Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes I have a problem with a trend I'm seeing, and I'd like to voice it to see if there is anything I can do about it. I wasn't able to attend this summer's meet on 7/17 as I was in San Francisco that weekend for my daughter's wedding (it was great!!), and I had hoped to see pictures on LP Live and everyone's comments either on LP Live, or in Meets, or in Trip Reports. It has usually been the case that the boards are full of posts and pictures of the good times everyone had. This year it was very different. There were a fair amount of posts about the HoJo's meet (no pictures that I can recall) and a few posts about a few other meets, but it was really lacking compared to previous years. I was wondering if anybody was really enjoying themselves - maybe I didn't miss too much after all. Then I went to facebook. Lo and behold, there were all the meet pictures. There were all the comments about what fun everyone had. I have a big problem with that. First, If you aren't on facebook within a short time of the posts to facebook, they get buried under all the posts about Farmville and other posts about how so-and-so discovered a rubber ducky under her pillow and would like to share it. The posts are lost, more or less, unless you want to go through page after page of earlier posts (and more crap about farmville and which fairy you most resemble). Second, and most important, if there are persons attending the LP meets, and they share pictures and comments about these good LP times, but I'm not on their friends list, I don't get to share in the fun. Fortunately, I have a slew of Lpers who are my friends on facebook and I went on facebook close enough time wise to see their posts. But I didn't go on facebook looking for reports and pictures of the LP meets. I went there because I wanted to see what might have been posted about my daughter's wedding. There are a lot of I, I, I's in the paragraph above, but it's not myself that I'm concerned about (much). As I said, I have a lot of Lpers as friends on facebook. But what about the newbie's on LP? They aren't getting any kind of sense of what it's like to be able to meet with all the long timers and axe murderers who get together for some good times. They are being denied the chance to make some new friends with people that I think are some of the finest I've been privileged to meet. And we are being denied the chance to make new friends with the newbie's and add some good to our own experiences. Frankly, facebook is very cliquish. Yes, of the forty plus 'friends' from LP that I have on facebook, I'm especially close to about a dozen or so, and only acquainted with the rest, although I enjoy their company. So, we all have persons we spend more time with than others, but that doesn't mean we preclude the others. I want to see the LPers branch out and welcome the newbie's. I was welcomed that way, and as uncomfortable as I was at first, I can't thank the LPers who reached out to me and made me feel at home which eventually brought a lot of additional happiness to my own life (that means you LuLu!). As it has turned out, I consider the LPers I'm closest to to be my best friends. I'm not asking you to drop facebook. Heck if you did, all you chickies and bunnies would die and I'd never find out what 80's hair band suits your personality best. But don't swap LP for facebook. Branch out. Reach out. Post your pictures and comments here on LP where you came from in the first place. Sorry for the long post, and as Eeyore said, "Thanks for noticing me."
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Amen my friend. I sometimes am guilty about posting stuff only on Facebook for fear that it may not be interesting to LPers, like our trip to the sea side the other day: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=187807&id=744599997&l=15c9598293" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/album....c9598293</a> However agreed, it would be great to see more on here about the meets. I do think Facebook and other social networking sites have a lot to answer for on the quieting down the site from when there could be 300 threads in 12 hours.
Originally Posted By u k fan Yeah I agree. Since facebook caught on amongst the LPers there are people I rarely see here, yet they post all the time on facebook. People who just used to post for fun whether the topic was Disney or not. Topics seem to sit around for ages now with hardly a comment whereas previously if you missed a day or two on LP you had a ton of catching up to do on your return. I agree that posts about meets should be made here as well as on facebook. The biggest problem I have with facebook is I don't know many real names for people so I have no clue who I'm friends with or not!!!
Originally Posted By Ursula UKFan, I have that same problem. I have a very small brain and can't keep remembering who is whom. But, to address Schmitty. Yes, I usually DO post LP live pictures all of the time during events such as these. This ONE weekend, however, I left my cell phone charger in my office and had four bars of power to last me the whole weekend. My new car is the kind where you can't plug in the cell phone to charge unless you have the engine on and I'm not going to sit in the car when I can be riding rides. I did post ONE LP Live photo when we were in the Tiki Room. I have no idea if it made it or not. I took all of three pictures that weekend, too. So, I haven't posted those pictures here or pn Facebook because they are still on the camera. The camera is in Florida now. So, I agree wholeheartedly with you and I am ashamed that I am the cause of the problem.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes BTW Ursula, you're definitly not the cause of the problem. You have mail.
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x For the record, I didn't post anything on Facebook about me being in Disneyland last weekend. I also didn't post many LP Live pics, though, because my phone was dead by noon (don't even get me started. I HATE that phone!) That being said, LP is where most people go for all the day's events for DL's birthday, because not everyone is everyone else's friend on Facebook. So, I agree with you, SGV. I jsut wish I'd been able to post more (I took more pics with my camera than my phone, and I've posted the links to my pics in the thread in the Meets section.)
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Frankly, facebook is very cliquish.<< I am fascinated by this observation. Social Media supposedly makes it possible for more and more people to connect and share their lives. Yet, as observed here, it seems to be magnifying something that no one wants to really acknowledge. Namely, it can serve to remind people that there really is no great social leveler that puts everyone on the exact same plane. I had noticed that many long time LPers had shifted to FaceBook. Whatever the reason, it is their own reason, and I decided not to worry myself about it. But I am concerned that this is happening at the expense of the LP Community, and more specifically, the site itself. I don't know what the solution may be. If you are on FaceBook, at the very least join the LaughingPlace Fan Page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5302036&id=717932266&ref=notif¬if_t=photo_reply#!/LaughingPlace?ref=ts</a>" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/photo....to_reply#!/LaughingPlace?ref=ts</a> The Fan Page regularly updates with LP's lead articles. There are several photo albums (one of which consists solely of LPers from LP Live), and members can post on the Wall if they wish.
