2.5 weeks to go

[Tink]

I don't think it should be considered any one's site.

See Pope, that is one thing we won't agree on. We have been here as a group and have set our standards and have maintained a level of behavior that is hard to find online. I've been at many different sites, I've worked at 3... I really do know more than I care to about what else is "out there". So do the others, and this is WHY we've chosen to stay here. Not that we feel we're any better than others, but we are just not into the mainstream site behavior. Yes, it's true that people have the right to conduct themselves however they see fit, but it's also true that we have the same right to not participate in it if we choose not to. So this has become OUR site.

We welcome new members if they are interested in a community like ours, but we don't roll over and play dead while they run over us. I started here later than many of the senior members, and I stayed because I found them to be a warm and wonderful group to be friends with. But I joined with the intention of joining them... not "fixing' them.

The senior members incorrectly and unfairly judged newbies, labeling them all pretty much the same with out taking into consideration they are all human individuals. It did take a few of the members stepping back, and distancing themselves a bit before they realized what they were doing.

Here again it's OUR wrong doing according to you.
We didn't jump into your circle and start demanding anything of you. YOU all came here... We welcomed you and would like to be able to be friends, but we shouldn't have to feel we have to run and hide because someone new hasl arrived!

It's different when people come slowly and one or 2 at a time. When you come here already an obvious clique and start overpowering those who are already here, you should expect we're going to protest. It's hard to get to know anyone individually when you've arrived enmass. Given time I'm sure it will gt easier, but it seems each time there's a disagreement, more new people hop in to back up whoever is trying to "teach" us... so it's hard not to feel attacked.