Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Someone, somewhere mentioned that maybe we needed a topic to talk things over as a community. If you all like, this can be that topic. Some people don't like the direction the boards are taking lately and in some ways I agree. There used to be a lot more good natured teasing and a whole lot more silliness, and I miss that. And of course, lately we've had some troll/sock puppet issues which I think the Admins are doing an admirable job of handling. Some don't like the fact that when someone comes here for support they aren't getting the unconditional love and hugs and such they are looking for. Well to that I do have something to say, because as we all know I'm not a coddler. Some would say I am the problem, and I respectfully disagree. I am a strong proponent of tough love, and I don't think patting someone's virtual head when there are things they can be doing and aren't doing to make their situation better is helpful to them at all. Sometimes the truth is ugly and sometimes it hurts, some would say that if that's the case keep the truth to yourself, but I think a pretty little lie can do far more damage than a hurtful truth. If you want to whine about your life and not get constructive input, post it in "The Whiney Butt Crybaby" thread or keep it in Facebook where only your friends will see, or say, "I need prayers and good thoughts" for the situation. Even I will offer my support or keep my mouth shut, and promise to in future. Feel free to ignore me, but know I am not saying things just to be mean or hurtful. It is an honest attempt to bring a little perspective to the situation or just try to a little reason involved.
Originally Posted By tink2680 Well from someone who has been away for a few years and recently started coming back I do feel that there is not as much fun as there used to be. I also sense a lot more negativeness. I don't believe that everything should just be glossed over and peachy but I also believe in finding the good in every situation when possible. I have read a few threads and some of the people have said things that surprised me with how mean they were. Overall I feel like the people who have been around a long time on the boards seem to have gotten really serious, sometimes too much so. I am all for being real at times but where is the fun people? Cut people a little slack too, everybody has issues...even you
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I have always said LP is a microcosm of the real world around us. Many aspects of the real world are pretty grim. The jobless rate is alraming, new jobs aren't materializing, and the ones that are available aren't the type people lost. Norway, all of all places, just got shot up, and our political leaders make many of us ashamed we elected them. The general overall mood of life can't help but permeate LP more than a little bit.
Originally Posted By crazycroc I think we've become cliquish and stalkerish. It's hard to post anything anymore without being told you are wrong. For example, I stated it smells like pee to me in Muppetvision 3-d. Someone told me I was wrong. How can my perception of my experience be wrong? I say less mean and more nice. Variety is the spice of life and all that.
Originally Posted By Tiggirl I rarely post on LP anymore. The fun has kinds of fizzled out for me. And I don't really blame any group. I just assume that LP is the place for other people who are enjoying it now and no longer really MY laughing place. I miss the fun posts that zoomed along at fast paced speeds, I miss when the Play Pen was used for more than seeing how high we can count and I miss spirited debates where everyone was allowed to have an opinion even if it got heated. Maybe they're still around and I just don't see them. Again, the majority of those who use LP now must like the direction its taken... then really how can it be changed? I'm not sure it can. And thats okay. Its just no longer MY "laughing place". ~Beth
Originally Posted By LVBelle Ditto Beth. I was just thinking about how slow it is around here lately. I used to be able to spend all day refreshing my browser so I can keep up with new posts but that just doesn't happen anymore. And, as crazy as it sounds, I agree with crazycroc. I think things are cliquish and stalkerish and I've cut WAY back on the things that I share here because of it.
Originally Posted By Yahtzee Nay Nay I came back recently. Due to some of my own bad times and drama, I did change to a different LP name then the one that I used to use. I've tried to let all my LP friends on Facebook that I trust know who I'm posting under but unfortunately, I can't at this time let everyone know. Sounds dramatic I know. Afraid it is. I came back to LP not to get any pity or support for my hard times, but just to try to get away from them for a little while. This is THE Laughing Place after all people. I miss the old days.
Originally Posted By ibob ... LP ... was around pre FB and MySpace ... social mediums have grown and will continue to grow (Twitter) ... someday Discussion Boards/Forums as we know them ... might be a thing of the past ... gone the way of the dodo bird (Blockbuster/Hollywood Video) ... some will stay ... some will go ... lifestyles change ... my2cents ...
