I came to this Board in January of 2000. The Board had not been around very long, but the atmosphere was quite different. Posters didn't fear what they had to say and quite honestly, they were much more open and to the point. We were allowed to post how to reach individuals off line and connect more personally that way. We had our good days and bad. We also had a number of trolls and stalkers as well. We were able to express ourselves w/o the fear of offending others. We challenged the posters far more and we gave as good as we got when it came to advice.
Yes, I noticed the change in the atmosphere about 10 years ago. People post and in some instances, do not think about how their words cut into someone's soul. They write as they would actually talk in person. People need to slow down, re-read what they've posted and think about how it sounds. The written word is open for interpretation and yes, there are times, the words are harsh and actually scream at the person seeking help. Posters tend to forget that you aren't talking to a group of people on the street corner, but through a Board w/the written word. We have to be mindful of how our postings sound to others reading them. We have had to boot a few off the Board because of this behavior over the years. It's unfortunate, but sometimes it has to be done.
The times have changed and so has the way that we communicate and express ourselves. People are more sensitive these days and people get offended much more easily. Now, we have to watch what we say and how we say it. Because of hackers and people coming and viewing what we post more readily, we have to basically water down our issues so that people lurking can't figure out where we are from and who we are. We aren't allowed to post links to other sites that may provide more insight, etc.
Like I said, times have changed and the world has become so much more competitive than it was 21 years ago and if this Board doesn't keep up w/the changes, it will slowly die off.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
