[CFrance]

Originally Posted by KathieI

Gracie, I certainly know how you feel, FIRST HAND. If you read TOPIX from the beginning, you will see that I was attacked also, someone used my name to post some absolutely awful things that would never come out of my mouth and I was also personally attacked by some others on there. I was so devastated, I withdrew from TOTV for quite awhile and had a terribly emotional time with it all. It was a very bad experience for me so I can understand what you are going through.

What I did was to take a break, I left the forum for awhile, probably a month or two, and did other things, anything that would make me happy. Lunches with friends, walking among the beautiful areas here in the villages, watching the birds, enjoying the dogs and the people, just forgetting what mean-spirited people there are out there. At the same time, I received so many private messages from good friends on TOTV who let me know how they really felt about me, how much they enjoyed my posts, enjoyed how I helped to organize the meet and greets for new people and also organize the monthly Crispers lunches. It gave me such a sense of worth and love and support that I came back to TOTV slowly and with some trepidation because I was scared, but I did it and I'm glad I did. I know its hard, but please try to ignore those mean people, they are just jealous. Believe me, its true.

Just hug Helene, Sweetie and the wonderful pussy cats, and enjoy your life here and don't be hung up on a computer, its really not worth it. Stay well.

Thanks for posting this, KathieI. You lend credibility to all of us who are saying it is just angry, mean people who are on this other forum.

[casita37]

Gracie, I checked out the topix thread. I was a little baffled by a couple of things. I couldn't keep up with who was posting what....hard to explain, but the names seems to change as they go along. A few people even stated they did not post certains posts, even though they were under their names. All mixed up, as though the site had been hacked, or something. Anyway.....not the point.....

I have been following TOTV for about 3 years now, and I simply don't "get" where the negative posts are coming from. It was brought up several times that they thread was indeed meant for bashing and anyone who didn't like the bashing could move on, so.....just consider the source. Anyone who would read that garbage and let it influence their opinion of you is not worth worrying about.

The Internet is a wonderful tool, but it also is a perfect crutch for cowards and ne'er do wells who let their evil out but without the consequences. Please try not to be too concerned. Go on enjoying your wonderful life, family and TOTV family. Try very hard not to go back to that other forum!!!!! Let it go, and if you're feeling particularly generous, say a special prayer for those idiots!

[Barefoot]

GG, I've sent you a PM. There is one person on that website using many different names doing the majority of posts, and spewing venom. If you withdraw from Talk, you're giving the evil person power. Your posts light up our lives.

[shcisamax]

Gracie will come back when she feels it is time to come back. Whoever did this is clearly an evil person who has some perverse pleasure in hurting others. It is just disgusting. I hope they are identified and banned from this forum along with that one for impersonating. I think KathieI is correct. A little time away is probably a good thing.

[Ecuadog]

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

[Baileysmom]

I am amazed someone has so little going on in their live that they stoop to this. Please don't go Gracie, we all love you and have learned so much from your informative posts. Hang in there and let us know what we can do to put this 'poser' in their place.

[kagney123]

Gracie.. I am speechless after reading that Topix site. The words about your family were extremely hurtful for me to even read. The most shocking entry was from a person who actually attended a pot luck in your home. Thats soo wrong and soo sad. Nope, the most shocking one was the posted who listed your full name, your address and how much you purchased your house for!!
Although I am still preparing my home to be sold.. I was and still am looking forward to meeting you once I can turn my focus from this house to buying a Village home.
Again I am so sorry this has happened to you...Please know that I think you're the greatest!! Count me in on "Team Gracie"

[Golfingnut]

Don't let them run you off. It happened to me on this site for a year or more, yet as you know, most of those type are now gone and I am still here thanks to a diligent Admin putting a stop to personal attacks. My name and address was posted in an attempt to intimidate me. Only cowards pick on and slander others. The fact that what happened too you on Topic and not on TOTV is a testament to the no nonsense way this site is managed. Stay, enjoy and continue to be a bright light for the newbies.

