[Jim 9922]

Mack184 your comments should generate pages of comment and rebuttle. However you did strike on a few chords of truth. The basic one is, that we are a group of 85,000 plus people of different backgrounds, interests and personalities. There are going to be differences, just as there in real life outside The Villages' bubble. The same traits are all over, but maybe they become more concentrated within the smaller physical space that defines TV and the fact that most everyone now has "24 - 7" to view and become concerned about all the little petty things they were too busy or away from location to really worry about when they were in "real life", and there are probably a few people who want to be bigger frogs in our small pond. No matter where we are or in what we participate, we have to keep an open perspective on others' needs, wants, and concerns. Tolerance and compromise are necessary where ever and whenever.
Maybe one of the big mistakes people make about TV is that it will be paradise as defined in THEIR OWN eyes. It is not, it is still a community made up of all different people. And, it even has some of its own rules. TV has much going for it and alot of benefits and features that make it attractive to many of us, but it is not a PERFECT paradise. Maybe the misconception is the fault of the marketing department.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

I'm not sure how an entire community can be judged based on a few people that post on TOTV but TV is not for everyone, some love it, some hate it and some live here because it's somewhere to live. If it's not for you, it's not for you "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is marketing done by the developer saying it's a "lie" is like saying Charmin is lying when it says it's the best toilet paper, some will swear it is, and some will swear it isn't, so what. I think most people that consider the TV lifestyle are smart enough to know marketing from life. My experience has been that TV is very friendly and welcoming but so are other areas I've lived and visited. TV is filled with all different sorts of people, which for me makes it interesting and I wouldn't live anywhere else. I hope you find the perfect place for your needs and wants to live and enjoy yourself. Life is too short to not be happy

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Well we want south of 466 2000sq ish and room for pool or already has one , so not that many out there for what we r looking for

Here's one. There are about 75 more homes in this category.
Properties of The Villages

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I don't think that comparing The Villages to a big city is fair. We don't have all the offices and businesses that big cities have. We have a much higher percentage of residential acreage than most cities do.
It's is a huge exaggeration to say that we have all of the same problems of crime and poverty that big cities have.
Is the place paradise, God's Little Acre, nirvana? of course not, but it is one of the finest and safest residential communities in this country.
Is the zero crime and zero problems? Is the weather perfect 365 days a year? I don't think that anyone believes that. Sometimes it rains and sometimes the temperature goes into the 30s. Very seldom do people get robbed murdered, raped or their houses broken into.
I think that most of us love it here and wouldn't live anywhere else. I think that most of us feel that the Villages is very safe, very low crime area and the weather is nice most of the time.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

In reading every single post on TOTV it is suprising that you did not see that many of the whiners are the same ones over and over.
Yet, not seeing that you make some rather large generalizations.
And because of those generalizations you fall into the aforementioned group.

I too hope you find somewhere you and your wife can be happy.

[gerryann]

eweissenbach, I am unable to read what you said and highlighted in blue...maybe my eyes, maybe the computer, maybe just because it's blue..



mack185, I can certainly tell that you are unhappy living here. Maybe its because you are dealing with an unhappy wife......Whatever the reason, I feel that your mood and unhappiness is skewing your thinking. Just because you feel the way you do regarding the residences here in TV does not make it so. Unless you have taken a survey of everyone living here, you are wrong...maybe not wrong about yourself and your wife, but certainly you are arrogantly deciding how everyone else feels....and you have no business saying that "Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people" I am truly sorry that you are as unhappy as you are and I hope that you find what you are looking for.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Actually it's much truer that either of you think, or want to think.

Why do you ask? OK..you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway. I've spent decades in the radio business and over the years I have become very skilled at reading monthly & quarterly radio ratings reports. Radio & TV ratings and other polling services use the same method to obtain their results. They sample a small cross-section of a particular universe and then project the responses against the whole of that particular universe. (city, state, nation)For example in our recent election..Most polling companies said that the race would be very close. (It was.) They also said that Pres. Obama would get a 2nd term. (He did.) There were a couple polls that were way out in either direction but they were ultimately discounted and found to be incorrect. Like most things, the answer is found somewhere in the middle.

I came to TOTV quite by accident. I was doing a Google search about something I wanted to know about TV and up popped TOTV. While it did not answer my question, I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn about things & people here. I have mentioned before, but in the interest of full disclosure I will mention it again. We did not come here to retire, (we are still working) but so that my wife could assist her parents as they got older.

While I thought it might be interesting to live in TV my wife hates it. So we would be looking at other communities as well. I came to TOTV as somebody who was somewhat disposed to living here, and was hoping to maybe find some items that might sway my wife's thinking about things. I was NOT a Kool-Aid drinker, so in many ways I needed to be convinced.

