Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Mrs JohnN reads but doesn't post.
Part of it is the "attacks", and part of it is just wanting to be private.

To each, his/her own is how I figure it

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Russ,
well, those Oak Forest threads were pretty wild, so I'd disagree about only "plants" being attacked, however for the most part, TOTV is a congenial board

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

I think people have lashed out when others were consistently negative about TV. We all made an investment in TV. For someone to constantly tell you how flawed TV is feels like a slap to the face. We are made to feel as though we are lacking in judgement because we bought here. TV is a wonderful place and many of the people that buy here are amazing. The scope of talents displayed by Villagers is something to behold. We also tend to get a little testy in political. It's a shame because at the end of the day, it's doubtful you ( or me , he, she, it or they )will change anyone's mind with your arguments.

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

I used to post in political, but have been called names, etc., and so I just won't put myself thru it. I personally wish the administrators would take a stronger hand with those who are abusive to others in the forums. I've seen some people gang up on others and talk openly about them in a negative way, and little is done. No wonder people are afraid to post, they don't want to risk that happening to them. The political forum is gaining a reputation as the type of place you wouldn't want to post because they'll eat you alive and spit you out afterwards.

Sam, also a comment - I understand why people don't like to hear negative things about TV. I too have an investment here, but I think its important that we do voice the truth. After all, everything is not perfect here. There are legitimate complaints, and if people would just voice them maybe the word would get out to the powers that be, and changes would occur. Having just retired from State government, its been my experience that as one person, you can make the phone calls to the appropriate parties and not get results. If enough complaints are aired, the squeaky wheel gets oiled. Just because TV is not perfect doesn't mean we don't enjoy living here and we certainly can make things better. I don't feel like someone is impinging my judgement in buying in TV just because they bring up things that need improvement here.

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Dancer, I'm not saying TV is perfect. We should point out the things that need to be addressed about our community. My head is not in the sand about TV. It bothers me though, when someone whines about/ dislikes everything and seems to be upset that they bought a home here. If you are so unhappy in any place, you should try to go where you will be happier. Life is short..and our lives are shorter yet. Why spend your precious time in a place you despise? Go and be where you are happy.
( Dancer, I don't mean you personally..I mean it collectively)

Hey, how about that rain :bigthumbsup:

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

I didn't see any of the Oak Forrest posts so I plead ignorance. I always have (and will) stay out of political. I had one dust up with someone but not enough to have me stop posting (although it came close).

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Russ, yeah bud, I stay out of the political too.... just makes my blood pressure rise and to no purpose

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

With one exception I have never even read the Political Forum, let alone posted in it; the one exception was when my wife posted information about the retrofits we did on our home up north to allow for alternative energy use and lessen our dependence on oil. And frankly I don't even consider that a political issue....

Isn't this the truth, BTK! I've had the same experience about indifference on the part of my fellow citizenry; one need only look at the percentages of people who vote to see this. I was raised by European folk who knew from their personal lives what the privilege of voting meant and instilled in us that voting bordered on 'sacred.' I may have been facetious when I suggested in another post that we might get people excited and involved if we could turn off television for 72 hours throughout the U.S.! But seriously, gas went from wherever it started to well over $4/gallon, and other than some complaining, no one is doing anything or even looking at how this came about! Look at the frustration of Travel trying to get people to write to their legislators....

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Lil Dancer, I don't think samhass or anyone else is denying that there are problems in TV that are fixable and need to be addressed. However, I too feel that when individual members of TOTV have nothing but negative things to say about TV, over and over and over and over again..., we need to look at those comments from where they're coming primarily and then maybe secondarily look at the content. Sadly there are people who see things only in the negative, and it's up to the rest of us to either buy into that nonstop negativity (kind of like giving people free rent in our heads) or choose to ignore it. Ignoring it is healthier for us....

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Talk Host, you sound defensive. No one is accusing the administrators of TOTV for not doing everything to get new members. JohnN makes a good point about the first thing that comes up on a Google search being the first item on the TOTV website (at this point the cruise that may have limited appeal/interest in the greater scheme of things). Maybe the first thing should be something that points specifically to the forums or the description of what TOTV is all about. IMHO....

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

I agree that no one likes to read total negativity, myself included. I gues I hadn't seen anyone that was that bad, although I did see people gang up on one person as though they were, but in my opinion, was unjustified. In any event, I don't think any one of us has the right to be so judgemental. In fact I saw members of TOTV gang up on a person in a manner that to my mind was cruel and completely unjustified, and I was shocked that the administrators had to be prodded into taking any action. To be honest, I think a lot of this comes from people becoming acquainted through computer posting and not meeting in person. I think various persons are disliked or thought poorly of simply because there are misconceptions and communication problems. That's why I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. If after awhile, I decide they are negative, or not my "cup of tea", I just avoid them or don't respond to their posts. That's one reason I'm not in political much anymore. But I would never revile them publicly in a forum such as this. I personally think that is just mean.

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Thanks for clarifying, Lil Dancer. When I read your earlier post, it sounded like you were comfortable with people described by samhass as consistently negative--and that would be fine since you can make that personal choice for yourself. Addressing issues is one thing and is certainly worthwhile; I understand giving the benefit of the doubt, but my inclination is simply to ignore those individuals whose posts are negative over and over and over and over again.... That's not being judgmental of them; that's taking care of oneself!

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

From what I have seen, the management of TV has done a terrific job. Wait for what the bureaucracy is going to do when the owners take control of the management. It is going to be caos and much more expensive than what it's now.

Re: TOTV Membership & participation
 

Russ I didn't mean the restaurant comments. They seemed very mild and fair compared to what I've seen done to individuals! Sam we've discussed this and you know how I feel about it. Attacks don't seem to help any situation. It doesn't bring people together. Communication skills sometimes are a part of the problem. It's sort of an attack and defend pattern. I'll try to illustrate when I have more time to present it. A good word about Political. I haven't been there lately but some of the guys did a good job agreeing to disagree. They are ahead of the ladies on this sometimes. Lil Dancer - :agree: Others, weigh in? Is it every alright to humiliate someone else because we are angry? We've probably all been guilty of this at some time and it may have felt good at the time but we really didn't feel good about ourselves in the end.

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Of course it is never fair, kind, or even productive to humiliate others!!! What purpose does that serve, except negativism? Does it make the attacker feel good about themselves? That is a scary thought. As a guest I have observed attacks on people that frankly made me decide not to get involved and post, yet this is a question I wanted to reply to. Take the high road people, everyone will be happier.