[bkcunningham1]

I have searched for just the right words to put here for you Grace. I saw where Bucco posted supporting you. That within itself is an inspiration. I tried a couple of times to find the forum and after my second failed attempted I asked myself why I was wasting my morning looking for trouble. I decided I don't want to waste a second of my life reading and inviting negativity into my life. Life is too short.

Why do people purposely try to hurt other people? Jealousy, insecurities, evil, pain, misplaced anger...I don't know. Maybe they don't even know themselves why? Say a prayer for them, kick the dust from your feet and move on.

There is a columnist I have read for many, many years. I subscribe to her columns and this morning I read this and thought it was meant to be that I share it here. I hope it helps you if you see it Gracie. Love to you and Peace.

"Paying it Forward . . . or Not," column for Feb. 4, 2014 - Sharon Randall

[l2ridehd]

Another avid supporter of you GG and your family. Those other sites attract the purveyors of evil. They are the ones who lose in the end. I too have been impersonated on another site. I continue to get blasted in an e-mail account someone posted there along with lots of spam. As great as the internet is, it also has it's drawbacks. And the ability to allow cowards to hide behind anonymity is the worst. Usually they are just jealous of your kindness and how much everyone respects your input.

We all know you, some of us have been lucky enough to meet you in person and most know you from your keyboard. But we all love you dearly.

Do what you have to do to, but leaving just allows those losers to win.

I for one refuse to even open that site.

[PaPaLarry]

Gracie, I agree with everyone, stay with us. You are an Icon. Too caring to everyone, to not stay on. I feel Bogies suggestion, has merit.

[Madelaine Amee]

Add me to your list of defenders Gracie ............ But, I have to go on to say that many people who use TOTV put far too much personal information on a forum such as this. I've seen real names being used, personal telephone numbers, email address and even photos of members and their children. NO, NO, NO people, this may seem like a nice cozy little site for us happy Villagers, but evil lurks in the heart of many men and women and you are just handing them your information, they don't even have to work for it.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Another avid supporter of you GG and your family. Those other sites attract the purveyors of evil. They are the ones who lose in the end. I too have been impersonated on another site. I continue to get blasted in an e-mail account someone posted there along with lots of spam. As great as the internet is, it also has it's drawbacks. And the ability to allow cowards to hide behind anonymity is the worst. Usually they are just jealous of your kindness and how much everyone respects your input.

We all know you, some of us have been lucky enough to meet you in person and most know you from your keyboard. But we all love you dearly.

Do what you have to do to, but leaving just allows those losers to win.

I for one refuse to even open that site.

Those who posted on TOPIX post on TOTV...be aware

There are many who post on TOTV who are on their 2nd, 3rd, or more user names due to being kicked off.

To be not liked due to being blunt, in my opinion, is better than being a phony or simply having issue to resolve.

This poster is correct...I was ostracized for pointing out trolls, but they exist in many forms, and if you are going to frequent message boards be aware.

[Parker]

I am angry, very angry, at hearing about this. I won't go to the site and read that trash.

I liken this attack to rape. If you keep silent, you hand your power to that person.

Your postings here are not only entertaining and interesting, for some people they may be a lifeline of sorts. Read all these posts again. Appreciate the good they reflect.

Gracie, overcome evil with good. Helene benefits immensely from the outpouring of goodwill FROM you, and TO you.

Please reconsider. We are all behind you 100%.

[rubicon]

I went back and read all the posters comments on TOPIX. The first look leaves you kind of puzzled as to why people would fixate on posters from another forum as if they were watching a soap opera. However on a second look you come away actually laughing at the insanity of it all. some of these posters on TOPIX lack complete insight because they criticize marginalize and attempt to diminish some on TOTV and in their failed attempt diminish themselves.

Life experiences are good teachers and given what we find on TOPIX perhaps TOTV is indeed wise in their monitoring. My suggestion and hope is that perhaps TOPIX take a lesson from TOTV. In my view I like our kind of boring on TOTV its civil, intelligent and useful. finally as the horribles from TOPIX discovered their comments did not divide us they united us.