Since I have discovered TOTV I had read every single comment on every single thread. There are some who I'm sure think I comment too much, but in truth, I comment very little. After reading all of these threads for a number of months I have used the same method as radio ratings and polling companies do to reach my results.

While it is true that the majority of the 90,000 Villages residents do not actively comment on TOTV, there is indeed a workable cross-section of residents participating here. After doing the reading here is what I have learned from this...

Residing in TV are a majority of smug, self-important people who think that their sewage is scentless because THEY live in TV and YOU do not. There is a very definate pecking order in TV..Those whom you call "Frogs" who live here year-round and the only time they are ever leaving is when the big black station wagon hauls you to the junkyard. Their attitude is that they are FAR superior to everyone else who lives in TV. Then come the "Snowbirds". People who own homes here, but only come during the winter or for vacation periods. As judged by the first group they are OK, but they are definately NOT one of "them". And finally comes those who dare to show up in the winter and pay rent. You despise them. Anything that happens between December & April that disturbs your nirvana can be blamed on them.

Overall the majority of TV residents are a collection of whining, grumbling, kvetching old people who despite having 1800 clubs & activities and 36 or more golf courses, their biggest activity is to complain about virtually everything. You whine about your neighbors who who walk their dogs to the post office boxes because the poor pooch might inconveniently relieve himself along the way. You whine about your neighbors who put some sort of decorative pot or trinket on THEIR garden or front steps. You whine about the possibility of the various unwashed hordes who just might invade your nirvana in Brownwood or other places. Never mind that these are open public places & private businesses. You carefully veil your racism in language which any person with a brain can figure out in seconds. I could write on and on about what I have learned. I have also learned that you have been building lots of churches. Either you're just interested in building buildings or you become deaf once you enter the building.

While TOTV is a place for residents to communicate, it is also a place where people come to LEARN about TV. If you are not already convinced that TV is nirvana or God's Little Green Acre then taking the time to really read this forum will very much likely convince you that it is not.

I came here looking for information and to be convinced. I have come away with the impression that the majority of people (but not all) here are snide, two-faced and whiny.

I have a great deal of admiration for the Morse family. I don't know them, but admire their vision and their hard work to put such a place together. I don't know if they got tired of playing with their Department-56 village under the Christmas tree and decided to build a real one for themselves or what, but they are geniuses. I know that they are very, very careful in their marketing. With that in mind, I'm surprised that they allow TOTV. It does a wonderful job of talking people OUT of coming to TV.

Again..this is what TOTV has taught ME. And speaking only for ME..What I have learned is that TV is a city. Just like any other city. It is not nirvana. While it's a nice place, many cities are nice places and many people like where they live. Heck..even Toldeo was loved by Max Klinger. But the hype of TV being "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" is a lie. When you look at it from a distance it seems unbelieveable, almost fantastic, but up close, the reality is a lot more gritty & not all that pretty.

Mack184: Now don't hold back Your profile tell us you have been with TOTV since Sep2012 and in all that time you have managed to determine that fulltime residents are elitists. Hmmmmmmmmm Many residents are racists whinny, petty. Hmmmm Is having a bias against fulltime residents a form of racism (villageism) 'That's it your a villageist.

You state that you have taken a scientific approach in your analysis of The Villages. Who was your control group? Perhaps the residnts of Del Webb or Spruce Creek?

You comment with great disdain that village residents complain about renters. Did you know that homeowners in California, Arizona, Colorado, etc have complained that renters create an unacceptable change in their neighborhoods. My point being that there is a legitimate grip about the affect renters have in a community. and by the way I don't agree that many residents and certainly not as many that you intimate are bothered by renters.

In closing, your rantings were unnecesary, unsupported, mean and since words reveal a person's mind reveal who you really are.

Your profile also shows us that you have lived in many states so I hope your wife wins out and you move from here back to one of them...but then maybe they don't want you back?

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I don't think that comparing The Villages to a big city is fair. We don't have all the offices and businesses that big cities have. We have a much higher percentage of residential acreage than most cities do.
It's is a huge exaggeration to say that we have all of the same problems of crime and poverty that big cities have.
Is the place paradise, God's Little Acre, nirvana? of course not, but it is one of the finest and safest residential communities in this country.
Is the zero crime and zero problems? Is the weather perfect 365 days a year? I don't think that anyone believes that. Sometimes it rains and sometimes the temperature goes into the 30s. Very seldom do people get robbed murdered, raped or their houses broken into.
I think that most of us love it here and wouldn't live anywhere else. I think that most of us feel that the Villages is very safe, very low crime area and the weather is nice most of the time.

I agree. Very good post. If I had to pick only one reason for living here, it would be the safety of TV. I have lived in various places in Florida, and have never felt safe the way I do here. Do bad things happen here ?...absolutely, by they are few and far between.

