Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I read this in another thread that was, quite frankly, allowed to go to long... "I'm sorry for offending anyone, I'm sorry anyone took my posts the wrong way, I'm sorry for calling anyone selfish. I'm sorry for having an opinion in general, and I'll never bother anyone on these boards again." I can understand your frustration and anger but it was just one or two posters that were disagreeing or making an argument with you. The rest either silently or verbally supported your right to your opinion. I for one agree with you completely. Disregard germs, noise, disrupted routine it still doesn't seem like a high spot, for at least the mother, to be caring for a tiny, totally helpless newborn while visiting a place that is tiring under the best of condition. I am saying this to encourage you to still participate on this site. Your opinions and thoughts are valued by many of us and shouldn't be stifled by a few, I know everything, people. Stay with us for the best is yet to come.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Besides that we need the New Orleans connection to make it all feel like a party.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 Nikki I have only been on this site for very short time but what I have noticed is that you can hold your own. Your opinion does count whether people choose to agree or disagree with you. Like Goofyernmost "your opinions and thoughts are valued by many of us and shouldn't be stifled by a few." Don't let this stop you from taking part in something you love to do and that is to post here on LP.
Originally Posted By Labuda Well, I missed most of the thread that has since gone "POOF!" but, come on, Nikki, don't let whatever happened in there get to you. You're a great gal, and a valued member of this community! Stick around... after all, you've got less than 10 days to finish your current run in the countdown thread.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I haven't been here long either. But long enough to form a positive opinion of you. You seem to see more of the good at Disney, than many others do. Don't leave, you've been a good part of my education.
Originally Posted By Labuda (Plus refillable mug discussions just aren't as fun if either you or Spirit are missing from them! hehe)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I can understand your frustration and anger but it was just one or two posters that were disagreeing or making an argument with you. The rest either silently or verbally supported your right to your opinion.< b4 you paint those who were opposed in that thread ( and there were more than 2 goofy) all with the same broad brush, I was on the other side from Nikki, but I did not disagree with her right to an OPINION, just not to make that opinion fact, or make it personal ( the reason I left the W/E section), there is a huge difference goofy. And I also do not want to see Nikki leave, we have had numerous good conversations over the years also...and I absolutely support everyones right to an opinion here, that is what LP is for isn't it ? The fact that you agree with her stance on the issue is fine with me as your opinion counts for exactly the same amount as mine or others here, as long as you don't tell me it is the only answer that is correct for all circumstances around that question.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I was upset because, even though I made every attempt to smooth the waters over with certain posters in that other thread, those certain posters wouldn't let up in chastising me for my beliefs. I can only apologize so much before I'm just tired of getting fussed at. As a result, my opinion about a certain poster on this board has completely changed. When I wrote my posts, I didn't think they would be as controversial as they were because it wasn't my intent to come across as forcefully as that poster believed I was coming across. I said that repeatedly and apologized and I still got fussed at. It really hurt me because, even though I apologized, his attitude didn't seem to change much. I was so upset that I really thought about leaving the boards, but I've decided it would be better just to ignore that poster, so that's what I'll do. Thanks for your concern guys, I really appreciate it.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey BTW, even in this thread the poster had made references to the other thread and discussion we've had. I get it, you don't agree with me and you think I'm on a high horse - please, let it go. I apologize and I'm sorry. Just drop it already.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<(Plus refillable mug discussions just aren't as fun if either you or Spirit are missing from them! hehe)>> No discussion can be fun without my spirited presence. Now what kind of mess has my fave New Orleans gal gotten herself into (been away a while and have no clue what's happening!)?
Originally Posted By Mr X She didn't care for the idea of bring a week old newborn to an amusement park, and got attacked for it. Personally, I'm on her side. Babies are one thing, but a brand new 1 week old infant is not. I learned a lot about how stressful overstimulation can be when I took an infant psychology course. Even a big smile can be shocking to a newborn. Imagine how disturbing all the bright colors and loud noises must be! Even if Nikki WAS stating that as a fact, if so she was correct (medically, in fact). vbdad, I got nothing against you personally, but you were way out of line on this one. And trying to turn it into "well, I'm a fantastic parent so how dare you?" was irrelevant and immaterial. In that case, I'm happy to tell you that her answer WAS correct, and your opinion on the matter was wrong.
