Have noticed occasionally people who post with a specific question but they don't introduce themselves at all in a meaningful way. When the person has only 1 post..the question that they are posing.

Life is short, I'm not wasting online time to respond with people haven't yet recognized online forum etiquette of self-introduction to a community online group with members who post and read often. It is helpful to all of us. Also an ongoing safety check on a collective basis for us.

And in appreciation for all you have recently joined!

I agree, Orchid.

"post and run" people are looking for what others can give them, but don't want to reciprocate.

Sometimes these women have joined the NABBW and we aren't aware of it, but you're right an intro would be nice before trying to sell their wares to us strangers!

Orchid, thank you for starting this thread. It chaps me when people come in here only to sell, sell, sell. They could give a rip who we are, what we are about, or anything else. Yet they think we will be bowled over by their ad? I think not. I find it insulting. Maybe that's too strong a statement to make, but it is how a new post like that makes me feel. Forgive me Dotsie if I'm saying too much here. They don't call me the Mouth of the South for nutin.

That's why I keep bringing up the "Please read before you post" thing.

Another one that gripes me are people who only stop by under the pretext of some "happening" in their life but it is really obvious that they only want to capture us for a teleseminar, a book they've written, or post about some drama IN THEIR LIVES...or to sell, as you said. These are BWS members too! They don't care about us, or the day to day...they're only concerned about themselves.

I call them TRUE COLORS members. They have shown their true colors to me. It's all about them.

There again, we are suppose to run pat them on the back and once we do, poof! They're gone again for a few months.

I realize that tons of people don't have the time to come in here all the time. That is so understandable. REALLY. But...couldn't they stick around long enough to comment in one or two more threads, instead of just posting about their own life, lack thereof, or whatever?

<Queen stepping down from soapbox>

Whew! I feel better...anybody else? LOL!


ps---I am in NO WAY referring to Sandpiper...she knows that, but I wanted to make sure you gals knew it too. Actually, I'm not pointing a finger at anyone, necessarily. Just past experience on here. Please keep Sandpiper and family in your prayers!

I understand completely about the 'sales pitch' on this web site...the rules are clear and I agree, but JJ...I don't mean to offend but the comment, "post some drama about their lives"...isn't that part of what this web site is about? You referred to some members who only care about what's going on in their lives and that once they get a pat on the back they go on their merry way. Or they only talk about themselves.
Maybe that's what some people need or all that some people have time for. When I first started here in the forums I had a lot of time and could post like crazy...not so much anymore. Things change and what takes precedence in our lives change and not everyone has time to scroll through all the forums and make comments. And some members only need this site when they need a place to go for advice/a pat/guidance/venting. What should it matter if a member comes in once or a hundred times...once a year or a thousand times a year...I don't think it's fair to put a lable (TRUE COLORS MEMBER) on a member just because she doesn't post to other's comments or doesn't fit into certain people's mold of how often they come in and if they need to comment on other people's forums.
One of the sentences on BWS home page at the very beginning says that this is a place where there is no judgement. When a staff member starts judging those who only want to 'vent' about a drama going on in their lives, I don't think that's a very professional thing to do.
I probably fit into that label at times. I come in and read but don't always have time to comment. I do what I can when I have the time to do it and I'm certain that others do too. That doesn't mean that we don't care about others...it means that we just don't feel like coming in and sharing with or as often like other members do. Sometimes I'm so busy that all I have time to do is share that good or bad moment with everyone...it's saying...hi, I'm still alive, here's what going on..gotta run...love ya. If a person comments...great...if not, I don't worry about it. I don't think any less of anyone if they don't.
I just don't think any of us should judge members for how often they post or if they respond to someone or not or if we hear from them once or if it's only about their life. To do so isn't fair to what this site, I believe, is about.
Maybe I'm wrong...

My comments are confined only to the sales pitch/survey folks or those who register and have only 1-2 posts ...for the next few months.

As for members and how they participate, I will say for myself that I don't check every topic/section daily. It does take time to check every section. Am trying to envision if there were quadruple the number of regular posters here, how much more checking there would be.

And checking frequency by members is invisible to us, vs. actually responding which results in a message/thought.

The worst of the worst are the women sailing in and pretending to be soooo nice then starting some shit storm and causing good/active members who do spend time posting, to argue or have hurt feelings. Then when one of us says something in defense about them being trouble makers, we get slammed and they get stuck up for. BUT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES where are these fly by night women???????? They are no where to be found. Think about it!

Thats the thing that galls me. That and someones first (and only) post trying to sell us all something.

Dee, I agree with your post.