Originally Posted By iamsally Amen Schmitty!!!!! and thank you. I do not do Facebook and will not go in to why. But it is much of what you posted only with my family as well as LP friends. (I have never been into *trendy*.) Missing the July meets this year was very hard for us. We really wanted to see pictures and hear stories.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Interesting topic. LP has always felt like my online "home." Maybe that's why Facebook feels unwieldy and overwhelming to me much of the time. I'm one of the least active Facebook users on earth, except for maybe my mom. But I don't know what, if anything, can be done about it. As LPers become close friends, it's natural that they would communicate via email, phone, in person and on Facebook rather than sharing everything here on the LP boards. The various LP meets and mini meetswere mostly organized by LPers, not by LP itself. (In other words, they weren't "official" for lack of a better word). >> But I am concerned that this is happening at the expense of the LP Community, and more specifically, the site itself.<< I think it's definitely something to be concerned about. There's definitely not the same sense of playful fun that there used to be. Back in the day, it was pretty easy to get a good comedic riff going with input from lots and lots of LPers. Or a spirited debate on a matter of grave Disney importance. But now, it's tough to prime the pump, or input is limited to a handful of folks. I would imagine that this Facebook Factor is being felt at every message board to one degree or another.
Originally Posted By -em I'm adding my 2 cents and I know its about 1.5 cents more than is wanted here but I'm going to say it anyway... I think LP as a whole has become very click-ish and the meets this year are just proof of that. LP just isn't the warm friendly environment it used to be both on the boards and at meets and that has caused many great LPers to stop posting because of attacks both on the boards and off. Now I'm not saying that the first 6-8 years was all rosy and without issues but we used to be allowed our opinions and feelings and despite our differences were a community. I get people develop close friendships with certain people (me included) more than others and I do think there is a place for those friendships but there is a difference between being inclusive and exclusive. I attended the Dec meet and for the first time in a long time (despite the amount of LP meets I've been to and hosted over the years) when it came to most of the organized posted LP meets I felt like an outsider, like there was some joke I didn't get despite being an active reader and poster. By the end of the weekend I found myself staying with my "travel buddies" and forgoing the organized meets whereas in years past despite who you "came with" you'd end up leaving with a different assortment of people, who while you weren't "best friends" you'd have a heck of a few hours till another meet then you'd shift groups again... LP has changed and not for the better (IMO)which is sorely evident in meets esp as where in the past we'd have 100+ in attendance now the average is less than 10. -em
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh -em, that is so horrid to hear. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single LP meet we have had the pleasure to attend, whether that be in Anaheim, San Francisco, Orlando, London, Milton Keynes or Paris. And they have always been the high point of our travels. I am so sorry to hear the last one felt that way to you. What I have always loved about our community is how giving everyone usually is. And how although we may have disagreements, whether about churros vs. popcorn, or toons vs. edutainment or otherwise, people do very much get on. At least we used to. I have noticed a lot of schisms over the last few years, and lament the community we once had. But we get as much as we put in on here. Maybe if we all try again to focus our positive (or otherwise ;-) energy here again?
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x -em, I had a great time sharing a room with you, LadyKluck and LVBelle and Casey (does she have an LP Name??) I wish you could have had more fun with the LPers that I know. And you're right, LP has become clique-ish, and that is why I talk to my favorite LPers on Facebook more than on LP, because I sometimes feel like I can't be "me" here.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS I have to agree 100% with -em. I choose to do most of my posting on Facebook. Unfortunately regarding LP I was beginning to get really tired of all of the inside jokes and the bashing and the name calling. Also, there didn't seem to be any regulation on LP Live and certain people were allowed to post a million LP live pics of the same thing over and over and over. Who wants to see that? Most of you know that I *LOVE* posting LP Live pictures, but for some reason my pictures aren't able to post here anymore. But they work on FB. On FB I can choose who I want to speak with and know that I won't be judged or ridiculed just for having my own opinion, that if not part of the norm, is shot down. I was sick and tired of folks pretending to be your friend here on LP and then find out they are in cahoots with someone else, talking behind your back. This is the reason I decided not to have a meet this year, even after some folks begged me to. Who needs the aggravation?
Originally Posted By Tandelothien >>when it came to most of the organized posted LP meets I felt like an outsider, like there was some joke I didn't get despite being an active reader and poster.<< -em I felt that as well but I just chalked it up to me being a newbie. I really regret being so horrendishly shy at those meets and not just going up to people and talking in case they didn't want to talk to me. In fact I noticed you hanging on the fringes and just thought you didn't like me, lol. I guess I was a little paranoid :B I promise at the next meet I attend I will take many photos (and post them) and talk to everyone, whether you want to talk to me or not, you have been warned!!! Haha.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Tandelothian, I would love to talk to you. Though as most of the posters on this thread would know, that would not be a huge surprise.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb My 2 cents are similar in nature to -em and 999's. And they come in the form of a question. Does the fault for LP's current lack of community and fun lie with Facebook or LP itself?
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x it's not Facebook's fault. Facebook was a refuge for people who felt like they didn't belong anymore to the LP community. My question is, we all love Disney, can't we all just get along? If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it, or take it off the boards.
Originally Posted By Stacers76 I agree with -em....the Dec LP meets actually made me stop posting here....but, imagine that, no one seemed to notice. OH well.