Originally Posted By Beast77 ….I knew I shouldn’t have read this tread…lol OK, Mr X, your 1 class in child psychology may or may not have taught you some things on the mental development of neonates. However, I can tell you that if you were taught that general stimulation or a smile can traumatize a child, I will have to disagree. You stated that it is medically proven. I have to disagree there as well. There is no empirical research that has proven that infants suffer traumatic exposure to general stimuli such as one would encounter in Disney World. The response would be wholly dependant on personal temperament, level of bonding with parent, audible exposure during pregnancy…ect. the gist is, some kids may freak, some wont…. Most of the time, an infant, even at that age will react off the response of the parent. They are not yet fully imprinted thus don’t realize that mickey is not a fellow human or that small world in not just their crib/mobile additionally, they have not built up a relationship preference (so aren’t yet scared of Aunt Bertha) yet so would probably feel equally comfortable with anyone they see (with the exception of the mother-child relationship). That means that at the young age of 1 week, she really doesn’t care if it is me (dad) or some stranger off the street. She just isn’t mentally there yet (just to be clear, there are kids that are exceptions to this). As far as germs go.. A breastfed neonate has a stronger immune system than a 5year old… heck, they have the best immune system they will have until they are an adult. That is why I so strongly advocate breastfeeding. When I work in the Caribbean, I see neonates survive in conditions that would kill an American baby within a week… but because of the immunity exchange in the breast milk (and helpful genetics) they are fine. Even if a child was not breastfed however, I would still hold that a parent knows best and that it is a personal choice (that isn’t being selfish or child abuse) to take a child to WDW or not. Either way is OK. I am the one who took the 1 week old to WDW. I am highly educated on human behavior… as a matter of fact, that is what I do for a living. I have close relationships with many MDs, and PhD psychologists and consulted them prior to my trip. All agreed we were in good shape. So, while your opinion is just as valid as mine, it is just that… an opinion. It is NOT medically proven and is not a fact. You may get some MDs/PhDs to tell you it is a fact, but you can also find them that say it is not…. It is just an opinion on child-rearing practices. No more, no less. I agree that Nikki has every right to her opinion and that she should not feel pushed to leave the boards over this debate. EVERYONE is entitled to an opinion. Things started getting hot due to strong opinions (and generalizations) in the other thread and thankfully, it calmed down. I can also agree with vbdad55 on his presented arguments. Furthermore, I have re-read the posts in the previous topic and agree that Nikki was trying to smooth the water in the end. I think we should just all agree to disagree and agree that perhaps none of us have the right answer… that maybe there is no right answer and that each person needs to be allowed to exercise their own choices with their own family without caustic statements. I agree with Nikki that it should be dropped rather than start ANOTHER thread and keep it going. Back to the love!
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Here we go again. Since baby's, newborns in particular, cannot talk and express their feelings all this babble amounts to talking out of one's posterior. Without the input from the child, everyone is guessing. It's to bad they all can't be like Stewart in the Family Guy. I started this thread to convince Nikki that it wasn't worth leaving the board for and she acknowledged that she was staying. Wonderful! I didn't try and justify or "prove" who was right and who was wrong because you can talk until your lips fall off, it isn't going to change the fact that people have different opinions about almost everything. Those of you, for the most part, that strongly believe that a newborn belongs in a theme park are entitled to your opinion and in reality, it's your kid, what do I care. I don't believe that child abuse is a factor here unless one is joking. For heavens sake let it go. I understood from the beginning that Nikki was stating that she thought it was out of line to bring a newborn to Disney. She was judgmental but no more than any of the other side were being and reality requires one to be judgmental in an effort have an opinion. No judgment, no opinion. With that being said...Nikki I'm glad you decided to stay. Continue to express your opinion on any topic and try not to be concerned if a number of cyber bullies make it personal by striving to make themselves look great by showing all of us the superiority of their knowledge on all things. At any rate take this debate to W/E where it belongs. Stop hijacking this thread to justify actions. It is here solely to convince Nikki to stay on, nothing more.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Since Nikki has acknowledged that she is staying I am going to ask the powers that be to stop this thread before it becomes yet another nasty no win argument. Sadly, it already has become that. Thanks for staying with us Nikki!
