Question re. our forum

Hi everyone.  I probably lurked for several weeks before I posted anything. For me it was all about figuring out what the forum was about and the flavor of the people and posts.  I was exploring whether this is something I would want to be part of.   

As some others have posted,  it is clear there are people that have been posting for a while and are known as the regulars. So you do feel at first like you are "interrupting" a conversation and especially, as I am pre-op, at the very early stages of being knowledgeable.

However after monitoring I find I am enjoying what others are posting --the good, the bad, the ugly. Some have been very funny! Some have been painfully  honest! and some have been very informative and I have been creating a little knowledge library from this.  

So I have begun posting over the past few weeks a little bit here and a little bit there to test the temperature.  

I also like the idea of a "like" button because sometimes you just want to "like" without adding any further comments as they seem redudant to what everyone else has said. Having said that, the difference of not having the like is that is does encourage you to "say something" if you have something to say even if it just to say "congrats".

Dar

I"m glad you're posting more Dar!

I think the equivalent (imo better than FB) to the "like" button are our icons in the bar just above where you type a response!  I love my laughing devil  , and Karen's "REALLY" stare , Verity's "HEY" , and so on.  The likes could be simply  if you agree or want to say congrats,  if you think someone is being naughty,  if you're laughing with someone,  as a general YES, etc.  

You get the idea I'm sure.  Have gone on too long as usual but its doesn't take any longer to select your smiley face and click on submit than FB's LIKE button.  

sometimes = REALLY?  But equally, it = "speechless".  LOL

I am shy so I don't post often.  I do read several  times a day as this site has a lot of valuable and funny comments.  I have a lot of baggage from my childhood so I am afraid of being cut down or made fun of.  My problem and I am in therapy for this.  So it is my problem and not anything on this site.
I also live up in the Bruce Peninsula and feel so far away from everyone.

Hugs, Laura. I hope that you never feel like you're being cut down or made fun of here. I think, all in all, that we're a pretty accepting group.

So many of us have had those feelings of being made fun of. i'd like to think this is a safe place. I certainly feel safe here.

Laura, we all have baggage.  You are MOST welcome to join in ANY post at all! xo

Hey Laura...

I know you know this but... a LOT of people here have a lot of emotional baggage from all different points of life... You are not alone there and I dont know anyone who would be negative if you ever DO want to air anything out...sometimes its cleansing.

My "baggage" isn't always mine... but because i pick it up and walk around with it I have made it mine... know what I mean?  My mom is weight obsessed...like her every single thought and action has something to do with her weight...she doesnt see herself as worthy of anything because of her weight... I have tried to help her see herself as a viable, worthy human being who deserves better then she allows herself but in doing some of that I have picked up her baggage with me.  My husband has bipolar disorder and I carry our family on my shoulders...entirely, financially, responsiblities, bills, chores, kids, everything... he more often then not is like a third kid.  He would be VERY upset to hear me say this but its 100% true.  And here I am picking up more baggage...

Just sharing with you because i know a lot of people end up on this board because they were not able to appropriately cope and you are definitly NOT alone...

Juls

Oh Laura, my dear, I hear ya!  I have a matching set of uncertainty and paranoia with a trunk made up of way too much bullying!  Often my attempt (and I readily state I fail often) at humor stems from a severe fear of being rejected!  And my only way of combating that is to post, much to some folk's consternation!  To those who don't like my posts, all I can say is too bad, so sad!  

And Lauara, a really nice feature of this board is the block feature, if you find someone's being mean to you, cutting you up or whatever doesn't feel right, just block them.  Then you don't have to experience their crap (or what you feel is their crap and what you feel is the important thing imo)!  

 And I'll bet you a dozen containers of PC 0% vanilla greek youghurt that I'm further away from Toronto than you!