[Hancle704]

Why give up, none of this will be on The Final Exam with the possibile exception of, how did you treat others?

[samhass]

Gracie, From the look of your picture, you are one of the young ones on TOTV.

And Hancle, there you go with that wisdom again.

Originally Posted by Hancle704

Why give up, none of this will be on The Final Exam with the possibile exception of, how did you treat others?

[Barefoot]

Marti, I think I understand why you're taking a sabbatical from TOTV. I think it's a good idea. I know most of the players involved in your decision and I know that they didn't intentionally post anything to hurt you. But you're a sensitive person and right now you're feeling emotional. Good time for a break.

Sometimes TOTV can get pretty intense and time consuming. I've made a plan to limit myself to 1/2 hour or less per day. I feel I need to pull back and gain some perspective in order to enjoy it more.

To quote Beady: "To make this forum interesting we need all sides of the issues debated and your opinions count."

So Marti, by all means take a break, but please return soon!

[nONIE]

Marti,

I do understand where your comming from. You are a very sensitive person and so am I. It really only takes someone to look crosseyed at me to feel attacked. From my contact with you I know you to be a kind, sensitive person and thats not a bad thing. I think we both have to grow a tougher hide and continue to state our opinions if we feel that strongly about an issue.

Taking a break from TOTV sounds like a good idea, when you feel ready, take a deep breath and let us all have it. We respect and appreciate your opinions.

[renielarson]

I disagree (here I go) with some of you saying "hurtful" things are said. I don't think for an instant that anyone knowingly or purposely posts "hurtful" things. I truly believe that all posters speak from their heart and it's only interpreted as "hurtful" when it goes against the grain of someone else.

Just my humble opinion...

[Just Susan]

We all hear and react through our own filtering system...always!

[KathieI]

Sorry, but I agree with Mc... I have become extremely unhappy with the posts on TOTV of late, that I too have taken a step back and am not posting anywhere near as much as I used to.

I'd say its the 80/20 rule as usual, 80% of the people are wonderful and write really good and interesting posts about TV and the other 20% spoil it. The contemptuous, scornful and disrespectful posts have been impossible for me PERSONALLY to deal with. I have no intention of fueling this fire or debating issues with the likes of people who post "hurtful" words, which have nothing to do with going against the grain or your opinion or the recipients opinion but just downright "hurtful".

It isn't just the political forum, because I have stayed away from there for quite awhile, but its everything and anything as long as you don't agree with the 20%. Then the attack starts.

Mc, you're not stupid, by no means, and you and I are not politically on the same page, but you are respectful and well mannered and you should be proud of that.

[l2ridehd]

KathieI :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup: with you and Mc.

I agree with you completely. But the big problem is how do you stay away from political topics? I see a side bar post that says the first 3 words of the topic, open it, and even the full topic name doesn't lend itself to a correct definition, but that is exactly what it turns out to be. And on any day I can find 5 topics in general or non villages threads that are 99% political. It is a subject that seems to have taken over this forum.

And for those that think that there is no name calling or other disrespectful posts, you really need to go back and read what was written, and not put your own spin on it. There are many personal attacks on people because of what they say or believe. And that is what drives people away from here.

The biggest improvement that could be made to TOTV is to somehow identify all political discussion so that those of us who do not want to read it can easily identify it and stay away. Then those few people who thrive on it could have at it without the rest of us having to deal with their jaded views of the world.

[Boomer]

mcelheny, I hope you feel better and will come back soon.

And Kathie, I thought I was not seeing you around often enough. Then I thought maybe it was my imagination. Then I thought maybe you were really busy.

Anyway, I have missed your smiling face. I hope to see you more often.

I am going to go out there and start another thread today that I hope a lot of people will be willing to pitch in on. It is on a subject that fascinates me and I think this is the perfect group to be able to learn more from.

I hope to see you all later.

Boomer

[SteveFromNY]

Everybody goes through cycles with these message boards. It's just the way it is. I've dropped out of view for periods of time myself. So have lots of others. Typically I go away because I start feeling like there are just a few things to discuss and the same few opinions about each. And then of course there are the obstinate fools too who occasionally get under your skin. As a New Yorker I have a few choice words for them (actually, two), but you gain nothing by letting them know they got to you.
If you get sick of it, for whatever reason, quietly fade away. Then come back if you want. When you do, some of the ones who annoyed you will be gone! Or you'll have forgot how much they annoyed you. Relax and enjoy, and when it's no more fun, stop!

[ConeyIsBabe]

Agreeing with Kathie

Lately, I've been lurking mostly, for the reasons she has stated.

Some people think it's OK to mask their "put-downs" in the guise of an opinion.

[nanci2539]

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

These are only words. Unless you plan to live with the people who post here, take these postings with a grain of salt. When we sit behind a keyboard, it's so easy to pound out our inner feelings and these feelings get translated in many differnet ways. I bet if we all sat around a table and discussed whatever, nobody would walk away with hurt feelings.

I guess I just don't get it - if I don't like what I read, I either flick it off or move on to the next post. Maybe I'm different but unless you're very best friends with the person you feel is "hurting" you, why don't you just shrug it off!

[islandgal]

In regard to all of these discussions, I still think this previous post pretty well says it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwqqR...eature=related

[Just Susan]

Nance and Wiwi... :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup: Very well said.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by SteveFromNY

Everybody goes through cycles with these message boards. If you get sick of it, for whatever reason, quietly fade away. Then come back if you want. Relax and enjoy, and when it's no more fun, stop!

Steve

There is much to be said for taking a "time out", quietly fading away without recriminations, and returning when you're ready.