Welcome newbies, and my .02

[Mandy]

Hmm... ok, i was going to walk passed this thread, but turned back to give my 2c.
I know i am not on here very often, not as much as ide like to be, but i have always loved this place.
Sure i have my favorites on here, but most ladies on here, are very very sweet.

It's not hard to respect each other girls, if you dont like a thread, ignore it, and move on.
This has for a long time been a close knit community and a lot of us have got to know al lot about each other.
For a lot of people, seeing newbies with different values and ideas, might sound/feel strange, but even 4wt needs new energy.
I'm sorry if you newbies or oldies have felt left out or ignored, it might be a good idea to start a new introduction thread.
From experience i know that polotics, and religion dont go down well on chat sites and forums, so it might not be wrong to keep that to ourselves, or discuss it in PM or IM with friends that have the same values.

I hope we can all get along, and make this place into what it use to be, with newbies, and oldies.

[Emmsmom]

Heather, I don't think that anyone here would turn you away for you relgious beliefs. I haven't known these ladies very long but from what I have seen they just aren't that way. I am sorry you were offended by some of the ladies. However, I think it is safe to say that somewhere inside you still want to believe in God. You wouldn't have tried to go back to church if you didn't. You also never explained your feelings the way you have here. Do I think that their responses would have been different? No, I don't. That in no way means that they were insulting you. I am sorry you took it that way.

It seems like you have been through a lot in your life and I am sorry that you didn't have more of a support group. I haven't been to church in ages. Like you I too have questioned A LOT. Somehow tho I just keep telling myself that there has got to be something better. Am I bitter at times? Sure I am. I start to think back on my own life and how dirty my own mother treated me and I start to question why God didn't do more to help me. So yeah I have questioned a lot but somehow still managed to hold on to my faith. Altho I still struggle with that every day. I have a very real problem with forgiveness. My grandmother makes it clear to me that I "need" to forgive. I love her dearly but I just can't bring myself to do it. She tells me every chance that she gets that God loves me. I don't find it insulting despite how bitter I am at times. So do I think that God loves people like us that question him? Sure I do. Try not to feel insulted when others say things like this. If they didn't care then they wouldn't say anything at all. Who knows maybe that is God's way of talking to those of us who are so stubborn. Lord knows I am hell bent on holding grudges and I need all the help I can get. I truly am sorry for your losses over the years. ((HUGS)).

I too would like to throw my 2 cents in. I came here because a very dear friend of mine invited me. From the moment I arrived I did not feel comfortable. Not necessarily because of ya’ll but maybe because I felt more like a biker chick storming through the town with my group of ladies. I know we were quite overwhelming when we first arrived. I apologize for that. As you have noticed I have done very little in the way of posting. I personally take my time getting to know people. I prefer searching the site and reading before I overwhelm anyone with my presents.
I am of the older crowd that joined. I am a mother and grandmother and I “HATE”… let me repeat “HATE” confrontation. It makes my stomach turn in knots. Unfortunately… I found myself the butt end of your April Fool’s joke. Not saying it wouldn’t have been funny but I felt a bit picked on for no other reason than I am an outsider. You guys took a passion that this entire group of ladies that joined has and turned it practical joke. I have nothing against jokes. My goodness I have done my fair share. I also have nothing to say bad about Katcarasella since she was nice in her responses to me but some of the other snide remarks are what got to me. Such as how the word “large” got thrown out of contexts. When I stated at least the Yorkie was a large Yorkie I was referring to the larger of the standard which is 7lbs. With my Shih Tzu… If I was to say a “Large” Shih Tzu, I would be referring to a Shih Tzu that is 15 to 16lbs. That is the “Large” end of the standard.
I really do wish you had taken the time to get to know us before you judged us as a bunch of trouble makers. We really are a fun group. We have laughed together as well as cried together. And when our beloved Yotes left we followed her to let her know that she is loved by all of us. We personally wanted her back home where she belongs so that we didn’t upset the balance here. Yes, we posted on her threads, but some of us also tried posting on others and found ourselves being ignored or considered trolls. We are not Trolls. We are human beings just like yourself. When we hurt, we cry. When we are happy, we laugh. When you cut us, we bleed. We really are no different than you. You have your passions and we have ours.
I personally would have liked if you given me a chance but unfortunately you didn’t. You judged me before you ever knew me. Once again I apologize for any of us upsetting your little group. That was never our intent.
With that said I would appreciate if admin would delete my account since I cannot delete it myself. I will trouble you ladies no further. Good day and God Bless.

