I am completely serious when I say that had I known in time, I might have bought it. (I could envision possible tax write-offs -- along with maybe using my energy to sell ads from my office-in-the-home or by driving around in my white Honda with the Florida plates to corner the ad market. (I spent 35 years pitching literature so I must have been thinking maybe my experience could have been transferable. sigh)

We eventually bought a house in Hadley. But had my original impression of TV been the one now often put forth on TOTV, I never would have wanted to buy. We kept our Ohio house. Thank goodness.

I have debated about whether to write this because I am to the "what's the point" stage. There are probably those among us who, like me, have noticed that we have lost a lot of our posters who had been contributing helpful posts and fun, too, for a long time. (I think they must be smarter than me because I have been continuing to hang around.)

The overall tone of TOTV this past week has been over-the-top with ugly stuff. Although I do not personally know most of you, I have been horrified to see the deluge of hatred, the bigotry, the complete arrogance -- including the irony of the name-calling that one name-caller, in particular, would see as elitist -- if someone disagreeing would say the same things. I have seen the self-righteous flaunting of a version of "religion" twisted into having nothing to with kindness, mercy, love, and peace. (Remember that guy Jesus?)

I saw a thread, since closed, that brought homophobia to the surface with certain posters -- some of whom surprised me. As a longtime secondary teacher, I have wept for students who have committed suicide because of feeling their homosexuality could never be accepted by their families. I am grateful to see how times have changed for so many people. That has saved, and will continue to save, lives.

This morning -- in the email notice sent out to us a few times a week from TOTV -- there were at least 3 threads headlined that were destined to invite more ugly stuff. I had to wonder if those choices were made by an algorithm or were those kinds of threads chosen on purpose by an actual person -- for a numbers game.

As I end this saga, if you are still reading, may I suggest that you read "Declaration of Conscience" -- a classic speech given by Margaret Chase Smith on June 1, 1950, which she ends by calling out "The Four Horsemen of Calumny -- Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear."

Boomer

PS: I am not kidding myself that anyone will actually do that homework assignment I just gave -- or even kidding myself that this thread will last -- or kidding myself that anybody is still reading this -- but I just had to say my piece -- or was it peace?

PPS: I don't know how that hat-tipping emoji ended up at the beginning of this post. I can't make it go away. I don't know how. So I guess I will just have to consider my hat -- and my hand -- tipped.

PPPS: Damn. And now a smiley face emoji has appeared out of nowhere. I must be bumping stuff because I am on my laptop. Believe you me, I am not smiling right now -- although I do feel better.

I misunderstood, I thought you were talking about mainstream media and big tech.

[ewitte]

Thank you for writing this. I appreciate everything you stated and agree.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I am still a little confused at what Boomer, the OP on this thread was getting at. Now I read some veiled references to "homophobic posts". I must have missed something and it was taken down before I could read it?

Was there something that some thought controversial on the TV series called "The Good Doctor". I missed that too.

In other words..............Why is Boomer upset? What happened that I missed?????

We have enjoyed the Good Doctor since it started several years ago.

The star is a unique character and liked watching him develop.

This past week the story was about a female transitioning to a male and in a relationship with another male. Turns out the "female character" is pregnant and several scenes showed the couple romantically involved.

Several people were not happy with the story line.

[Bonnevie]

Originally Posted by J1ceasar

Please please please get off your soapbox how this is such a terrible place and you can't stand the people who are writing such garbage if you don't like something skip it and get over it everyone has a valid opinion except when you don't like it? This is not church this is not school people are allowed to have their opinions and if they want to say it in a nasty way to emphasize their opinions let them God gave you a brain to decide to skip someone or mute them or not read the opinions. Your viewpoints are exactly what gets this country in problems too many people on both sides going down and trying to take over something just because they can you don't like it start your own blog

by why the need for nasty? why not just present good points for your opinions and let that emphasize them? yes, of course, one can skip over things. but what is disheartening is the need to do so because someone wants to exercise their "right" to be disagreeable for no discernible reason other than this is not church or school as though we shouldn't have to practice good manners in any other place.

[tedquick]

Boomer, I always enjoy your writings. Keep them coming.

[tophcfa]

My observation is that over the years TOTV has transformed from a forum where Villagers mostly shared useful information with each other to its current state of another social media site. Over the last couple of years, as the Villages has grown, many newer and younger social media users have joined TOTV and transformed it in a not so good way. I personally hate social media and think it is a bad thing for society. I have always proudly stated that I do not use social media, but I guess I can no longer say that since I do check TOTV most days. Over time I have definitely noticed that when I check out the new posts there are fewer and fewer threads that catch my interest. Oh well, it seems as we age that change is inevitable, weather we like it or not. For the owners of TOTV, it’s all about $$$, and that means maximizing clicks and selling advertising.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

My observation is that over the years TOTV has transformed from a forum where Villagers mostly shared useful information with each other to its current state of another social media site. Over the last couple of years, as the Villages has grown, many newer and younger social media users have joined TOTV and transformed it in a not so good way. I personally hate social media and think it is a bad thing for society. I have always proudly stated that I do not use social media, but I guess I can no longer say that since I do check TOTV most days. Over time I have definitely noticed that when I check out the new posts there are fewer and fewer threads that catch my interest. Oh well, it seems as we age that change is inevitable, weather we like it or not. For the owners of TOTV, it’s all about $$$, and that means maximizing clicks and selling advertising.

& ToTV is not representative of The Villages.
(silly to think it is)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

I don’t care who kissing who as long as it’s not in my face.

I tend to agree, generally speaking. But when it comes to romance on a drama TV show, if you want the characters to be *believable* you need to allow for the possibility that they might have some expression of affection at some point in a scene or two.

Even in comedies it happens. It even happened in Star Wars.

So my point stands: if you can gloss over those scenes on TV or in movies when one certain demographic does it, then you should be okay glossing over the same scenes when a different demographic does it. If one set makes you uncomfortable and the other set doesn't, then the hangup is yours, not the TV industry.