[Mack184]

Since answering many of the posts here will qualify as "personal attacks" by the Board Police I will refrain from doing so. I suspected many answers of this kind, and it makes no never mind to me. I told the truth as I see it. Oddly, I have received a number of private messages telling me that I have hit the bulls-eye square & true.

Once again, I will reiterate our reason for being in TV area. We are here so that my wife's parents can continue to live in TV where THEY are happy and so they won't have to make other decisions and choices. We will be here until her parents pass away. So for those who are bothered by my truth-telling, you've got a long way to go.

I have a FANTASTIC wife and a FANTASTIC marriage and what she's unhappy about does not bear on our marriage.

Cheers.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Since answering many of the posts here will qualify as "personal attacks" by the Board Police I will refrain from doing so. I suspected many answers of this kind, and it makes no never mind to me. I told the truth as I see it. Oddly, I have received a number of private messages telling me that I have hit the bulls-eye square & true.

Once again, I will reiterate our reason for being in TV area. We are here so that my wife's parents can continue to live in TV where THEY are happy and so they won't have to make other decisions and choices. We will be here until her parents pass away. So for those who are bothered by my truth-telling, you've got a long way to go.

I have a FANTASTIC wife and a FANTASTIC marriage and what she's unhappy about does not bear on our marriage.

Cheers.

I guess that I assumed that you were leaving. My mistake, but if I felt as you and your wife to....I think that I would skedaddle out of here pronto.

[justjim]

Mack: Very interesting post and interesting conclusions about TV and it's residents. You are definitely one up on most of us in that you say you have read every post of every thread since you joined TOTV less than 3 months ago. WOW! I will say that you certainly don't lack confidence in making the Conclusions you have come to by reading and commenting on TOTV threads and posts.

Agreeing to disagree is at the foundation of free speech, however, there is a big difference between anonymous blogging and the transparent debate of a given topic. I suspect that many opinions and comments might be different if they had to sign their real name instead of a nickname or pseudonym. For this reason, many of your conclusions IMHO are not valid, although it is not difficult to agree with some of the "points" you made.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Since answering many of the posts here will qualify as "personal attacks" by the Board Police I will refrain from doing so. I suspected many answers of this kind, and it makes no never mind to me. I told the truth as I see it. Oddly, I have received a number of private messages telling me that I have hit the bulls-eye square & true.

Once again, I will reiterate our reason for being in TV area. We are here so that my wife's parents can continue to live in TV where THEY are happy and so they won't have to make other decisions and choices. We will be here until her parents pass away. So for those who are bothered by my truth-telling, you've got a long way to go.

I have a FANTASTIC wife and a FANTASTIC marriage and what she's unhappy about does not bear on our marriage.

Cheers.

And what you think makes no never mind to me. However, you chose to put your thoughts into words and insult and degegrate a large group of people, with what you claimed, falsely, to be "scientific" research. Your earlier post and your follow-up indicate you are arrogant and closed minded, but I'm sure you are pleased with yourself. I would not consider myself a Villages cheerleader, or blind to flaws, and as I said before I could agree with some of your points, with a less broad brush. Again, good luck.

[jblum315]

As Gracie often says, "Boy Howdy"!!!

[redwitch]

I'm not a TV cheerleader. Never have been, can't imagine that I ever will be. I think I see the good and the bad here. What I don't see is the overwhelming bigotry implied by Mack. What I don't see is the elitism. I see some of it but not to the extent I've seen in other places. I do see some pettiness but it is more than made up for by the true generosity here. I have never before seen the kindness, the willingness to help, the joy in helping that I have seen here. Villagers will happily donate their time, their money, their knowledge to help others. They'll stop to help a stranger even to going out of their way to guide them to their destination.

Mack, I'm sorry you're seeing such negativity and missing so many of the positives. I truly hope you manage to see the goodness in most Villagers. It's there and not all that hard to find.

Another thing to remember is that TOTV may be a microcosm of TV but it is not an accurate picture. Like most places, the silent majority prevails. That means that the majority of Villagers don't post on TOTV. Heck, many have never heard of TOTV and many, many others have never read it. There are more that visit here and never post than those of us who post. The vocal folks, here and in public, really are the minority. We just stand out more cause we do speak.

Mack, I hope that one day you and your wife will find the spot that makes you happy. Best of luck until then.

[ugotme]

Just my two cents worth.

ANYWHERE I have lived I have encountered the good, the bad and the ugly!

Wherever you go someone will be a complainer, someone will think they are better, someone will turn you in for the smallest issue.

However, someone will turn out to be a true friend, someone will be a helping neighbor and someone will help you out when needed.

For me - I am better off than some and not as much as others.