[pearl]

i think we'rre up to a dollar now.
i'm guilty of coming because coyote came here. i did post on current members' threads, plus new ones. then i lost track, just went where i wished.
the "fix" i felt was factions trying to convince each other. not fun.
the famous religion thread. i was told my beliefs were wrong. then, i admittedly joined a gang-up and posted on something i have strong feelings about, and good knowledge about, dog breeding. it wasn't OK to post opinions about that but was OK for others to tell me my religious beliefs were wrong. felt like the ol' double standard.
and, i am a card carrying liberal and treehugger, but i don't force it. so, then it was posted that this was mostly an older women's conservative forum and it was wished to keep it that way, well i'm older and woman but not conservative.
now, more chiming in say all views are welcome.
i do enjoy forums, have moderated more than one, been a member of several; have moderated a jumpin' rowdy one that 6 mods couldn't keep under control. i know what can happen.
if many views are welcome, if respectful, i really enjoy an exchange of views. i learn that way.
i too have been hurt by members of the born-again fundamentalist way of life, rejected because i wasn't "good enough." but i think it was more their emotional and psychological shortcomings than the rreligion. jesus hung out with tax collectors, hookers, rampant sinners. i think that's more the message.

the etiquette on forums usually is to first hang out, read, be in the background, and come in slowly and let others get used to you. i'm afraid people used this place to be with a friend instead. which, is not a bad motive, just didn't use a lot of common sense. many of us arre sorry for that.

This community shouldn't "belong" to anyone specific. This is a public forum and belongs to every member here, but now that I know that the older members think it's their "forum" I feel totally unwelcome here because I wasn't here when it first started. This forum is to talk about anything. If someone wants to discuss dog genetics, then so be it. If you don't like it, then don't respond. Simple as that.

[DianaB]

I'm sorry that all of this has come about. The religious thread has been mentioned several times and I was certainly a part of that thread. I looked back at the thread to see how I came across and what was said. It's sad that in typing the words that emotions can't show through between the letters because I was truly saying all that I had to say with love. I did capitalize some words, not to shout at anyone, but to show that I had strong feelings about what I was saying at the time. I truly tried to address the questions that were asked with what the Bible had to say about that subject.

I'm sorry that some of you have had problems with your churches or friends inside of the church. All of us make mistakes because none of us are perfect. Don't keep your eyes on people but on God. Enough said about that!

This is an open forum and anyone is welcome to join and we've accepted everyone who's joined. Having a whole group join at once was a little overwhelmiing for all of us. You've had a language all of your own that you understand, but we felt left out and we probably did some of that with you as well. Being friends you kinda' do that. I'm sure that we had posts that left you scratching your head too.

Different opinions have always been welcomed here but not to the point of making another person feel uncomfortable. You present your opinion and I present my opinion and we just accept that we differ. It's just been how we do things on here. We don't have a "set of rules" that we go by so there's no list of rules to give you when you join, we just try to respect each other and each other's feelings. Over time it's just become part of how we treat each other on here.

I understand that there was a problem the other day and we had an April Fool's joke that got out of hand, but it's in the past now and we need to move past it. Believe me, no one was sitting back and thinking that what happened was funny.

[NicoleMarcelle]

Well said Diana...

I'm sorry if you guys felt unwelcome... but i think if you all are willing to try, we all need a 2nd chance... i think this can be an even better community with so many different perspectives...

as i said before we learn from each other, that doesn't mean thought that we are here to "shove" things down others throats... and i thin i can speak for most when i say that we'll try harder to not come accross as preachy, and such... it is an online community and as such it presents it's communication problems that we have to deal with as best we can... so i think we can make it work...

so, here's to a new start:

Hello Ladies, how are you today?

[Dobie]

Originally Posted by NicoleMarcelle

Well said Diana...


Hello Ladies, how are you today?

I'm having a very good day - hope you are having the same!

[pearl]

Originally Posted by NicoleMarcelle

Hello Ladies, how are you today?

very tired. want to curl up and read.

[pope1982]

Originally Posted by pearl

"very tired. want to curl up and cuddle."

pearl admitedly running low on fumes over here, so I adjusted your quote to fulfill my selfish needs

Dealing with treatments and nose wipe duty for my sisters two sick babies during the day, while worrying over a 9 year old nephew with rheumatic fever many miles away...

As far as my That will have to wait for the time being I think I expressed most of what I'd have liked in the other thread anyhow.

[pearl]

Originally Posted by pope1982

pearl admitedly running low on fumes over here, so I adjusted your quote to fulfill my selfish needs

yeah me too becky. no cuddl-ee tonight though.

another cent...i suppose it seemed like "invasion of the forum snatchers."

[pearl]

Originally Posted by DianaB

I understand that there was a problem the other day and we had an April Fool's joke that got out of hand, but it's in the past now and we need to move past it. Believe me, no one was sitting back and thinking that what happened was funny.

no one would know most of us newbies knew each other from pet forums, where we have strong opinions about dog breeding, if that's the joke you mean diana. hence the other breeding thing.
so yes, past.

[Janet]

My personal wish is that this thread was closed. I think everyone as put in their 2 cents worth and we are all ready to be friends and move on. Hard to do if this thread is kept active. I do hope others agree


Yay!!! it's Friday, nearing the end of one week and getting ready for a new week, and hopefully with warmer weather.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Janet

My personal wish is that this thread was closed. I think everyone as put in their 2 cents worth and we are all ready to be friends and move on. Hard to do if this thread is kept active. I do hope others agree


Yay!!! it's Friday, nearing the end of one week and getting ready for a new week, and hopefully with warmer weather.

Absolutly!!!! This thread has lived its life, and can be shut!

[NicoleMarcelle]

i agree also, admin please close this thread