Originally Posted By Tiggirl I think the fact that this thread has been open for over 12 hours and only has 10 (well now 11) posts in it is just an indicator that *most* of the people who would have in the past cared about a topic like this... aren't reading and posting anymore. I guess its not good or bad. Its just how it is. Things have changed. ~Beth
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan It's kind of a chicken-and-egg scenario: Is the place not the same because some of those very fun posters have drifted away? Or did those posters drift away because the place ain't the same? Personally, I hope people who think LP doesn't have the same sense of fun will give it another try, start a fun or interesting topic, and see where it leads. I miss so many of the posters from the early days of LP, but also there have been a bunch of newer posters through the years that are good folks, too. There is a troll problem, and it sours things but the admins seem to be about on top of that situation as could be.
Originally Posted By u k fan I'm guessing the OP might be referring to my comment which was something along the lines of needing crisis talks. I really care about this community, but I've slowly found myself drifting away. This tends to happen when I have no Disney trips planned as the interest in reading what's going on diminishes. I very much miss the old days, it was cliquish back then too, as a non-DL local I felt it, but it didn't seem to matter as much. There was more going on. I remember having to spend whole saturdays just catching up! I think there are multiple factors at work: we've lost some fun posters, Facebook has certainly taken some of the discussions away, the world is a miserable place right now. On that note, I have commented to another LPer in the past that the boards in general get a bit more testy near a US election. I spot it every 4 years! The troll issue is a real pain and I accept it in WE. If it continues in other areas I think it could kill things completely. As I said elsewhere this community does wonderful things. It helped countless LPers through very tough times. It got my face carried round DL on my 30th birthday and it's enabled me to meet so many wonderful people. I hold it dear to my heart. I'm never going to ask people not to post what they want (within community standards), but especially now I ask people to be mindful that this community seems broken and frail and I believe could go either way so to perhaps just think about how they are presenting what they are saying. I know for a fact that's a lesson I'm still learning and several times I've offended people by saying things in an inappropriate manner. I'm embarrassed when I think about it. One or two badly chosen words can do so much damage. I think we've all been on the wrong end of that at times. So, let's be pro-active. I'll make the effort. There are lots of new and old LPers I don't know very well so I'll try harder to connect with those people and I'll try and post more. I often suffer from not being around to keep a thread I've started going so I'll make more of an effort to post in my own topics. If enough of us want it we can get the LP community back to what it once was.
Originally Posted By u k fan Deb, I also want to say thanks for starting this topic. And I certainly don't consider you a problem. We have clashed in the past (through one of my failed attempts at humor), but your posts after my sister died were incredibly helpful and stay with me even now.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 I have seen a lot of change in the 3+ years I have been actively posting. And, unfortunately, it's not for the better. I used to enjoy coming here knowing this community all shared a love of Disney. Learning more about Disneyland is what brought me here. I have been to numerous LP Meets and have hosted my own and have enjoyed every minute of it, (and will continue to share in the joy that is "my Billys"). There are many wonderful people I have had the opportunity to meet and now consider them close family and friends. I stay away from WE and usually avoid conflicts. It has become increasingly more and more that threads are created that seem to take a negative turn pretty quickly. Yes, tiggirl, it is becoming less and less of a "laughingplace". There are still a few threads that I enjoy, so I will continue to come back here and can only hope to someday "recapture the LP magic". As a dear friend once stated: "We may lead utterly different lives in the real world, but here, and in person, when we meet and converse and share, it just gets upgraded to the biggest and best E-ticket of them all: love, friendship, and magic."
Originally Posted By Yahtzee Nay Nay The problem with replacing LP with Facebook, Myspace, etc is it's great for keeping in contact with my existing friends, but I'm missing out on new friends I could also be making. Some of my closest friends were made through LP. I will admit I do chat a LOT with LP friends outside of LP on Facebook, but without LP, I wouldn't have those friends in the first place. I thought I was ready to give up on LP, but in reality, I'm not. I'll be having a umbrella drink over at the LP Beach and Tennis Club.
Originally Posted By ReadingMom Although I lurk around on LP its been a very long time since I've posted anything. The attitude has changed and, frankly, I don't do "tough love" very well. It just goes against how I feel about people and my personality as a whole. Basically, I can't take the heat so I got out of the kitchen. That being said...I do miss contributing and have to live vicariously through my husband's witty posts!
Originally Posted By WestWind I don’t feel the need to clear the air but I will post here to show my continued interest in LP. I have been here a long time but don’t post all that much and tend to stay away from controversial issues. I joined LP to talk Disney. I have made a few good friends here and plan to continue on the posts. Maybe I will try to post more and on more topics. Anyway, I just wanted to say I am here – plan to stay here – and also miss the days a few years ago (?) when I could not read all the posts because there were too many.
