Originally Posted by billethkid (Post 784478)

"dark threads"????

"Pack dog attacks"????

WOW!!

:popcorn::popcorn:

btk

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725 (Post 784514)

I pretty much always have a link to stuff I put on and if not it is very easy to research whatever I put on yourself. I have always been very big on linking and often would get questioning about actually doing it too much by Talk Host and his buddies when he was on here. They wanted more Talk and less facts IMHO.

And if someone is telling about stories from their own experiences I always give them the benefit of the doubt.

Originally Posted by BettyCrocked (Post 784521)

Unfortunately, someone can't even share a personal experience at a restaurant without at least half a dozen posters interrogating them, doubting them, asking why they are posting, and flat out calling them a liar if they don't immediately produce 3 witnesses. The definition of rumor has been stretched to the point that people don't even want to post a personal experience.

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 Jayhawk (Post 784519)

Here are some FACTS that I am 100% sure of:

1. We loved TV so much we bought on our first visit.
2. I retire in 40 days (12/31/13) and will head that way shortly after.
3. The Kansas Jayhawks are ranked #2 and beat Duke last week.
4. Gracie is so awesome I'd tune in every day if she was the only poster.
5. I thank the developer and all their employees for building and maintaing this paradise.
6. There are about 100,000 residents and probably less than 25 who are nearly always negative.
7. Everyone we met on our 2 trips so far has been absolutely amazing.
8. Gilchrist looks like it will be a great neighborhood (already is).
9. Did I mention we love TV?
10. I / we / you can live anywhere we choose. If someone doesn't like TV, sell to someone who does. Everybody wins that way.


And now, back to my countdown :MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:

Originally Posted by BettyCrocked (Post 784521)

Unfortunately, someone can't even share a personal experience at a restaurant without at least half a dozen posters interrogating them, doubting them, asking why they are posting, and flat out calling them a liar if they don't immediately produce 3 witnesses. The definition of rumor has been stretched to the point that people don't even want to post a personal experience.

Originally Posted by Big O (Post 784544)

You forgot to mention that he works for the Developer and was following his instructions by posting.

Originally Posted by TheVillageChicken (Post 784533)

Guy starts a negative themed post about negative posts in hopes of getting negative reactions and succeeds. Well done, BJ.

Originally Posted by Happydaz (Post 784549)

Lively discussions are started by subjects that resonate with people. Anyone who thinks this was not an important post only needs to see the number of responses.

Originally Posted by Bucco (Post 784548)

As I mentioned before...

people who just say things