Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes <<<Munchausen's by Internet>>> Ick! I don't want to google that because I know where it will go and I don't want to find out how far. I've had a change in that, unless I know the OP well and I'm close to them, I don't view topics such as "Prayers Please" or "sad times" or anything of that ilk. It's not that I'm not caring, but I have enough drama as it is and these topics are usually depressing. So if I don't send you my prayers or sympathy, don't take it personally. I just don't go there anymore.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Some of us still think good vibes for you SGV! I understand your perspective.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I can totally understand that Schmitty, it may sound cold but sometimes we just need to take care of ourselves and getting into the drama of a near stranger is counterproductive to that.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I can understand the need to talk about personal problems and this is a board so why not. I have never faulted someone for discussing personal matters. I care about many people on this board and really hate to see anyone in emotional or physical pain. There are times when things can seem very tough. I also recognize that sometimes the best support can come from unlikely places.
Originally Posted By u k fan I have also stayed away from those topics in the past. Sometimes the point of coming here is escape and to have real world problems invade that isn't always wanted.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo There is no escape, anywhere. No such thing. I used to love how supportive the LP community used to be of each other. alas, I fear, just like a creative WDI, those days are gone.
Originally Posted By Yahtzee Nay Nay I think that the people in LP are still very supportive, but in the time that LP has been here, the internet as a whole has changed. When a long time poster who people know personally has a problem or is going through hard times, LPer's still go out of their way to help. But Munchausen's by Internet is a very real thing and is becoming more and more prevalent. I don't fault LPer's for not blindly helping everyone here, particularly posters that are not really known personally outside of their LP name and persona.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost You do have to remember that not everyone had automatically been accepted in the "inner" circle that was the early LP. You folks had many LP meets (all in California) and knew each other by actual first names, did personal communication as well as web site chat. What has changed is the fact that many of these people have either gotten upset by some "stranger" posting and left or events in life have caused them to have a smaller exposure to these sites. Result...you are now opening up your soul to folks that don't have a notion of who or what you are. Those of us that have been here a long time and in spite of that still do not feel a part of a family of posters, very much know just how cliquey a group like that can be. Personally, the only thing I expect from LP is a place to come and express myself on subjects that I find interesting or enjoy the fantasy that is Disney. If I want the world and it's problems all I need do is open the door and walk outside. Here, I am looking for conversation where I am not referred to as mentally ill or subjected to a grouping of names of allegedly supermen of the Disney Co. and how good, bad or indifferent that they are. Could not care less. I can understand how an individual can turn on a place or a park, no problem. That is a individual judgment and in my mind should not be used to convince others of how foolish they are to continue to like something. Last night I was surfing around YouTube and found a video trip report filmed just last spring. It was during the Flower festival, or whatever it is called. The beauty of Epcot and other parks was just spectacular. It certainly was showing no signs of the massive decay that others are trying to point out. It showed no signs of a company that would not spend a lot of money just to have a venue that was expansive and incredibly beautiful. So yes, LP has changed, it had too. Just like everything else in life. We change, Disney changes, attitudes in general change, everything that is alive changes and not always for the better. Go ahead, ask me about aging. Those that have left have done so for whatever reasons they had. It's not good or bad, it just is. I miss a lot of the originals and it was because they were a group of extremely clever, quick witted people. They were fun to read. They were fun to interact with. I had one of my most fun times once in a string of interacting with Pixie Glitter. I do miss the sense of humor that she possessed and I'm sure still possesses. But she went on her way, still lurks because every once in a while she will surface, but for the most part has stayed hidden. Tall Disney Guy had a spectacular ability to come up with new and lasting threads, some of which are still quite active. He left to, as he told me, push himself away from the computer and build his dreams. I lost contact with him, but I certainly hope he has found them. No one is more talented or deserving. Anyway, the long winded moral of this story is that none of us can expect anything to stay the same. It changes with time, personalities and outside pressures. The best we can do is go with the flow or change our habits and expectations. Sorry about the length of this, I have a bad case of mental diarrhea today apparently.
