I haven't really been here as long as some of you so couldn't say how much the place has changed from how it was originally, but I think in many ways it's really more a case of people adapting, or not, to suit the environment. I found, on my first visit here in 2008, that people were very condescending towards me for what was perceived as my "vanilla" (no pun intended, Jess) musical tastes, and it pushed me to the point where I left, only returning a few years later, when I found I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. Even then, I only worked on my journal and didn't really meet anyone outside of that, with the exception of Jackhammer.
But over the now three years I've been here I've come to appreciate people more for who and what they are. Some members come across as snappish, cold, rude, but you have to get to know them to realise why, or indeed if, that is the case, and once you do that you get a better feeling for them as people. So whereas the space may not change the people often do, or seem to. It's like, to me, reading a book: as you get deeper into it and start sussing out who the characters are, why they do certain things and what makes them the way they are, you gain a much better understanding of, and sometimes sympathy for their situation.
That's been my experience here anyway. Not to shoot people down at first and to try to understand where they're coming from, and nine times out of ten I've made if not a friend then at least a non-enemy. People will always complain, especially those just joining up who don't understand the dynamic of the place, but really that will happen everywhere. Since I rejoined and ventured out into the forums themselves I've found this to be a lively, mostly friendly place with people who try their best to get on, don't always succeed, but usually end up remaining relatively close and friendly.
Hey, it's just like real life, but without the bumps, scrapes and bruises!
I noticed that also ..
"I always Have".
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