Originally Posted by redwitch (Post 784210)

BJ, you certainly tarred us with a very heavy brush. Yes, there are some that whine and some that complain and some that are downright mean. Some have even been picked on (usually with good reason but not always).

TV isn't perfect. The Morses aren't perfect. There are real issues and concerns. Some of us can express those issues and concerns in an objective tone, some can't. Emotions get in the way far too often.

For every negative post, there are three positive posts. For every PM you get, there will be three others who have not responded publicly or privately and may agree with some of what you've said but not all of it.

Yes, there are complaints about things that seem petty to some. They are not petty to the poster and should be given the same respect and consideration given to something that involves all of us. Sadly, that is not always the case. Hopefully, this thread will be a reminder to not be so quick to put someone in their place, whether a first-time poster or someone who's been around forever.

As for me, I'll bash the developer when I feel he needs bashing. Some of his practices are petty and greedy (sorry, Gracie). Some of his practices are loving and giving. The Morses are very acute businessmen and have earned my respect in that regard. I still want to witch slap 'em for some of their decisions. Regardless, TV is a beautiful place to live.

As to the bashing of posters, I don't like it but it is part of human nature. Some just bring out the worst in others. Gracie gets her hackles up every time someone disses TV or the developer, especially if they're newbies. I get my hackles up when I see someone being mean -- whether it is an OP or a response. Who knows what gets your hackles up.

One of the things that makes this place so special is the people that live here. They give willingly not only of their money but of themselves. They smile at strangers, help anyone who seems to be lost, go out of their way to be kind to others. Many here do leave their doors unlocked all the time and keys in cars and carts even at the squares. As a whole, we're a trusting lot.

So, you can choose to see only the negative posts or only the positive posts or, better yet, you can take the effort to see all the posts. When you do that (ignoring the for sale posts), you'll see that there is a lot more happiness here than you'd think.

Originally Posted by festusrules (Post 784252)

Guess I have been too busy having fun instead of reading negative posts about a place which provides so many activities for retirees. :a040:

Originally Posted by Buffalo Jim (Post 784007)

Ok . Here goes after living here for now 2+ years and observing this site everyday I am just going to put myself " out there " and say it .

I only can hope and pray that I remain strong enough to deal with what will be coming back at me .

I relocated here from the Buffalo Ny area just over 2 years ago . I learned about the Villages when an old friend had decided to retire here after losing his wife to cancer . He came here after a couple of years in Texas . I came down to help him move in in July of 2010 and discovered for myself that it was / is a most amazing place .

As a life long Northern resident I never really considered moving to Florida full time . However having recently gone through an ugly and painful divorce from my Trophy wife who is much younger and had no more use for me 2 weeks after I retired I felt that perhaps this would be the right place for me .

I was well known in my area and involved in many charities and was still very active but the pain was too much .

Had I been aware of this site and read it for any period of time I most likely would have thought several times about moving here . This is the truth .
Had I judged the Villages through the " prism " of constant complaining and warnings about this and that day after day I would have thought --- " humm this must not be what I seem to see through my eyes ".
Why are the majority of people who post here so miffed , unhappy , sarcastic and seemingly just so miserable ???
Why do so many people harbor such animosity toward the Developer ?
There are so many other choices of retirement communities in Florida . Why would those who seem to be so unhappy stay . Homes sell quickly here and prices have been quite strong so why stay ?
Why do so many people " pile on " when someone posts pretty much anything positive about the Villages . Why ?
Perhaps it is because the writers can do so anonymously . I can`t help wonder what the landscape on this site would look like if everyone had to post their real name .
Just for what it is worth " The Buffalo News " -- when it went online allowed people to post with a handle . The remarks were amazingly caustic . After a year of much ugliness they changed their policy and one could only post under their own name . And yes , one had to go through a process to verify their name before being allowed to post . WOW what a sudden change in overall attitude and the quality of the comments !!!!
NOw back to the Developer . I was in commercial banking for 35 years and a senior exec for 20 of those years . For a few years I was a lender and then managed a lending team . I can say with great confidence that the Developer could have easily spent half as much as they have on the amenities in the Villages and even pocketed more money than they have and are . Seriously , they could have taken a much lower road than they have elected to .
Sometimes I conclude that despite what people express that they feel about our country being a land of unlimited opportunity for those with a better idea and the willingness to take a risk that the majority do not really feel that way .
Because if they meant it they would not begrudge the Developer of " his / their " success . However on this site day in and day out they do .
Some people take a huge risk in business and fail . We generally all know that 80% of all new business ventures fail .
There is a reason why 95% of us elected to make our living by working for others . I had a saying while I was working my 60 hour weeks and it went like this : " The majority of people would like to see their children become an exec at a large company but the same people hate the success of large companies ".
Think about it for just a minute . How many who are so quick to trash the Developer and any other business operating here ever ran a business and put your living at risk ?
You should be sending this family thank you cards and saluting them . They are not evil . They are the embodiment of the American Dream .
I am certain that you are each concerned about the value of your homes but stop to think about the message about this community that many of you put out in public view day after day . The message is pretty much --- STAY AWAY !
My God -- a woman posted on here this week that she had a problem with a driver who she insisted was on their way to a Sarah Palin autograph . Really !!
I have a great driving record and I obey the speed limit . I have lost track of how many times I have been the victim of what I call " predatory driving " along with the " angry Male salute . You teach that to your grand-children ? Grow Up . I feel sorry for your spouses . How many years have they suffered ?
So continue to bitch about every dining experience --- too hot , too cold .
Wet all over the Mens Room , toss your wet paper towels on the floor and blame the owner who is no doubt struggling to recoup his / her investment .And then complain that more business do not wish to come here . Do you think that an astute business person or company does not take note ? Really ?
I wish that I knew demographically where most of the bitching is coming from . I can only hope that it is not from " The Greatest Generation ". Frankly I suspect that much of it might just be from my so called generation " The Baby Boomers " who brought this country not much but whining and doing the least for the most and giving not much in return .
So here goes .
Have at It !!!

Originally Posted by gomoho (Post 784130)

Buffalo Jim - Gomoho here - I was taken aback when I read your comment about me so I went back to your old posts and what actually occurred was on a post about people not being provided internet access during their LSV you made reference to the fact that you couldn't believe so many people would be involved in such a "trivial matter". I respectfully asked you to butt out if it didn't interest you and allow us to discuss what we wanted to.

If I were a little more computer savvy I would post the entire dialogue for your reading pleasure and the fact you referred to me as a left wing cat lover that probably worked for the government. By the way - wrong on all counts.

Originally Posted by ilovetv (Post 784086)

I don't think we're "pro-developer" as much as we are pro productivity, pro solvency, pro visionary, pro job-producing, pro revitalization, pro community, pro hometown atmosphere, pro consumer confidence, pro housing market, pro new local healthcare model which he's financing, etc.

Our support is in the goals and results accomplished well, not in a purveyor of ideology that results in little or no practicality.

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker;78***0

I like to think that many "negative" posts are mistakenly perceived in that manner. It is not as easy to convey your intent with the written word as it is to get your message across face to face.

However, when a poster responds to a "first person" report by saying: "I don't believe that happened." or "that is BS!", the message is clear. The writer is calling his neighbor a liar. That kind of personal attack is not a misperception and should not be tolerated on a "Community Forum" such as this.