Originally Posted By Yahtzee Nay Nay There were things that used to happen on LP that allowed people to get to know each other better and on a more personal level that don't really seem to happen anymore. LP Meets didn't just happen at the parks. I've met LPer's here in the mountain states which is pretty far from the parks, just to get together with people with same interests. Plus the Winter Bash was always a time to get to know another couple of LPer's really well. That doesn't happen anymore. We used to do scrapbook swaps and all kinds of things. Without those personal things, I don't think it's surprising that LP feels more impersonal and foreign to everyone now. The new generation of LPer's for the most part have not had this experience and so the new group feels left out of the "clique" while the old group sees the new kids as strangers and impersonal.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes Boy, Did Goofernmost and Yahtzee Nay Nay sum up my feelings in posts 148 and 149. >>> We used to do scrapbook swaps and all kinds of things. Without those personal things, I don't think it's surprising that LP feels more impersonal and foreign to everyone now. The new generation of LPer's for the most part have not had this experience and so the new group feels left out of the "clique" while the old group sees the new kids as strangers and impersonal. <<< That's why I went on a rant a few months ago when I found that the LPers were posting their photos, good times, etc. on Facebook and not on this site. How can the newbies feel part of LP if LPers only share the good times with their Facebook Friends? Quite a few people got my point and took it to heart, but I think Facebook had much to do with the change of atmosphere on these boards. Too bad, because I don't see it ever going back. Goofyernmost, I miss Pixie Glitter, too. Since you named her, I'll repeat her name, but there are at least a dozen others who I don't see any more. I won't use names because i'm sure to leave out someone I really care for and perhaps have them take that wrong. My screen saver is a slide show of my favorite things. That means I have dozens of pictures of past LP meets that frequently come up. A picture will come along and I think "Darn it! There's so-and-so! I never hear from so-and-so anymore. I wonder how they're doing?" It's almost a negative reaction. I guess all I can do is preach to the choir, but I hope things change. My opinion is that things are on the upswing as I'm seeing more and more friends who disapeared coming back. A great example of the upswing is 999HAUNTS "Box Of Stuff" topic. Welcome back to many of you! >>>
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost ^^^Yup...what Yahtzee said. And said it in a lot fewer words. Thanks!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I spend much more time on Facebook than I ever used to, but I still keep coming back to LP... it just feels like "home". As far as sharing personal information, I have mixed feelings. As all long-term LP'ers know, I shared a HUGE amount (probably too much) during the year my late wife was dieing of cancer. Being able to post my feelings here and get sympathetic responses from LP'ers meant more than you will ever imagine. I will never forget my one LP meet at Disneyland and how the wonderful LP'ers accepted my relationship (engagement) with Ann and made both of us feel so welcome. Unfortunately since then I've discovered a whole different side of LP. I've found that some here apparently found my posts distasteful and out of place. I've been criticized for what I shared and essentially told not to complain... that if I put myself out here I have to accept whatever comes. I can understand that line of thought and accept it. It does make me very sad though knowing that LP would never be able to be my refuge like it was before. I still enjoy being here but it is different. I will never open my life like I did before... I will never expect anything approaching the friendships that I felt I had back then (and still have with the old-timers). Oh well. Things change... LP still feels like home. But now I feel like I have to call before I drop by...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> I will never expect anything approaching the friendships that I felt I had back then (and still have with the old-timers)<<<. Well, remember the good stuff Jerry, after all, some of my best friends I met through this site, and I am so excited about seeing a former one tonight I think I am going to bust. And if we are ever near your neck of the wood, or you ours, I cannot wait to meet you and Ann. >>>Oh well. Things change... LP still feels like home. But now I feel like I have to call before I drop by...<<< Yep, then again I feel that way about my Mom's too. I have just learnt, never fully trust anyone, not even your own family.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Hi Roadtrip I just re-read your post 60 and wanted to mention it again as being heartfelt. I also just read the post where vbdad officially asked Doobie to remove his name. Just want to say that made me sad. Back on topic...clearing the AIR...yeah my AC finally got fixed after 2 days broken...so yeah cool clearing air is appreciated!
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Hopefully Laughing Place will once again be filled with the Magic of Disney that once filled the threads..There is just too much to gain, too lose... by dimming the magic that once was....you have to feel the magic of Disney in your Heart to understand what it is I am saying..not only is LP known for this very special sprinkling...it is a Welcoming Place for those in need...a place of compassion , of kindness , for the many Joys and Hardships that we all may endure in our lives...we are all different..we all reach out in different ways..but one thing is for sure, we all reach out...whether we know it or not..I am sure glad that I was finally able to meet some of you...by attending the meets..I have made many Wonderful Friends..Some of which no longer post anymore , which is very sad..because they were so instrumental in keeping the Magic of Disney alive on these Threads.....but even as the four winds blow in different directions.forever changing..the wind is still the wind..I really hope that our missing LP'ers return , I really hope that all of you that are still here, stay forever and a day..or else we may lose that Magical.Disney Fever we all love so much...hope to see you at one of the next meets... : ) A very Dear Friend who was going thru an extremely difficult time...said this one day, if I should Fall, would you be there to catch me....this is all people are asking for, just for someone to be there...just for some one to be there... my response to this was, I would be there in a heart beat....no matter what.then I sent them the song, No Matter What .still holds true today..for all . I will say this to Pirate Brittany...you have always been thought of as a very kind thoughtful person..don't worry what people say...just continue to be you...life is just too short.. ***** : )
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter *waves at Goofyernmost and Schmitty Good Vibes* Guess I picked a good time to check back in. I miss you, too, gentlemen, and many others. Every so often I come back and do a bit of catching up on LP. I gave up on trying to help recapture "the old days," but I do still read a bit every few weeks or months. And your posts here warmed my heart--thank you for that.
Originally Posted By Walter Elias I joined LP a few years ago because I wanted to talk about Disney stuff. I love Disney and DL has always been a part of my life. I don't like the direction of DL and I long for the way it used to be. I'm sure that is an unsettling frame of mind for many here. I'll not get into that discussion, however, because it always brings nasty comments on LP. LP, at least when I decided to leave, and apparently still today, had become cliqish. That was the reason for my departure. Sure, I've popped my head in the door from time to time to see familiar names, but I don't usually take part in discussions. This one is the exception. When I say LP had become cliquish, I'm not speaking figuratively. It was real. I was invited into a clique. I was given the names of the "good" people to talk to and the "bad" people that I should ignore or dis on. There was private messaging going on--calls to attack other posters. How childish! It was not only childish, but it was down right mean and hurtful. I chose not to attack others because that's not how I operate. Instead, I contacted the admins about the problem and received no response at all. I realize that the admins are friends of some of these people so I don't know what I expected them to do. I guess I thought that they cared about the condition and future of their website. So, they get what they get. I've moved on. Sad, because this used to be a real laughing place for me and so many others like me that also have left.
Originally Posted By u k fan I'm sad to hear that that happened. I've never considered myself to be a part of any LP cliques, but I figured that was through geography mostly!!!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA You know how some of you miss 'the good old days' of LP.com? That's how I feel about Disneyland. (for real!)