The only thing that offends me is when women pop in, aren't members of the NABBW, post once or twice about their site, product, book and then leave. When I see this, I delete the message. It's spam in my book.

I have no problem with members who come here to share about their business/lives at their convenience. This is what we are here for. I'm aware that not everyone has the time to keep up with all of us.

Those of us who are here frequently are blessed more by the company kept here. Those who come by less, miss out on the comraderie that I so enjoy.

Dee,
I believe you took what I said out of context, and most likely, it wasn't on purpose. But what I said,

pretext of some "happening" in their life but it is really obvious that they only want to capture us for a teleseminar, a book they've written, or post about some drama IN THEIR LIVES...or to sell, as you said.

NOTICE THE WORD PRETEXT?

It wasn't meant for members of the NABBW or members of the forum who can't get by here as often as they would like to do, or ones who only have a snippet of time here and there.

Sigh...I apologize to anyone who thought otherwise, including and especially Dee. I am very aware of people who have needs and have thought that I have been very compassionate in my responses to them. Apparently, not. I will be more diligent.

Thank you Dee for calling this to my attention. I need to read my post more than once BEFORE I hit SUBMIT.

JJ...no worries...it's all good. and I'm sorry if I took what you said out of context.

Hey "mouth of the south" you're such a funny, little clown.
Reading 'n writing take huge chunks of time. But I agree with
what ya all are sayin'! Cheers and kudos! Who knows which way
the wind blows???

Stuff takes weird twists and turns out of context; ain't it so!

There is time spent behind the scenes too. I think of certain people who are on these forums whether I am here or not, even if I have withdrawn for a month or two.

So ttue Lynn. I think we tend to carry one another with us in the day to day.

Yes. While driving to the post office today I was thinking of Eagle, and I got lost on what should have been a routine errand. Not to worry, though. With Pike's Peak in view, and the Colorado weather so wonderful, it was a treat to get lost!

Out of sight definitely doesn't mean out of mind for many of us here. As Dotsie says, many of us carry each other throughout the day and night, in prayer, thought, care and love. I'm not contributing as much lately, I'm very tired all of the time (again) and simply can't muster enough energy to do much that requires more than mindless banter, and even that exhausts me sometimes. But so many of you are in my heart constantly, permanently etched there as the cherished treasures that you are. Lynn, I think of you so much more than you could ever imagine. I'm very happy to think of you thinking of me while looking at Pike's Peak! What a lofty place to be an Eagle on your mind!

You've got a good image going on there, Eagle-on-my-mind, aloft at Pike's Peak.

I wish there were smiley faces or something so that I could show you my face - that says - Oh mygosh... I've been part of this site for several years and probably posted a whole lot early on when I had time, then not so much... then I went through a period of working two jobs and going to school, etc., etc. It's only been since leaving my job and being at home trying to do my art work and figure out how to MAYbe get something going with that, that I've had time to kind of get back into it. The one thing I have always wondered about though is this - I'm on the west coast so there's never anyone on at the same time as I am, (maybe once in a while Meredith is) so I sort of feel like I'm talking to myself. I do respond to those who respond to me, as much as I see them, but sometimes I don't really know how to respond to something. And I hate to just leave some passing blah, blah, blah... or I leave feedback and I never hear from that person again - so then I wonder if maybe I said something wrong.......so what to do, what to do? Honestly though, if I ever just go on and on about what I'm doing, (and it's uninteresting) SOMEONE please STOP ME!
I like to have "Show and Tell" on what I'm doing though, just because I want to show somebody what I do, and I REALLY want to see if there's anyone out there doing the same thing so we can talk about it.
And then I wonder if I talk too much.

Kate

Gee, Kate your stream-of-consciousness writing style indicates a James Joyce in disguise (Are you familiar with this Irish writer of the 1920's. He wrote in this run-on style. A brilliant writer.)

Several more of us here on west coast, as you can see. Another artist, Madelaine has joined us also in same time zone.

I love James Joyce but haven't read him in years.....so I stand and feel complimented. It's not a conscious thing though, I just think too many thoughts all at the same time to get them out in nice tidy sentences. I try to make my writing sound the same way as I think. I think that comes from writing letters to my grandmother since I was a little girl, and I really wanted her to hear my voice. Isn't that funny?! It didn't serve me too well with journalism though - short, concise sentences with a minimum of adjectives. My editors used to make fun of me because I wanted to "throw everything AND the kitchen sink" into my stories. But you think how you think. I think in technicolor maybe?

Kate, everything you said you could have said it for me, too. Thanks for putting it into words.